Research

 

Since our firm’s beginning, we have been committed to leading research efforts that test the impact of design ideas and improve outcomes for users of the facilities we design. ESa has spearheaded visionary research into facility needs for many of our core service areas, including healthcare, senior living and higher education. As a company, we strive to stay ahead of industry trends and design environments that affect change.

In addition to our own hands-on research, we identify documented cases related to specific design goals and share with our clients knowledge of best practice concepts gleaned from this research, as well as our own project experience.

For example, our healthcare design teams partner with clients to determine how best to translate research findings into specific design features for safer, more patient-friendly healthcare environments. In addition to identifying the best available evidence for making decisions throughout the design process, ESa works with clients during the post-occupancy phase to validate that the completed design meets the project’s guiding principles and design intent.

To assist our design teams in gathering research-based information, particularly for healthcare, ESa is an affiliate member of The Center for Health Design, an EDAC Advocate firm (Evidence-based Design Accreditation and Certification) and a member of The Advisory Board and its Health Care Industry Committee. ESa is a charter member, and one of only five design firms in the country, of the Planetree Visionary Design Network. We are also a member of the U.S. Green Building Council.