We Present at International Environments for Aging Conference

Apr, 2012
Architecture, Design, Education, Event, Healthcare, Learning, News, Teaching

We Present at International Environments for Aging Conference

Aerial view of Northwood at the Parks, Nycum project that helped develop the Province’s new Long Term Care standards. Photograph ©2010 Vision Air Services

This year’s annual Environments for Aging conference will be held in Orlando, FL. We will be presenting our analysis of how innovation and design standards converged in a major three year initiative to build 1,533 new nursing home beds in Nova Scotia. We examine the surprising outcomes and their determinants in form, space and culture when a strict design standard is used. In particular, we explore how innovation was handled – such as adaptations to space requirements and cost reductions – and ultimately propose a method for embracing innovation within a design standard.