How to Approach Sustainability in Healthcare Design

A proponent of lifelong learning, Daniel A. Huard is a sought‐after green building expert also recognized as the Godfather of sustainability. Huard is launching Build For Impact, aiming to build a platform to allow for collaboration with some of the best minds in the world who focus on green design and sustainability.

Building has long been a part of the human experience. It’s been a critical aspect in the evolution of life. Now construction and design are more than just about how it looks and how it works. The new horizon is focusing on sustainability, resilience, and material transparency. To lend expertise on the subject, architect Jane Rohde, Principal at JSR Associates, with a list of distinguished awards and certifications, joins the show. 

Sustainability is a buzzword in architecture, but what does it really mean right now? Rohde shared, “Sustainability isn’t a single attribute. It’s integrated together. Being in healthcare, I see this more prominently, the unintended consequences of not looking at performance.” 

Alongside sustainability comes resiliency, which describes the ability of a building to prevent and recover from damage. “Resiliency now really ties into emergency preparedness. Looking at nursing homes hit hard by COVID or how hospitals on the Texas coast prepared for Hurricane Harvey. If design intention and operation intention are considered together, it’s a much better outcome,” Rohde commented.  

Another critical subject is material transparency. To be fully transparent is difficult for manufacturers and supply chains. It’s not just what the product is; it’s where it’s from and the conditions of that area.

“With material transparency, there are bigger questions that we don’t have answers to, regarding social responsibility. But the conversations are happening. What’s critical is not to look at it from a single attribute perspective. The better way may be from an exposure and risk perspective,” Rohde stated.

Listen To Previous Episodes of Build for Impact Right Here!

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

intelligent audio systems
Redefining Security: The Critical Role of Voice in Intelligent Audio Systems
April 1, 2025

In the world of security technology, vision has long taken precedence—cameras, analytics, and access control have dominated the conversation. But what if we’ve been underestimating our oldest, most human sense of communication: voice? The rise of intelligent audio in security systems marks a turning point in how we protect spaces and people, shifting from passive…

Read More
How PSA is Empowering Integrators to Navigate AI, Mobile Credentials, and Modern Business Challenges?
April 1, 2025

As the security integration industry contends with rapid technological advancement and increasing business complexity, many integrators are looking for the tools, training, and guidance to keep pace. At the center of this evolution is AI—transforming not just the products integrators deploy but also the way they operate their businesses. Meanwhile, the shift to mobile credentials…

Read More
biometric face authentication
Biometric Face Authentication Moves from High-Security to High-Convenience
April 1, 2025

Facial recognition technology has long hovered on the fringe of mainstream adoption, promising futuristic solutions but often shackled by high costs, limited applications, and public skepticism. In 2024, however, a pivotal shift is underway. Thanks to advances in edge devices, reduced price points, and changing attitudes toward digital identity, biometric face authentication is now…

Read More
SIA RISE
SIA RISE is Shaping the Industry Through Community and Intentional Growth
April 1, 2025

The security industry is experiencing a quiet revolution—one led not by technology alone, but by a new wave of passionate young professionals. As legacy systems give way to modern, cloud-based platforms and mobile-first solutions, the need for fresh perspectives, diverse skill sets, and energized leadership is more pressing than ever. One organization at the forefront…

Read More