The wake of the coronavirus pandemic has presented an opportune moment to re-evaluate and renew physical workplaces as employees return to them.
“The link between good workplace design and productivity is unmistakable,” states HMC Architects in its recently released report, titled “Designing for Wellness and Good Governance,” which focuses on design work done for public-sector clients by the firm’s six studios in California.
The report’s authors note that workplace design for the public sector comes with challenges. “As today’s office landscape becomes less hierarchical and younger staff more interested in a collaborative environment, employers must evolve to meet the needs of the next generation. Public optics, safety, many departments, and unique bidding processes must be considered.”
Those challenges are compounded by the shifting toward hybrid work and how offices must now function. “We are leaving behind a workplace that operates like a machine, where roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and predictable,” the authors write. “Our new future is a workplace that functions like an ecosystem and requires adaptability and unpredictable roles and responsibilities.”
The 28-page report, which can be downloaded from here, aims to present a “blueprint” to craft workplaces “that transcend functional utility and metamorphose into nurturing hubs of growth, connectedness, and mutual success.”
A holistic approach to wellness design
HMC Architects spells out what offices need to be doing today, starting with empowering people to do their best work. Cost-effective environments that blend flexibility, health, and wellness have a better chance at attracting new talent, enhancing employee satisfaction, and fortifying retention rates.
“Wellness is good business,” states the authors, pointing to studies that show that employee absenteeism is reduced, productivity increases, and employee turnover is significantly reduced. “Employee health and wellness investments make people feel valued and often encourage them to invest in their physical and mental well-being.”
However, creating a healthier work environment does not necessarily mean relocation or a complete revamp of existing space; there are cost-effective changes that can have significant impacts, such as bringing in new furniture and lighting for better comfort, temperature, mood, openness and flexibility. HMC says that prioritizing occupants’ thermal comfort is a “cornerstone” of a productive and content working environment
HMC’s solutions are holistic, encompassing the nurturing of wellness through healthier in-office nutritional choices and amenities such as fitness centers, private respite rooms, and access to outdoor recreational areas. “Investing in these purposeful amenities underscores a resolute commitment to cultivating a work environment that is supportive and engaging,” the report states. “Such an environment reflects a genuine concern for the welfare of employees.”
Case studies showcase different design approaches
The report homes in on seven public-sector “case studies” throughout California that amplify some of its general wellness points:
•The County of San Diego North Coastal Live Well Health Centers, whose interior design takes advantage of daylight and fresh air;
•The University of California San Diego North Torrey Pines Living and Learning Neighborhood, whose design balances privacy and collaboration in office spaces;
•Kaiser Permanente’s Fontana Medical Center, a Medical Office Building whose interior design includes biophilia inspired by nature;
•Riverside Office of Education Conference Center, whose design (elevates collaboration and comfort to encourage success;
•Los Angeles County Department of Public Works’ landscape Improvements that include a wellness garden which redefines the workplace experience;
•Mammoth Lakes Civic Center that reshapes the city hub; and
•The Ontario City Hall Annex that creates an office oasis. Along the building’s periphery, open office ergonomic workstations bask in daylight and offer glimpses of the outdoors, facilitated by intelligent sun control mechanisms that subdue glare. Internal offices, adorned with generous glazing, harness natural light cascading within.
The Riverside case study is an example of how design brings disparate elements together. The building’s ground floor serves as nexus for communal engagement, with an interplay between indoor and outdoor spaces. There’s a fusion of private space and open workspaces, and an expansive conference room within the building’s core. Overhead glass and sliding doors unveil a terrace that extends the conference space to an inviting outdoor area, commanding panoramic views of the neighboring landscape.
Related Stories
| Jul 11, 2014
Are these LEGO-like blocks the future of construction?
Kite Bricks proposes a more efficient way of building with its newly developed Smart Bricks system.
| Jul 10, 2014
BioSkin 'vertical sprinkler' named top technical innovation in high-rise design
BioSkin, a system of water-filled ceramic pipes that cools the exterior surface of buildings and their surrounding micro-climates, has won the 2014 Tall Building Innovation Award from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
| Jul 7, 2014
7 emerging design trends in brick buildings
From wild architectural shapes to unique color blends and pattern arrangements, these projects demonstrate the design possibilities of brick.
| Jul 3, 2014
Gehry edits Canadian skyscraper plan to be 'more Toronto'
After being criticized for the original tower complex, architect Frank Gehry unveils a new design that is more subtle, and "more Toronto."
| Jul 2, 2014
Emerging trends in commercial flooring
Rectangular tiles, digital graphic applications, the resurgence of terrazzo, and product transparency headline today’s commercial flooring trends.
| Jul 1, 2014
China's wild circular skyscraper opens in Guangzhou [slideshow]
The 33-story Guanghzou Circle takes the shape of a giant ribbon spool, with the floor space housed in a series of boxes suspended between two massive "wheels."
| Jul 1, 2014
7 ways to cut waste in BIM implementation
Process mapping, split models, and streamlined coordination meetings are among the timesaving techniques AEC firms are employing to improve BIM/VDC workflows.
| Jun 30, 2014
Research finds continued growth of design-build throughout United States
New research findings indicate that for the first time more than half of projects above $10 million are being completed through design-build project delivery.
| Jun 30, 2014
Work starts on Jean Nouvel-designed European Patent Office in the Netherlands [slideshow]
With around 80,000 sm and a budget of €205 million self-financed by the EPO, the complex will be one of the biggest office construction sites ever in the Netherlands.
| Jun 25, 2014
The best tall buildings of 2014
Four high-rise buildings from multiple continents have been selected as the best of their region. The best worldwide tall building will be announced November 6.