The present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatus for improving existing buildings or for improving new buildings. This process may include identifying factors and related metrics that leverage one or more building quality index values when an overall quality of a building is accessed and improved. Such a building quality index value may be a single value within a possible range of values. The index value may be a compilation or other transformation of values associated with various categories that may include building materials, types of businesses contained within the building, environmental impact of the building, and other metrics. This building quality index value may be a function of characteristics that may be associated with people that use the building, environmental conditions that surround the building, a location, a risk likelihood, past and future projected climatic conditions, or other factors.