Why Indoor Air Quality Matters More Than Ever

For years, indoor air quality operated quietly in the background of building design—important, but often overshadowed by energy performance, aesthetics, and amenities. Today, that balance has shifted. Building occupants are paying closer attention to the air they breathe, and their expectations are rising accordingly.

Honeywell survey data referenced by interiors+sources shows that a growing majority of office workers express concern about workplace air quality, with many reporting heightened anxiety about indoor air compared to just a few years ago. Nearly all respondents say they now expect better indoor air performance, and most believe clean indoor air directly supports productivity, comfort, and overall wellbeing. Importantly, many also view IAQ as a reflection of how seriously employers and building owners value health and safety.

These concerns are not abstract. Occupants are returning to offices, schools, healthcare facilities, and public spaces at a time when respiratory viruses, wildfire smoke, and climate-related air events remain top of mind. In older commercial buildings—where outdated HVAC systems and leaky envelopes can allow pollutants to accumulate—IAQ can be significantly worse than outdoor air, according to research cited in a BUILDINGS magazine article. The result is a growing awareness that indoor environments themselves can contribute to stress, illness, and reduced performance.

From a design perspective, this marks a critical shift. IAQ is no longer a behind-the-scenes technical issue or a box to be checked at the end of a project. For many occupants, it has become a baseline expectation on par with daylight, acoustics, and thermal comfort. And when those expectations are not met, people notice. That mounting awareness is now being reflected at the highest levels of research and policy.

SURVEY SAYS

In an industry survey, more than nine in 10 workers said they would give up perks, amenities, or even part of their salary if those funds were directed to reduce their building’s environmental impact.

Air Quality as a Human Right

These pressures are converging with a broader policy shift. In the U.S., the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has launched its BREATHE program—an ambitious, multi-year initiative treating indoor air more like drinking water: continuously monitored, clearly understood, and actively managed.

Globally, the International WELL Building Institute helped convene the Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air, framing clean indoor air as a public health priority and, increasingly, a human right. The commission has revealed an aggressive goal to develop a framework for action by the end of 2026.

Together, these forces are molding expectations for how buildings are designed, operated, and evaluated.

CLEARING THE AIR

A survey cited in a BUILDINGS magazine article found that 89% of respondents believe it is the building owner’s responsibility to provide clean indoor air.

Where Can Designers Impact IAQ?

Architects and interior designers sit at the intersection of occupant expectations, owner priorities, emerging technology, and evolving policy. IAQ is no longer just a mechanical engineering concern—it is a design issue. So how does this shift the design profession’s approach to healthy buildings?

First, air must be treated as a design material. Just as teams carefully consider light, acoustics, color, and texture, they must also consider air composition, humidity, and CO₂ levels as early concept drivers. These factors directly influence cognitive performance, comfort, and long-term health.

Second, designers play a critical role in planning for measurement and transparency. Decisions about where sensors live, how data is displayed, and whether occupants can see or understand IAQ performance are design decisions—not afterthoughts.

Finally, IAQ is inseparable from equity and resilience. Polluted indoor air disproportionately affects children, older adults, and communities with fewer resources. Advocating for improvements in existing building stock, classrooms, back-of-house spaces, and housing can be as impactful as designing high-profile new projects. Here’s how teams can adapt these insights and develop holistic strategies to ensure IAQ.

Practical Strategies Designers Can Apply

For design teams translating awareness into action, these strategies offer practical entry points.

1. Set IAQ goals early.
Move beyond minimum code compliance by defining performance targets for ventilation, filtration, CO₂ levels, and humidity. Embed IAQ expectations in owner project requirements and basis-of-design documents from the outset.

2. Design for monitoring and communication.
Plan locations and power for IAQ sensors. Coordinate dashboards, signage, or app-based displays that communicate air quality clearly and build occupant trust.

3. Support flexible, multi-mode buildings.
Design systems and zones that can adapt to different conditions—normal operations, high occupancy, flu season, or wildfire smoke events—without sacrificing indoor air health.

4. Address systems and envelopes thoughtfully.
Work with engineers to improve ventilation where feasible, accommodate higher-efficiency filtration, and reduce uncontrolled infiltration through envelope detailing—especially in renovations and additions.

5. Use interiors to reduce pollutant load.
Specify low-emitting furniture, finishes, adhesives, and coatings. Balance soft surfaces for acoustics with cleanability and allergen control. Coordinate with facilities teams on cleaning practices that support IAQ goals.

6. Improve existing buildings strategically.
Advocate for IAQ assessments and occupant surveys. Optimize existing HVAC systems, upgrade filters, seal ducts and envelopes, and supplement with localized HEPA-based air purification where central upgrades aren’t possible.

Indoor air quality may be invisible, but its impact is not. As research, policy, and occupant awareness continue to align, designers have a growing opportunity to translate IAQ from data and systems into spaces that quietly and consistently protect the people inside.

REFERENCES

R. Nieminen, I Hear Design podcast episode, “Indoor Air as a Material: Elevating Wellness in Building Design,” interiors+sources (November 25, 2025); https://iands.design/55332312.

interiors+sources, “New Survey Reveals Increased Expectations for Healthier Workplaces” (March 29, 2023); https://iands.design/33002604.

J. Jones, “Breathing New Life into Old Buildings: Addressing Indoor Air Quality Challenges in Aging Infrastructure,” BUILDINGS (October 15, 2025); https://buildings.com/55323230.

*This article was produced from original content published by interiors+sources and BUILDINGS, as well as a podcast episode generated with AI assistance. It has been reviewed for accuracy and clarity by interiors+sources editorial staff.