Alkamali, A (2025) Investing in biophilic design integration for stakeholders. PhD thesis, Arizona State University, USA.
Abstract
The literature explores the benefits of biophilic design for the occupants of the built architectural environments; however, there is a gap in highlighting the benefits for stakeholders and their perspectives on investing in biophilic design integration (BDI). This led the researcher to examine the stakeholders’ experiences with investing in BDI, how they describe the value of their investment, and how they view its outcome. This doctoral qualitative study utilizes a phenomenological approach to investigate the stakeholders’ experience with investing in BDI at Benehealth, a medical clinic in Arizona. Using purposive sampling, multi-layered data collection takes place through three in-depth semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions to highlight different aspects of the phenomenon of investing in BDI. The data is then transcribed word-for-word and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to thoroughly examine the participant’s unique and personal experiences with the phenomenon. The findings of this study confirmed what is already in the literature regarding the significant BDI health benefits for the occupants and added to the body of literature in different aspects, starting with how a person’s professional background, connection to nature, type of work, and goal alignment can encourage their decision-making to invest in BDI. Also, how BDI can work for different budgets and spatial limitations. Lastly, how investing in BDI can have a ripple effect, is timeless, and should be considered a necessity rather than a mere luxury. It was concluded that despite its challenges, investing in biophilic design integration can be cost-effective, can present significant benefits for both the space's occupants and stakeholders, and can yield substantial financial gains. Recommendations are made to leverage a more variated sample, obtain metrics, grow the body of literature, and expand the investigation on an urban scale and in different settings. In summary, Benehealth’s stakeholders had a fulfilling and successful experience with investing in BDI, and they connected the value of their investment to its alignment with their values and goals, its several benefits, and its creation of healthy environments. They also viewed the outcome of their investment through a holistic lens by leveraging stakeholder satisfaction and the positive feedback they received from occupants.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Koro, M and Heywood, W |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | feedback; integration; investment; professional; stakeholder |
| Index terms: | integration, decision-making, interview, stakeholder satisfaction, investigation, biophilic, purposive sampling, qualitative study |
| Subjects: | research methods, decision analysis, organizational analysis, participation process, design incorporating nature, research design and methodology, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Risk Management, Organizational Design, Design Practice, Stakeholder Management, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here