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Dr. Terri Peters

Terri Peters
Assistant Professor
BA, BEDS, DipArch, PhD
ARC-307
416-979-5000 ext. 556512

Areas of Specialization

Architectural design

Housing

Sustainability

Health and architecture

Environmental simulation for sustainable buildings

Architectural daylighting

Social sustainability

Resilient environments

Education

Year University Degree
2015 Aarhus Architecture School PhD
2006 London Metropolitan University DipArch
2002 Dalhousie University BEDS
2000 University of Victoria BA

Selected Courses

Course Code Course Title
ASC 201 Design Studio
ASC 200 Sustainable Practices
ASC 301 Design Studio II
BL8211   Lighting in Buildings
ARC 920 Advanced Architecture Studio

Spotlight

Terri Peters has long been interested in the effects of building performance on well-being; but when she lived in Copenhagen, she experienced it firsthand. Design there was different, especially in the medium-rise housing blocks that many, including Peters herself, called home. Instead of the long, dark condos that are typical of North America, balconies facing sunny courtyards were common, as was a focus on hygge, meaning coziness. “In Denmark,” she says, “quality of life is most important.”

It’s important for Peters, too. Much of her research focuses on superarchitecture: where design is driven by what adds to our health, such as wide-open views, good air flow, maximized daylight and access to the outdoors. Here in Canada, Peters wants superarchitecture to play more of a central role. However, as many of these elements are not quantitative—i.e. how do you measure that calm feeling you get from a well-lit room?—there are challenges.

To overcome them, Peters is researching strategies that benefit both our natural environment and our well-being, like appropriate uses of daylight and testing design options via digital simulation. She’s also speaking up at various health-related conferences. “The more architects who advocate, the healthier our buildings will be.”

Terri Peters

“Our buildings can make us better—if we let them.”

  • Peters, T., D'Penna, K*. (2020). Biophilic Design for Restorative University Learning Environments: A Critical Review of Literature and Design Recommendations. Sustainability. 12: 7064. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12177064 (external link) 
  • Peters T, Alkhalli N*, Kesik T, O'Brien L. (2020) Metrics And Methods For Climate-based Daylight Simulations Of Multi-Unit Residential Buildings. 2020 Building Performance Analysis Conference and SimBuild, September 29- October 1 2020, Chicago, Illinois, Chicago, United States
  • Peters T., Peters B. (2018) Computing the Environment:  Digital Design Tools for Simulation and Visualisation of Sustainable Architecture, (Chichester: John Wiley & Sons). ISBN: 978-1-119-09789-1
  • Peters T, Editor, (2017) Special Issue: Design for Health: Sustainable Approaches to Therapeutic Architecture. Architectural Design, Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, March/April 2017).  ISBN: 978-1-119-16213-1