Environmental Standards Council (ESC)

This volunteer task force of The Center for Health Design is made up of facility executives, design professionals, regulatory agents, product manufacturers, educators, and others who meet three times year. See a list of current members. Some of the projects they are working on include:

AIA Guidelines
In 2005, the ESC drafted and submitted additions to the "Environment of Care" chapter for the 2006 AIA Guidelines for Design & Construction of Healthcare Facilities.

The chapter outlines the environmental factors that contribute to patient, staff, and family satisfaction, as well as increased safety, lower medical errors, and a better financial bottom line. The Guidelines Review Committee unanimously accepted the additions.

Click here for more information on the Guidelines.

Best Practices Papers

Based on the work the ESC did in 2005 for the "Environment of Care" chapter, individual members wrote position papers on a variety of topics, including nature, art and wayfinding. They are available for download now:

Wayfinding: Design for Understanding, written by Barbara J. Huelat, explores ways that wayfinding promotes healing, fiscal health and efficiency. In addition, other benefits of a strong wayfinding system are discussed (Download the PDF).

Health and Nature: The Influence of Nature on Design of the Environment of Care, written by Jerry Smith, ASLA, LEED AP, reviews the impact of nature on healthcare environments. Smith also discusses the needs of various user groups within these spaces as they relate to nature (Download the PDF).

A Guide to Evidence-Based Art, written by Kathy Hathorn, M.A. and Upali Nanda, Ph.D.. Among many things, Hathorn and Nanda explore the use of art for healing purposes and provide guidelines for art selection and placement (Download the PDF).

If you are interested in being a member of this council or giving us input on specific projects, e-mail Carolyn Quist .

Current ESC Members

Cameron Baillie, P.Eng., Shiner + Associates, Inc., Chicago, IL

Jan L. Bishop, AIA, New York, NY

Rosalyn Cama, FASID, Cama, Inc., New Haven, CT
Gloria Cascarino, Francis Cauffman, Philadelphia, PA

Barbara A. Dellinger, IIDA, AAHID, HDR, Inc., Alexandria, VA
Robin Guenther, AIA, LEED, AP, Guenther 5 Architects, New York, NY

Kathy Hathorn, M.A., American Art Resources, Houston, TX
Barbara Huelat, ASID, IIDA, Huelat Parimucha Ltd., Alexandria, VA

Andrea V. Hyde, ASID, Hyde Incorporated Interior Design, Towson, MD
Anjali Joseph, Ph.D., The Center for Health Design, New York, NY

Thomas M. Jung, R.A., NY State Department of Health, Troy, NY
Robert G. Larsen, FAIA, ACHA Larsen, Shein, Ginsberg + Magnusson, LLP, New York, NY

Timothy J. Leach, Chairman, CEO, VIGILAIR Systems, Inc., N. Tonawanda, NY
Debra J. Levin, The Center for Health Design, Concord, CA

Bernie Liebler, AdvaMed, Washington D.C.

Patty Looker, FACHE, VOA Associates Inc., Chicago, IL 60604

Cheryl K. Middleton, CKM Associates, Baltimore, MD

Cia Mooney, Brayton International, High Point, NC

Patricia A. Moore, MEd, MA, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ

Jana Mroczek, M.A., Center for Human Environments, CUNY Graduate Center, New York, NY
Chris Papadimos, INCE, The Papadimos Group, Inc, San Rafael, CA

Jeanette Pearlman, M.S., LNHA, MMR Associates, Sherman, CT
Jay Pulaski, Equipment Planners, Inc., Summit, NJ

Jane Rohde, AIA, FIIDA, ACHA, AAHID, JSR Associates, Ellicott City, MD
Alberto Salvatore, AIA, Alberto Salvatore Associates, Needham, MA
Milena Simeonova, AIA, IES, LC, IALD, Brandston Parternship, New York, NY

Jerry Smith, ASLA, LEED AP, HDR, Cincinnati, OH
Ellen Taylor, Principal, Exit, Exton, PA

Richard S. Thomas, AIA, Weill-Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
S. Barry Winet, LNHA, Fieldwald Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing, New York, NY