Our Vision & Mission
Our Vision
A world where all buildings enhance the health, well-being, and sustainability of their occupants and the planet through collaborative, evidence-based approaches.
Our Mission
Healthy Buildings Network Leeds emerged from a cross-disciplinary vision at the University of Leeds to foster meaningful collaboration on how buildings impact health, well-being, and sustainability. We actively engage across campuses, councils, industries, and communities—locally and globally.
Through seminars, workshops, funded projects, and dynamic partnerships, HBN drives innovative research and actionable insights for healthier indoor environments.
Our Story
The Healthy Buildings Network Leeds was born out of the University of Leeds' Horizons Challenge Network initiative, which aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration to address complex societal challenges.
In 2024, our founders recognised the critical intersection between building design, operation, and human health—particularly highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. They saw the need for a dedicated network that could bridge the gaps between different academic disciplines, industry professionals, and policymakers working in this space.
With initial funding from the University of Leeds, we launched officially in October 2024 with a mission to create healthier, more sustainable built environments through collaborative research, knowledge sharing, and innovative partnerships.
Our launch event in October 2024
Meet the Founders
Martín López-García
Co-Founder & Director
Martín is an associate professor in the School of Mathematics at the University of Leeds and focuses on stochastic models for evaluating the spread of bacteria in hospital settings.
Irene Mussio
Co-Founder & Director
Irene is a lecturer in the Leeds University Business School and specialises in behavioural economics and risk-risk trade-offs, translating her research into policy and practice.
Marco-Felipe King
Co-Founder & Director
Marco-Felipe is a lecturer in the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Leeds whose expertise includes modelling human behaviour in the built environment.
Our Key Focus Areas
Our research and activities span multiple interconnected areas that contribute to the creation of healthier, more sustainable built environments.
Health & Ergonomics
Indoor Air Quality
Thermal Comfort
Lighting
Water Quality
Infection Control
Sustainable Materials
Energy Efficiency
Equity & Access
Environmental Resilience
Our interconnected focus areas create a holistic approach to designing, managing, and operating buildings, ensuring sustainable, inclusive, and healthy environments for all.
Our Journey
Network Formation
Our founders initiated the Healthy Buildings Network as a Horizons Challenge Network at the University of Leeds.
Official Launch
We officially launched the network with an event featuring panel discussions and interactive activities on healthy buildings.
Seminar Series
Initiated our seminar series with speakers from across academia and industry including Liora Malki-Epshtein (UCL), Chuck Gerba and Khalid Iljaz (University of Arizona and Reckitt Benckiser), and Pete Apps (Grenfell journalist).
Funded Projects
Awarded funding to 5 innovative pump-priming projects exploring different aspects of healthy buildings research.
UKIEG 2025 Conference
Preparing to host the UK Indoor Environments Group annual conference at the University of Leeds.
Get Involved
HBN thrives through diverse partnerships. We're actively seeking collaborators from academia, local government, industry, and the wider community. Join us in creating healthier building environments for everyone.
Join as a Member
Become a member of our network to receive updates, invitations to events, and opportunities for collaboration.
Attend Our Events
Join our seminars, workshops, and conferences to learn from experts and share your knowledge.
Collaborate on Projects
Propose research collaborations or partner with us on one of our existing funded projects.