Pink Ribbon: the Parkland Breast Center Design

Abstract

Breast cancer is currently the second most common fatal disease for women in the US. Breast cancer patients may experience much stress every time they go to the breast cancer center. Patients' family members and friends may also suffer a lot while accompanying their beloved ones. Also, medical staff working in such a stressful environment are more likely to make medical errors, and this kind of pressure is harmful to their health. Since a breast cancer center is a place that both patients and their families need to go multiple times and stay for a long time, it needs to be very homey and cozy to attract patients and therefore reduce their stress and anxiety. This project will focus on several aspects to improve the design of breast cancer centers, including nature views, social support, physical activity, and therapeutic landscapes. Through these methods, improving the occupants' well-being will come true. The research part will explore documented literature and case studies on strategies that will reduce occupants' stress and provide a cozy environment as solutions to improve the design of the breast cancer center. We will also discuss evidence-based design hypotheses of how to relieve the everyday stress of breast cancer occupants as well as strategies for measuring the effectiveness of these solutions.