Trauma-informed design emphasizes safety, comfort, dignity, and calm; several award-winning projects integrate this approach. At Oak Cottage Behavioral Health Facility at Maple Lane in Washington, designed by BCRA and BWBR, muted colors, noise-reducing acoustic treatments, and gentle lighting create a homelike setting that fosters healing and respect.
Similarly, in Pennsylvania, Allegheny Health Network’s Forbes Hospital Behavioral Health Suite, located in the emergency department, uses tranquil blues, greens, and a large wall graphic depicting a nature scene to soften the intensity of an emergency setting. Designed by IKM Architecture, the space includes lighting that’s adjustable for color temperature to match the outside world and align with patients’ natural circadian rhythms.
By recognizing the profound impact of the built environment on mood and behavior, these projects succeed in creating spaces where patients and staff feel safe, valued, and heard.
