OVERVIEW
Also known as “tenant improvement” or “TI” projects, commercial interiors present great opportunities for attending to health and sustainability impacts. They range in scope from a relatively light “refresh” of a space with updated finishes and furniture to a complete fit-out that includes localized mechanical systems.
Either way, TI projects entail most of the stuff that occupants are directly exposed to, so minimizing potential hazards in the products is paramount.
And because these projects have a notoriously short useful life, attention to the environmental footprint of products—and the ability to reuse or recycle them later—goes a long way.
IN-DEPTH
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The Sound of Sustainability: Acoustics in High-Performance Design
Feature Article
Acoustic performance is often overlooked by human-centered design. A holistic approach shows how to navigate the complexities of “sustainable acoustics.”
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A Guide to Selecting Sustainable Textiles
Feature Article
Textiles’ good looks hide an ugly environmental legacy, but there are five straightforward ways to make responsible design choices.
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How to Succeed with the Living Building Challenge: 12 Teams Share Tips
Feature Article
The bar is high—that’s obvious—but watch out for some surprising pitfalls. Here’s how dedicated teams have tackled Living Building challenges.
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Case Study: Structure Tone Headquarters, New York, NY
News Analysis
Well-being at Work: The first WELL-certified project in New York City supports employee health and promotes collaboration.
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GreenScreen Launches Certification for Textile Chemicals
News Brief
The hazard assessment program jumps into the certification business to promote textile chemicals with reduced health hazards.
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Rental And Occupancy Levels Remain Higher For Green Office Buildings
News Brief
A new report verifies the greater value of environmental certification in the commercial real estate market
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Overcooled Offices Impair Thinking
News Brief
New research shows a warmer setpoint combined with personal fans saves energy while maintaining occupant comfort and performance levels in tropical climates.
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Behind Humanscale’s Living Product Challenge Certification
News Analysis
Going big, committing early, and removing unneeded chemistry were key ingredients in certifying the Diffrient chair and Float table under LPC.
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Sitting Is the New Smoking: Fad or Fact?
Primer
Active design is looking less like a luxury and more like a public health imperative.
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How to Get from VOC Certifications to Better Products
Feature Short
The FDA regulates flies in our soup, but no one regulates VOCs in our indoor air. Somehow that’s a designer’s job to figure out.
