Looking Back to Move Forward: Achievements in Public Health and the Built Environment

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Mar 28

'Looking Back to Move Forward' from Building Health Volume 1 Issue #2 Expanding the Evidence — ‘Looking Back to Move Forward’ from Building Health Volume 1 Issue #2 Expanding the Evidence (2024)

In the spirit of awards season, including the recently announced 2024 Best in Building Health Awards, this March we are turning our attention to the historical achievements in environmental design, policy, and engineering for health. Fitwel also published issue #2 of Building Health this month, part of a digital publication series in which we celebrate placing people at the center of real estate and highlight what excellence looks like as well as the value of building healthy places. In Expanding the Evidence, we delve into the top two research questions the Center for Active Design has explored for the past two years: what are the health outcomes related to the risks of climate change? And which strategies within the Fitwel® Standard have a tangible impact on value creation and risk mitigation?

We also explore the historical events that underscore the deep connection between health and the built environment and how it’s evolved to meet the demands of present day society. Beginning in the mid-1800s, monumental progress in urban development has had profound impacts on human well-being. Initially focused on combating sanitation issues and disease outbreaks, these efforts evolved into strategies aimed at managing chronic health conditions and safeguarding mental well-being. One can argue that never before in history have we faced such a multi-faceted crisis– from COVID-19 and the epidemic of loneliness, to the physical perils of climate change.

Today, we continue shaping our built environments to promote health through various means, an effort that is perhaps more important than ever. As we continue to prioritize designing for health, recognizing the tangible value in doing so, we’ve taken the time to explore some key highlights in history that exemplify this mission.

1. Opening Central Park

In 1858, Central Park made its debut in New York City, marking the inception of the first Urban Park in the United States. Serving as a sanctuary from the bustling city life, Central Park's original architects, Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux, were deeply influenced by the prevailing public health concerns of the era. During that time, public health theories attributed the spread of germs and diseases to contaminated air, prompting urban designers like Olmstead and Vaux to perceive parks as vital public health infrastructure capable of purifying and disinfecting the polluted city air.

Central Park soon earned the moniker "Lungs of the City," as residents and the media enthusiastically praised its role in improving air quality and recognizing the interconnectedness of mental and physical well-being. As research in public health advanced, it became increasingly evident that parks were not just beneficial but essential components in fostering positive health outcomes within our urban landscapes. Never has this value been more apparent than throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

2. Passing The Occupational Safety and Health Act

In response to unacceptable levels of deaths and injuries in workplaces, specifically in industrial settings, the United States Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act in 1970. This law created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, enabling federal supervision of working conditions, a responsibility that had previously been left to the states. This legislation also made it clear that employers have an active responsibility to protect the health and wellbeing of their employees, setting the groundwork for the adoption of frameworks, like the Fitwel Standard, which provides guidance for creating health-promoting workplaces. Since this law passed, employers have increasingly moved beyond simply ensuring “working conditions are free from known dangers,” to exploring how workplaces can promote holistic health and well-being. This approach is now being used as a tool to help employers set themselves apart and attract and retain talent.

3. Creating the 15 Minute City

Fast forward to the 2010s, when French Academic and Urban Planner Carlos Moreno introduced and popularized the concept of the "15-minute city." In this model, all crucial urban resources are conveniently located within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from one's home. Over the decades, cities have expanded and evolved, giving rise to diverse neighborhoods with distinct characteristics that either enhance or diminish the urban living experience.

Moreno contends that our perception of time has been distorted by the fragmented layout of our cities, leading to significant time spent commuting to essential amenities like food markets, clinics, schools, and parks. By designing cities and neighborhoods with abundant and evenly distributed resources, Moreno advocates for the 15-minute city as a crucial step towards fostering more equitable, just, and healthier societies. Cities of proximity promote physical activity and social connectedness, building not only healthier individuals but healthier communities.

4. Introducing the Sustainable Development Goals

In the face of significant global challenges, the United Nations launched the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). This framework identifies core objectives to optimize social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The 17 goals require collaboration across a wide range of stakeholders, and those influencing the built environment play a unique role. This is why many practitioners across the built environment, including developers, have gotten involved and begun to look at their efforts through the SDG lens. These goals have provided a global rallying cry and have offered a guidepost for progress and helped organizations to set priorities that contribute to the collective good. As described in the 2023 Sustainable Development Goals Report, global crises have hindered progress towards these goals, and the time to redouble our efforts is now.

The Challenges Ahead

As our understanding of the link between the built environment, health, and value continues to expand with growing evidence, we are faced with increasingly complex challenges.

By setting new standards for how buildings can address the effects of climate change and promote health, we are witnessing a profound shift in building design that brings widespread benefits. Architects, designers, and developers are now incorporating features like secure bicycle storage, gym facilities, biophilic elements indoors, operable windows for improved air quality, rooftop gardens to manage stormwater runoff and combat urban heat islands. Furthermore, buildings are adopting tobacco and smoke-free policies, integrating meditation rooms, and making staircases more visible and inviting for active vertical travel.

The proactive measures in active design are not only shaping the physical structure of our built environment but also demonstrating that we can positively impact our health and well-being through intentional design. We find inspiration from our partners who consistently set higher standards for the efficiency and effectiveness of creating health-promoting value within our built environments, and are excited about the continued innovation we will see this year as we address the challenges ahead.

Download our latest Building Health issue today.

Sara Karerat
Managing Director
Center for Active Design

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Janelle Decarreau