Practicing ArchitectureKnowledge Communities

This is the 12th edition of the Academy Journal, published by the AIA Academy of Architecture for Health (AAH) knowledge community. As the official publication of the Academy, the Journal electronically publishes articles of particular interest to AIA members and the interested public involved in the fields of healthcare architecture, planning, design, research, and construction. Since 2005 we have also published a hard copy version of the Journal that has expanded our distribution worldwide. The goal has always been to promote awareness and educational exchanges between architects and healthcare providers and to broaden our understanding about our clients.

Articles are submitted to, and reviewed by, an experienced, nationally diverse Editorial Review Committee (ERC). Over the years, the committee has reviewed more than 167 submitted articles, responded to countless writers’ inquiries, and encouraged and assisted numerous writers in achieving publication. The Journal has provided valuable opportunities for new and seasoned authors from the architecture and healthcare professions. With this issue, 99 articles supporting the enhancement of the built environment for healthcare have been selected and printed. Throughout the 13-year history of the Journal, the authors have included architects, physicians, nurses, other healthcare providers, academics, research scientists, and students from the United States and many foreign countries.

Published articles have explored a broad range of medical topics, including trends in and the future of healthcare architecture, cardiac care, future and evolving technology, patient rooms and patient safety, lighting design for healthcare, psychology, workplace design, cancer care environments, emergency care, women’s and children’s care, and various healthcare project delivery methods. Visit the Academy Journal archives for earlier articles you may have missed. We would like to encourage more graduates who have received healthcare research scholarships and others involved with research within the architecture for healthcare field to submit their research to the Journal for publication consideration. We will continue to develop a cross-referenced article index and a broader base of writers and readers. The deadline for the 2011 Call for Papers is May 31, 2011.

My special thanks to the AIA for its continued support and hard-working staff and to the many volunteers who have contributed to our growing and continued success. I would especially like to thank the other members of the 2009 ERC: James G. Easter Jr., FAAMA, Assoc. AIA (Tenn.); Ed Jakmauh, AIA, ACHA, LEED AP (Pa.); Joyce Redden (Tenn.); John Sealander, AIA, ACHA (Calif.); Professor Kent Spreckelmeyer, PhD, FAIA (Kan.), and Janice Stanton, RN, MBA (Mo.).

As always, we encourage you to provide your feedback, comments, and suggestions by calling AIA Knowledge Communities Manager Susan Parrish at 202-626-7332 or me at 631-246-5660.

Orlando T. Maione, AIA, ACHA, NCARB
Editor, Academy Journal
September 2010