Architectural Epidemiology - The Book
Adele Houghton, FAIA, DrPH, LEED AP and Professor Carlos Castillo-Salgado, MD, JD, DrPH are co-authors of the newly released book Architectural Epidemiology, published by Johns Hopkins University Press. The book serves three purposes.
It proposes a new, transdisciplinary field of research and practice called Architectural Epidemiology, which straddles the real estate and public health fields of research and practice.
It is designed to be used as a course book in undergraduate and graduate courses on the intersection between real estate, design, climate change, chronic disease, and spatial analysis.
It can be used by practitioners as a field guide for implementing the architectural epidemiology framework on building projects large and small.
Architectural Epidemiology in the News
What If We Designed Cities Like a Doctor?
Next City, July 7, 2025
Op-ed: Architectural epidemiology offers a radical prescription for cities: a new design framework that builds health into real estate.
Author: Liz York
Architectural Epidemiology:
Buildings & Cities, September 3, 2025
The most unique and critical addition to the body of literature on health in the built environment, invaluable for design professionals and educators, public health leaders, property owners and managers.
Author: Vivian Loftness
COTE Book Review: Architectural Epidemiology
AIA Committee on the Environment November 7, 2025
What if architects (and building owners and developers) spoke with public health experts and developed a common language for talking about where to locate and how to shape buildings and outdoor spaces to have the best possible impacts?
Authors: Theresa Mark and Z Smith
Architectural Epidemiology
Positive Energy Podcast, July 7, 2025
The building sector is looking at a once-in-a-generation opportunity to flip from being a major contributor to both chronic disease and climate disruption to becoming one of the primary solutions.
Host: Kristof Irwin
5 Ways architectural epidemiology redefines design impact
AIA Architect, September 8, 2025
See how a new methodology can help projects better serve their communities.
Author: Liz York
Why urban designers should think like doctors
Fast Company, August 5, 2025
Architectural Epidemiology offers a radical prescription for cities: a new design framework that builds health into real estate.
Author: Liz York
Healthy Architecture, Healthy People
Talking Headways Podcast, October 2, 2025
It is very unusual for an architecture project to pay any attention at all outside of the property line. And that has to change.
Host: Jeff Wood
