People


Shan Jiang

PH.D, International ASLA

Associate | Director of Research

An established researcher, educator and thought leader, Shan has conducted and published a substantial body of research on the relationship between people and their environment, therapeutic landscapes, healthcare design, and sustainable community development. While teaching within West Virginia University’s School of Design and Community Development, she published dozens of articles in peer-reviewed journals, presented her work at conferences, and published a full monograph with Routledge. As GBBN’s Director of Research, Shan leads firm-wide research efforts, helping design teams in all markets conduct research while drawing on established research to inform and support their design work.

Both creative and scientific—open-minded and rigorous—Shan enjoys working with her coworkers to generate design solutions while also subjecting them to rigorous testing, so we understand how well they work. Drawn to the grace and power of racquet sports, Shan recharges with a game or by taking in art and nature.

Professional Highlights


Author, Nature Through a Hospital Window: The Therapeutic Benefits of Landscape in Architectural Design, Routledge


Editorial Advisory Board Member, Health Environments Research and Design (HERD) Journal


Seasoned Speaker at HCD, EDRA, ASLA, and CELA Annual Conferences


Research Fellow and Peer-Reviewer, Landscape Architecture Foundation Case Study Investigation Program


Former Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, School of Design and Community Development, West Virginia University

News & Insights

woman about to serve a tennis ball "Find me on a tennis court!" - Shan Jiang