Procedures for Identification of Design Attributes for Mental Hospital Treatment Units

Abstract

This paper summarizes the purposes, procedures and results of the Environmental Design Research Project conducted at the Arizona State Hospital. This research was conducted to identify important attributes that influence the design of mental hospital treatment units, assess staff perception of these attributes, and confirm resident activities on existing wards. The field research was conducted to provide an empirical basis for the development of a performance‐based design guide for designing new, or modifying existing, treatment units. Environmental control, health safety and welfare, maintenance, and staff control attributes were rated “most useful” in the staff's evaluation. Personalization, orientation, and activity‐related attributes seemed less critical, according to staff. In addition, observation research confirmed the activity patterns of elderly residents on two of the hospital treatment units.