15 Feedback highlighted the need for calm,
legible and inclusive environments that balance openness with privacy. These insights directly shaped the building’s spatial organisation, material choices and sensory character, turning peoples’ experience into the foundation of the design: • The layout is straightforward: All circulation is focussed on a as an indoor forest. From any location, people can glimpse daylight or greenery, helping maintain calm and orientation. • All areas of the building can be accessed stepfree. The stairs are empathetically designed with rest points, dual height handrails, and strong visual contrast to support all abilities. • The central atrium structural timber frame adds warmth; muted natural colours prevent glare and fatigue. The design avoids the sterile aesthetic often linked with clinical spaces, creating an environment of ease Designing for neurodiversity and inclusion The research highlights strong connections between trauma- informed and neuroinclusive design. Both emphasise clarity, sensory comfort and adaptability. For those with sensory sensitivities, predictable layouts and adjustable lighting or temperature reduce stress. For people with trauma histories, the same qualities rebuild Rooms vary in scale, allowing both
Acoustic treatment limits noise, and colour cues aid navigation. These features make the environment easier to understand and gentler to inhabit, an advantage for everyone, not only those with additional needs. A systemic approach The university aligned the building’s operation with trauma-informed values, planning staff training to support consistent, empathetic interactions. By co-locating public clinics, student facilities and research spaces, the design encourages collaboration while preserving privacy and choice. This union of policy, practice and
place makes the building a living demonstration of trauma-aware systems in action.
WE200
Lessons for future projects TID is not a new style of architecture but a framework for empathy. Its success relies on early engagement • Start with shared values: Agree what safety, trust and inclusion mean before design begins. • Consult widely: Lived experience brings insight beyond technical standards. Make navigation intuitive and allow spaces to adapt.
Physical change succeeds only with supportive management. • Monitor and evolve: Evaluate both performance and human experience post-occupancy. Together, this research and built
example showcase how trauma-informed principles could evolve into best practice for future public projects, shaping environments where everyone can thrive.
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