IES Atlanta invites you to join us virtually for:

Lighting Design for Behavioral Health Environments

1 CEU Credit

Presented by: Lauren Schwade, LC, EDAC, IALD, IES | Senior Associate | Healthcare Lighting Lead

Behavioral Health facilities often carry the stigma of a “scary psychiatric ward” with padded walls and caged lighting, appearing more like a penitentiary than a home or clinic. We are surrounded by inaccurate portrayals of mental illness with negative connotations, in various media. Fortunately, that is changing. Equipment, finishes, architectural details, lighting, planning, and facilities are expanding and growing to adapt to current population needs. Behavioral Health design is honing focus to incorporate residential health and wellbeing strategies into these environments to yield more human-centric qualities (with intended better outcomes for residents). Lighting plays a critical role to evoke these feelings. However, in a Healthcare environment, luminaires must still adhere to stringent design guidelines such as ligature and impact resistance attributes. In this presentation, we will address Behavioral Health design strategies, review case studies and current research and learn how to adapt our lessons learned to provide friendlier environments for residents, staff, and families:

1. Understand the different project types and needs for Behavioral Health environments
2. Review standard lighting codes and guidelines surrounding Behavioral Health
3. Explain a select project case study and identify current articles and research available
4. Provide typical lighting design strategies and lessons learned

Meet Lauren:

I have over 16 years of lighting design experience and have worked in multiple major cities including Philadelphia, NYC, and Milwaukee for prestigious firms such as GWA Lighting, Francis Cauffman Architects, and SBLD Studio. Four years of this was spent at Visa Lighting in WI, where I learned and gained experience on the manufacturing/sales side and became an expert in healthcare education, product and design. Although I have worked on numerous projects including, commercial, hospitality, retail, education, exterior façade, and site lighting, my focus and passion has always been and remains healthcare design. I love that I can take all my past work experiences and education to help inspire, create, and partner with other healthcare experts from all industries to create healing environments for future generations.

I am LC and EDAC certified and a dedicated board member of the WIH GA Chapter and IES Healthcare Committee, currently updating the IES Lighting for Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities, RP-29 Document. Did I mention I’m a healthcare nerd? I love reading, researching, and following the latest news on anything to do with light & health. This all stems from my education in Interior Design at Philadelphia University — my thesis on a Children’s Outpatient Rehab Center was inspired by a dear family member who spent many childhood years in and out of hospitals. I have had countless opportunities to specialize in this field, and I’m so grateful to be here, having the ability to share and grow with Mazzetti!