PHASE: An interactive appraisal package for whole hospital design

Abstract

PHASE (Package for Hospital Architecture Simulation and Evaluation) aims to provide a more informed basis for design decision-making during the early stages of hospital design. This is done by tracing the consequences of design decision through a range of design criteria. The completed package will consist of three programs. The building program is at present operational: the network and structures programs are under development. Input to the building program is structured into four data files — a standard data file, a solution file, a project file and a scheme file. Output is presented at two levels — synoptic and detailed. The full output consists of measures of department location, boilerhouse location, capital and energy costs. Applications for the package include the evaluation of alternative design strategies, upgrading of existing buildings, selection of hospital sites and investigation of phasing strategies.