Keppie is one of the main sponsors and organisers of the 5th World Congress Design and Health, which takes place in Glasgow from 27 June to 1st July 2007. 

This event, under the auspices of the International Academy for Design and Health, is bringing almost 300 people to the city from 26 countries.  The biennial event is taking place in the UK due to the extensive body of design expertise located here, which has delivered more than 100 major hospital projects over the last 10 years.

The Academy seeks to bring together clinical staff, healthcare researchers and designers from around the world to review design research and best practice.  A number of papers are presented over a three-day period on a range of subjects including elderly patient care, healing gardens, neonatal medicine, and robots in operating rooms.  The social programme includes two dinners, a civic reception by the Lord Provost and study visits to six buildings.

David Stark of Keppie, an organising committee member, said, ‘Gradually the NHS in the UK is appreciating the merits of good design and looking for value for money solutions, rather than low cost ones.  Consequently, allied to our knowledge of hospitals in various parts of the world, we are able to incorporate best practice design features to current healthcare projects like the £300m Forth Valley Hospital.’  To mark the Congress, Keppie has edited and published a book on various aspects of hospital design in the UK over the last 10 years as an introduction to delegates coming from abroad.  Copies of this are available from Keppie at a price of £20 plus postage.