Holly Samuelson
Bio
Holly Samuelson is a building scientist, architect, and educator whose work focuses on how building design impacts health and carbon emissions. Before joining MIT, she practiced architecture (2000-2007), consulted for the building industry (2007-2008), and taught at Harvard University (2012-2025).
Dr. Samuelson has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, including the Best Paper Award from Energy and Buildings, and received the Outstanding Young Contributor Award from the International Building Performance Simulation Association. She has been featured by media outlets such as the BBC and Washington Post, highlighting architecture’s role in promoting public health and addressing climate change.
At MIT, she directs the Livable Spaces Lab, an interdisciplinary research group advancing healthy, energy-efficient buildings for people and the planet. The lab combines computational and experimental methods to tackle urgent challenges, including heat vulnerability, thermal resilience, indoor air quality, carbon emissions, and the future of building design in a shifting energy landscape.