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2025 Study Architecture Student Showcase - Part IV

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Part IV of the 2025 Study Architecture Student Showcase spotlights architecture in public health. These student projects feature architectural responses to topics, including amputee rehabilitation, incarceration reform, sober living homes, and maternity care. By incorporating holistic, biophilic elements and utilizing various building typologies, each project fosters a supportive and healing environment based on a wide range of community needs.

Browse the projects below for more details!

Rehabilitation and Empowerment for Amputees by Bryan Feliciano-Torres, B.Arch ‘25
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico | Advisors: Manuel De Lemos-Zuazaga & Pedro A. Rosario-Torres

“R.E.F.A.” is about how architecture can help rehabilitate the lives of limbless people for both upper and lower limb amputations. The research aimed to explore better solutions for prosthetic patients’ recovery, from initial physical therapy until a full recovery. The project expanded on the typical prosthetic clinic program, with three main objectives:

– Prosthetic manufacture and physical rehabilitation for patient care

– Prosthetic research and development for scientific innovations

– Lodging program for traveling patients who seek quality care

Prosthetic patients require a series of training in order to achieve full control over their limb, especially for those who have been amputated for a long time. Not only do they have to go through the process of fitting and adjusting sockets, but they also train their muscle strength, resistance, and balance. This average time spans from one week to three weeks, depending on the patient’s capability and physical condition.

Most prosthetic clinics provide limited space with the essential programs: manufacture, socket fitting, and basic gait training. The patient is then encouraged to train outside on their own terms, only to return later to make changes if needed.

This research sees an opportunity to improve on this by providing all their needs in a single space. These programs are divided into zones:

– Prosthesis: Workshops, storage, and fitting areas

– Physical/Psychological therapy: Aquatic therapy, gym facilities, and therapists’ offices

– Public areas: Gait training, running track, commerce, and restaurant

– Research: Office spaces for rent, laboratories, and conference rooms

– Lodging: Extended stay rooms and lounge

Amputations are becoming more prevalent as time goes on, whether from incidents or diseases. Taking this into account, along with technological improvements, prosthetic clinics have to improve drastically in order to provide everything an amputee needs in order to live independently.

THE TRANSLUCENT FORTRESS by Owen Phillips, B.Arch ’25
Kennesaw State University | Advisor: Robin Puttock

THESIS QUESTION:

How can the architectural typology of women’s shelters be reimagined to more effectively provide support, safety, and healing for domestic violence victims in rural Homerville, Georgia?

DESIGN HYPOTHESIS:

The design of domestic violence shelters in Homerville, GA, can be improved by combining the warmness of a home, the freedom of a meadow, and the strength of a fortress to create comfortable, tranquil, and safe spaces that provide support, safety, and healing for the residents and staff inhabiting them.

SOLUTION:

The building typology of a women’s shelter will be reimagined to better apply to a modern stage using qualitative research from an architect-conducted survey that has been compared to similar existing research. This new typology will be tested on a site in Homerville, Georgia, to address the psychological and spatial needs of victims, the most important of these needs include the feeling of being protected (secure architecture), a sense of community (social spaces), access to medical assistance (operating/examination rooms), and appropriate design to accommodate living spaces for both women and/or their children (Eastman et al, 2007). Construction of this project must be efficient and cost-effective as to not diminish the already limited financial resources available to public services, but still secure enough to provide a safe space for rural victims of domestic violence.

METHODOLOGY:

Research for this thesis will be broken up into multiple different sections. To give the architect a better understanding of the victim’s condition and needs, surveys and interviews were conducted during the summer of 2024 at women’s shelters in rural Georgia with both the residents and shelter staff, and literature reviews were done to compare collected data with similar research. This provided an updated set of data to be used and compared with older information (pre-COVID-19). To determine the site for the project, mapping was used to locate a site in Georgia with the least access to domestic violence crisis centers. Finally, construction methods and building design will be studied through precedents that share the scope of being low-cost, remote, secure, and inhabitant-friendly design for the purpose of applying efficient design methods.

Click here to learn more.

This project was a finalist for the ARCC King Student Medal.

Instagram: @owen_p02, @robinzputtock

REIMAGINING RECOVERY: The Role of Architecture in Sobriety by Teagan Littleton, B.Arch ’25
Kennesaw State University | Advisor: Robin Puttock

This thesis explores the design of a sober living house in Atlanta, focusing on integrating choice architecture and biophilic design to enhance the mental well-being of its residents. Choice architecture, a concept rooted in behavioral economics, aims to influence decision-making by altering the environment (Thaler & Sunstein, 2010). Biophilic design seeks to connect occupants with nature to improve overall health and well-being (Terrapin, 2014). The design of the sober living house incorporates elements such as natural light, green spaces, and views of nature to create a sense of calmness and connection to the environment. Choice architecture is applied through the layout and design of the space to encourage positive behaviors and discourage relapse triggers. Through the integration of these design principles, the sober living house aims to create a supportive and healing environment for individuals in recovery, promoting long-term sobriety and well-being.

Click here for a closer look.

This project was selected as a Thesis Semi-Finalist (Top 20 of 90+).

Instagram: @teagan.littleton02, @robinzputtock

KOSOVO BORDER-BASED MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY PROGRAM Healing Across Borders: Addressing Trauma and PTSD at Entry Points by Fisnik Kraki, B.Arch ’25
New York Institute of Technology | Advisor: Jonathan Block Friedman

The program leverages landlocked Kosovo’s border crossings as transitional spaces, turning points for individuals struggling with post-war trauma, PTSD, and mental health challenges. Each border will host a Trauma Recovery Hub, blending accessibility, symbolism, and practicality. These hubs will act as the first step toward healing, offering both immediate care and pathways for long-term recovery. Services provided include emergency counseling, psychological evaluations, and individual/group therapy.

The architecture offers a poetic transformation for both individual returnees and the country as a whole. Local materials and cultural elements provide familiarity and safety. A spectrum of enclosures, from narrow passageways to wide open spaces enhance healing gardens, quiet zones, and reflection halls. Tailored programs support displaced individuals, war survivors, PTSD therapy for civilians, and ex-combatants. 

Each mountainous entry portal provides a sequence of three multi-week healing experiences in carefully wrought architectural responses to both the inner needs of the struggling returnees and the power of each succeeding resonant landscape. The progression of section relationships highlights the potential for group and individual personality reintegration.

The new group first finds a shared lodge perched on a cliffside lookout above a rushing mountain stream. Here are paths for private walks, but also shared meals, as well as group therapy sessions.  

Then the group moves to more gently rolling hillsides, where now the cohort breaks into smaller subgroups who share modest “family houses” as they re-learn how to interact together, and with the other “families” in a more dispersed community setting. A spillway and small dam provides a lake for beginning to embrace a return to self-awareness. 

