Join ​our design research team at EDRA56 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Firm leaders and experts will share insights on workplace wellbeing, justice and mass timber design over the multi-day event. As an EDRA board member, Principal and Design Research Leader B Sanborn, AIA Allied, EDAC, was instrumental in designing a thought-provoking conference that bridges academic research and private industry applications.

Sustainable, Engaging Workplaces: A Case Study of Benchmarking, Change Management, and Pre/Post Evaluation for a Wellbeing-Focused Office | May 28^th , 11:00 AM – 11:15 AM

Post-COVID, companies face challenges in returning to office work. Associate and Designer Haley Wilson presents a case study of a research-driven, sustainable workplace design informed by employee input, team dynamics, and WELL standards. It emphasizes collaboration, well-being, and strategic communication, using benchmarking and testing to align space with evolving work patterns and organizational priorities.

An Integrated, Multi-Method Approach for Understanding Design Impact on Visitor Experience through Post-Occupancy Analysis | May 28^th, 11:30 AM – 11:45 AM

Associate and Senior Design Researcher Helen K. Ho, PhD, EDAC, will present a case study highlighting how a multimodal Post-Occupancy Evaluation, including social media analysis, visitor data, and observations, helped assess a museum’s redesigned space. The approach revealed how design fostered inclusivity and curiosity and supported ongoing public engagement and improvement.

Fostering Neuro-Inclusive Campuses: Understanding Informal Behavioral Norms and Design Ambiguities May 29^th, 4:00 PM – 5:15 PM

Neurodivergent students face challenges navigating unclear social norms and environmental cues on campus. Associate and Senior Design Researcher Kati Peditto, PhD, EDAC, will be joined by CU Boulder Assistant Professor of Environmental Design Elena Sabinson to discuss research that identified and clarified these patterns with behavior mapping, offering design and behavioral recommendations to enhance accessibility, reduce stress, and empower individuals without enforcing conformity.

Biophilic Design in the Home Workspace: Well-Being & Connection to Nature | May 30^th, 8:15 AM – 8:30 AM

Associate and Senior Design Researcher Kati Peditto, PhD, EDAC’s research study on whether biophilic design in home workspaces can enhance wellbeing will be presented by co-author University of California Irvine graduate student Ruth Barankevich. Results suggest indoor nature exposure may mimic outdoor benefits, but complexities remain.

EDRA’s purpose is to advance and disseminate research, teaching, and practice toward improving an understanding of the relationships among people. EDRA56 is their annual conference.