Sustainable and Healthy Environments Lab
A lab specialised in developing applied research aimed at understanding how the built environment can improve sustainability and health through the design of high performance spaces.
The Lab works in close collaboration with key stakeholders to develop projects aimed at evaluating the design, performance and experience of spaces, providing the evidence needed to address real-world challenges. Research developed informs improvements that can positively affect people’s satisfaction, productivity and wellbeing.
Key research streams include:
- Post-Occupancy Evaluation
- Design, performance and experience of spaces (workplaces, schools and precincts)
- Natural ventilation and thermal comfort in subtropical and tropical climates
Research projects
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SHE Post-Occupancy Evaluation survey
SHE is a powerful data collection vehicle feeding ongoing research projects about the performance of spaces from the occupants’ perspective now and in the future. Post-Occupancy Evaluation
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Designing Offices Well (DOWell)
Improving workers’ productivity, satisfaction and health through evidence-based design Design, performance and experience of spaces Workplaces
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Evaluating how we work during COVID-19
This project aims to collect relevant information about working arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results will identify key challenges faced by workers during the pandemic and inform strategies post-2020. Design, performance and experience of spaces Workplaces
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Liveable precincts
This project evaluates key challenges and opportunities regarding the design of employment precincts, including sustainability and health outcomes relevant to workers, buildings, organizations and the community. Design, performance and experience of spaces Precincts
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Understanding building performance during the 2019-2020 bushfire season
This projects aims to provide evidence about office buildings’ indoor environmental performance during the extreme bushfire season experienced during 2019-2020. Design, performance and experience of spaces Workplaces
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Designing high-performance learning spaces
This project maps key design features of contemporary learning spaces, with emphasis on Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) performance and opportunities for reducing sedentary behaviour. Design, performance and experience of spaces Schools
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Workspace design and high performance environments
This project aims to map key design attributes shared by high performance, Activity Based Working (ABW) supportive workplaces. Design, performance and experience of spaces Workplaces
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Understanding the role of office design in government workers’ satisfaction and productivity
Understanding the role of office design in government workers’ satisfaction and productivity. Design, performance and experience of spaces Workplaces
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Challenging lease agreements in Australia
This projects quantifies the effects of higher temperature set points on office workers’ productivity and thermal comfort. Design, performance and experience of spaces Workplaces
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Natural ventilation and thermal comfort in subtropical and tropical climates
A collection of thermal comfort research based on field studies conducted in commercial, tertiary education and school buildings in Brazil and Australia. Natural ventilation and thermal comfort in subtropical and tropical climates
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BOSSA
Building Occupants Survey System Australia Post-Occupancy Evaluation
Our people
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A/Prof Christhina Candido, Director -
Dr Samin Marzban, Postdoctoral Research Associate -
Ms Diksha Vijapur, PhD candidate -
Dr Arianna Brambilla, collaborator -
Dr Ozgur Gocer, collaborator -
Dr Kenan Gocer, collaborator -
A/Prof Martin Mackey, collaborator -
Ms Iva Durakovic, collaborator -
Prof Dian Tjondronegoro, collaborator -
Dr Renata De Vecchi, collaborator
Engagement
Recent publications
Candido, C., Marzban, S., Haddad, S., Mackey, M, Loder, A. (2020). Designing healthy workspaces: results from Australian certified open-plan offices. Facilities (in press).
Tavares, S. G., Sellars, D., Mews, G., Dupré, K., Candido, C. and Towle, S. (2020) Public health and wellbeing in public open spaces through climate responsive urban planning and design. The Journal of Public Space, 5(2), pp. 1-6. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/202441/
Ghosn, A. A. B,, Furuyama, C. M. S., Trigo, Pellegrini, J, Candido, C.; Shimomura, A. R. P. (2020). Daylight Performance Evaluation in a Modern Brazilian Heritage Building. Analysing Daylight Assessment Tools. In: 35th Plea Conference: Planning Post Carbon Cities, 1-3 September 2020, Coruña, Spain.
Buonocore, C; André, M; Ramos, G.; De Vecchi, R; Cândido, C.; Lamberts, R. (2020). Exploring the Brazilian Thermal Comfort Database: an overview on the main contributions. In: Proceedings of 11th Windsor Conference: Resilient Comfort, p. 1052-1064. 2020. ISBN 978-1-9161876-3-4.
Candido, C., Chakraborty, P., Tjondronegoro, D. (2019). The Rise of Office Design in High-Performance, Open-Plan Environments. Buildings, 2019 9(4), 100. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/9/4/100
Gocer, O., Candido, C., Thomas, L. and Gocer, K. (2019). Occupants’ satisfaction and perceived productivity in open-plan offices: lessons learned from high and low performance environments. Buildings, 2019 (9) 199. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/9/9/199
Reinhardt, D., Watt, R., Wozniak-OConnor, D., Candido, C., Cabrera, D., Titchkosky, N., Bickerton, C., Bohnenberger, S. (2019) Towards On-site, Modular Robotic Carbon-Fiber Winding for An Integrated Ceiling Structure. Construction Robotics, 2019. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41693-019-00019-3
Candido, C., Thomas, L., Haddad, S., Zhang, F., Mackey, M., Ye, W. (2019). Designing activity-based workspaces: satisfaction, productivity and physical activity. Building Research and Information. 47(3), 275-289. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09613218.2018.1476372?scroll=top&needAccess=true&journalCode=rbri20
Thai, P., Candido, C., Asumadu-Sakyi, A., Barnett, A., Morawska, L. (2019). Variation of indoor minimum mortality temperature in different cities: Evidence of local adaptations. Environmental Pollution, 246, 745-752. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0269749117348996?via%3Dihub
Vijapur, D., Candido, C., Gocer, O. (2019) A review of the evolution of flexible learning environments in Australia: for a better match of primary school design and IEQ. 53rd International Conference of the Architectural Science Association, Roorkee, India.