From physical design to creating experience and personal connections: Scenarios of design innovation for value creation powered by fast-evolving technologies

Dr. Ying Hua came from a background in architecture, building science, and behavioral science. She has worked on a large volume of empirical studies on the impact of building environmental and spatial qualities on occupants’ perception, health and well-being, and performance; on the methodology and technology for building post-occupancy evaluation (POE); and the interaction between occupants and built environments and the resulting influence on both human experience and sustainability. With the support from the Abe Fellowship from the Japan Foundation and collaborating with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, she has conducted impactful research on the strategies to motivate and engage multiple stakeholders in sustainable building practice in the U.S. and Japan. Recent years, her research and her studio teaching have been focusing on design strategies for future workplace and future learning environments – the impact of a variety of new workplace concepts, adoption of new technology, and management strategies on the workplace experience and organizational outcomes; and the effectiveness of new work and learning settings, especially hybrid settings, for supporting future work and future lifestyle.

It is her goal to inform the design, operation, management, and renovation of buildings to enhance the quality of built environments, support the health and experience of their occupants, facilitate the delivery of business goals and create new values; and to mitigate the building sector's impact on global climate change. Many of her students are now leaders in the fields of workplace strategy, design consulting, and sustainable practice globally.

As the Founding Director of the Cornell China Center (2008-2025), she spearheaded a large volume of projects and the Cornell China Forum to strengthen and expand Cornell’s collaboration with Chinese institutes to support a global education mission. She appreciates the opportunity to work closely with the HKUST leadership and faculty members in multiple disciplines during her directorship on the Cornell-HKUST strategic partnership.