Architecture of Healing Beyond the Institution: A New Model for Veteran Care

Author

• Megan Lyn Welk

Files

Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Architecture

College

Arts and Sciences

Department

Architecture

Faculty Advisor

Ganapathy Mahalingam

Studio Coordinator

Stephen Wischer

Faculty Chair

Susan Kliman

Publisher

North Dakota State University

Rights

NDSU policy 190.6.2

URI

https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/policy/190.pdf

Abstract

The transition from military to civilian life presents unique challenges for veterans navigating trauma, yet traditional clinical settings often aggravate anxiety and disconnection through sterile, institutional design. This thesis addresses the critical “mismatch” between current healthcare environments and the neurological needs of veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Arguing that architecture must evolve from a passive vessel to an active therapeutic partner, this research proposes a comprehensive rehabilitation center located on O’ahu, Hawai’i, which integrates the island’s profound cultural connection to the ‘aina (land) with evidence-based design strategies.

The design methodology synthesizes three core frameworks: Trauma-Informed Design (TID), Salutogenesis, and Biophilic Design. Functioning as the facility’s “operating system,” TID prioritizes psychological safety by mitigating hypervigilance through the elimination of environmental triggers, such as blind corners and complex layouts. This is supported by salutogenic principles that aim to rebuild a veteran’s “sense of coherence” and manageability and biophilic strategies that utilize O’ahu’s natural landscape to induce “soft fascination” and restore cognitive resources.

The resulting architectural typology features a “gradient of control,” empowering users to self-regulate social interaction by transitioning between private refuge zones and active community spaces. By employing spatial strategies such as “on-stage/off-stage” circulation and maximizing “prospect and refuge,” the project offers a non-institutional, restorative atmosphere. Ultimately, this thesis establishes a replicable, evidence-based framework for future veteran care facilities, demonstrating how the built environment can actively foster resilience, autonomy, and holistic recovery.

Recommended Citation

Welk, Megan Lyn, "Architecture of Healing Beyond the Institution: A New Model for Veteran Care" (2026). Architecture Theses. 80.
https://digitalcommons.ndsu.edu/architecture-theses/80