Sachs, N., Shepley, M., Peditto, K., Hankinson, M.T., Giebink, B., Thompson, T. (2019). Health Environments Research & Design Journal. DOI: 10.1177/1937586719856349
Experts
As an environmental psychologist and a woman with autism and ADHD, Dr. Kati Peditto is personally invested in the transformative power of evidence-based design for mental health and well-being. A celebrated expert in health and the built environment, Dr. Peditto earned her PhD in Human Behavior and Design from Cornell University before completing postdoctoral work in the Cornell Department of Human-Centered Design.
A New Investigator Award winner from the Center for Health Design, her research has been showcased in the Design Lab with Bon Ku podcast, The Atlantic, and the BBC. Dr. Peditto's journey is a testament to how neurodiversity can shape and enhance our understanding of the spaces we inhabit.
As behavioral and mental health practice leader, Brian has a deep understanding of current research and trends in mental health design and uses his expertise to create innovative, research-based solutions that improve the patient experience in healthcare environments. Brian has served as the mental health expert on numerous projects around the world, holding roles in planning, design, and consulting for inpatient, outpatient, community, and crisis services, guiding project teams towards improved outcomes in mental health environments.
At HDR, Brian leads the behavioral health design studio, introducing current trends and design strategies to a broader team and works with smaller focus groups to discuss and develop strategies to improve the mental healthcare environment for patients and staff. Brian has presented on the topic of behavioral and mental health at multiple conferences around the country and is a consistent contributor to thought leadership in his field.
Brian enjoys finding opportunities to share his passion and expertise with the next generation of architects and designers in his local community. He is an active participant in the FGI Health Guidelines Revision Committee, focusing on behavioral health design. He is an adjunct associate professor at the University of Kansas, has served as a design critic and juror for multiple design studios focused on mental health, and contributes to an AIA advocacy committee on mental health design. He mentors colleagues throughout HDR as well as architecture and design students at numerous universities including University of Kansas, University of Minnesota, and Rochester Institute of Technology.