How Can Indoor Spaces Support Human Health: Insights from ASHRAE

10/27/2025

At the 2025 ASHRAE Annual Conference in Phoenix, Knauf welcomed three of the industry’s most respected voices—Professor Mark Hernandez, Dr. Stephanie Taylor, and Dr. John McKeon— to discuss one pressing question: how do we ensure our indoor spaces truly support human health?

Moderated by CEO and Medical Director at the iAIR Institute Dr. John McKeon, the discussion began with insights from Engineering Professor Mark Hernandez, a pioneer in airborne microbiology at the University of Colorado. Hernandez enlightened attendees that microbes and the biological particles they shed, are everywhere in the spaces we share, from schools and offices to airports and public buildings. These “bioaerosols” include bacteria, fungi, viruses, and pollen, and they directly affect human health.

With advancements in real-time monitoring, we can now measure these elements with greater precision than ever. However, Hernandez warned that measurement alone isn’t enough, action must follow. He urged industry leaders to use this information to enhance ventilation, upgrade filtration systems, and adopt smarter cleaning practices.

His message was clear: “If we don’t measure it, we can’t manage it.”

A Real-Life Case Study: Examining Air Quality in Denver's Schools

To demonstrate how measurement can drive action, Professor Hernandez shared insights from a project underway in Denver Public Schools, focused on monitoring air quality in classrooms. These efforts aim to better understand indoor environmental exposures that may influence respiratory health and levels of school attendance/absenteeism. According to the NIH, childhood asthma is a leading cause of school absenteeism and is exacerbated by airborne pollutants. Professor Hernandez’s team is using advanced sensors to track key air quality indicators inside classrooms, including particulate levels, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and humidity.

The goal? To better understand and manage indoor exposures that can trigger respiratory issues. By giving schools real-time data, the program empowers administrators to make informed decisions about ventilation, filtration, and cleaning—showing that air monitoring can be a powerful, practical tool for protecting children’s health.

Why Indoor Spaces Matter for Health

With a unique background being both a Harvard-trained physician and an architect, Dr. Stephanie Taylor brought a powerful human-centered perspective to the conversation. Her journey from pediatric oncology to building design revealed the crucial— and often overlooked—connection between indoor environments and human health.

Dr. Taylor shared research showing that indoor air can affect the immune system within minutes. Factors like relative humidity can either support or compromise health outcomes.

Dr. Taylor also introduced her work on an indoor air quality health index— a framework that combines contaminant levels with their biological effects on human health.

Her message to engineers and building professionals: “We must design spaces with human outcomes in mind, not just comfort.”

Designing for Healthier Spaces

The experts stressed the importance of democratizing indoor air monitoring, making it accessible in schools, homes, and workplaces. After all, if we can track a car’s performance with a dashboard, why not do the same for the air we breathe?

Dr. McKeon closed the session with a clear challenge to the industry: The future of cleaner indoor air depends on a collective commitment to measure, manage, and make a difference.

Cleaner air means healthier people, better performance, and a brighter future for all. Watch the full discussion below.