For the third and last month, each person in the group finds their own dwelling for the hard work of private meditation, complete with eating, sleeping, a fireplace, and physical exercise spaces, and a garden for them to contribute to the collective needs for food production. The site is flat, with a small pond of still water at its center as a geographical eco-environmental mirror for the soul as they look beyond healing, seeking purpose, meaning, and new horizons. 

This project received the Chair Design Award, awarded by the department chairs and faculty of the School of Architecture and Design to a graduate who has achieved distinction in architectural design.

How Can Facilities Contribute to the Mental Health of Cancer Patients and Their Families Within Their Treatment in Architecture? by Nelson L. Quirindongo-Rodríguez, B.Arch ’25
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico | Advisors: Pedro A. Rosario-Torres & Pilarín Ferrer-Viscasillas

Cancer is one of the main public health crises in Puerto Rico, with more than 303,000 people diagnosed in 2020. This disease not only affects the body, but also profoundly alters the emotional and mental health of patients and their families. Emotions such as fear, anxiety, sadness, and uncertainty constantly accompany the oncological process, and often do not receive the necessary treatment or attention.

This work proposes a comprehensive and humane approach to cancer, recognizing the importance of mental health at all stages of treatment. The incorporation of interdisciplinary strategies is key, including therapeutic architecture and connection with nature. In particular, it highlights the value of biophilia, a movement that recognizes the innate link between humans and nature.

The design of spaces that integrate natural elements such as gardens, natural light, and cross ventilation can significantly contribute to reducing stress, improving mood, and fostering resilience in patients. This includes views of the sea, for example, which offer a multisensory experience that calms the mind, relieves tension, and promotes introspection and hope.

In addition to treating cancer clinically, it is necessary to address emotional suffering in a conscious and compassionate manner. The physical environment plays an active role in this process, and by including biophilic elements and visual or direct access to nature, a more complete healing environment can be created.

In conclusion, coping with cancer requires a holistic approach that combines medicine, mental health, and design. In this way, not only is the disease combated, but the person is accompanied in a process of deep, dignified, and hopeful healing.

Instagram: @nlqr.arch

Addressing the Shortage of the Veterinarian Profession in Puerto Rico and Its Effect on Animal Care by Alejandra M. Quiñones-Velázquez, B.Arch ’25
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico | Advisors: Jesús O. García-Beauchamp & Pedro A. Rosario-Torres

Veterinarians play a crucial role in taking care of animal health and welfare, public health, environmental protection, food safety, and medical research. However, a global shortage of veterinarians has emerged, exacerbated by increased pet ownership and insufficient capacity to train professionals. Puerto Rico only has 300 veterinarians, facing a shortage outside the metropolitan area, where the center of the island lacks veterinary services. With over 643,000 households owning pets, this scarcity has tangible consequences for animal welfare and public health.

This research proposes an integrated architectural solution: a comprehensive veterinary education and care facility in Mayagüez, strategically located near the former zoo and a natural lake. The site was chosen for its potential for growth, semi-isolated setting, zoning compliance, and opportunity to merge architecture with nature. The proposed facility houses a veterinary school, research laboratories, a clinic for small and large animals, equine stables, and on-site housing for students and faculty. Designed to meet American Veterinary Medical Association accreditation standards, the center will allow students to complete their training locally and expand access to quality veterinary care across Puerto Rico.

Design strategies focus includes segregation of species, articulation of the landscape to foster connection and interaction, connection of spaces with nature, and noise control. Design thinking in the site is organized around a central axis and a lake that forms the heart of the project—creating an articulated space where landscape and built environment interact harmoniously. Outdoor areas will serve as peaceful, shaded environments for interaction and learning, while architectural consistency across buildings ensures a cohesive and professional atmosphere.

By combining education, clinical care, and research in one facility, the veterinarian shortage will be addressed, creating a new generation of professionals and enhancing animal and community well-being in Puerto Rico.

Click here to learn more. 

This project was nominated for the Francisco Luis Porrata-Doria Medal for Excellence in Design.

Instagram: @alemar1347

Building Wellness: Integrating Nature and Design to Prevent Diabetes by Daniela M. Ruiz-Rosado, B.Arch ’25
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico | Advisors: Pedro A. Rosario-Torres & Pilarín Ferrer-Viscasillas

Diabetes is one of the most pressing public health issues in Puerto Rico, where nearly half a million people live with the disease—equivalent to one in every six residents. Type 2 diabetes, in particular, is closely linked to lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity and poor nutrition. This research explores how architecture can become a proactive tool in the prevention of this chronic illness by promoting healthy behaviors in the built environment.

This project proposes the Integral Diabetes Prevention Center, located in Río Piedras, within the grounds of Hospital Auxilio Mutuo and adjacent to the University of Puerto Rico’s Sports Complex. The selected site offers a strategic opportunity to serve two target populations: young adults between the ages of 15 and 28, who are at a key stage for adopting preventative habits, and diabetic patients in need of ongoing care and wellness support.

The architectural strategy is rooted in the promotion of an active lifestyle through design. The program includes student residences, extended-stay units for patients, a wellness center with a gym, medical consultation areas, educational spaces, and health-focused commercial areas. A central plaza connects the hospital and the sports complex, acting not only as a circulation node but as a social and interactive public space that fosters movement and community engagement.

The design encourages physical activity through accessible, walkable, and open layouts while also integrating green areas that support mental and physical well-being. By embedding health education, fitness, and healthcare into the spatial experience, the project aims to create an environment that not only treats but actively prevents illness. This research demonstrates how architecture can serve as a catalyst for healthier communities by shaping behaviors and daily routines through intentional, health-centered design.

This project was nominated for the Francisco Luis Porrata-Doria Medal for Excellence in Design

Instagram: @druizrosado00

Birthplace – proposal for an alongside birthing place in Hackney, UK by Sophie Martin, M.ArchD ’25
Oxford Brookes University | Advisor: Francesco Proto

This project seeks to create spaces to support and celebrate birth as a rite of passage, through the development of a new paradigm in maternity care: a worked example of a design for an alongside birthing place for physiological birth in a fragment of natural setting, with views to natural landscapes of water, sky, and moon. Birthing places surrounded by natural/human-scale materials of reed and brick, in urban surroundings close to a hospital.

Focusing on creating an atmosphere to support physiological birth, a route of pavilions to mark each stage in the rite of passage is proposed, using metaphors from popular culture to drive the design. These pavilions will incorporate references to the cycles of the moon to mark the profound transformation of the birthing woman from maiden to mother, and offer a connection between the woman to her place in the cosmos at this liminal time.

The task is a fundamental one: to investigate the effects of form and space on childbirth, families and caregivers. How can the rite that is giving birth once again play a richer central role in communities with a myriad positive outcomes? The incentives to explore this approach would also lead to cost savings – ditch an outdated focus on infection control – pregnancy is not a disease in and of itself. The rates of Cesarean birth and obstetric interventions could drop, and money would be saved if there were a greater proportion of physiological births. (But not through imposing some vaginal birth doctrine from on high, but as a symptom of women and midwives feeling well supported by the place).  

