It's a good thing we have building codes, minimum standards, regulations and design guidelines. If we didn't, there would be little likelihood that our built environments would be as safe and supportive as they currently are. Those of us who have seen the result of our Vietnam war veterans lobbying for accessibility codes can attest to the value of the regulatory process.

The Center for Health Design's mission is to encourage the widespread development of life-enhancing built environments. Although this mission touches the life of every human being in a dramatic and profound way, it is surprising to observe the overall lack of concern that people have for this issue.

Sufficient evidence currently exists to justify appropriate investments in the built environment as a means to promote and support human health and well-being. Notice that I have chosen to use the word "investment" rather than "expenditure." In the workplace setting, these investments can be directly related to return on investment analyses. Consider, for example, the studies done by the Rocky Mountain Institute that justify the increased costs for daylight technology in the workplace through reduced employee absenteeism and increased productivity. This is an excellent example of good design improving the business bottom line.

What about the bottom line results of our experience in our personal living environments? Who is there to watch out for us? How do we measure our personal well-being as it relates to the built environment? It is difficult to measure, but not impossible. Consider symptoms such as asthma, headaches, nausea, dizziness or fatigue. If you experience any of these at home and not elsewhere, it's cause to further investigate your personal living environment.

Smoke detectors are a common sight today. Why? Because they increase our personal safety? No, not really. They are required in many cases because those companies that manufacture the devices lobbied for regulations. The same is true in the case of fire sprinklers, and probably numerous other products protecting our safety that are codified into the construction of our built environments. It is little wonder that we don't yet have design requirements for the quality of the human experience, because who would financially benefit from and lobby for them?

When Ralph Nader suggested 30 years ago that we should wear seat belts to save lives, was it because he had a financial interest in seat belts? No. He did this because he thought it was the right thing to do. Similarly, The Center for Health Design thinks that encouraging the widespread development of life-enhancing environments is the right thing to do. There is no financial interest for the center to advocate this.

In September 1995, The Center for Health Design convened a meeting at New York University that was titled, "A Work Group to Examine the Feasibility of Developing Standards for Environmental Quality." A panel of 16 facility executives, design professionals and association leaders participated in this landmark gathering. The work group has defined its mission to improve health care by:

• valuing the quality of the human experience;
• promoting education and research that support positive outcomes;
• and supporting physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs.

The work group will have its third meeting in May. We can clearly see that as a result of this group's pioneering efforts, the face of health care design will be radically altered. It is our hope that these standards will eventually be incorporated into the accrediting process for hospitals in the United States. And health care is just where the group has initially focused its work. In the near future, the center will push beyond the boundaries of traditional health care settings into all aspects of the built environment -- homes, schools, communities and even transportation vehicles. Why shouldn't cars, buses, airplanes and trains have more health-supporting environments?

If these efforts make sense to you, let us know. Your encouragement and support will accelerate our work and enhance its effectiveness.

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