About Us
Mission
We are Healthy Materials Lab, a design research lab at Parsons School of Design. We are dedicated to a world where people’s health is at the center of all design decisions.
Our focus is on women's and children's health as they are especially vulnerable in the primary space we all occupy- the home.
We are committed to raising awareness about toxic chemicals in building products and to creating resources for designers and architects to make healthier places for all people to live.
Meet our team
Healthy Materials Lab at Parsons School of Design is an interdisciplinary, international, and professionally diverse collective of graduate students, alumni, and faculty with backgrounds in media, architecture, design, community development, education, and business.
Get to know usOur Goals
In the broadest sense, our goals are for healthier spaces and healthier lives. To achieve this, we strive to:
Foster knowledge and awareness of today’s healthier material alternatives—make them more marketable, accessible, and accelerate change.
Promote the removal of toxics and carbon in built environments especially in housing to support communities living in poverty.
Educate professionals, teachers and students about the issue of material health and enable them to change current practices.
Research + Evaluate common building materials to remove toxics in buildings and improve health.
Collaborate with manufacturers to promote transparency, reduce toxics, carbon and cost, and ultimately drive innovation.
Healthy Materials Lab is supported in large part by a grant from Freedom Together Foundation originally called The JPB Foundation. Donghia healthier Materials Library is supported in large part by a grant from the Angelo Donghia Foundation.
Friends of Healthier Materials | Past & Present
We are a proud non-profit partner
Research Partners
We collaborate with community-based organizations, architects, government agencies, and other mission-based organizations to accelerate change to create healthier homes for everyone.
DON Enterprise
Changemakers, Heroes & Influencers
Healthy Affordable Materials Project
The Healthy Affordable Materials Project is a four-part collaborative that seeks to improve the lives and health of affordable housing residents by reducing the use of toxic materials in building products.
Interested in supporting our work?
There are many ways to support the work of the Healthy Materials Lab.
Learn moreJoin Our Academic Network
Get Access to our carefully researched and curated academic resources, including model syllabi and webinars. An email from an academic institution or a .edu email address is required. If your academic institution does not use .edu email addresses but you would like to join the network, please contact healthymaterialslab@newschool.edu.
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