Whitepaper: Are Smart Buildings Also Healthy Buildings? – How Human-Centric Design Is Improving Well-Being in Commercial Buildings

September 24, 2020

When buildings get smarter, cities get smarter. At least that is the premise of smart city leaders and building developers. Innovative developers construct smart buildings so that systems are integrated and connected. Smart building design – based on IoT connectivity, sensor platforms, network technology and cloud computing – render buildings more intelligent and sustainable and contribute to the appeal of smart cities. What about the well-being of a building’s occupants? Does a smarter building automatically deliver a higher level of well-being?

Employee well-being is a key factor in promoting job performance, personal health, productivity and creative thinking while alleviating absenteeism and presenteeism. These are among the findings of research on how buildings affect the people who work in them. Because labour costs can reach an estimated 70 per cent of total business costs – and executives are increasingly concerned about attracting, engaging and retaining top talent – it makes sense for organisations to be concerned about well-being. Smart buildings designed with people in mind are essential to create the conditions for employee well-being.

How to ensure a building contributes to well-being is a challenge for architects, designers, real estate developers and building owners – and for smart city leaders striving to improve the quality of urban life and health.

Read this white paper, co-created by Signify and Smart Cities World, to discover how trends in smart buildings and innovative lighting solutions can make buildings healthier and improve employee well-being.

Submit a form to download the whitepaper HERE.

Related Articles


Latest Articles

  • Stephanie Medeiros on EV Infrastructure in Canada, Innovative Technologies, Well-Planned Charging Networks, & Commercial Fleets

    Stephanie Medeiros on EV Infrastructure in Canada, Innovative Technologies, Well-Planned Charging Networks, & Commercial Fleets

    September 3, 2026 By Blake Marchand In this Q&A with Stephanie Medeiros, the Head of Mobility at Schneider Electric Canada provides insight into her perspective on EV charging infrastructure in Canada, factors that will contribute to growing EV adoption, grid modernization for commercial fleets, the role of Vehicle-to-Grid and other innovative approaches to electrification. The focus of… Read More…

  • LEDVANCE: Understanding Light Beam Angles

    LEDVANCE: Understanding Light Beam Angles

    September 3, 2026 Light Beam Angles: How It Affects Different Types of Lighting, Where It Is Applied & What to Consider When Choosing the Right One Beam angle is important in lighting design. It determines how light spreads within a space and influences both functionality and atmosphere. By understanding beam angles, you can achieve both… Read More…

  • ITC 101 Series: Why Certifications (UL, CSA) Matter in Industrial Components

    ITC 101 Series: Why Certifications (UL, CSA) Matter in Industrial Components

    September 2, 2026 By ITC Electrical Components When selecting industrial electrical components, certification is more than a logo on a datasheet. A certification mark indicates that a product or component has been independently evaluated against specified requirements for its intended market. In North America, selecting products with the appropriate certification can affect regulatory acceptance, equipment… Read More…

  • Project Spotlight: Leigh Square Fountain

    Project Spotlight: Leigh Square Fountain

    September 2, 2026 In spring 2025, the City of Port Coquitlam unveiled a transformed Leigh Square, reimagined as a vibrant, accessible, and welcoming gathering place in the heart of downtown. At the heart of the renewed plaza, a Bellagio-style programmable dancing fountain is integrated directly into the paving—three interlocking rings where jets rise, fall, and… Read More…


Changing Scene

  • 2026 Ontario Apprenticeship Awards Call for Nominations

    2026 Ontario Apprenticeship Awards Call for Nominations

    September 3, 2026 Skilled Trades Ontario is proud to open nominations for the 2026 Ontario Apprenticeship Awards, recognizing outstanding apprentices, journeypersons, organizations and skilled trades leaders who are helping strengthen Ontario’s apprenticeship system. Award recipients will be announced at the Ontario Apprenticeship Summit on November 4, 2026, at the Toronto Congress Centre. Nominations must be submitted… Read More…

  • Bartle & Gibson Announces New Partnership with Hubbell Canada

    Bartle & Gibson Announces New Partnership with Hubbell Canada

    September 3, 2026 Bartle & Gibson Co. Ltd., an Alberta-based premier plumbing, heating and electrical distributor and Hubbell Canada have announced a new regional partnership enabling increased access to Hubbell Canada’s end-to-end electrical product portfolio across Western Canada. “With our strong presence in the west through 31 branches and counting located in Alberta, Saskatchewan, British… Read More…

  • Bartle & Gibson Opens Salmon Arm Location

    Bartle & Gibson Opens Salmon Arm Location

    September 3, 2026 Bartle & Gibson opened their new Salmon Arm location on July 20th. The Salmon Arm location features: This site is strategically positioned in the city of Salmon Arm, located near to the busy Picadilly Mall.  Salmon Arm branch is located at: 621- 10 Street SW Salmon ARM, BC V1E 1T1 Photo Source Read More…

  • MacKinnon Magnetics Announces Partnership with Resilient Sales Corporation in Northeastern Ontario

    MacKinnon Magnetics Announces Partnership with Resilient Sales Corporation in Northeastern Ontario

    September 3, 2026 MacKinnon Magnetics is pleased to welcome Resilient Sales Corporation as their newest sales agency partner. Resilient Sales will represent MacKinnon Magnetics across Northeastern Ontario, including the Districts of Muskoka and Parry Sound. Key markets include Sudbury, North Bay, Timmins, Kirkland Lake, Sault Ste. Marie, Huntsville, Bracebridge and Parry Sound. “This partnership expands… Read More…