We spend much of our time in buildings, and they can have a profound effect on our well-being, for better or for worse. As long ago as 1943, Winston Churchill told Britain’s House of Commons that “we shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us.”

Research is showing that effective building design is especially important in hospitals, the potential of which is often overlooked. For example, a recent study of the design of operating rooms—one of the most critical areas in a hospital—reveals how research-informed design can improve safety and performance.

We have studied for years how to improve the delivery of healthcare, including through better design of healthcare buildings. Based on our studies and those of others, we are advocates for using evidence-based design to benefit hospital patients, staff, and patients’ families.

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