This is not a panacea – wonderful spaces will not impact directly upon staffing levels, maternity budget, political agenda and outdated non evidence based hospital protocol – but begin to give women and midwives a sense of value in their experience, sense of occasion, sense of the gravity of the greatest physiological event for our species, coming as the finale of the greatest feat of human endurance, is an event worth marking. What a fantastic space this would be. 

Instagram: @studio_malmaison, @oxfordschoolofarchitecture

Shelter for Homeless Children in a Farm in Waimānalo by Jessica Aellen, M.Arch ’25
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa | Advisor: Yasushi Ishida

This project proposes a mixed-use residential and therapeutic shelter for homeless youth ages 14 to 24, located on a farm in Waimānalo, Oʻahu. It supports RYSE, a nonprofit organization serving youth experiencing homelessness in Hawaiʻi, where rates are among the highest in the U.S. Many of these teenagers face mental health challenges, and this project aims to provide not just shelter, but healing, dignity, and connection to nature.

The building is designed for a small community and blends with the surrounding farmland through soft, horizontal forms that echo the nearby mountain landscape. It includes therapy and gathering spaces, private rooms, communal kitchens, and outdoor areas that support reflection and social connection.

Key features include a raised outdoor terrace, curving interior corridors that promote privacy and comfort, and the use of natural materials such as wood-fiber insulation. The structure is made of lightweight metal framing and wood components, chosen to reduce environmental impact and allow flexibility in construction.

The architecture prioritizes openness, safety, and well-being through passive design and biophilic principles. By fostering both physical and emotional healing, this project demonstrates how architecture can play a meaningful role in helping vulnerable youth reconnect with themselves, with others, and with the land.

This project received recognition at the Hawai‘i Architectural Foundation (HAF) Awards. 

Instagram: @yasushi_ishida_arc

Center of Hope by Arushi Singhal, M.Arch ’25
Boston Architectural College | Advisors: Russel Feldman & Ian F. Taberner

“The Center for Hope” explores how architecture can serve as a catalyst for emotional and psychological healing in the context of palliative cancer care. Situated overlooking the Jamaica Pond in Boston, the healing center merges the therapeutic qualities of nature with innovative design to support patients, their families, and caregivers. Unlike traditional hospital environments that prioritize clinical and programmatic efficiency, the project focuses on creating spaces that evoke hope, foster introspection, and build community. The central idea of this thesis is to investigate how architecture transcends physical form to influence emotional resilience. Grounded in phenomenology, the project investigates how spatial layouts, material tactility, light, and biophilic elements contribute to the healing process.

A hybrid program of contemplative spaces, therapy rooms, community courtyards, and meditative gardens, these spaces are designed to accommodate a diversity of needs and emotional states, offering agency to users through choice and comfort. Importantly, the center opens itself to the neighborhood—welcoming local residents to participate in communal activities, wellness events, or moments of pause along their daily routes. This act of inclusion not only normalizes the presence of illness within the city but transforms the Center into a reciprocal civic gesture—an anchor of care that gives back to its urban surroundings. As part of Boston’s Emerald Necklace, the design becomes a threshold between healthcare and everyday life, offering both a contemplative refuge and a socially engaged urban insertion.

This project received “Commends for Thesis.”

Transformative Architecture for Incarceration Reform by Methusela C. Mulenga, M.Arch ’25
Boston Architectural College | Advisors: Ralph Jackson & Ian F. Taberner

This thesis explores the potential of architecture to facilitate transformative reforms within the incarceration system through human-centric design strategies, specifically focusing on youth demographics. It highlights the pressing need for intervention, as many young individuals are often held for non-criminal offenses or are awaiting trial. By examining the unique challenges faced by these youths, the project envisions architectural spaces that promote hope and healing, allowing for improved mental health and a sense of purpose while they transition back to society. To underpin this exploration, the research begins by analyzing statistics regarding youth incarceration. By identifying this specific population, the thesis emphasizes the importance of integrating appropriate resources and technology within the building typology. It argues that providing detained individuals with educational tools and a supportive environment can significantly enhance their mental well-being and self-improvement opportunities, ultimately aiding their reintegration efforts.

The design approach prioritizes essential elements such as natural light, access to nature, privacy, and educational opportunities that contribute to an environment conducive to healing. The thesis outlines architectural interventions that incorporate calming colors, recreational spaces, and vocational training facilities, proposing that these features can prepare youths for successful reintegration while reducing the risk of homelessness. The goal is to create welcoming and inclusive transition spaces that foster community connection and emotional support. 

Lastly, the thesis investigates global prison systems, defining “transition spaces” as environments that improve the experience of those incarcerated. It emphasizes the significance of architectural design reforms that promote rehabilitation and community connections while addressing safety and well-being for both inmates and staff. By proposing a building typology that is accessible and connected to the community, this research aims to demonstrate how thoughtful architectural considerations can reshape the landscape of incarceration into spaces that offer a renewed sense of belonging and purpose for youth in transition.

This project received “Commends for Thesis.”

In Between by Polina Korolkova, M.Arch ’25
Washington University in St. Louis | Advisor: Julie Bauer

“In Between” is a holistic housing and education project designed specifically for young mothers and pregnant teens navigating a transitional moment in life—in between adolescence and adulthood, dependency and independence, challenge and potential. The project aims to provide not only shelter, but dignity, stability, and opportunity through architecture that nurtures growth and support.

The program integrates residential units with an educational facility and community services, creating a safe and empowering environment. The school component, located on the ground floor, features multiple accessible entrances to accommodate daily routines with strollers, caregivers, and young children. Classrooms, counseling rooms, and communal kitchens are woven into the educational wing, ensuring support extends beyond academics to life skills and wellness.

Above, modular housing units made from precast Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) offer sustainable, warm, and efficient living. Each unit includes a private balcony, natural daylight, and a small courtyard connection—spaces that support healing, reflection, and parenting. Flexibility in the module layout allows for varying family sizes and future adaptability.

Shared gardens, childcare areas, and lounges are dispersed across the site to create a soft rhythm of private and communal life. These in-between spaces encourage informal connections, peer support, and a sense of belonging—turning a temporary stay into a place of pride and transformation.

Structurally, the project employs a hybrid system: the concrete ground floor provides acoustic isolation and structural strength for the learning and gathering areas, while the lightweight CLT units above minimize embodied carbon and construction disruption. The material palette is intentionally soft, natural, and restorative, echoing the project’s core values.

In Between is not just a building—it is a framework for second chances, built with care, strength, and the belief that architecture can be a partner in healing and growth.

This project received the Book Award.

