Skip to content
News

Research Theme: Design & Building

Built environment scholarship at the scales of the interior space to the building

Amy Wagenfeld

Amy Wagenfeld, PhD, OTR/L, SCEM, EDAC, FAOTA. Amy’s roles as an occupational therapist include therapeutic and universal design consultant, educator, researcher, and author. In addition to her role in the Department of Landscape Architecture, she is a faculty member in the Boston University Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctoral program and Principal of Amy Wagenfeld |Design. She is a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association, holds evidence-based design accreditation and certification (EDAC) through the Center for Health Design and specialty certification in environmental modifications (SCEM) through the American Occupational Therapy Association, and certification in Healthcare Garden Design through the Chicago Botanical Garden. Amy was recently awarded the American Occupational Therapy Association Recognition of Achievement  and the American Society of Landscape Architects Outstanding Service Award for her unique blending of occupational therapy and design.

With a strong background in human development, Amy is passionate about providing people of all ages, abilities, and cultures equitable, inclusive, and safe access to therapeutic environments in which to recreate, learn, and socialize and recognizes that successful design must, at its core, support mental health and foster resilience. Her work focuses on universal design, programming, and evaluation of environments that support physical and emotional rehabilitation and learning across the lifespan in children’s, educational, healthcare, senior living, military, correctional, and community settings.

Amy’s collaborative design projects include a sensory garden for individuals with autism, a therapeutic recreation center, a universally designed serenity garden at a Florida state park, a garden for children in the foster care system, a garden for young children whose families are experiencing homelessness, memory care and assisted living gardens, gardens in correctional facilities, educational facilities, and at military healthcare facilities, and redesign of a community mental health center and garden. Amy served on the design team for three American Society of Landscape Architecture award winning therapeutic gardens, as well as was a recipient of a silver medal from the International Association of Universal Design, a Healthcare Environment Landscape Award, and two New York state design awards.

Amy presents and publishes widely in peer-reviewed and popular press publications on topics relating to collaboration with designers and inclusive access to nature. She is co-author, with Daniel Winterbottom, of the award-winning book, Therapeutic Gardens: Design for Healing Spaces published by Timber Press in 2015 and author of Nature Notes, a column for Exceptional Needs Today magazine.

2025 Innovation in the Construction Industry

Prof. Dossick’s CM515 Spring 2025 Class. Eds. Dossick, Carrie. & Ray, Lauren. (2025). 2025 Innovation in the Construction Industry. University of Washington. Pressbooks. Seattle, WA. https://uw.pressbooks.pub/2025innovationcm/

View Publication

Contributors
Abhishek Tripathy; Ashutoshsinh Shekhawat; Harshitha P S; Adam Hinds; James Mirie; John Ales; Shraddha Kalyani; Muhammad Abu Bakar Tariq; Mohamed Ibrahim; Mikhail Kamila; Manshuk Sabyrova; Nicholas Miranda; Nisha Tomar; Omid Keivanloo; Rahul Varma Alluri; Idris Soliu; Vidheesha Kasthoori Channapatnam Badrinath; Monica Korlepara; Vakkachan Johny Manipadam; Swetha Suresh; Vinay Singh; Vy Le; William Ackerman; and Yingjie Liu

Abstract

A collection of case studies about adopting new technologies and changing practices in design, construction, and operations of the built environment.

Keywords

Technology; Engineering; Agriculture; Industrial Processes

Multispectral lighting simulation approaches for predicting opsin-driven metrics and their application in a neonatal intensive care unit

Jung, B., Cheng, Z., Brennan, M., Inanici, M. (2023). Multispectral lighting simulation approaches for predicting opsin-driven metrics and their application in a neonatal intensive care unit. Proceedings of Building Simulation 2023: 18th Conference of IBPSA. https://doi.org/10.26868/25222708.2023.1446.

