From Crisis to Calm: Using IEQ Design to Enhance Emergency Spaces

The emergency department is often the first point of contact for patients in distress. A disorganized and confusing ED can contribute to stress and anxiety in patients and families alike. In contrast, a well-planned and designed ED improves operational efficiency for staff and enhances comfort, safety, and emotional well-being for patients and their loved ones. It helps patients view the ED as a place of safety and healing instead of chaos and distress. 

DesignGroup focuses on creating emergency departments that feel less like clinical institutions and more like places of comfort, dignity, and hope. Much of our work is grounded in Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), a concept focused on conditions within a building that affect occupant health, comfort, and well-being—including air quality, lighting, temperature, acoustics, and the psychological aspects of space. We believe IEQ is more than a choice—it's an act of care. 

Targeted efforts combining space planning with IEQ interior design principles can transform emergency departments into environments that perform under pressure while prioritizing healing, dignity, and human connection.

Improvements Based on IEQ

A patient-centered approach to the ED design enhances the overall experience by prioritizing comfort, privacy, and efficiency. IEQ focuses on how the physical environment directly impacts health outcomes, staff performance, and operational efficiency. In an emergency department, applying IEQ requires intentional decisions about space layout, lighting, acoustics, and materials. The results can be significant, helping hospitals:
 

• Reduce response times and improve patient monitoring by improving visibility and direct sightlines from the nurse stations to treatment rooms.  

• Lower staff fatigue and increase time spent at the bedside with layouts that reduce staff walking distances, such as pod-based or decentralized team zones. 

• Increase patient outcomes and staff satisfaction by improving lighting, acoustics, and other environmental elements that affect day-to-day comfort in the facility 

• Achieve measurable operational improvements through IEQ principles that enhance patient throughput, safety, and satisfaction scores while supporting staff well-being and retention. 

Real-World Solutions

A well-designed ED environment can be more empathetic and supportive of healing during life's most vulnerable moments while also being more efficient and resilient. The high-stress nature of emergency visits requires design approaches that minimize anxiety; thoughtful elements such as warm color palettes, natural light, and sensory-friendly design can create a sense of calm for patients, families, and staff alike.

Here are four design considerations that deliver on these concepts. EDs should aspire to be:

1. Durable (without sacrificing aesthetics)

Emergency departments are high-abuse areas with constant movement of stretchers, equipment, and wheelchairs. While wall protection, epoxy paint, and impact-resistant surfaces are standard, the key is how these elements are detailed and specified. Incorporating textures, warm tones, and wood-look finishes can soften their visual impact. Seamless flooring with an integral base can reduce maintenance and infection risk while contributing to a cohesive, hospitality-inspired look. (Consider creating a special feature wall in the waiting room to enhance the environment.) Successful ED design anticipates how each element contributes to safety, durability, and emotional well-being—creating an environment that performs under pressure without feeling institutional.

2. Sensory Friendly (with privacy)

Maintaining dignity and confidentiality is essential to patients, especially in moments of vulnerability. Acoustical privacy helps achieve this goal. Patients with cognitive challenges, sensory sensitivities, or trauma-related conditions benefit from EDs designed with sensory-friendly elements, including adjustable lighting, reduced noise levels, and designated low-stimulation areas. These accommodations help patients feel seen, respected, and safe in an otherwise stressful environment, supporting both clinical needs and emotional well-being.

3. Intelligent (the more seamless, the better)

Smart technology integration—such as check-in kiosks, telehealth capabilities, and electronic medical records—enhances efficiency and helps reduce patient stress. Interactive screens providing health information and estimated wait times set expectations and reduce uncertainty, giving patients greater control during vulnerable moments. When thoughtfully implemented, technology becomes not just an efficiency tool but a bridge to a more compassionate and informed patient experience, allowing staff to focus on personal interactions and care.

4. Efficient (with intention)

A well-organized ED should have clearly defined zones for waiting, triage, and treatment, with intuitive wayfinding. Reducing bottlenecks and optimizing patient flow through strategic space planning decreases wait times and improves the overall experience.

Real-World Examples

These design concepts apply to emergency departments of any scale, location, or trauma level. DesignGroup has extensive experience in ED design, having recently planned and designed five emergency departments ranging from AHN Allegheny General Hospital's Level 1 trauma center (currently under construction) to a new ED for a rural community hospital.

In each project, we worked closely with hospital ED leadership to understand their challenges, priorities, and vision, translating their frontline experience into spaces that support care under pressure, foster calm in crisis, and elevate experiences for both patients and staff.

DesignGroup has pushed the evolution of emergency department design for more than 50 years. That tradition continues today as we seek new ways to bring empathy, humanism, and efficiency to hospitals willing to explore possibilities. Contact us to learn more.