Instagram: @k.poli.na, @julie.e.bauer

Return to Earth, End of Life Care in Northern St. Louis by Hannah Grau, M.Arch ’25
Washington University in St. Louis | Advisor: Julie Bauer

Research in Northern St. Louis reveals a need for palliative and end-of-life care. The project proposes a place [where] those who are at the end stages of life may experience tranquility, celebration, remembrance, spirituality, and a connection with nature. In this program, domestic-scale housing is an active departure from medical room typologies, instead inviting warmth, comfort, rest, respite, and space. Outside of the residential grain of the program, there are spaces to gather, celebrate, commemorate, pray, meditate, nap, bathe, sit in the sun, feel the air, and be surrounded by caregivers and loved ones. The space is accessible, welcoming, and easy to navigate. It is situated along the Mississippi River and looks to bring back communal retreat by creating public garden spaces of memorium, celebration, and gathering. The materiality, textures, nourishment, and outdoor observance will provide connections with nature, connections with memory, and connections with healing. Focusing on the small moments of high-touch, high-interaction, and deep rest, the space will offer permeating peace in both the built and unbuilt environments.

This project received a Book Award.

Instagram: @grauhannah, @julie.e.bauer

RE-ENTRY RE-IMAGINED, Transitional Housing & Support for Previously Incarcerated Young Men by Abigail Fonville, M.Arch ’25
Washington University in St. Louis | Advisor: Julie Bauer

“They said it was a revolving door. But I always asked, did anyone ever take the time to figure out why the door kept revolving?” —Ta’janette Sconyers, Former St. Louis Juvenile Detention Center Employee

A transitional housing proposal designed to support young men, ages 12 to 21, as they transition from juvenile detention toward self-sufficient adulthood. The program spans four buildings and offers a campus-like setting that maximizes the site’s potential, encouraging daily movement and fresh air, luxuries absent in the St. Louis Juvenile Detention facility. At its core, the program focuses on housing. Residents live in minimally furnished units that promote a sense of ownership and autonomy over their space. These units are organized into pods of 2 to 4 individuals, each sharing a communal living space that encourages connection and support. Beyond housing, the campus includes a woodshop and a training kitchen where participants gain hands-on experience and develop practical skills for future employment. Located in the Grand Arts neighborhood, a vibrant mix of cultural, commercial, and residential activity, “Re-entry Reimagined” emphasizes the importance of being a part of the community for a successful reintegration. For young men who have served their time and have nowhere else to go, this is a place to call home.

This project won the Widmann Prize. 

Instagram: @bigail_fonville, @julie.e.bauer

Stay tuned for Part V!

2024 Study Architecture Student Showcase - Part IX

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The projects featured in Part IX of the 2024 Study Architecture Student Showcase explore architecture’s role in supporting public health and wellness. 

By addressing disparities in public health frameworks, the presented thesis work includes design interventions ranging from a mental health wellness resort for veterans to safe spaces for those addicted to opioids. With each design, there is an opportunity for rehabilitation, advocacy, and human-centered experiences.

Return to Base: How Can Architecture Help Veterans Suffering from PTSD Reintegrate into Society through Therapy, Community and Routines by Leimar P. Acevedo-Santana, B. Arch ‘24
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico | Advisor: Pedro A. Rosario-Torres

It is estimated that 30% of personnel deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan require some sort of mental health treatment; however, only half of them receive any. Many times, those who need treatment do not seek it due to stigma, accessibility issues like travel time, or because the facilities are oftentimes “not appealing or attractive”. By providing a place to tackle and heal mental health issues that is not a hospital or anything similar, the proposal hopes to attract and help those who need the help.

VISTA, Veteran’s Inn for Serenity, Tranquility & Ascendance, is a hotel located at the Ramey Base in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The proposal seeks to help veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reintegrate into society by helping, not only with the psychological treatment they may need but also helping them transition into life as a civilian, by teaching them different social and life skills. The hotel, or “wellness resort”, offers wellness amenities to attract veterans, classrooms to teach veterans different social and life skills, and psychological and medical facilities at a smaller scale to offer treatment. Taking advantage of the topography onsite, the medical facilities are located at a semi-underground level which is only accessible from Hook Road, allowing those seeking treatment to arrive at a more private level rather than being “exposed” by arriving at the main lobby. By providing these medical services at a “hidden” level, the proposal, at first glance, appears to be an ordinary wellness resort. The proposal is located in a “guest community” in Ramey Base, allowing the hotel to not require any type of barrier and serve as a connector between the community, the new park, and the beach nearby.

Instagram: @lacevedosantana

Heart House by Graziella Pilkington, M. Arch ’24
Boston Architectural College | Advisor: Russel Feldman, AIA

Thesis Statement:

This thesis explores how architecture can promote healing within inner-city populations affected by opioid addiction and homelessness. It investigates design interventions that alleviate social and health disparities, foster rehabilitation, and cultivate a sense of belonging and support.

Abstract:

Currently, our Nation is grappling with an epidemic—opioid abuse. This epidemic is by definition localized, and it often escapes our collective awareness. Yet, for individuals and communities whose lives are deeply entwined in the vicious cycle of addiction, it can feel as though they have nowhere to turn. 

Architecture can serve as a powerful tool for cities to support people in overcoming addiction. Real change requires accessible, practical, and stigma-free resources and support.

This project provides a safe space where clients can access help when they are ready, on their terms, and use substances safely along the way to recovery.

Dignity is a sense of pride in oneself; self-respect.

How can architecture make someone feel this pride in themselves?

This building gives people the opportunity to feel worthy—worthy to walk into a beautiful building that is for them.

Self-worth is the first step in recovery.

Site:

Located on Atkinson Street in Boston, Massachusetts, the site is a former industrial zone known as “Methadone Mile” or “Recovery Road.” This area is increasingly associated with homelessness, drug use, violence, crime, sex trafficking, and unsanitary conditions.

Program:

Heart House is designed to serve up to 250 clients per day, consistent with neighborhood needs according to the Mass/Cass Dashboard (2023).

The building features two main zones: the substance zone for safe self-administration and the recovery zone for rehabilitation resources. These zones do not intersect to prevent triggering clients in recovery. Staff travel between the substance and recovery zones. Secure outdoor space, which is lacking in the neighborhood, separates clients from the noise and distraction of the street, while providing a sense of nature in the city. The entry sequence safeguards clients’ privacy with a single secure entrance reducing stigma.

Heart House, the area’s pioneering drug consumption center, offers vital recovery services and prioritizes a dignified experience—an unprecedented offering for this demographic.

This project received an M. Arch Thesis Nomination for Commends

ReFive – Rehabilitative Architecture: Individualized Treatment by Sebastián A. Colón-López, B. Arch ‘24
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico | Advisor: Pedro A. Rosario-Torres

The “ReFive – Rehabilitative Architecture: Individualized Treatment” research offers a critique of Puerto Rico Law 67, which allows involuntary treatment of patients with drug addictions. This analysis underscores deficiencies in the island’s traditional methods, often based on religious beliefs and the use of inadequate facilities that were previously used for other purposes, rather than developing specialized spaces. The research highlights the need to adopt evidence-based treatments.

