The Trend of Architecture as Public Health

 

The Conco Companies have over fifty years of experience as commercial concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and we have been fortunate to have worked on many of the area’s most exciting architectural projects.   As part our ongoing blogs regarding new building trends, we are taking a look at Architecture as Public Health.  Much of our information was taken from an article by the Chicago public media organization, WTTW, regarding new trends in the building industry.     

According to WTTW, the trend of architecture as public health is simply architects thinking “even more about the ways in which people physically interact with (and are impacted by) the built environment.”  The trend is all about finding new ways to enhance people’s health and well-being by designing buildings and neighborhoods that promote physical, mental and social health. 

Some of the ways this is being accomplished is to inter-connect bike and walking paths with neighborhoods and parks.  Another element of architecture as public health is to make fresh food accessible to residential neighborhoods as well as entertainment, public transportation and retail stores.  The goal is to help cities keep their populations healthy by creating environments that enable and encourage physical activity. 

 

At Conco we have been a part of many mixed-use developments built in urban, downtown areas that utilize a neighborhood concept.  By blending housing, office space, public transportation and retail conveniently located within walking distance, people can get out and move around their neighborhood without the use of a car.  A few examples of Conco’s projects include The Riverfront, in downtown Napa, CA. and both the Washington Square and the Island Market Square in Washington.  In addition several years ago Conco helped to construct a commuter bike connection that was sorely needed to link two major roads in Novato, CA.   The purpose was to give bike riders a safe alternative of riding along the side of a very busy freeway. 

 

Source:

interactive.wttw.com/tenbuildings/ten-building-trends-could-change-america

aia.org/practicing/AIAB097672

Conco is a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western United States.  Our services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects and highways.  We have four regional offices serving California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Colorado.