“There is no such thing as neutral space,” Farrow says – every building either erodes or enhances our ability to thrive. In this sequel to his 2024 Mass Timber Group keynote, Tye Farrow dives deeper into how biophilic, wood-rich architecture can tip the scales toward health. Drawing insights from his acclaimed book Constructing Health, Farrow bridges neuroscience and design to show how enriched environments made of mass timber actively improve our mind and body.

Attendees will discover hard evidence of timber’s benefits to occupants. Farrow highlights emerging research that exposure to wood interiors reduces stress – lowering cortisol levels, blood pressure, and heart rate – while improving focus and cognitive function in users. He shares real-world examples where natural materials are transforming workplace and healing settings into calming, healing environments. Imagine hospitals where patients surrounded by wood and nature-inspired design heal faster, need less pain medication, and even shorten their hospital stays, or workplaces where productivity, well-being, and employee health are improved, simply by the environment in which they work.  Farrow’s message: by embracing nature’s neuroscience, we can literally construct better health outcomes in our buildings.

Finally, Farrow connects these human-centered gains to business and investment value. Healthier, happier occupants translate into concrete benefits for stakeholders – from more productive employees to higher patient satisfaction and staff retention. He explains how early adopters of mass timber are already bolstering their brand reputation and community trust by delivering spaces that care for people. In an era when developers may soon weigh neuroscientific data as seriously as structural and energy metrics, Farrow makes the case that designing for wellness isn’t just good ethics – it’s good economics.

Tye Farrow will outline a compelling vision for building with nature to unlock human potential. This session offers a clear, evidence-driven roadmap for leveraging mass timber design to create healthier environments and stronger returns. It’s a deeper exploration of a revolutionary idea: that by infusing our projects with natural, brain-friendly materials, we can deliver not only beautiful sustainable buildings, but tangible health dividends for occupants and owners alike.