Growing Something Bigger: Ambius, GPGB, and the Future of Biophilic Design

Written by Jonah Adamcik, Commercial Project Manager, Soltech Solutions, Interview with Abigail Parr, East Market Director, Ambius 

If you’ve ever stepped into a space that just felt better—an airport lounge that invites you to linger, a healthcare facility that eases stress, or a workplace that feels alive—chances are you’ve experienced the power of biophilic design in action.

For Ambius, that feeling isn’t accidental. It’s the result of more than 60 years of interiorscaping expertise.  From green walls and moss installations to full-scale landscape design and construction projects on cruise ships, Ambius has built a reputation for transforming commercial environments into immersive, nature-connected experiences.

And sometimes, those experiences are unforgettable.

Consider the Centurion Lounge at Atlanta’s airport, where a 50-year-old olive tree was carefully relocated indoors to anchor the design. Or a cancer center in New Jersey, where plants were used to create a calming, restorative environment for patients and staff alike. These projects aren’t just about aesthetics—they’re about impact.

As Abigail Parr of Ambius explains, that impact always starts with the client: “We’re helping bring that vision to life.” It’s a simple statement that reflects a major shift in the industry. Today’s clients are more informed, more plant-conscious, and more invested in the role of greenery than ever before.

“Since the pandemic, everybody knows about interior plants,” Abigail says. And that knowledge has changed the dynamic. What was once a vendor relationship has evolved into a true partnership—one where designers, clients, and interiorscapers collaborate to create spaces that are not only beautiful, but meaningful.

This is where Green Plants for Green Buildings (GPGB) plays a critical role.

At its core, GPGB exists to “put plants in every room” by communicating the aesthetic, well-being, and economic benefits of nature in the built environment. For industry professionals, that mission is more than a tagline—it’s a roadmap for the future.

Through research, continuing education, and outreach to architects, designers, and building owners, GPGB is helping turn biophilic design from a trend into a standard. And the timing couldn’t be better. With frameworks like LEED v5 now formally recognizing “Connecting with Nature” as a core design strategy, plants are no longer seen as optional—they’re essential.

The data backs it up. Biophilic design has been shown to improve well-being, reduce stress, and increase productivity, all while supporting sustainability goals and enhancing the built environment. In other words, plants don’t just make spaces look better—they make them work better.

For companies like Ambius, supporting GPGB is a natural extension of that mission. “We are all in this industry together… trying to bring biophilia into spaces,” Abigail says. “It’s very important that we’re a part of the industry and not separate from it.”

That sense of unity is one of GPGB’s greatest strengths, and one of its greatest opportunities.

For existing supporters, GPGB provides a powerful platform to advance research, share knowledge, and elevate the entire industry. For those not yet involved, it offers something equally valuable: a way to connect your work to a larger movement that is shaping the future of design.

Because despite its growth, interiorscaping is still one of the industry’s best-kept secrets.

“I had no idea the industry existed,” Abigail admits. Today, she calls it “the coolest industry to work in.” It’s a field where creative professionals, scientists, designers, and operators come together to solve real-world challenges—and create spaces that genuinely improve people’s lives.

That’s the story worth telling. And it’s one GPGB is uniquely positioned to amplify.

So whether you’re already part of the GPGB community or just beginning to explore the role of plants in your projects, the message is clear:

This isn’t just about adding greenery.
It’s about redefining how we design, experience, and value the spaces around us.

And together with partners like Ambius and the collective voice of GPGB; it’s about growing something much bigger than plants.

It’s about growing the future of the built environment.

Photo by Jeremy Enlow