On March 17, 2025, the Journal of Building Design and Environment (JBDE) successfully held its inaugural Frontier Forum, attracting over 16,000 viewers. The event was hosted by Prof. Limao Zhang, JBDE Editor-in-Chief, and featured a keynote speech by Prof. Jian Kang, Honorary Editor-in-Chief of the journal and a leading expert in building and environmental acoustics from University College London, UK.

Prof. Kang's presentation, titled "Human-Centered Building and Environmental Acoustics Design," emphasized the importance of considering human perceptions and preferences in acoustic design, rather than just focusing on decibel levels. He introduced the concept of "soundscape" and discussed how factors such as profession, education, and behavior influence people's sound preferences. Through case studies of buildings like hospitals, public spaces, and libraries, Prof. Kang highlighted the impact of sound on health, work, and social interaction.

The forum sparked valuable discussions on improving acoustic environments to enhance well-being, with a focus on the potential of AI, big data, and virtual simulations to create more personalized soundscapes in various types of buildings.

The full event video can be viewed here: https://sciexplor.com/webinars/jbde/5

The inaugural Frontier Forum was a great success, laying a solid foundation for future events. JBDE remains committed to advancing academic research and integrating industry practices to create healthier and more sustainable urban sound environments.

We thank all the participants and look forward to future collaborations to continue advancing research in building design and environmental acoustics.