Originally published on August 14, 2025, by Julie Hiromoto for UrbanLand Magazine.

Office of HKS in Singapore.

A growing body of research indicates that physical space profoundly affects our brain health. The capacity of our buildings and public spaces to be regenerative in that regard remains largely untapped, however.

The key resources for developing brain capital are brain skills—cognitive processes such as memory, attention, and critical thinking; and brain health—the overall functioning of an individual’s brain throughout that person’s life.

“The built environment has a profound impact on our brain health, shaping everything from cognition and creativity to overall well-being,” says Harris Eyre, a physician and neuroscientist, senior fellow for brain and society at Rice University, and executive director of the Brain Capital Alliance. “Support for environments that foster mental wellness and cognitive performance is not just wise policy—it is an economic and social imperative.”

Brain disorders cost the global economy $5 trillion annually and are projected to hit $16 trillion by 2030, according to McKinsey Health Institute. Therefore, reducing risk and enhancing resilience of mental and neurological health in the workplace translates to real value for employers through increased recruitment and retention, productivity, creativity and innovation, adaptability and learning capacity, and reduced health care costs.

Architecture and design can help develop what neuroscientists, economists, and policymakers refer to as “brain capital”—a community’s collective mental, emotional, and social strengths that help people create new ideas, adapt to challenges, and boost economic growth. Work remains ahead of us to realize a brain healthy economy.