International design and architecture firm Perkins Eastman and furniture designer Three H recently announced the publication of the joint white paper “The Effect of Individualized Work Settings on Productivity and Well-Being.” This paper is the first in a planned three-part series of studies on the evolution of diverse office environments and how the contemporary activity-based workplace (ABW) can be uniquely tailored to support a range of employee personalities, tasks and work modes. And while the premise of ABWs is based on the practice of allowing workers to remain mobile and flexible within the workplace, this paper argues that up until now, little attention and scant resources have been paid toward looking at the importance of individualizing such environments.
In examining the various topics that relate to the physical workplace, the paper’s authors open with a historical overview of modern-day office design, followed by summaries of studies that examine emerging trends in workplace design (including organization case studies), and most importantly, take an in-depth investigative look at the complex and evolving relationship that exists between common personality types—including individual strengths and shortcomings—and the physical conditions of the workplace. Throughout this study, the authors’ findings are informed by the existing variety of ABW types, from open bar-height workstations and semi-partitioned areas with modular walls to more traditional enclosed spaces fitted with mobile and customizable furnishings.
According to the authors, “The importance of creating a work environment that satisfies an individual’s specifications and preferences has been well-documented; the activity-based work environment begins to address this need by offering a variety of settings suited to various tasks and working styles. Why not take this a step further by leveraging available data (i.e. employee preferences, working habits, activity patterns, and personality type) in order to provide an optimal work environment?” Further, in the white paper’s overview of ABW types, the authors offer, “Uncovering how people’s needs and potential success in an office differs based on their personality can arguably help overcome some of the current shortcomings in ABWs, and in office design in general.”
According to Gary Hierlihy, Three H’s VP of Sales and Marketing, based in Toronto, “The notions of personalization and customization are a perfect fit for us at a time when Three H is undertaking its two-year ‘Diversity’ program, in which we’re developing new approaches to office furniture design for evolving workplaces … The integration of the finding of this joint study represent a crucial component to how we design and shape workplace environments of the future.”
The white paper’s primary authors comprise Perkins Eastman Associates Rebecca Milne, Scott Fallick, and Katherine Gluckselig, based in New York, and Designer Danya Hakky, based in Washington, DC. The second phase of this joint Perkins Eastman-Three H study will examine a host of personality and intelligence types, using subjects in an office setting, and study how the physical environment may be shaped to support both the employee and organization as a whole.
The entire white paper is available for free download here.
Related Stories
Healthcare Facilities | Jun 5, 2023
Modernizing mental health care in emergency departments: Improving patient outcomes
In today’s mental health crisis, there is a widespread shortage of beds to handle certain populations. Patients may languish in the ED for hours or days before they can be linked to an appropriate inpatient program.
Student Housing | Jun 5, 2023
The power of student engagement: How on-campus student housing can increase enrollment
Studies have confirmed that students are more likely to graduate when they live on campus, particularly when the on-campus experience encourages student learning and engagement, writes Design Collaborative's Nathan Woods, AIA.
Engineers | Jun 5, 2023
How to properly assess structural wind damage
Properly assessing wind damage can identify vulnerabilities in a building's design or construction, which could lead to future damage or loss, writes Matt Wagner, SE, Principal and Managing Director with Walter P Moore.
Cladding and Facade Systems | Jun 5, 2023
27 important questions about façade leakage
Walter P Moore’s Darek Brandt discusses the key questions building owners and property managers should be asking to determine the health of their building's façade.
Retail Centers | Jun 2, 2023
David Adjaye-designed mass timber structure will be a business incubator for D.C.-area entrepreneurs
Construction was recently completed on The Retail Village at Sycamore & Oak, a 22,000-sf building that will serve as a business incubator for entrepreneurs, including emerging black businesses, in Washington, D.C. The facility, designed by Sir David Adjaye, the architect of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, is expected to attract retail and food concepts that originated in the community.
Mixed-Use | Jun 1, 2023
The Moore Building, a 16-story office and retail development, opens in Nashville’s Music Row district
Named after Elvis Presley’s onetime guitarist, The Moore Building, a 16-story office building with ground-floor retail space, has opened in Nashville’s Music Row district. Developed by Portman and Creed Investment Company and designed by Gresham Smith, The Moore Building offers 236,000 sf of office space and 8,500 sf of ground-floor retail.
Healthcare Facilities | Jun 1, 2023
High-rise cancer center delivers new model for oncology care
Atlanta’s 17-story Winship Cancer Institute at Emory Midtown features two-story communities that organize cancer care into one-stop destinations. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and May Architecture, the facility includes comprehensive oncology facilities—including inpatient beds, surgical capacity, infusion treatment, outpatient clinics, diagnostic imaging, linear accelerators, and areas for wellness, rehabilitation, and clinical research.
K-12 Schools | May 30, 2023
K-12 school sector trends for 2023
Budgeting and political pressures aside, the K-12 school building sector continues to evolve. Security remains a primary objective, as does offering students more varied career options.
Multifamily Housing | May 30, 2023
Boston’s new stretch code requires new multifamily structures to meet Passive House building requirements
Phius certifications are expected to become more common as states and cities boost green building standards. The City of Boston recently adopted Massachusetts’s so-called opt-in building code, a set of sustainability standards that goes beyond the standard state code.
Architects | May 30, 2023
LRK opens office in Orlando to grow its presence in Florida
LRK, a nationally recognized architectural, planning, and interior design firm, has opened its new office in downtown Orlando, Fla.