View Publication

Abstract

Design decisions affect the duration, intensity, and spectra of light exposure in built environments. Therefore, it is necessary to quantify and visualize the interaction of light and biology to inform design decisions that can improve health outcomes. This paper explains the addition of new features in a multispectral lighting simulation tool. Sample workflows are demonstrated through a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) design. State-of-the-art NICUs have complex lighting designs that provide full-spectrum lighting that changes its spectra and intensity in 24-hour cycles. Prescription of healthy light recipes through thoughtful design decisions and dynamic commissioning practices of shading and programmable electric light systems are discussed.

Keywords

Daylighting; Circadian Rhythms; Non-image forming Ocular Photoreceptors, NICU.

Our skies are too grey: Where is the colour?

Knoop, M., Balakrishnan, P., Bellia, L., Błaszczak, U., Diakite-Kortlever, A., Dumortier, D., Hernández-Andrés, J., Inanici, M., Kenny, P., Kobav, M., Liang, S., Luo, T., Maskarenj, M., O’Mahoney, P., Pierson, C., Thorseth, A., & Xue, P. (2025). Our skies are too grey: Where is the colour? Lighting Research & Technology (London, England : 2001). https://doi.org/10.1177/14771535251322618.

View Publication

Abstract

The Daylight Illuminant D65, a standardised reference light source in design and research with a colour temperature of 6500 K, is often used to describe the colour of the daylight. However, it represents the colour of an overcast sky, failing to capture the variability and richness of actual daylight, particularly the blue of clear skies. Recent research shows that both sunlight and skylight significantly influence our mood, perception and physiological responses. The colour of daylight is influenced by factors like sun position, weather conditions, as well as geographical location. To address these variations, researchers are collecting worldwide spectral daylight measurements, emphasising the need for localised spectral reference data to appropriately represent daylight in different locations.

Methodology to modify and adapt the standardised spectral power distributions for daylight to account for geographical, seasonal and diurnal variations for practical applications

Knoop, M., Balakrishnan, P., Błaszczak, U., Diakite-Kortlever, A., Dumortier, D., Hernández-Andrés, J., Inanici, M., Kenny, P., Maskarenj, M., O’Mahoney, P., Pierson, C., Rudawski, F., & Thorseth, A. (2025). Methodology to modify and adapt the standardised spectral power distributions for daylight to account for geographical, seasonal and diurnal variations for practical applications. Lighting Research & Technology (London, England : 2001). https://doi.org/10.1177/14771535251322386.

View Publication

Abstract

In recent years, the spectral properties of solar radiation and daylight have become increasingly important in lighting design and research, and various approaches to implement these have been applied. This paper proposes to modify and adapt the CIE reconstruction method, a procedure developed in the early 1960s to define standardised spectral power distributions (SPDs) of daylight, for this purpose. The CIE D Illuminants resulting from the reconstruction procedure are widely used for standardisation purposes but are based on a smaller number of measurements and do not consider geographical, seasonal and diurnal variations. In order to be able to use the CIE reconstruction method specifically in daylight planning, research and application, a technical committee of the CIE has launched a worldwide measurement campaign to collect spectral daylight measurements. The aim of the committee is to formulate a customised reconstruction method that more accurately reflects the local SPDs of daylight. This paper contributes to the discourse on the improvement of daylight estimation methods and emphasises the importance of accurate daylight data in various scientific and practical contexts.

CircularBIM: Future needs at the convergence of building information modelling and the circular economy

Amudjie, J., Chan, A. P. C., Darko, A., Debrah, C., & Agyekum, K. (2025). CircularBIM: Future needs at the convergence of building information modelling and the circular economy. Automation in Construction, 176, 106250. doi:10.1016/j.autcon.2025.106250

View Publication

Abstract

The progressions of industrial revolutions have enabled diverse digital technologies in architecture, engineering, construction and operation (AECO), with Building Information Modelling (BIM) gaining notable attention. Concurrently, the circular economy (CE) has emerged as a crucial strategy for addressing socio-economic issues such as waste, resource depletion, and climate change. However, limitations within BIM or CE implementations have led to these persisting socio-economic challenges. This paper presents a comprehensive state-of-the-art review on the convergence of BIM and CE (hereafter, CircularBIM), utilizing a mixed-method approach (bibliometric and systematic review techniques), analysing 89 relevant studies. Key research trends identified include life cycle assessments, deconstruction, BIM-based systems, waste management, and energy efficiency. This paper suggests future research should integrate recommender systems for CircularBIM, employ real-time performance integrated CircularBIM directory, increase expert studies and broaden parameters integration for CircularBIM. Ultimately, this paper aims to enhance CircularBIM implementation in the AECO sector, providing insights for all stakeholders.

