Valor fitness complex: A trauma-informed gym for disabled veterans
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2025
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The Valor Fitness Complex proposes a pioneering, trauma-informed gym environment specifically designed to support disabled U.S. veterans holistically. Grounded in interdisciplinary research, inclusive design principles, and contemporary rehabilitation practices, this Doctor of Architecture project integrates Trauma-Informed Design (TiD) principles as defined by the Trauma Informed Design Society. The facility directly addresses veterans' unique physical, psychological, and emotional needs—particularly for those managing PTSD, anxiety, depression, and physical impairments such as amputations and spinal cord injuries.Incorporating TiD principles—safety, empowerment, sensory regulation, predictability, and reconnection with the body—the Valor Fitness Complex features adaptive fitness equipment, acoustic and sensory-sensitive treatments, tactile navigation, and strategically positioned therapeutic spaces. Accessibility standards from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ISO 21542:2021, and the WELL Building Standard® further reinforce the supportive environment. Emphasizing the profound therapeutic benefits of exercise and biophilic design strategies, the project creates spaces that reduce trauma triggers, facilitate mental resilience, and enhance overall recovery and reintegration.
By aligning architectural interventions directly with trauma-informed principles, the Valor Fitness Complex embodies a progressive approach to veteran rehabilitation, demonstrating architecture's essential role in supporting trauma recovery, promoting holistic wellness, and affirming disability as a valued aspect of human diversity.
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Architecture, Disability studies, Mental health, Biophilic Principles, PTSD and Mental Wellness, Sensory-Sensitive Environments, Therapeutic Architecture, Trauma-Informed Design, Veterans’ Rehabilitation
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190 pages
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