Usually when you think of “green” or “sustainable” building techniques, they consist of methods that reduce the negative impacts buildings have on the environment.  However, thanks to a new type of tile that converts the chemicals in pollution into less toxic substances, buildings can begin to improve the quality of the environment around them. 

The Torre de Especialidades is a new tower being added to a hospital in Mexico City:

The Torre de Especialidades is shielded with a facade of Prosolve370e, a new type of tile whose special shape and chemical coating can help neutralize the chemicals that compose smog: and not just a small amount of them, but the equivalent produced by 8,750 cars driving by each day.

Read more about the building and the science behind this innovation here.