Keywords

Building information modelling; Carbon emissions; CircularBIM; Circular economy; PRISMA; Review

‘Best practice’ for healthy urban development: learning from others while maintaining local responsiveness in an emerging planning specialism

Pineo, H., Moore, G., Barrantes Chaves, K., Cooper, E., Dianati, V., & Braithwaite, I. (2025). ‘Best practice’ for healthy urban development: learning from others while maintaining local responsiveness in an emerging planning specialism. Planning, Practice & Research, 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1080/02697459.2025.2475628

View Publication

Abstract

Lack of clarity about what ‘healthy’ urban development means, alongside financial and technical challenges, has slowed progress on health-promoting development. Case studies could support learning, however, scholars have been critical of their risks when they are applied without adequate consideration of required adaptations or alternatives. We explored how health is promoted through new development via a narrative synthesis of published cases and critically evaluated their value. Cases more frequently achieved sustainability goals than equity and inclusion goals. We conclude that case studies have particular value when shared in a manner that encourages critical examination and discussion, such as through storytelling.

Keywords

Health; wellbeing; planning; best practice; urban development

Energy Efficiency Retrofitting of Existing Building Stock for Net Zero

Tetteh, M. O., Darko, A., Boateng, E. B., & Chan, A. P. C. (2024). Energy Efficiency Retrofitting of Existing Building Stock for Net Zero. In Rethinking Pathways to a Sustainable Built Environment (pp. 142–158). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003317890-9

View Publication

Abstract

Existing buildings’ retrofits improve energy efficiency and are a crucial part of global decarbonization plan. There is a need for a better understanding of public sentiment toward energy efficiency retrofitting of existing buildings (EEREB) to effectively promote its widespread adoption through policy interventions. Currently, there is a lack of comprehensive studies that assess the general public's sentiments toward EEREB. This chapter utilizes social media data to assess the overall public's sentiments of EEREB. Sentiment analysis was used to analyze a total of 3,306 comments from the social media platform YouTube. The concerns and perceptions of the public were analyzed using a Latent Dirichlet Allocation model, which identified nine main themes. These themes include ventilation, energy efficiency, indoor environment quality, comfort and occupant behavior, cost considerations, community engagement, technology usage, implementation knowledge, and social impact. The public expressed stronger positive sentiments, with about 64% reporting favorable views of EEREB and acknowledging its benefits. In addition, interesting patterns of perceptions shaped by a combination of generic and local-specific factors were identified. This chapter enhances the understanding of the general public's needs, concerns, and views on EEREB. Additionally, it could provide valuable insights for policymakers to refine or develop more effective actions in support of EEREB.

Green Finance: A Tool for Financing Green Building Projects

Debrah, C., Chan, A. P. C., Darko, A., Owusu-Manu, D.-G., & Ohene, E. (2024). Green Finance. In Rethinking Pathways to a Sustainable Built Environment (pp. 277–302). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003317890-18

View Publication

Abstract

Green building is an “unheralded hero” in the global emissions fight. Its business case has raised demand from several stakeholders. It is seen as a multitrillion-dollar business opportunity of the next decade, leading to increased green finance (GF) investment for green building. GF is accepted as a tool to finance climate change mitigation and adaptation actions, including buildings and construction. To promote GF for green building, collaboration efforts between governments, businesses, investors, and the public are key. This chapter presents the evolution of GF for green building, an overview of the implementation and its potentials, with a focus on the role of stakeholders, policies, regulations, and incentives. Typologies of GF for green building and some examples of success stories are discussed. Other related issues such as green standards, green certifications, and green indices are examined. This chapter facilitates a systematic and comprehensive understanding of the subject. Overall, it summarises the development of GF in this field and the consequent impact on climate action.