Building is Only Half of the Battle: Multi-level interventions to impact change

Design interventions influence how one feels, behaves, interacts with others, and perceives their organization’s culture and values. However, social ecological models demonstrate something we all intuitively know as true: The success of any design project depends on organizational and culture change occurring in concert with physical changes to the environment. Models of this system help us understand the multiple factors impacting design strategies’ success. These models can also help design teams develop the partnerships and integrated approaches needed to impact systemic change. This article provides examples of how to apply interventions at each of these levels of the system. By understanding the existing attributes of the social ecology surrounding a built environment design project, one can better anticipate the success of certain interventions over others and potentially foster conversations with the client about moving the needle on all fronts to maximize their capital investment.