The conclusions of this research led to the creation of new infrastructures dedicated exclusively to rehabilitation, with environments that promote the recovery and well-being of patients. The project consists of five independent treatment phases and, therefore, five built volumes: detoxification (clinics), dishabituation (therapy), rehabilitation (education), reinsertion (temporary housing), and tracking (administration). These five phases are linearly arranged on-site to provide patients with a healing journey and, at the same time, assist in their orientation from arrival in critical conditions to reintegrating into society. Each phase is designed to meet the specific needs of patients at different stages of their recovery. Spaces include partially open areas with views to the outside, natural light, ventilation, and therapeutic gardens. These elements are essential for creating an environment that facilitates physical and mental recovery and promotes a sense of well-being among patients.

The project is located in Santurce, Puerto Rico because one of the main objectives is to reintegrate patients into society. Locating the building in a densified urban district provides better job opportunities and greater proximity to essential services, thus facilitating reintegration.

ReFive addresses ineffective and outdated methods in the treatment of substance use disorders in Puerto Rico through an innovative, evidence-based model. By critiquing current practices, it identifies shortcomings and presents a plan to transform the mental health care system to be centered on the patients and their specific needs.

This project was nominated for the Medal for Excellence in Design, Francisco Luis Porrata-Doria.

Instagram: @_sebaandrecl

Architecture as a Form of Care: A Transdisciplinary Approach to the Integration of Human-centric Design in Grady Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department by Sara Clement, B. Arch ’24
Kennesaw State University | Advisor: Pegah Zamani

In what ways can the design of the built environment enhance spatial efficiency without compromising the spatial experience of its diverse occupants? This transdisciplinary research focuses on the possibilities of designing optimized built environments while advancing their inhabitants’ well-being. The study centers on a pivotal spatial setting: healthcare emergency facilities with a particular emphasis on Grady Memorial Hospital, a safety net hospital serving uninsured patients from marginalized communities. In the context of emergency care delivery, as a case, this thesis highlights the potential oversight of human-centered experience within the internalized and efficiency-driven nature of emergency departments (EDs) that impact inhabitants, especially in moments of extreme stress. I analyze visible and invisible, clinical and environmental factors. along with human-centered design interventions associated with efficient space planning that fosters connection between clinicians, patients, and visitors.

The research employs a multifaceted transdisciplinary methodology, incorporating an extensive literature review and case studies to identify innovative practices that improve the overall experience for aII stakeholders. The research utilizes evidence-based design as a catalyst to formulate a set of parameters for developing design strategies that aid in the patient’s healing process while responding to the needs of a diverse range of users as well as future needs. The research addresses the complexities of optimizing occupants’ well-being through design across a variety of built environment settings from the waiting area to the clinical spaces. By examining these critical spaces the goal is to identify ways in which designers can spearhead creating more effective sustainable, equitable, and healthier environments for diverse populations.

This project was awarded Second Place in the KSU Architecture Thesis Competition, 2024

Centro de Salud Universitario by Jesús Gerardo Orduña Hurtado, B. Arch ’24
Universidad Anáhuac Querétaro | Advisors: Eduardo Herrera & Jorge Javier

The project for the University Health Centre and the IMSS Family Medical Unit is born through different strategies that allow the land to be used to accommodate the diverse architectural programme. Formally, the building seeks to adapt to the geometry of the site through a grid that helps to modulate the floor plan. 

The initial volume is fragmented into five blocks with curved corners and one central space to divide the different areas. The three interior courtyards help to generate voids that allow natural lighting and ventilation of the spaces. They also function as large terraces and open spaces that allow the user a direct connection with the natural landscape. The curved edges of the blocks make the building less aggressive despite its height, generating interesting views on all facades and orientations. 

The curved spaces were used to generate four vertical circulation cores. These consist of a double spiral staircase, with the lift hub in the centre. In this way, the stairs become a geometrically attractive and not only functional space.

Instagram: @jgoh_arq, @arqwave, @arquitectura_anahuac

Architectural Decisions, Mental Health Outcomes by Naeemah Merchant, M. Arch ’24
Morgan State University | Advisor: Coleman A. Jordan

Introduction:

The Mental Maze Museum project investigates how space design influences psychological well-being. Rooted in the premise that spaces can significantly affect a person’s psychology, this project aims to demonstrate that intentional design can enhance mental health outcomes. The central research question is: What is psychology’s role in placemaking, and how can it improve mental health?

Research Objectives:

This project will explore how different sensory experiences within a space impact psychological states and contribute to mental well-being. The Mental Maze Museum will act as a live laboratory, focusing on the effects of touch, smell, sound, and sight on the brain’s perception of space and resulting emotional experiences.

Methodology:

Touch: The museum will feature various textures, weights, densities, and temperatures to study the impact of physical sensations on room perception and psychological state.

Smell: By incorporating distinct scents, the project will examine how olfactory stimuli capture and evoke memories, influencing emotional experiences.

Sound: Different acoustic properties will be used to explore how sound creates a three-dimensional atmosphere and its impact on mental health.

Sight: Visual stimuli will be employed to create new experiences, balancing the sense of freedom provided by open spaces with their potential to become overwhelming due to noise.

Expected Outcomes:

The Mental Maze Museum aims to provide insights into how intentional design can improve mental health. By understanding the brain’s analysis of space through sensory experiences, the project will offer evidence-based guidelines for creating therapeutic environments. These findings can inform architecture, urban planning, and mental health care, fostering spaces that promote psychological well-being.

Conclusion:

The project emphasizes the significant impact of space design on mental health. By exploring the relationship between psychology and placemaking, the Mental Maze Museum will contribute to the development of environments that support and enhance mental well-being.

This project received the Best Thesis Project for 2024 award. 

Instagram: @studiocaje

Nueva Reforma – Healthcare Design in Latin America by Madelene Dailey, M. Arch ’24
University of Southern California | Advisor: Andy Ku

Widespread displacement and the inadequate distribution of resources caused by civil wars, social strife, and climate change are ongoing threats to the livelihoods of Latin America’s most vulnerable communities. The expansion of urban centers in Latin America has placed socioeconomic pressures on rural residents, forcing them to seek new resources and opportunities outside their native regions. As one of the most populous urban centers in Latin America, Guatemala also has one of the highest emigration rates in the region. The World Bank Group identified that U.S.-Guatemalan migrants have nearly tripled in the last two decades largely due to emigration from rural areas.

