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Presented by the Academy of Architecture for Health

Scenario-based simulation is vital in healthcare architecture for improving communication between designers and clinicians, enabling more effective and cost-efficient design evaluations. This study explores the use of augmented reality (AR) through HoloLens 2 to complement a full-scale, low-fidelity physical mock-up of a Level I trauma room—one of the most complex healthcare environments. Due to the physical mock-up’s limitations, such as the absence of ceiling-mounted equipment and immovable elements, clinicians could not fully simulate certain critical tasks. To address these challenges, an AR application was developed using Unity3D and Autodesk 3ds Max, enhancing the simulation with three key features: detailed 3D models of critical medical equipment, adjustable object properties (e.g., height, width), and the ability to record live simulations to assess issues such as obstructed sightlines. While the AR application addressed several shortcomings of the physical mock-up, limitations remained, including challenges clinicians faced using HoloLens 2, short battery life, and device overheating. Despite these drawbacks, AR demonstrates significant potential to reduce costs and enhance design evaluations in healthcare settings. Understanding both its capabilities and constraints is essential for integrating AR meaningfully into healthcare design processes. The study also investigated the effectiveness of design strategies that were tested via AR.

About the Speakers

Dr. Sara Bayramzadeh, associate professor at the College of Architecture & Environmental Design at Kent state and Hamid Estejab will present the process and findings from their recently published research “The Application of Augmented Reality in Simulation-Based Design Evaluations of Trauma Rooms”.

AIA Members / Allied Members: Free
Assoc. AIA Members / Students: Free
Non-Members: $25