In addition to a number of general and concurrent sessions, the Building Healthy Places conference featured six small group roundtable discussions, giving attendees the opportunity to discuss and meet others interested in specific health-related topics. Brief roundtable descriptions, facilitator information, and related resources are listed below. For full descriptions, download the conference program.

Health Care and Design

This roundtable looked at the role that design professionals play in advising, planning, and partnering with health care organizations that are increasingly focusing on population and community health. Participants discussed a need to share what other professionals are doing in this space, including projects that emphasize the intersection between health and the built environment. Download discussion document.

Facilitators
Diane L. Caslow
Vice President of Strategic and Business Planning, MedStar
Whitney Austin Gray
Health Director of Research and Innovation, Cannon Design

Health Impact Assessments

This roundtable discussed the use of Health Impact Assessment (HIA) by the development community as a tool to assess the positive and negative health impacts of proposed projects, plans, and policies. Much of the discussion involved the need for standardization and incentives for use by the development or investment community. Download discussion document.

Facilitator
Sara Hammerschmidt
Research Associate, Urban Land Institute

Value of Active Open Space

This roundtable reviewed case studies and explored strategies for creating open spaces that increase market appeal and promote healthy lifestyles. Download related Urban Land article.

Facilitators
Elizabeth Shreeve
Principal, SWA Group
Sean P. O’Malley
Managing Principal, SWA Group

Renewing Infrastructure for Health and Development

This roundtable discussed the applicability of reclaiming obsolete infrastructure systems (like the Atlanta BeltLine, the High Line in New York, and the Los Angeles river) for other communities, including the health impacts of this type of renewal. The group discussed challenges to address social equity issues, including financial tools that ensure that low-income people can remain in urban areas and enjoy the benefits of the urban regeneration.

Facilitator
Ryan Gravel
Senior Urban Designer, Perkins+Will

Farm-to-Table Communities

This roundtable explored farm-to-table communities, their market appeal, their health benefits, and their ability to anchor development.

Facilitators
Tom Woliver
Director of Planning and Development, Hillwood Communities
James Manskey
President, TBG Partners

Intersections between Health and Sustainability

This roundtable looked at how the LEED energy efficiency rating system is boosting its focus on human health.

Facilitator
Heather Rosenberg
Ginsberg Fellow, U.S. Green Building Council