Roughly half of the country’s population lives in poverty and requires humanitarian aid, with numbers projected to increase by the end of 2024. Humanitarian efforts and research in response to this crisis are underway, but funding is limited, and aid is often unable to reach the areas that need it most. However, grassroots rural civic planning initiatives are facilitating opportunities that recenter investment in their communities. Merging culturally thoughtful practices with community-driven interdisciplinary approaches to sustainable rural planning, this project aims to investigate how architecture can be leveraged as a tool to support inclusive rural development frameworks that allow impacted communities to self-navigate crisis response efforts and achieve long-term stability through public healthcare design.

This project received the following awards and recognition:

2023 USC Gusendheit Fellowship Award

2024 USC Research Symposium – 1st place

2024 Distinction in Directed Design Research, USC School of Architecture

2024 Alpha Rho Chi Award, USC School of Architecture

2024 Award for Selected Professions Research, American Association of University Women

Instagram: @maddeedailey, @uscarchitecture

Seattle Health District: Providence Pavilion at Cherry Hill by John Edward Carlisle, M. Arch ’24
University of Miami | Advisors: Joanna Lombard, Veruska Vasconez & Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk

The role of Providence-Swedish in the First Hill and Cherry Hill neighborhoods represents a unique history as well as distinctive architectural, urban, and social characteristics. As the hospitals and academic institutions in these neighborhoods implement change, the present condition is poised between the past and the future.  This offers a timely opportunity to imagine how each institution might draw on its own identity and aspirations to contribute to healthy urbanism as well as coalesce into a vibrant health district.  

Each team explored the historic and current conditions of the neighborhoods as well as the Major Institution Master Plans (MIMP) approved by the City of Seattle for the academic and healthcare institutions within a ½ mile radius of one another. Each group then defined its primary objectives and developed a proposal for a Seattle Health District Masterplan that would provide key elements for neighborhood health and wellness—mixed use, connectivity, and greenness—and express both unique institutional and neighborhood character as well as distinctive identity as a Seattle destination Health District. 

Each team member then developed a proposal for a project within their master plan. Carlisle’s proposal for the Providence Pavilion at Cherry Hill seeks to reestablish the prominence of the historic Providence Hospital (1911) through a new campus plan and to provide an imageable Health District destination through the addition of a new central gallery that supports a series of Medical Specialty Pavilions, gardens and plazas.

This project won the Urban Design Studio Award, Spring 2024

Adaptive PlugScapes: Rethinking Prisons as a Reformative Journey by Yasmine Tabet, B. Arch ’24
American University of Beirut | Advisor: Dr. Howayda Al-Harithy

The evolution of punishment typologies from ancient civilizations to modern times has 

seen a profound shift in ideologies and spatial translations. Historically, punishments were often embodied in public spectacles, with tools like the guillotine and the rack transforming public spaces into stages for retribution and deterrence. However, contemporary corrections systems have moved towards incarceration and rehabilitation, aiming to reform offenders.

This thesis proposal delves into this historical trajectory, examining how spatial elements were designed to reinforce punitive ideologies. It highlights the persistence of existing typologies, though with some improvements, and underscores the need to transcend these traditional models.

To create a new typology aligned with contemporary theories of rehabilitation, the study draws inspiration from innovative design explorations. Case studies and emerging scientific trends, such as the Risk-Needs-Responsivity model and restorative justice, were used to conduct the study. By synthesizing these precedents and integrating emerging scientific trends, this proposal aims to forge a novel typology that reimagines the spatial dimensions of punishment. It envisions a future where architecture is harnessed as a tool for effective rehabilitation, fostering a more humane and socially beneficial corrections system.

This project was nominated for the Areen Projects Award for Excellence in Architecture

Instagram: @ard_aub

Infrastructures of Collective Care by Jessica Wong, M. Arch ’24
University of Pennsylvania | Advisors: Eduardo Rega Calvo & Rashida Ng

The concept of care is one explored by political theorist Joan Tronto, who writes about its potential to cultivate social cohesion and collective consciousness in urban environments. Tronto defines care as “a species activity that includes everything that we do to maintain, continue, and repair our ‘world’ so that we can live in it as well as possible.” Within this conceptual framework, five aspects of care can be identified: caring about, caring for, caregiving, care receiving, and caring with. Through these principles of care, this thesis explores ways to disrupt the ongoing structural violence and impositions faced by communities of color due to unjust and ignorant policies and urban development. The project also aims to shift the perception of care beyond domestic and traditional caregiving notions to promote the development of collective community infrastructures that are formed in solidarity with community input and existing development ambitions and visions for Philadelphia’s Chinatown.

As a result, a larger network of care interventions is identified and interpreted through a series of nodes seeking to amplify the already present social, economic, and cultural assets in Chinatown. The network consists of both future sites and existing resources that rely on adjacencies in the urban fabric of the neighborhood in the justification of their programming.

The overarching ambitions of Infrastructures of Collective Care aim to paint a holistic story of a community’s history of struggle, relentless perseverance, and future scenarios for community growth through a narrative and graphic novel-based approach. The graphic novel is a speculative document comprised of urban design strategies that represent the intersection of a yearlong process of research, analysis, and community engagement. Architectural and landscaping interventions reveal themselves in the graphic novel in hopes of projecting alternative Chinatown futures capable of resisting future institutional pressures of carelessness.

Instagram: @weitzman_arch

Designing for Well-Being: Preventive Architecture against Stress and Anxiety by Odalys Brugman-Santiago, B. Arch ’24
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico | Advisors: Manuel De Lemos-Zuazaga & Pedro A. Rosario-Torres

According to specialists, in recent years there has been a notable increase in young adults suffering from diseases that generally used to occur in people over 45 years of age. Studies report that the appearance of many of these at an early age is due not only to genetic factors but also to the constant stress and anxiety that people experience in their daily lives. Although statistics show that women suffer the most from anxiety disorders, very few seek treatment compared to men. Of those who do attend, more than 70% report not having children or dependent children, which is why it is concluded that this is an important factor when deciding to take care of their mental and emotional health.

The proposal for the Arasibo Resort & Wellness Center seeks to create a welcoming space where women and children can come to receive services to take care of their mental and emotional health in order to prevent the development or exacerbation of diseases due to constant exposure to situations of stress and anxiety. Its strategic location near the northern coast of Puerto Rico, specifically in the municipality of Arecibo, provides the user with pleasant views of the sea and other natural environments from any of the spaces. In addition, the project provides areas of encounter with nature for both outpatients and inpatients.

The main spatial programs in this project are: mental health service areas, a child daycare center, hotel-type rooms for inpatient treatment, an art and recreation area, commercial spaces for rent, a pharmacy, cafeteria, restaurant, and spa, among others. Every design decision is mainly based on strategies resulting from extensive research. For this, the following theories were cautiously studied: Psychosocial Stress, Chronic Stress, Neuroarchitecture, Architecture through the Senses and Phenomenology of Architecture.

