Post by HKS, Inc.

At the recent Vital Cities Summit in Houston, representatives of nearly 100 organizations gathered to discuss designing spaces that promote brain health, heart health and planetary health. Their goal was to help develop a new “brain economy” for Houston and a model for cities in which knowledge, creativity and innovation are key drivers of growth and success. The day-long meeting – an initiative of the Building Brains Coalition – underscored that cities aren’t neutral backdrops to civic life; they actively influence intellectual capacity, emotional well-being, productivity and community resilience. HKS co-sponsored the event, with several of the firm’s designers participating as attendees or speakers. Here are four major insights they gained from the experience about designing places to create a better world: 🧠 Brain healthy design unites experts across disciplines 🧠 Designing for brain health ensures a human-centered approach 🧠 Shifting focus to new performance metrics is essential 🧠 There are vast opportunities and freedom to explore ahead Read the story on our website to learn more: https://hks.onl/40brCqB #BrainHealth #BuildingBrainsCoalition #Design #Architecture Brad Robichaux Jason Fleming Jennifer Preston Sheba Ross Titus