EDRA CORE

2023 EDRA CORE: CERTIFICATE OF RESEARCH EXCELLENCE 

The Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) is pleased to announce the Certificate of Research Excellence (CORE) recipients for 2023. CORE recognizes rigorous and impactful practice-based research that sparks innovation and promotes best practices in environmental design.

The credibility of academic research is typically judged based on well-established protocols and peer-review processes, but what constitutes research quality in the context of the practice of environmental design? The tools used to assess academic research do not easily translate to practice-based research – a challenge for researchers and practitioners alike. In response, EDRA developed CORE to assess the value of research beyond rigor alone.

EDRA CORE’s unique evaluation framework identifies practice-based environmental design research that is not only rigorous but also meets industry challenges, pushes the boundaries of practice, recognizes the importance of research in practice, and builds on EDRA’s tradition of inquiry, reflection, and collaboration.

2023 EDRA CORE REVIEWERS

• Brian Schermer, PhD, AIA Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Principal, Workshop Architects
• Kirk Hamilton, PhD, EDAC, FAIA Professor Emeritus, Texas A&M University Founding Co-Editor, Health Environments Research & Design (HERD)
• Nicholas Watkins, PhD Global Health Sector Research Lead, Gensler
• Shan Jiang Director of Research, GBBN
• Sharmin Kader, PhD, Assoc. AIA Past Chair, Environmental Design Research Association

2023 EDRA CORE RECIPIENTS

The following practice-based design research projects met the CORE criteria. They were selected for recognition based on a review by a cross-disciplinary panel of reviewers consisting of academic researchers, practice-based researchers, designers, and industry thought leaders. The CORE recipients will be recognized at the EDRA54, Mexico City, June 20th – 23rd, 2023.

MERIT CERTIFICATION

“Effects of Lactation Room Quality on Working Mothers’ Feelings and Thoughts Related to Breastfeeding and Work: A Randomized Controlled Trial and a Field Experiment”

Hanze University of Applied Sciences, University of Groningen, VDKL interieurarchitectuur

Study team: Sjoukje van Dellen, Mark Mobach, Barbara Wisse, Daphne van der Knijff-Looman

Download the PDF (coming soon)

“Building for Pandemic Resiliency: A Comparative Analysis of Multiple Facilities across the U.S. Military Health System”

HKS Inc. and WSP

Study team: Rutali Joshi, Deborah Wingler, Abhishek Bhargava, Nolan Rome, Brent Willson

Download the PDF (coming soon)

“A Welcoming & Confident Visitor Experience: Case Study of an Art Center”

HGA and Walker Art Center

Study team: Mahshid Jalalian, Adaheid Mestad, David Goldstein, Joan Soranno, John Cook, Marc L’Italien, Aaron Kapphahn, Naz Bilgic, Oshana Reich, Tom Reed, Rich Firkins

Download the PDF (coming soon)

CERTIFICATION

“The Building as a Therapeutic Tool: Understanding Patient and Staff Experience at an Innovative Translational Rehabilitation Hospital”

HDR Inc. and Sheltering Arms Institute

Study team: Francesqca Jimenez, Jeri Brittin, Richard Kunz, Abigail Heithoff, Samuel Weyand

Download the PDF (coming soon)

“Evaluation of User Efficiencies and Experience Related to Universal Design of Orthopedic Ambulatory Surgical Centers”

HGA and Bellin Health Systems

Study team: Mahshid Jalalian, Tanya Chadha, Kara Freihoefer, Oshana Reich, Danya Hakky, Andrew Zimmer, Jennifer Macdonald

Download the PDF (coming soon)

“Hudson River Park Census Project”

HDR Inc.

Study team: Samuel Weyand, Abigail Heithoff, Jeri Brittin

Download the PDF (coming soon)

“Trauma-Informed Design Evaluation Tool for K-12 Schools”

The Boston Architectural College, Cowart Trauma Informed Partnership, Paradigm Spaces, LLC.

Study team: Davis Harte, Christine Cowart, Janet Roche, Molly Pierce, Kelsey Jones

Download the PDF (coming soon)

“Neurodiversity, Sensory Processing and Workplace Inclusion”

HOK

Study Lead: Kay Sargent

Download the PDF (coming soon)

“Developing a Post-Occupancy Evaluation Method Using Social Media to Reveal Usage Pattern of High-Speed Railway Stations”

Beijing Jiaotong University, Oklahoma State University, Central-South Architectural Design Institute co.

Study Team: Zhongzhong Zeng, Yi He, Bo Zhang, Chunfang Li, Li Wang

Download the PDF (coming soon)