Quantitative methods for evaluating hospital design. A methodology for total hospital design.

A procedure is described that integrates three techniques into a unified approach: a computerized method for estimating departmental areas and construction costs, a computerized layout routine that produces a space-relationship diagram based on qualitative factors, and a second layout program that establishes a final layout by a series of iterations. The methodology described utilizes as input the results of earlier phases of the research, with the output of each step in turn becoming the input for the succeeding step. The method is illustrated by application to a hypothetical pediatric hospital of 100 beds.