Instagram: @obrvg

Reforming Re-entry: Creating Healing Transition Spaces For The Formerly Incarcerated by Leonard Jefferson, B. Arch ’24
Auburn University | Advisor: David Shanks

This thesis proposal seeks to address the issue of life post-incarceration for former prisoners. After their release, these individuals inevitably cross paths with the many barriers to reentry into society. One reason these barriers exist is due to the time spent within the American prison system itself. In general, this system is built to dehumanize the incarcerated by stripping them of their freedoms. Prisoners are consistently exposed to psychologically traumatizing environments, leaving a negative impact on their mental fortitude. Once released, ex-prisoners face the second barrier of stigmatization from society. Prejudged due to their criminal background, they often have trouble finding stable housing and jobs due to a lack of trust. Based on this realization, the following design proposal creates a transition space that combines housing, education, and employment opportunities under one roof. There are two primary ideals tested in this proposal: (1) Providing opportunities on multiple scales for residents to choose the level of privacy they desire; and (2) embracing the interpersonal contact theory, by creating ample space where residents can interact more often with the public. All in all, if we aim to help the formerly incarcerated, we must provide an architectural typology equipped with the fundamental resources they need to better themselves and fulfill their desire for a second chance.

Instagram: @leo.dj_, @davidrshanks

Stay tuned for Part X!

2023 Study Architecture Student Showcase - Part XXIII

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Athletics and wellness are at the forefront of the designs featured in Part XXIII of the 2023 Study Architecture Student Showcase. The displayed projects range from sports centers dedicated to improving the quality of life for those living with disabilities to facilities that draw on the connection between health and design – demonstrating how the built environment can foster healthy lifestyle change.

ENLACE (CONNECTION) by Alejandra Camacho Meza, B.Arch ‘23
Universidad Anáhuac Querétaro | Advisor: Jorge Javier

An Adapted Sports Center can provide a dignified space for those living with a disability or who wish to start a rehabilitation process to improve their quality of life. At the same time, it can empower this “small” sector of the population that not only has a presence in the delegation but throughout the state of Querétaro.

This project was received the Dept. Chair Award Senior Year Capstone and an Honorable Mention at the USGBC Detroit Student Competition

Instagram: @ale_camchomez87 , @arqwave

Sports Recreation Adapting Communities in Puerto Rico by Christian A. Pérez-Montalvo, B.Arch ‘23
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico | Advisor: Pedro A. Rosario-Torres

The objective of this project is to look for modern and functional architecture that reflects the motivation and enthusiasm of young people and inspires Roberto Clemente’s desire to help young Puerto Ricans come true.

The architectural program calls for a modern educational and sports center in the Roberto Clemente Sports City Park in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The goal is to address the challenges that Puerto Rican youth (ages 13 to 17) face when trying to develop their athletic capacities due to various negative factors that impede their full potential.

The proposal is based on rescuing and renovating the disused existing sports facilities and combining them with an educational purpose that integrates academics and sports, guaranteeing a positive impact on society. The axiality concept focuses on the complex’s functionality, creating a central axis that helps circulation between the different areas.

The architectural design focuses on functionality, accessibility, and youth safety. A sports school and recreation center are designed to function as a dorm, supplying a focus on educational performance and sports therapy. The rooms are spacious, well-lit, and equipped with the necessary elements.

The project is divided into four programmatic phases:

  1. Sports Phase: includes the construction of modern facilities to foster physical development and athletic skills, such as baseball and soccer fields.
  2. Education Phase: includes classrooms, library, and computer rooms to ensure a good educational environment.
  3. Therapeutic Phase: supplies specialized therapies, such as psychotherapy and physical therapy, for those youth who need emotional and physical support.
  4. Dormitories Phase: offers accommodation to young people with athletic abilities and good academic performance, allowing them to improve beyond their limits.

In summary, the proposal looks to turn the Roberto Clemente Sports City into a first-rate educational and sports center, where young Puerto Ricans find support to develop their potential and learn values such as hard work, integrity, and teamwork. The project helps young people from different origins and situations, improving their quality of life and allowing them to develop sports careers, for the country’s benefit.

 

Instagram: @__chapm1 

Movement Legacy: A Bioethical and Epigenetically Grounded Architectural Framework for Healthy Lifestyle Change Brett Walter, M.Arch (professional degree) ‘23
McEwen School of Architecture, Laurentian University | Advisor: Aliki Economides

Strong correlations between environmental stressors and absolute mortality rates have been shown in medical research for decades. New research in neuroscience, environmental psychology, urbanism, and medicine have identified many of these specific factors, which include quality of light, noise levels, ease of wayfinding, sense of safety, opportunities for socialization, and proximity to nature, however, these are not yet widely understood or adopted by the design community. A novel approach that better leverages the scientific literature to inform design is required. Recent discoveries in epigenetics further reveal the immense impact our environment has on intergenerational human health through a process called epigenomic editing. Simply put, our built environment and the nudges it can provide for better lifestyle choices, such as exercising, can positively impact us via epigenetic mechanisms which change the expression of our DNA. These changes in gene expression improve cellular function making us more resilient to disease and are then passed down to our next generations, thereby providing the blueprint for how our children’s cells will operate.

This thesis argues that design and health are inextricably linked to bioethical questions that require deeper exploration and ought to compel designers to reframe their role and responsibility in community health. A new theoretical framework is developed that aligns design elements at multiple scales with evidence-based principles, which elicit positive health outcomes through increased physical activity prevalence. Informed by the framework, a network of design interventions for Sudbury, Ontario demonstrates how the built environment can foster healthy lifestyle change. The broad accessibility to – and significant impact of – physical activity galvanizes its centrality in the picture for comprehensive public health. When we nurture our physical health, improvements to mood, cognitive function, relationships, sex life, professional life, and longevity follow, bringing positive changes to community mental health, economic strength, and environmental sustainability.

This project received the Thesis Commendation Architectural Research Centre Consortium (ARCC) King Medal for Excellence in Architectural & Environmental Design Research, the TD Bank Graduate Scholarship in Architecture: Design for Human Habitat and the RAIC Foundation Vince Catalli Scholarship for Sustainable Architectural Innovation

Instagram: @brettwltr, @aliki.economides

Kits Pool Redux by Dylan Treleven, M. Arch ‘23
The University of Texas at Austin | Advisor: Kevin Alter

Kitsilano Pool is a popular outdoor swimming facility in the Kitsilano neighborhood of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Situated along the shores of English Bay, the beach and surrounding park were formerly the site of a Squamish first nations settlement before white homesteaders claimed the land in the late 19th century. The pool was built in 1931 and remains one of the largest saltwater swimming pools in North America, measuring 137 meters in length. It is open for swimming during the summer season and provides space for sunbathing, lounging, and picnicking with expansive views of the bay and surrounding mountains.

