ABOUT B
A career Built On
Curiosity
Research requires a relentlessly curious mindset. B Sanborn's career has taken them from archaeological fieldwork to environmental psychology to leading research in integrated design practice. At every stop, the through line has been the same: understanding how people experience the environments they inhabit. Now working independently, they partner with designers, clients, and organizations in the built environment to build research practices that create lasting value.
An Interdisciplinary Research Leader with Over 15 years of Experience in the Field
B began their career in archaeological fieldwork and cultural resource management before earning an MS in Environmental Psychology from Cornell University with a minor in Organizational Behavior. They hold a BA in Archaeology and Physical Anthropology from CSU Sacramento. They also have a certification in Neuroscience for Urban Design and Architecture from the New School.
Their methodology now bridges anthropology, environmental psychology, and organizational behavior to reveal patterns in how people collaborate, how participants engage with research, and how evidence actually influences design decisions. Their published writing on coworking environments, workplace dynamics, and practice-based research appears in peer-reviewed journals, design theory handbooks, and popular media. B speaks at industry and educational events, including SXSW, Interior Design Canada, AIA Conference on Architecture, and Creative Mornings.
Over a decade in the architecture industry, including eight years as a Principal and research leader at a top-50 integrated design firm, B built a research program from solo practice into a team of four, establishing frameworks for research strategy, capacity-building, and demonstrating ROI. That experience showed them where organizations get stuck or make breakthroughs on real-world projects.
B serves as 2025-26 Board Chair of the Environmental Design Research Association, sits on the Center for Health Design's EDAC Advisory Council, and contributes to the American Psychological Association's Climate Change Task Force.
Colleagues describe B as someone who stretches the people around them to think more deeply and who approaches problems with curiosity and care. Whether in business, education, or volunteer roles, B brings a combination of intellectual depth, relational thinking, and a sense of joyful humor to their contributions and collaborations.
B has studied theater, dance, and fine arts alongside their research career, bringing elements of creative expression, spatial dynamics, and embodied listening to their work, informing a research philosophy based on negotiating shared movement or experiences within structure. Based in Charleston, SC.
Published & Reviewed
My chapter on Ecological Systems Theory (co-authored with Dr. Eunhwa Yang) explores how understanding nested environmental influences helps create workplaces where employees thrive. Published in Routledge's A Handbook of Theories on Designing Alignment Between People and the Office Environment, edited by Rianne Appel-Meulenbroek and Vitalija Danivska.
““By integrating these insights into HR strategies, organisations can cultivate a more human-centric workplace that promotes employee engagement and collaboration.””
