This study examines how participatory methods generate measurable feedback to inform architectural decision-making, using pediatric inpatient rooms as a case study. Younger children, older children, and their parents were engaged with spatial layouts, sensory elements, and adjacencies through virtual reality (VR), biosensors, and eye-tracking in a controlled laboratory setting. Findings reveal physiological and visual engagement responses to design features, including windows, artwork, and privacy elements. By addressing the temporal implications of design—distinguishing between the permanence of architectural layouts and the adaptability of interior elements—this research highlights how participatory tools refine design outcomes, bridging gaps in traditional practice and supporting a data-informed, user-centered design process across stages.
