The American Institute of Architects has added Portland State University‘s School of Architecture to its . The group studies how buildings can be designed to create a healthier environment for occupants.

“This is a new focus in the last couple years,” said Barbara Sestak, professor of architecture at Portland State University. “They want to take the research that is being done in the arena and get it to architects.”

In addition to forming a pool of architects and professors to examine building elements that have the biggest impact on occupants’ health, the schools can spread the newest information and technologies to the next wave of architects around the country.

“We are creating a network and working with architects and researchers,” Sestak said.

The catalyst for the new group was a 2012 pilot effort to pay for small-scale research at three architecture schools. It was decided a bigger effort was needed to address the myriad of health issues facing the U.S. The acting surgeon general at the time, Boris Lushniak, also promoted studying how new building design could improve health.

The AIA hopes that multi-disciplinary schools will be able to reach a wide audience. The consortium has grown from 11 schools in 2015 to 19 now. Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the University of New Mexico School of Architecture and Planning joined PSU‘s school in the consortium this year. The University of Oregon also is a member.

PSU’s specific area of influence hasn’t been decided, Sestak said.

“Being a new member to the consortium, we are looking at what our specialty should be,” she said.

Much of that focus will be determined by local needs.

“We are talking to the health researchers in town and seeing what they are interested in,” she said.

One area that PSU’s school will focus on, Sestak said, is getting the newest information to architecture professionals and the public quickly. In November, the school produced a wellness exhibit.

“One reason why we had the ability to join in the consortium was our ability to disseminate knowledge,” Sestak said. “There are some ways we are trying to reach out to the public.”

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