Home Innovation Lab

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Welcome to the Future of Healthy Living in Rochester.

The Well Living Lab has partnered with Urbaneer in creating the Home Innovation Lab. Our mission is to transform how living environments are designed, constructed, and occupied to advance healthy aging and wellness in the residential building industry.

The Program

The Home Innovation Lab (HIL) is a 3-year living laboratory initiative located adjacent to Rochester's Discovery Square innovation district. Catalyzed by the Destination Medical Center (DMC) initiative , this project is designed to tackle a critical national challenge: closing the housing gap for the age 55+ demographic by creating science-backed, scalable residential solutions.

Phase One The Model Home.

The Well Living Lab’s Role

As a pioneer in human-centered research at the intersection of building and health science, the Well Living Lab is driving the scientific foundation of this project:

  • Research Leadership: We will lead and operate the human-centered research program, focusing on translational studies for pre-retirement and retirement populations.

  • Evidence-Based Guidelines: We are co-developing the Tech-Enabled, Age-in-Place (TE-AIP) Guidelines to help builders create optimized, health-focused homes at scale.

  • Data-Driven AI Insights: We are co-developing a secure Health and Wellness Dashboard that combines real-time sensing and cloud-based analytics to extend a resident’s health span.

Phase Two The Test Home.

Key Focus Areas

The program bridges physical construction and digital intelligence to optimize human health. Key areas of research and application include:

  • Indoor Environmental Quality: Enhancing air, light, and acoustic health.

  • Health Monitoring & Healthcare at Home: Utilizing integrated sensors, wearables, and activity detection.

  • Adaptive & Safe Living Spaces: Designing responsive environments that optimize age-in-place living.

Timeline

Construction is anticipated to begin in Q4 2026, with the lab becoming fully operational in Q2 2027. To learn more about the physical build, view partner details, or find out how your organization can join our coalition of enterprise and start-up collaborators, visit the official website.