Perspectives August 28, 2025

Architecture of the Mind: Design Strategies for Healthier Brains

by Dr. Debbie Beck, Hala El Khorazaty

University of South Carolina, Center for Health and Well-Being

From hospitality to healthcare, wellness has become a global obsession in recent years, igniting a movement toward healthier lifestyles that now touches nearly every sector and demographic. It’s almost impossible to escape the digital onslaught of influencers touting the next fitness fad or miracle supplement—and for good reason. The global wellness economy reached 6.3 trillion dollars in 2023 and projections continue to grow. Yet mental health spending made up only 3% of that total.

As humans collectively strive for healthier bodies and longer lives, mental challenges still arise. One in five adults experiences a mental health disorder each year, and cognitive decline is the leading cause of disability among older adults. With all this focus on optimizing physical fitness, are we remembering to check in with our brains?

Brain health is increasingly viewed as a key component of “brain capital,” a framework that recognizes brain skills, brain performance, and mental resilience as drivers of economic growth. Healthy brains power innovation, decision-making, and social cohesion, all critical factors in navigating future challenges such as aging populations, digital transformation, and climate-related stress.

As architects, designers, and planners, we find ourselves in the unique position to directly impact these outcomes. The choices we make in shaping the built environment can either support or hinder brain health, in ways that might be surprising. A thoughtfully designed environment creates a permanent means to promote brain health, one that works independently but compliments human-to-human interactions.

Environments that Support Brain Health

Designing for brain health means embedding intentional cognitive enhancements into the environment. These features can improve brain function by meeting, suppressing, or exciting as many neurons as possible to activate all the centers that improve neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by pruning weak or unused neural connections and forming new ones. Enhancing neuroplasticity can improve mental health, cognitive function, and behavioral outcomes.

In practice, we broadly define “brain healthy design” by its grounding in science and the proven neurological responses that design solutions elicit. While not merely an umbrella term for evidence-based design criteria such as biophilia, neurodiversity, or trauma-informed design, it can include all these things.

The human body instinctively responds to its surroundings. Individuals with a history of trauma or those who perceive the environment as threatening the nervous system may trigger survival responses such as fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. The design of the built environment plays a critical role in either escalating or calming these responses.

Trauma-informed design helps create environments that promote psychological safety, reduce stress, and support emotional regulation. By purposely designing spaces that minimize triggers and foster a sense of security, we not only enhance individual well-being but also strengthen brain capital, the collective cognitive, emotional, and social resources that drive resilience, learning, and long-term human potential.

Some ways that the built environment can impact brain health are outlined here, along with strategies to improve outcomes.

Modern lobby with wood accents, people conversing and sitting on green furniture, high ceilings with white cylindrical lights.

Medical University of South Carolina, Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital

Incorporating a variety of colors, textures, and plush furnishings creates environments that stimulate the brain; in contrast, monotonous architecture has been associated with cognitive fatigue and reduced well-being.

Promoting sensory wellness

Design elements such as lighting, color, textures, or acoustics can impact brain function. Environments that are cluttered or visually complex can increase cognitive load, making it more difficult for people to focus and process information.

Modern children's play area with interactive wall panels, circular seating, and vibrant green accents.

Medical University of South Carolina, Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital

Biophilic design strategies such as integrating natural elements and ensuring visual access to greenery have been shown to accelerate healing in medical patients, with studies indicating faster recovery times and reduced need for pain medication among those with views of nature.

Rooftop terrace with people relaxing, chatting, and working under a modern pergola in an urban setting.

University of California San Francisco, Nancy Friend Pritzker Psychiatry Building

Access to daylight and areas like green roofs or courtyards allow for direct interaction with nature during the day, which is proven to have stress-reducing effects.

Modern office interior with wooden accents, blue seating, and a person using a phone in a bright hallway.

University of Rochester Medical Center, Saunders Center for Orthopaedics & Physical Performance

Acoustic control through sound-absorbent materials such as ceiling baffles or textured wallcoverings can help mitigate chronic noise exposure, which has been linked to increased stress, cognitive impairment, and a 3.2% rise in cardiovascular disease risk for every 10-decibel increase in noise levels.

Creating predictability and clarity

Spaces that allow for control over one’s environment (such as adjustable lighting and temperature) and that are predictable in layout and function can provide a sense of calm and autonomy. For example, complex layouts with poor signage can contribute to confusion and anxiety, while clear, logical, and well-signposted spaces can promote security and independence.

