Measuring What Matters: Research and Practice in Biophilic Design, IEQ, and Embodied Carbon

Join the IBPSA-USA CMU Student Chapter for this engaging discussion. This session will bring together research and professional practice across biophilic design, post-occupancy evaluation, indoor environmental quality, healthy buildings, and embodied carbon.

The discussion will explore how what we choose to measure shapes what we design: from understanding occupant experience and building performance to IEQ measurement and whole-building life cycle assessment.

Kari Leif

Kari is a PhD candidate in the Building Performance and Diagnostics program at Carnegie Mellon University. Her research focuses on biophilic design, K–12 school environments, indoor environmental quality, and post-occupancy evaluation. She is also a consultant on WSP’s Built Ecology team, where she works on healthy building consulting and rating systems, including WELL, LEED, and RESET.

Bela Sunil Nigudkar

Bela is an associate consultant with WSP USA’s Built Ecology team in Boston. Her work includes indoor environmental quality measurement and analysis, green building certification consulting, and whole-building life cycle assessment, with a particular focus on IEQ testing and embodied carbon analysis. She also brings experience in sustainability policy, technical analysis, and process optimization.

Please note that this event is organized by the IBPSA-USA CMU Student Chapter. Both speakers will present virtually via Zoom. Carnegie Mellon University students may also gather at the Intelligent Workplace in Margaret Morrison Carnegie Hall to view the same Zoom session together. The event is open to CMU and external attendees. Once registered for the event, access the Zoom details below.

Zoom Details – Meeting ID: 954 7210 6156