Glass for Healing

Originally published in Glass Magazine/ March 2018

Healthcare facilities and hospitals look to glass for patient recovery, decorative design, security and more

In recent years, glass has emerged as a critical design element for hospitals and healthcare facilities. Ample glass on the interior and exterior allows natural daylight to penetrate deeper into buildings, promoting patient comfort and accelerating recovery.

“Light impacts outcomes in healthcare settings by reducing depression among patients, decreasing length of stay in hospitals, improving sleep and circadian rhythm, lessening agitation among dementia patients, easing pain and improving adjustment to night-shift work among staff,” according to the Center for Health Design’s The Impact of Light on Outcomes in Healthcare report, which provides a comprehensive look at numerous studies on the effects of daylighting on health.

According to a 2016 Dodge Data & Analytics report on biophilic design, hospital patients with views of nature saw length of stays fall 8.5 percent, and patients in daylit rooms requested 22 percent less pain medication.

From glazed façades to interior glass railings and partitions, glass allows architects to meet goals for patient-centric design. And, designers increasingly want more from their glass products for healthcare applications. Designers are pushing the envelope even further by looking for glass in healthcare facilities that also provides elements of decorative design, meets occupant security requirements, offers privacy to patients and more.

for a pdf version click here: Photos for Healing Newsletter #124- Apr. ’18