White Papers

The Effectiveness of Collaborative Spaces in Healthcare and Research Environments

The Effectiveness of Collaborative Spaces in Healthcare and Research EnvironmentsThis paper examines the role of the physical environment on collaboration within a healthcare setting. Informed by a post-occupancy evaluation of a third-floor multi-use space within the NYU Winthrop-University Research and Academic Center, the paper's multi-method approach uses archival research, first-person observation, place-mapping, and focused group interviews to understand how specific aspects of the physical environment affect collaboration within a healthcare work setting. A discussion of collaborative work environments is followed by a brief history of healthcare within the U.S., providing a context for the subsequent post-occupancy evaluation. Findings of the study reveal not only how the space is used, but why the space is used for collaborative purposes.