Dr. Ying Hua 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; methodology and tools for building post-occupancy evaluation (POE); and the interaction between occupants and built environments and the resulted influence on both human experience and sustainability. It is her goal to inform the design, operation, management, and renovation of buildings to enhance the quality of environments, support the health and performance 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.
Ying Hua has a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of Engineering in Building Science & Technology from Zhejiang University (China), and a Ph.D. in Building Performance & Diagnostics from Carnegie Mellon University.
Courses
POE + M Research Insights: Towards High-Performance Commercial Buildings and the End of Least Cost Decision-Making
Wednesday, September 10, 2025 | 2-3pm ET
Post Occupancy Evaluations (POEs) that ensure records of building attributes, user satisfaction and measurements are key to advancing high performance building systems and operations and ending the cycle of least cost decision-making. This presentation will introduce a robust approach to post occupancy evaluation that can quantify the benefits of improving spatial, thermal, visual, acoustic and air quality in buildings, illustrated with new and retrofit commercial buildings. The presentation will summarize the findings of over 80 commercial building studies undertaken by faculty and students in the Carnegie Mellon Center for Building Performance & Diagnostics in collaboration with government and corporate property owners. Drawing upon extensive research, the discussion will highlight strategies for utilizing POE findings to iteratively improve building systems and operations, ultimately fostering greater occupant well-being and productivity. This session will also touch upon available measurement toolkits and affordable field assessment strategies.