Sustaining Access Workshop: Supporting Mental Health through Biophilic Design

Workshop Description:
Everyone knows that our mental health and emotional well-being are intimately connected to our environment — the buildings we live and work in, as well as the outdoor spaces we move through and inhabit. But how does that actually work, and how might we re-think or re-design the spaces of our everyday lives in order to maximize positive mental health? Biophilic design is an approach that incorporates natural elements with the built environment, taking into account everything from the shapes of rooms to building materials to the type and adjustability of lighting. In this interactive workshop, we’ll discuss the issues surrounding biophilic design and connecting to place, learn about successful implementation of biophilic design at multiple scales, and discover tools and resources for engaging in biophilic design at multiple scales.

Speaker:  Johnna S. Keller, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, LFA, WELL AP
Johnna S. Keller is a registered architect, and specializes in sustainable design and consulting. Ze has led the green building efforts for a number of organizations and projects forging new paths in sustainability throughout the southeastern U.S., with projects ranging from schools and universities to major research labs and most recently, achieved Living Building Challenge Petal Certification for the Light Lab at Mohawk Industries. M. Keller currently works for M+A Architects in Columbus, Ohio, and is working on what will be the first net zero energy building for the City of Columbus. Ze is passionate about regenerative design, approaches the built environment as a foundation for well-being, and posits climate change as a social justice issue.

Free and open to the public; security registration w/ ID required for non-SAIC visitors.

Accessibility:
The event space is wheelchair accessible with automatic entrance door. Please refrain from wearing scented-products.
For more information see saic.edu/access

This event is organized by: Department of Art History, Theory and Criticism and Department of Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Designed Objects at SAIC, Bodies of Work: Network of Disability Art and Culture, Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago.