When visitors walk into the Pottery Barn at 619 Ponce, they often ask about the amazing candle scent filling the space. But the smell isn't a candle at all—it's the building itself. The four-story mass timber structure is built from Southern Yellow Pine that developer Jamestown sourced from their own timber holdings.

As Director of Innovation and Sustainability at Jamestown, Carrie Denning Jackson is leading projects that put the "healthy people, healthy planet" concept into action. Her path from IBM's Smart Cities division to Google's Sidewalk Labs and now her current role at Jamestown follows a consistent thread: exploring how technology and cities intersect to shape human experience. Through initiatives like urban tree canopy expansion, flame-retardant-free materials, and operable windows in 21-story buildings, she's demonstrating how conscious design can improve health outcomes while creating enjoyable spaces. 

Beyond the technical specs, this conversation reveals how major developers are grappling with a fundamental shift in what tenants, investors, and cities expect from the built environment. As Carrie explains through her work with Ponce City Market's three buildings—Scout, Signal House, and 619 Ponce—the industry is moving from "good enough" to exceeding expectations. For developers at any scale, her insights offer actionable strategies for creating healthier buildings.

Episode Outline

(02:31) How the rise of place-based technology is changing what people expect from buildings

(07:16) Jamestown's approach to merging innovation with sustainability and setting 2030 targets

(14:21) Launching Place as Medicine after discovering hidden health hazards in everyday materials

(19:19) A walkthrough of Ponce City Market 

(25:58) Air quality innovations: operable windows, induction stoves, cork flooring, and mineral paint pilots

(28:30) Using economies of scale and industry collaboration to drive down costs for healthier materials

(31:42) Practical advice for developers attempting healthier building projects

Additional Resources

Ponce City Market 

University of Toronto Study - Are Sleeping Children Exposed to Plasticizers, Flame Retardants, and UV-Filters from Their Mattresses?

Stanford University Study - Methane and NOx Emissions from Natural Gas Stoves, Cooktops, and Ovens in Residential Homes 

Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute - Trager MicroForest Project 

Healthy Materials Lab at Parsons School of Design

The Donghia Healthier Materials Library at Parsons School of Design

Habitable 

mindful MATERIALS

Windhover Contemplative Center at Stanford University     

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