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The Role of Environmental Psychology in Design
March 7 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
The Role of Environmental Psychology in Design
In this webinar, The Role of Environmental Psychology in Design, Dr. Eve Klein will explore how the principles of environmental psychology can be applied to the design and operation of facilities to align with an organization’s mission, enhance culture, and promote well-being. Dr. Klein, a social scientist, architect, educator, and former higher education facilities professional, brings her interdisciplinary expertise in architectural design and environmental psychology to this session. Drawing from her extensive experience working with institutions and higher education settings, Dr. Klein will discuss how thoughtful design choices can shape environments that foster inclusion, engagement, and purpose, ultimately influencing organizational success.
After attending this program, participants will be able to:
1. Describe how environmental psychology principles can be applied to design spaces that improve occupant health by promoting physical and mental well-being, such as through optimized lighting, acoustics, and spatial layout that reduce stress and increase comfort.
2. Analyze the safety implications of environmental design by exploring how the layout, materials, and environmental factors of a space can be used to minimize hazards, improve security, and reduce the risk of accidents or injuries.
3. Apply environmental psychology methodologies to improve the planning, construction, and maintenance practices of design projects, particularly in cultural and educational settings.
4. Assess how inclusive design fosters a sense of community and emotional well-being, ensuring equal access and creating spaces that promote positive emotional responses for all users, especially in educational and cultural settings.
5. Evaluate how environmental design can align with an organization’s mission and goals to enhance workplace culture, well-being, and safety, fostering a healthier and more productive environment that supports organizational success.
HSW Justification: This webinar addresses Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) by exploring how environmental psychology can directly influence the health and well-being of occupants through thoughtful design. It addresses welfare, by focusing on creating environments that promote positive emotional responses through inclusivity and engagement. Design elements such as space layout, lighting, and acoustics will be analyzed for their role in improving both physical and psychological health, fostering environments that enhance comfort, reduce stress, and increase productivity. Additionally, the session will cover safety-oriented design practices, such as minimizing hazards and enhancing security through architectural elements. By focusing on these principles, the course aligns with critical topics in design, ensuring that the built environment contributes to the overall safety, health, and welfare of its users.
In this webinar, Eve Klein, PhD, will explore how an environmental psychology lens can help align the design and operation of facilities with an organization’s mission and goals. By fostering greater awareness in planning, construction, and maintenance practices, you can shape environments that positively influence culture, well-being, and purpose.
Speaker Bio:
Eve Klein, PhD, is an architectural design researcher, professor, and independent scholar specializing in the social and psychological impact of the built environment. Her work focuses on how social science methodologies can enrich design processes, particularly in cultural institutions and higher education settings.
Eve’s doctoral research investigated informal learning environments in higher education, highlighting their role in fostering inclusion and promoting social equity. She brings this expertise to her teaching at Pratt Institute, where she leads seminars on Environmental Psychology, Urban Studies, and Community Engagement, along with a workshop on Embodiment and Design.
In addition to her academic work, Eve trains designers and organizational leaders to develop rigorous research processes that leverage data for informed decision-making and design. She also collaborates with designers, architects, and engineers on project-based initiatives, integrating research-driven insights into practice.
Eve serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Design Trust for Public Space and is the co-founder of the Social Science + Architecture Committee for the AIA NY Chapter. Previously, she was Assistant Vice President of Strategic Assessment, Planning & Design at New York University. She holds a BA from Vassar College, a Master of Architecture from UCLA, and a PhD in Environmental Psychology from the Graduate Center, CUNY. Her interdisciplinary approach advances ethical, inclusive, and impactful design practices.
