Draper Joins Smart Building Health Project
Draper has joined a new project funded by the ARPA-H BREATHE program to improve indoor air quality using smart building systems. The initiative brings together experts from industry and academia to focus on the link between building environments and human health.
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) launched the Building Resilient Environments for Air and Total Health (BREATHE) program to revolutionize public health by improving indoor air quality. Americans spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, where air can be significantly more polluted than outside, posing risks of respiratory illnesses. The BREATHE program aims to develop integrated smart building systems that can monitor, report, and intervene in real-time to reduce airborne threats like pathogens and allergens. Draper's role in the Strategic Control of bioAerosols in Learning Environments (SCALE) team is to contribute its expertise in microfluidic pathogen isolation. The goal of the SCALE project, led by Poppy Health, is to create the first building-integrated system to detect and mitigate indoor air hazards in real-time. This multi-disciplinary team, which includes industry leaders like Daikin and academic institutions like Penn State and the University of Minnesota, will initially deploy and demonstrate these systems in K-12 schools. The technology behind this initiative involves Internet of Things (IoT) sensors that continuously monitor pollutants such as CO2, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter. This data is fed into a Building Management System (BMS), which can then automatically adjust HVAC systems, ventilation, and air filtration to maintain a healthy environment. Major players in the smart building technology space include Honeywell, Siemens, Johnson Controls, and Schneider Electric, who are all developing sophisticated automation and energy management solutions. For business students aiming for construction management, this trend towards smart buildings opens up new entry paths. A business degree provides a strong foundation in project management, cost estimation, and budgeting, which are crucial skills for overseeing complex construction projects. As the industry becomes more technologically advanced, there is a growing need for professionals who can manage not just the physical construction but also the integration of these complex digital systems. The rise of smart buildings creates significant opportunities in business development and sales. Companies in the smart building sector are actively seeking business development managers to build relationships with architects, design consultants, and end-users to win project specifications. These roles require a blend of technical understanding and commercial acumen to demonstrate the return on investment of smart building solutions to potential clients. Transferable skills from a business background are highly valued in the construction industry. Strong communication, problem-solving, time management, and attention to detail are all critical for success in construction management. Emphasizing these skills, alongside any project management or financial analysis experience, can help a business graduate stand out to hiring managers in the construction sector. The construction industry in 2026 is projected to see a significant shift towards digitalization and automation, with an increasing use of artificial intelligence and digital twins in project management. Other major trends include the growth of modular and offsite construction and a heightened focus on sustainability and green building practices. Understanding these trends is key for anyone looking to enter and succeed in the evolving construction landscape.
