Collaborations with the University of Colorado and the pursuit of a PhD through IDSVA aim to quantify the impact of design on health in the built environment.
We are proud to announce an expanded engagement with the University of Colorado Denver’s Design/HEALth advisory council—a key component of the firm’s strategic growth plan to lead through innovation and evidence-based design.
“When we are not designing, we are researching, innovating, and sharing our insights, contributing to organizations that share our values around what it truly means to build thriving communities,” said Angela Harris, TRIO’s Chief Executive Officer. “We’re committed to the research and development side of our industry and to measuring, in a real way, how our design decisions impact lives and making a meaningful difference toward healthier, more equitable places to live.”
Recognizing that people spend an average of 90% of their lives indoors, TRIO is exploring the undeniable connections between design and health. Integrating the latest academic research into its design practice, TRIO ensures that its clients benefit from evidence-based strategies that enhance occupant well-being, improve functionality, and foster more resilient communities.
TRIO Chief Executive Officer Angela Harris sits on the Design/HEALth Advisory Council, which aims to improve design everywhere, from the home to the biome. CU Denver has engaged professionals across the spectrum of health and the built environment—from doctors and psychologists to architects and interior designers—who are involved in projects considering the environmental determinants of health. The initiative will culminate in DESIGN/HEALth Summits, published materials sharing best practices and more.
Concurrently, Harris is earning her PhD in Art and Philosophy at the Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts (IDSVA), pursuing research and development specifically in the areas of Aesthetics and Art Theory, further reinforcing TRIO’s commitment to thought leadership as a differentiator.
These initiatives are a critical pillar of the firm’s growth and innovation roadmap. The work underscores TRIO’s belief that design is not just aesthetic; it is ethical, empirical, and essential to community well-being.
