The Office of the Future is a Home Away From Home.
Let’s design a more human-centered workplace.
Sitting at a desk from 9 to 5 for most days of the week can hinder our performance at the office. Part of the problem is that urbanization has caused most of us to lose our connection to green spaces, this is especially true in the workplace.
90% of employees admitted that their attitude about work is adversely affected by the quality of their workplace environment. – WELL building standard
Workers entering environments that welcome them with natural greenery are much happier and inspired. They are 6% more productive and 15% more creative. – Human Spaces Global Report
Excellence in design results in workplaces that enable people to perform at their best. Work is no longer just focused around a desk – people are finding different types of work settings are better supporting their needs.
Companies are investing in ways to measure the effect of workplace design on employee happiness. Why? There seems to be a strong correlation between employee happiness, productivity, and talent retention. – IDC Interior Designers of Canada
The great management theorist Maslow was examining the aesthetics of the workplace, and their impact, as long ago as the 1950s. His studies found that the quality of office design influenced office workers, with aesthetically pleasing spaces having a positive impact on energy levels and well-being. Further to this, research shows that the presence of natural elements indoors can evoke the same benefits as the outdoor environment, supporting the case for biophilic office design. – Human Spaces Global Report
Bringing elements into the workplace that allow a nature connection can help us to mentally recover from day-to-day stresses and improve our well-being.
The aesthetic attraction to nature fosters the human capacities for curiosity, imagination, creativity, exploration and problem solving. (Kellert, 1997).
The practice of incorporating nature and natural elements into the built environment has been proven to measurably reduce stress, enhance cognitive function and creativity, and expedite healing. And this translates to increased productivity, healthcare cost savings, and reduced turnover. – Interface
Reseach shows that natural light hits the top of the list for the most wanted element within the workplace. However, a huge 47% of workers say that they have no natural light within their work environment. –Human Spaces Global Report
Such findings emphasize the need for organizations to provide access to natural light through either office redesign where more open spaces are created, or through the design of social areas within the workplace that provide people with access to natural light and a place for respite.
Having no window with a view of nature was significantly related to greater levels of reported stress. In contrast, window views of greenery and water were linked with lower levels of stress in the workplace.” –Human Spaces Global Report
In 2003, a field study of 100 full time customer service representatives at a Sacramento call centre investigated the influence of windows and daylight on worker productivity. The researchers identified a 6-7% faster average call handling time for employees with seated access to views with vegetation through large windows from their cubicles, as compared to employees with no view of the outdoors. (Heschong Mahone Group 2003).
We all expect a workplace to be functional and meet human ergonomic and psychological needs but there are many more steps that can be taken to design a better workplace.
Some tips to a designing a better workplace:
- Provide access to natural light within the office or in common areas.
- Special attention should be given to the removal of accessibility barriers.
- Provide a comfortable temperature within the workplace.
- Create a suitable acoustic environment that allows ease of communication and limited intrusive noise.
- Design an environment that allows workers to function within their most productive range of motion.
- Use task appropriate lighting that works with the circadian rhythm to improve energy, mood and productivity.
- Support mental and emotional health through relaxation spaces and a connection to nature.
Since workplace design is one of the top three factors which affect job performance and satisfaction, isn’t it time you looked at how to create a workplace where people can do their best work?
Each aspect of the interior design—including space, furnishings, and environmental variables need to be carefully planned, and it would certainly be our pleasure to help you with that! Get the process started by filling out our quick questionnaire.
Learn more about How Your Workplace Can Benefit From Biophilic design.
