Date of Award

5-2026

Degree Type

Capstone Project

First Advisor

Dustin Altschul

Second Advisor

Kimberly Buchholz

Abstract

This thesis challenges the traditional hierarchy of clinical architecture, which historically prioritizes patient outcomes while overlooking the practitioner’s human experience. By investigating whether environmental design can act as a form of caregiving, this research addresses the critical gap between the physiological demands of healthcare labor and the holistic needs of the people performing it. The project argues that burnout is not just a result of high-stakes medicine, but is actively produced by physical layouts and a workplace culture that treats providers as parts of a machine rather than valued individuals. The methodological framework utilizes a tri-layered approach to bridge the gap between current reality and a restorative future. Evidence-Based Design (EBD) grounds spatial decisions in stress-mapping and workflow data; Speculative Design prototypes “what-if” scenarios that transcend the constraints of current hospital layouts; and Slow Design ensures that environments prioritize deep human interaction over mere efficiency. Research insights revealed that stressors are often “invisible,”embedded in chaotic circulation paths and constant noise, but also compound with external pressures from providers’ personal lives. The culmination of this research is “The Village,” a scalable architectural model designed to act as a restorative ecosystem. Built upon foundational pillars, including quiet zones for cognitive de-escalation, clear circulation to reduce navigational stress, and collaboration hubs to break down rigid hierarchies, The Village adapts to both dense urban centers and rural Michigan communities. By providing spaces for emotional release and personal growth, the design acknowledges that providers carry external life strains into the workplace. Ultimately, this work asserts that the built environment must move beyond responding to symptoms of stress and instead reshape the conditions that produce them. By caring for the provider holistically, we create a more resilient, human-centered philosophy of health that benefits the entire system.

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