Rising king tides and increasingly violent storm surges have caused extensive damage to the pool in recent years. In response, the local community is reassessing the viability of its design. Kits Pool Redux proposes a resilient and sustainable reimagining of the pool and park to address the growing challenges posed by climate change while maintaining the recreational functionality and iconic aesthetic presence of the current structures. The project begins with a fundamental acknowledgment that the shoreline is always in flux. Consequently, the old concrete sea wall and swimming basin are to be demolished and reincorporated into a permeable riprap breakwater that lines the beach.

Atop this curving, protective mound of boulders sits a raised boardwalk that connects the high ground at the northeastern and southwestern corners of the park. Like strangely precious flotsam deposited along the shore, the boardwalk is dotted with small attractions such as a camera obscura, a carousel, and a pair of sound mirrors that allow friends to whisper to one another across the bay. At the southwestern tip of the park is perched a distinctive event hall with a café and gathering spaces that greet the urban edge at the highest elevation on the site. At the foot of the hall, the riprap and boardwalk wind outward to form a jetty that further protects the beach waters. It houses restrooms, showers, and saunas while providing moorage for a floating pool-shaped swimming dock that deftly rises and falls with the tides.

This project was nominated for the Design Excellence, Advanced Studio, Spring 2023 Award

Instagram: @dttreleven, @alterstudio

See you in the next installment of the Student Showcase!

U. Buffalo Hosts Events on Global Health Equity

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(via UB Now)

Global health equity will be the focus of a series of events UB is hosting this spring. Events range from a talk addressing malnutrition among children in developing countries, to hosting leaders from across the Western Hemisphere for the biennial meeting of the Interamerican Network for Healthy Habitats. In addition, UB will host a keynote lecture by a Geneva-based World Health Organization expert, a health summit aimed at improving health for refugees in Western New York, and an innovation challenge for students.Supported by the Community for Global Health Equity and the School of Public Health and Health Professions’ Office of Global Health Initiatives, these events highlight UB’s flourishing global health strengths.“Seven years ago, a small group of public health students developed the concept of the very first Global Health Day here at UB. Since then, we have been able to dramatically expand global health activities on campus, thanks to the generous funding support provided to the SPHHP Office of Global Health Initiatives and the UB Community for Global Health Equity,” said Pavani Ram, a co-director of UB’s Community for Global Health Equity and director for the Office of Global Health Initiatives.“Attracting colleagues from across the Americas and from international organizations such as the World Health Organization is a testament to the exciting global health opportunities now available at the university.”Registration is required for most events. Visit the links below for registration and additional information. Here’s an overview of each event:
March 31: Global Health Day (noon-4 p.m.)
This is the seventh year for this event, which runs from noon to 4 p.m. in 111 Kimball Tower on UB’s South Campus. Keynote speaker Rebecca J. Stoltzfus — professor in the Division of Nutrition Sciences and vice provost for undergraduate education at Cornell University — will discuss the causes of childhood malnutrition. Stoltzfus is engaged in research projects in Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia.Following the keynote address will be presentations from students across a range of disciplines, including architecture, geology and epidemiology.A global health research panel will take place from 3-4 p.m. featuring six UB researchers: Diana Aga, professor of chemistry; Kasia Kordas, associate professor of epidemiology and environmental health; Indranil Goswami, assistant professor of marketing; Helen Wang, associate professor of communication; Oscar Gomez, associate professor of pediatrics; and Samina Raja, associate professor of urban and regional planning.Jean Wactawski-Wende, dean of the School of Public Health and Health Professions, will deliver closing remarks.Global Health Day is co-sponsored by SPHHP’s Office of Global Health Initiatives and the UB Community for Global Health Equity. More info at:https://www.buffalo.edu/globalhealthday
April 18-19: 11th Biennial Meeting of the Inter-American Network of Healthy Habitats
The School of Public Health and Health Professions and the School of Architecture and Planning are hosting this two-day event as part of the university’s role as a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Health in Housing.The event will feature a keynote address from Nathalie Roebbel, technical officer in the Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.Presentations will also be given by Samina Raja, associate professor of urban and regional planning, and Henry Louis Taylor, professor of urban and regional planning.
April 20: Symposium on Promoting the Health of Migrants in the Americas
UB’s Community for Global Health Equity will host this symposium on promoting the health of migrants in the Americas featuring keynote speaker Marcelo Korc, a regional adviser with the WHO / Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The symposium will include a presentation by Kim Griswold, associate professor of family medicine, psychiatry and public health and health professions at UB.
April 21: fourth annual WNY Refugee Health Summit (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)
Registration is required for this event, which is sponsored by UB’s Office of Global Health Initiatives and the UB Community for Global Health EquityBuffalo is home to over 22,000 foreign-born residents, many of whom are refugees. The foreign-born population increased by 95 percent between 2006 and 2013, doubling the number of students with limited English proficiency in Buffalo’s public schools. Buffalo’s refugee populations are revitalizing and diversifying Buffalo – but challenges remain in delivering effective health care for them.The summit, which takes place in UB’s Educational Opportunity Center (555 Ellicott St., Buffalo), convenes scholars, resettlement agencies, service providers, community support centers, municipal agencies and refugees to explore barriers and solutions to promote culturally engaged health care for refugees in Buffalo.The event begins at 9 a.m. with a welcome by Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. Summit speakers include:
  • Kevin Pottie, founding director of the Immigrant Health Clinic of Ottawa and a researcher in the Centre for Global Health at the University of Ottawa.
  • Meb Rashid, who in his role as medical director of the Crossroads Clinic works with newly arrived refugees in Canada.
  • Sharmila Shetty, a medical epidemiologist in the Emergency Response and Recovery Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • Deborah Lee, who for the past 10 years has worked as an epidemiologist in the Immigrant, Refugee and Migrant Health (IRMH) Branch of the Division of Global Migration and Quarantine (DGMQ) on U.S. immigrant and refugee health issues and has managed the Migrant Serum Bank since 2007.

More info at: https://www.buffalo.edu/refugeehealth

May 22-26: Global Innovation Challenge

Teams of UB undergraduate and graduate students will partner with faculty experts and local professionals to compete for funding to further the ideas they’ll hone through the first half of the week.The challenge is for teams to develop strategies that bridge the gap between Western and non-Western “cultures of care” in order to improve the continuity of care, which in turn improves health and wellness among refugees in Buffalo.The week will begin with short presentations from guests, coupled with small- and whole-group discussions. As major themes emerge, teams will surface through a combined approach of self-organizing and facilitator organizing. As the teamwork progresses, each group will be encouraged to focus their proposed strategies toward a specific health care type or situation, group and strategy.Teams will be coached on how to present their ideas, and will get practice and feedback prior to the “pitch” to the jury on May 26.The Global Innovation Challenge was started last year and is organized by the Community for Global Health Equity. More information is available at:https://www.buffalo.edu/gic2017.
Learn more about the architecture program at University of Buffalo!