Building design often focuses on magazine-worthy aesthetics, but in health care settings, human-centered, research-informed design can better meet the psychological and social needs of building users.The goal of Mardelle Shepley’s class is to give students experience with the methods used to create human-centered design for health clinics. Students practice socially responsible design by evaluating a community project relative to the needs of the building users through behavioral observation, interviews and surveys of patients and staff. In partnership with Cornell Health, students determine whether the new student health building meets the criteria originally established for meeting the needs of staff and patients, allowing students to integrate research and practice while providing useful assessment for future renovations.