Building for People and Planet: Four Design Strategies that Drive Health and Resilience

Research InsightsStrategies & SolutionsFeatured

Apr 21

Insights from the Center for Active Design Experts

Buildings directly shape the health of the people who occupy them and the resilience of the communities they serve. As core influences on how we live and work, buildings have the power to advance both environmental stewardship and human well-being.

This Earth Day, we're celebrating that sweet spot in the Venn diagram where interventions that protect our planet also improve our health, and often contribute to bottom-line value.

With rising temperatures, more frequent extreme weather events, and growing concerns about indoor air quality, the built environment has never been more critical, and the opportunity to design spaces that protect both people and the planet has never been greater.

Below are four strategies that offer a clear health and resilience payoff.

Prioritizing Greenspace

Greenspace is one of the most visible and long-discussed ways the built environment can support health. Access to parks, trees, and other natural areas has been linked to better mental health, greater physical activity, and a range of overall health benefits. These benefits go beyond individual well-being. Greenspace can also strengthen social connection by creating places where people gather, interact, and build community. At the same time, trees and vegetation can help cool surrounding areas, reducing the urban heat island effect and lowering local temperatures. From the earliest efforts to balance industrialization with human welfare, greenspace has proven a vital tool for promoting the livability and long-term resilience of urban areas.

Addressing Regional Climate Risks

Climate risks are not experienced equally across regions. Coastal communities may face flooding, while other areas may be more vulnerable to wildfire, drought, heat, or severe storms. Designing buildings and sites with these risks in mind can help reduce harm, protect operational continuity, and limit costly damage.

Flood resilience measures such as large-scale permeable surfaces, rain gardens, and other stormwater strategies can help reduce runoff and limit exposure to water damage. In fire-prone regions, strategies like noncombustible materials, defensible space, and smoke-resistant design can help reduce health impacts and improve building performance during emergencies. Research and best practices show that proactive adaptation can lower long-term costs by preventing disaster-related damage and disruption, making resilience an not only a public health strategy, but a financial one.

Encouraging Car Alternatives

Transportation is another area where design choices can have major health and sustainability effects. When people can safely walk, bike, or take transit, communities tend to see lower emissions, more physical activity, and better air quality.

Urban planning strategies such as mixed-use development, connected street networks, and transit-oriented design can make it easier for people to reach daily destinations without a car. At the building level, features like secure bike storage, showers, and convenient access to transit can reduce barriers to active transportation. Research has shown that cycling and other active transportation modes can deliver health benefits, reduce transportation risks, and also lower pollution levels and greenhouse gas emissions compared with car use.

Optimizing Indoor Air Quality Strategically

Indoor air quality is a central health issue, especially with people in many communities spending approximately 90% of their time indoors, where indoor pollutant levels can be two to five times higher than outdoors. But improving indoor air quality does not always mean simply increasing mechanical ventilation at all hours. In many cases, more strategic approaches that take into account the unique context of a space can better protect occupant health while also supporting energy efficiency.

A strong indoor air quality strategy starts with source control: choosing lower-emitting materials, reducing indoor pollutant sources, and maintaining building systems properly. High-efficiency filtration, air cleaning, and real-time monitoring can also help reduce exposure to harmful particles and gases. This can become especially important during periods of wildfire smoke or high outdoor pollution. ASHRAE Guideline 44-2024 provides valuable guidance for maintaining IAQ during wildfire events. Predictive maintenance, where data is used to anticipate risks before they pose serious issues, also offers a key tactic for proactivity and cost-effectively managing IAQ.

Ventilation will always be a critical component of any IAQ strategy, but thinking beyond simply outdoor air rates is essential when considering how best to manage health and sustainability in tandem.

Designing for What Comes Next

The most effective design strategies are often the ones that deliver more than one outcome at once. Greenspace can support well-being and reduce heat. Climate resilience measures can protect both health and financial stability. Active transportation infrastructure can improve air quality and increase physical activity. Strategic indoor air quality interventions can safeguard occupants while conserving energy. And these strategies can all be found within Fitwel v3, with guidance on how to implement them effectively within diverse communities.

As the evidence base continues to grow, it becomes increasingly clear that sustainable design is also health design. By intentionally incorporating strategies with dual benefits, we can create places that are more resilient, more equitable, and better equipped to support healthy, thriving communities.

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Janelle Decarreau