Phipps President and CEO Richard Piacentini Joins Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air

For Immediate Release: Thurs., Sept. 25
Contact: Joe Reed | Director of Marketing and Communications
412-622-6915, ext. 3801 | jreed@phipps.conservatory.org

Phipps President and CEO Richard Piacentini Joins Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air
New Commission announced at the United Nations unites more than 100 leaders from 30 countries to drive global action on healthy indoor air

Pittsburgh, PA – Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is excited to announce that its President and CEO, Richard Piacentini, will serve as a Commissioner of the newly launched Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air, an initiative led by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) to elevate indoor air as a critical public health priority and drive coordinated global action and solutions. As a Commissioner, Piacentini will join colleagues from around the world in developing a Global Framework for Action and catalyzing the creation of national Blueprints to strengthen indoor air quality efforts across regions.

“Among the important environmental issues of our time, the air we breathe is one that is critical in many cities in the U.S. and across the globe. We welcome the opportunity to explore this important intersection of human and environmental health with leaders worldwide,” said Piacentini.

Phipps’ commitment to clean air has extended to various areas of its operations over the years. Its Living Campus, which houses three of the greenest buildings in the world and two WELL Platinum facilities, incorporates air-handling strategies for occupant health and has been accessed by thousands for educational tours, where it stands as a better example of building with people and the planet in mind. In addition, the Phipps campus has held a WELL Health-Safety Rating — an evidence-based, third-party verified rating for health and safety in new and existing building and space types —  since 2021. This summer, Phipps launched Climate Toolkit Pittsburgh, an initiative modeled on its successful international Climate Toolkit which seeks to bring its City’s nonprofit organizations together to connect and coordinate efforts around climate action and sustainability in the region, including the acute issue of air quality.

“We’re thrilled to have Richard’s expertise on the Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air,” said IWBI President and CEO Rachel Hodgdon. “He joins an acclaimed cohort that will, in the coming months and year, chart a global framework and co-develop national blueprints that offer strategies for action along with the sustained drumbeat of attention and awareness necessary to elevate this issue worldwide.”

“It’s an incredible opportunity to bring such an esteemed group of professionals together for an urgent cause,” added Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the United States and Co-Chair of the Commission on Healthy Indoor Air.

Indoor air pollution is associated with nearly 3.2 million premature deaths annually and contributes to a wide range of chronic and acute health conditions including respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. Despite the risks and the fact that people spend 90% of their lives indoors, indoor air quality has historically lagged behind other public health and environmental priorities.

The Commission will:

• Elevate a global call to action that places healthy indoor air at the forefront of public health and policy priorities
• Build global awareness by highlighting the urgent human and economic costs of unhealthy indoor air
• Establish a Global Framework for Action with clear prescriptions across key pillars of market transformation
• Catalyze country-specific National Blueprints in collaboration with local stakeholders
• Spur multi-sector investment to scale affordable, effective and equitable solutions

The Commission’s Global Framework for Action will be released by the end of 2026, alongside national Blueprints published on a rolling basis.

###

About the International WELL Building Institute: The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is a public benefit corporation and the global authority for transforming health and well-being in buildings, organizations and communities. In pursuit of its public-health mission, IWBI mobilizes its community through the development and administration of the WELL Building Standard (WELL), WELL for residential, WELL Community Standard, its WELL ratings and management of the WELL AP credential. IWBI also translates research into practice, develops educational resources and advocates for policies that promote people-first places for everyone, everywhere. More information on WELL can be found here.

About Phipps: Founded in 1893, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, PA is a globally recognized green leader with a mission to inspire and educate all with the beauty and importance of plants; to advance sustainability and promote human and environmental well-being through action and research; and to celebrate its historic glasshouse. Encompassing 15 acres including a historic 14-room glasshouse, 23 distinct indoor and outdoor gardens and industry-leading sustainable architecture and operations, Phipps attracts more than half a million visitors annually from around the world. Learn more at phipps.conservatory.org.

Watch TEDx: What We Can Learn From an Old Glasshouse: A look at the evolving way we connect people to nature at Phipps, demonstrate how human and environmental health are inextricably connected, and show that to age gracefully, we must continually reinvent ourselves to evolve with the rest of the world.

International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL EP, WELL Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Performance Rated, WELL Equity Rated, WELL Equity, WELL Coworking Rated, WELL Residence, Works with WELL, WELL and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.