Research · Design · Human Experience
Chunya Wu
D.Arch, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP
Hi! I'm an architectural designer and researcher who designs studies that translate environmental psychology into actionable design insights, applying virtual reality and biological factors, physiological sensing, and NLP analytics to advance health-promoting, evidence-based architecture. At ZGF Architects, I collaborate across data strategy and healthcare, higher education design teams on post-occupancy evaluation, healthcare tool development, and behavioral science applications, communicating findings through peer-reviewed publications and firmwide platforms.
Publications & Research
Research
Research Universe: click each node for methodology details
The influence of virtual environment on thermal perception: physical reaction and subjective thermal perception on outdoor scenarios in VR
Empirical evidence for the "visual-thermal" cross-modal effect: pleasing outdoor natural elements significantly increase thermal comfort and reduce energy demand.
The Impact of Public Green Space Views on Indoor Thermal Perception and Environment Control Behavior
Green space views lead to a 7% decrease in AC usage by enhancing subjective thermal acceptance during extreme lockdown conditions.
Window views psychological effects on indoor thermal perception: A comparison experiment based on VR environments
Quantified how five biophilic indicators in window views influence indoor thermal comfort and emotional response via VR + LVQA.
A Design Application Handbook of Indirect Biophilic Attributes in Hawaii Hotel Interior Design
Developed the BDIA model to evaluate guest satisfaction through NLP and environmental psychology across 10,000+ hotel reviews.
Competencies
Skills
Technical Skills
3D Modeling & BIM
Rendering
Graphic Design
Programming & Analytics
Research Skills
Selected Works
Works
Professional
Hands-on project experience across healthcare, higher education, and cultural facilities gives me an intimate understanding of how design decisions play out in real construction, and why research-driven insights matter most when they meet the practical constraints of schedules, budgets, and coordination.
ZGF Architects · Healthcare · Higher Education
Ballmer Institute for Children Behavioral Health Building
Joined from the early DD phase as sustainability champion. Energy efficiency COMCHECK, Revit modeling, interior documentation, BIM clash detection, and LEED coordination.
ZGF Architects · Higher Ed
OSU Jen-Hsun & Lori Huang Collaborative Innovation Complex
First mass timber three-floor supercomputer in the U.S. Curtain wall and timber structure detail drawings, Yulio Panorama, material check maps for client review.
ZGF Architects · Cultural
Pickathon 2025 Main Stage Design
One of the main designers from concept to construction for the Pickathon 2025 main stage.
Educational
All academic projects are grounded in oikos, the idea that architecture should foster a reciprocal relationship between inhabitants, community, and their ecological context. I believe that through design, coordination, and planning, we can achieve a harmonious coexistence between people and nature.
Tongji × Aedas · 09/2021 – 01/2022
Paradise
Shanghai, 452,500ft², a three-dimensional urban park. UCCA Edge gallery exhibition.
UH Mānoa Studio · 10/2022 – 05/2023
Mountain of Balance
Seoul Biennale 2023 invited exhibition. ACSA Steel Competition 3rd Place.
Individual Work · 11/2019 – 01/2020
Connector
Norrköping, Sweden, 200ft span. Modular timber suspension bridge.
About
About
Education
University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
Doctor of Architecture, 2024
Tongji University
Master of Engineering, 2024
Southeast University
Bachelor of Architecture, 2021
Practice Experience
ZGF Architects
Architectural Designer & Data Strategy Researcher
2023.06–08 ; 2024.06–Present
Designing and executing research studies related to health-informed architectural design. Collaborating with research and design teams to collect, analyze, and translate data into actionable insights and daily logs. Developing research deliverables, presentations, and firmwide resources. Leading LEED certification coordination as a sustainability champion. Contributing to POE, healthcare tool development, and behavioral science presentations.
Tsinghua University Innovation Center
Designer & Researcher
2022.05–09
Integrating existing data, extracting effective design information, and completing competition text writing and overall visual design.
CTBUH
Research Assistant & Consultant
2021.09–2022.09
Analyzed China's high-rise building development trends and compiled them into the annual report. Summarized monthly cooperation information and released news into bilingual monthly briefings. Produced meeting minutes and report documents for meetings in English with headquarters.
Perkins Eastman
Architectural Designer, Intern
2022.10–2023.01
Atelier Deshaus & Archi-Union
Architectural Designer, Intern
2020.08–2021.01
Certifications & Memberships
LEED AP BD+C
GBCI #0011506147
WELL AP
IWBI #WELL-AP-0000147731
NCARB Candidate
Record #887147
EDRA Member
Reviewer (2024, 2026) · Committee (2026–)
IAPS Member
IAPS 2022 Individual Presenter
Academic Service
EDRA Reviewer (2024, 2026); Committee (2026–)
Journal of Architectural Design, Reviewer
British Psychological Society Journal, Reviewer
Sustainability (MDPI), Reviewer
Journal of Sustainability Research, Reviewer Board
USGBC Greenbuild, Selected Reviewer (2024, 2026)
Annals of Environmental Science & Ecology, Board (since 2023)
Awards & Exhibitions
2023.09
Seoul Biennale 2023
"Mountain of Balance", Team Leader
2023.08
ACSA Steel Competition, 3rd Place
"Back to the Nature", Team Leader
2022.11
Aedas × UCCA Edge Exhibition
"City as Paradise", Team Leader
2021
Asian Design Annual Award, Bronze & TEAM20
Historical site preservation via big data
Get in Touch