In conducting their internal research, the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) found that well-being in the workplace stems from good design. After moving to a new WELL- and LEED-certified office, the ASID made it a mission to find out how the design of the new workplace affected its workers.
Overall, the new space, which achieved “Platinum” ratings under both LEED for Commercial Interiors and the WELL Building Standard showed immense improvements (acoustics improved by 50%, lighting by 63%, and ventilation by 158%).
The ASID implemented an air filtration design that purifies outdoor air and recirculated air; and a ventilation design that regulates the ventilation rate of outdoor air to keep carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the space low. Indoor air circulation is an important issue when it comes to the interior climate. If the budget allows (and with the new office buildings being developed by larger construction companies, it should), developers should go for a more sophisticated ventilation system that ensures a good balance of air-in, air-out and heat recovery. In order to keep the energy use of ventilation systems low, developers might opt for an electric motor, which is at least 20% more efficient than its standard counterpart.
The dramatic improvement in thermal comfort is also worth mentioning. ASID reported that compared to their previous office, the temperature was increased from 23.2 to 23.8 Celsius. It may not seem like much, but a difference of 0.6 degrees can have a significant impact on the environment as whole. First and foremost, installing a heating/cooling system means that the indoor temperature can be controlled. There is no need to open the windows when it gets too hot, thus causing heating energy loss, or close them when it gets too cold, leaving the indoor workspace without ventilation.
The next thing to consider is lighting. In an ideal world, lighting should replicate the natural daylight cycle, which is warmer in the morning and cooler in the afternoons and evenings. Today’s LED lightning systems can change colour as the day progresses. Offices no longer have to be associated with uncomfortable fluorescent lighting. Incidentally, a quarter of the employees at the ASID claimed that better lighting during the day at their new workplace improved their sleep quality at night.
In the research conducted by the ASID, the positive response was overwhelming:
The impact of the design is intangible and has to do more with the experiences that people have in the space. Thoughtful design can support organisational priorities such as employee health, productivity, and financial return. A well-designed and equipped workplace might even contribute positively to employee retention, which is crucial in today’s economy where professionals are hard to find.