Jun 3, 2026 _ news

GBBN Wins 4th EDRA CORE Merit Award

The Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) has announced the Certificate of Research Excellence (CORE) recipients for 2026. GBBN was recognized with Merit status, CORE’s highest honor, for our research study, “Through Children’s Eyes: Rethinking the Design of Pediatric Healthcare Arrival Spaces,” which was conducted under the direction of GBBN’s Director of Research, Shan Jiang, Ph.D.

The initial moments in a healthcare facility significantly shape the experiences of patients and visitors. For pediatric patients, arrival spaces are particularly crucial in influencing their perception of care quality and overall well-being. Research has shown that feelings of fear and helplessness can lead to increased stress and reduced satisfaction among young patients. To mitigate these effects the literature emphasizes the importance of incorporating positive distractions through a child-centered design approach.

Conducted in partnership with Jason Luthy (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center) and Dr. Hui Cai (SimTigrate Design Lab, Georgia Tech), this Post-Occupancy-Evaluation (POE) assessed spatial navigation and behavioral patterns at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Burnet Campus after a renovation that integrated positive distractions and respite spaces through a collaborative effort between GBBN and Kolar Design. Key findings include an increase in relaxed and playful behavior by children in the renovated lobby; spatial anchors serve as positive distractions for young patients; and the renovated arrival zone reduced the sense of crowdedness along the main concourse while accommodating twice the previous pedestrian flow as before the renovation.

“The study findings informed specific design and operational improvements, including spatial rearrangement decisions intended to reduce congestion and improve circulation,” noted one juror. Another jury comment called out the successful use of digital tools in the study: “The use of Space Syntax does give voice and consideration to young children who are often overlooked in design instead favoring adult perceptions, even in spaces that are designed for children.”

Thank you to EDRA and the jury for recognizing our work this year!

Learn more about this research study here.

Read about our previous EDRA CORE Awards here and here.

Read our case study on this project here.

Read more about research at GBBN here.

See more of our healthcare projects here.