Five Fundamental Shifts Laying the Foundation for the Healthy Buildings Era
Significant regulatory and market shifts are reshaping our approach to healthy buildings
Sponsored by Armstrong World Industries
The pandemic highlighted the importance of good indoor air quality. Significant regulatory and market shifts are reshaping our approach to healthy buildings. In addition, recent regulatory actions are advancing carbon reduction, electrification, and sustainability goals for building owners/operators. Building designers, architects, and operators nationwide feel the urgency to incorporate aggressive climate and sustainability goals into buildings and practices. Consequently, are healthy and green buildings at odds? We need solutions that optimize both health and climate building benefits.
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Dr. Joseph Allen, D.Sc., M.P.H., C.I.H., Associate Professor of Exposure Assessment Science, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is an associate professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the director of Harvard’s Healthy Buildings Program. He is the coauthor of Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Can Make Us Sick – Or Keep Us Well, which was recognized as a ‘Best Book of the Year’ by the New York Times and Fortune magazine. During the pandemic, Dr. Allen served as Commissioner of The Lancet COVID-19 Commission and Chair of its ‘Safe Work, Safe Schools, and Safe Travel Task Force’. He is an advisor to The White House Clean Air and Buildings Challenge. An internationally renowned expert and sought-after advisor, he works with senior executives at Fortune 500 companies across major sectors of the economy to implement healthy buildings strategies. Dr. Allen has authored over 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers and regularly contributes to the New York Times, Washington Post, Harvard Business Review and The Atlantic. |
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Liesl Morell, Architectural Sales Manager, Moderator is an Architectural Account Manager with Armstrong World Industries, supporting the San Francisco and Northern California design community. Building upon her experience as an interior designer, a LEED AP and WELL AP, and working with the sustainability team at Armstrong, Liesl has advocated for products that meet today's most stringent sustainability goals and contribute to towards healthy indoor environmental quality. |
Armstrong World Industries is a leader in the design and manufacture of innovative commercial ceiling and wall systems. At home, at work, in health-care facilities, classrooms, stores, and restaurants, Armstrong Ceiling & Wall Solutions offer interior options that help
create healthy, sustainable spaces that protect people and cultivate well-being and comfort so they can be at their best.
Armstrong is committed to developing new and sustainable ceiling solutions, with design and performance possibilities that empower its customers to create beautiful, high-performance residential and commercial buildings. Armstrong continues to grow and prosper for the benefit of all its stakeholders.
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Originally published in Architectural Record
Originally published in October 2023
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Identify key trends in the healthy buildings movement and relevant scientific background on the business case for healthy building investment.
- Review the current regulatory actions affecting many goals for building owners.
- Explain how green and healthy buildings do not have to be at odds with one another.
- Explore relevant case studies exemplifying the balance of healthy and green building goals.
