Most of us don’t think of buildings beyond their mere function. Whether they’re made of steel, stone, concrete or glass, they provide us with places to live, learn, work, heal and have fun, and that’s about it, right? But have you ever considered how buildings can flow with us, taking us from stress to rest while getting us from point A to point B?

Dr. Luciana Burdi has. As the deputy director of capital programs and environmental affairs at the Massachusetts Port Authority, she always asks how airports can transport us emotionally as well as physically. No high-flying daydream this.