Modern medical office hallway with directional signs, staff working in glass-walled room, natural light from large windows.

University of South Carolina Center for Health and Wellbeing

Intuitive wayfinding tools, including clear signage, color-coding, and visual directories, further reinforce clarity and ease.

Modern hospital lounge with patients, wheelchair, and staff discussing care. Bright, spacious interior with large windows.

University of Cincinnati, Gardner Neuroscience Institute

Architectural features or furniture arrangements can create clear boundaries that act as visual cues to support orientation and reduce cognitive load.

Modern classroom with wooden ceiling, large windows, and flexible seating arrangement for collaborative learning.

Dallas College, Interdisciplinary and Student Success Building at Eastfield Campus

Adaptable partitions and room dividers, such as sliding doors, curtains, or screens, offer additional flexibility while maintaining a sense of privacy or openness as required.

Modern hospital lobby with large windows, people socializing, and Care Leads Here sign on the wall.

Ohio University, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

Modular and reconfigurable spaces provide a variety of options, empowering users to shape their environment or relocate as needs and preferences change.

Allowing flexibility and adaptability

When individuals can personalize a space or change it to suit different needs at different times of day, they feel more comfortable and supported. A diverse mix of work or learning settings, including quiet zones, collaborative areas, and sensory retreats, offer spaces that align with individuals’ current focus, energy level, or emotional state.

Supporting social balance

Design can influence social dynamics, which plays a role in brain health. Spaces that provide opportunities for both social interaction and solitude allow individuals to engage on their own terms. In projects such as the John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center at UT Dallas, design naturally aids appropriate and beneficial interactions between patients and staff. Residential units are situated around a central living area, promoting engagement among residents.

Contributing to safety and security

Secure entryways, clear exits, and comprehensive safety plans can help create a sense of security, which can improve brain function by taking the neurological system out of a “fight or flight” pattern.

Modern recreational space with natural light, comfy seating, and wall mural, featuring people enjoying activities.

UT Dallas, John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center

Amenities designd to increase health socialization include a therapy mall, activity room, and a communal dining area with views onto an internal courtyard, as well as an external courtyard leading to a large, tree-filled area.

Modern healthcare facility lobby with people and a sign saying Transforming Healthcare. Transforming Communities.

Samuel Merritt University, Oakland City Center

Secure entries with clear signage and open floorplans can reduce mental stress upon arrival, especially in stressful academic or healthcare settings.

Applications and implications

Often, academic institutions are the proving ground for applications of brain health research in practice, especially those with medical programs, but investing in brain health yields measurable economic value for organizations and the broader global economy. For healthcare providers, institutions, and communities, prioritizing brain health through strategic planning, early intervention, and supportive environments directly translates to reduced healthcare costs, improved productivity, and enhanced long-term outcomes.

By thoughtfully designing our environments, we can foster healthier minds and communities. Future articles in this series will explore the impacts of these design strategies across a wide range of sectors.

Diagram of an interior with calming elements: isolation chair, wood paneling, plants, soft lighting, abstract art.

University of Texas Dallas, Brain Break Station

Research points to strategies like “Brain Breaks" as being beneficial to a variety of user groups; using the environment to establish spaces that help our brains.

About Us

Perkins&Will’s approach combines architectural innovation, clinical expertise, and a deep commitment to advancing brain health. We embed clinicians and subject-matter experts directly into our planning teams—professionals with firsthand experience in pediatric care, behavioral health, and public health systems. This insider knowledge uniquely positions us to understand the nuanced needs of patients, families, and care teams, particularly in complex environments like pediatric behavioral health and autism care.

While many firms design to meet codes and trends, our work goes beyond the standards; we design with the brain in mind. Our approach is grounded in neuroscience-informed principles and human-centered design, reflected in our collaboration with institutions like the Center for Brain Health in Dallas. Beyond just supporting research, we activate it. We apply neuroarchitecture and trauma-informed strategies to enhance cognition, emotional regulation, and healing across the lifespan.

Our team’s understanding of how the built environment shapes brain development, behavior, and recovery, especially in vulnerable populations, is unmatched. Alongside our clients, we co-create therapeutic ecosystems that elevate dignity, equity, and resilience. This commitment to evidence-based, brain-forward design makes Perkins&Will not only a design leader, but a true partner in improving lives.

Architecture of the Mind: Design Strategies for Healthier Brains

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