A guide to workplace wellness design
HERO healthy office, Switzerland (indoor garden by Biofilico)
A guide to workplace wellness design for a green healthy office
In this mini guide to designing healthy offices as part of a workplace wellness strategy, we cover what we consider to be the key fundamentals to get right: Indoor Air Quality (IAQ); Acoustic Comfort; Biophilic design; Thermal Comfort and Physical wellbeing.
We divide our content up into the distinct themes of a workplace wellness and wellbeing consultancy project, from construction, to interiors design and building operations as each phase offers distinct opportunities.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)plays a vital role in shaping a healthy office, optimizing productivity and cognitive function, while indirectly reducing absenteeism.
It refers to the cleanliness and safety of the air within a building, encompassing a variety of potentially harmful pollutants, VOCs, dust particles and so on.
By reducing the risk of allergies and respiratory problems, workers are assured of a healthier office environment to work in each day.
Investing in IAQ not only creates an appealing, healthy workspace but also cultivates employee well-being and boosts productivity.
But don't take our word for it, before we get into the 'how' let's review some of the more prominent research studies into this topic.
Research studies into Indoor Air Quality for employee health
COGfx Study: best performance with carbon dioxide (CO2) levels <600 parts per million, ventilation rates at 40 cubic feet per minute per person, and TVOCs <50 micrograms per cubic meter.
This led to an 8% increase in employee decision-making performance. Additionally, crisis responses, information usage, and strategy test scores were higher in occupants who resided in green buildings as opposed to conventional buildings.
Increased productivity is 150x more significant than the resulting energy costs ($30 per year per person as a result of running the ventilation double the normal rate)
Elevated PM2.5 levels detrimentally affect cognitive performance during short-term indoor exposure.
“Improved ventilation rates can result in up to 35% fewer staff sick days”
Indoor spaces can be up to 5x more polluted than the outdoors due to VOCs that come from furnishing, paint, textiles, and more.
Healthy building standards on IAQ for physical and mental health
WELL Certified for a healthy office building
Formaldehyde: less than 27 ppb
Total VOC: <500 μg/m³
Carbon Monoxide: <9ppm
PM2.5 <15 μg/m³
PM10 <50 μg/m³
Ozone <51ppb
Radon <0.148 Bq/L in lowest occupies level of the project
RESET AIR for a healthy workplace
Total VOC: <400 μg/m³
Carbon Dioxide: <600ppm
PM2.5 <12 μg/m³
Carbon Monoxide: <9ppm
Fitwel for healthy office design
Total VOC: 500 μg/m³
Carbon Dioxide: <700ppm
PM2.5 <25 μg/m³
Carbon Monoxide: <9ppm
Formaldehyde: less than 27 ppb
Humidity: 30-60%
IAQ Design Concepts: Construction Phase
Natural Ventilation
Operable Windows: Ensuring windows can be opened to allow fresh air circulation. Windows should be able to partially or fully open, allowing occupants to control airflow.
Cross Ventilation: Position windows or vents across each other to create a natural cross-ventilation effect.
Skylights can offer an extra bit of ventilation.
Ventilation Design: Design HVAC systems that naturally optimize airflow. This may involve placing vents of openings in areas where prevailing winds can be harnessed.
Atriums and Courtyards: These open spaces draw air into the building, improving air quality by acting as natural ventilation channels.
Pathways: Design open floor plans to minimize obstructions to airflow.
Chemical Storage Ventilation
Ensure proper ventilation in janitor closets, copy/print rooms, storage rooms, and other places that include the use of chemicals.
IAQ Design Concepts: Refurbishment
Air Filters
High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filters: HEPA filters capture tiny particulates like dust, pollen, and airborne viruses and contaminants.
If HEPA is not possible, make sure your filter is MERV 13 or higher
Activated Carbon Filters: These filters remove VOC’s, odors and gases, which is essential to keeping a clean workspace.
Green Purchasing Policy: Look out for these chemicals that are linked to harming your health and ensure a plan for the selection of product.
PFAS: coined as ‘forever chemicals’, these chemicals stay in the environment and in the body indefinitely and disrupt hormonal functions.
Antimicrobials: these are associated with reproductive problems.
Flame retardants: Though added to products to meet flammability standards, they are known to harm human health, even without improving fire safety.
Bisphenols + Phthalates: Another hormone-disrupting chemical found in food containers and flooring.
Some Solvents: Products like oil-based paints and sealants contain solvents that are linked to neurological problems.
Certain Metals: Some metals found in paint and fluorescent lights can be a risk to pregnant women and children.
Fact Sheet: The Living Building Challenge (LBC) Red List 2023 Update: A Guide for Project Teams. (a guide on what specific chemicals to avoid)
Check for specific eco-friendly and sustainable, non-toxic certifications for paint, finishes, and furniture such as:
Greenguard: Evaluates products for their low emotions of volatile organic compounds and other harmful pollutants.
Green Seal: Sets environmental standards for cleaning supplies, paints, building materials, etc. It ensures that certified products meet specific criteria for sustainability, performance, and health.
Healthy Product Declarations (HPDs): Provide details on ingredients in building products and their potential health impacts. Develops standards with LEED in mind.
Cradle2Cradle: Evaluates products based on material health, material reutilization, renewable energy, carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness.
LBC, WELL, LEED, and EGCC also set guides on materials
Product databases
Ensure asbestos-free property
Healthy Entrance
Tracking dirt into the office can bring in bacteria, heavy metals, and other toxins which can get into the air. Some measures to combat this are
Entry Walk-Off System: grills, grates, and mats at the entrances when people can clean their shoes.
Shoe Cleaning Stations: This can include brushes or automated machines, ensuring they’re entering the office with cleaner shoes.
Entry Air curtains: These devices release a stream of air that acts a barrier that prevents outdoor pollutants and insects from entering the building.
Operational
Air Quality Sensors (we are fans of Kaiterra but there are plenty of commercial grade brands out there now)
Install air quality sensors to detect CO2 levels, pollutant levels (PM2.5 and PM10), and temperature.
Consider opting for smart sensors that automatically adjust windows or vents to maintain optimal indoor conditions.
40 cubic feet per minute per person
Comply with all requirements set in ASHRAE 62.1-2013
Pest Management
To reduce toxins and allergens, a building should ensure a Pest Management Plant that monitors and inspects for pests.
Non chemical prevention methods include sanitation, removing clutter, and implementing cleaning protocols.
HERO healthy office acoustic booths by Citterio s.p.a
Acoustic Comfort
Acoustic comfort refers to the quality of the acoustics within an indoor environment and its impact on the people working there.
When designing a workspace for wellness, ensuring a high degree of perceived and real acoustic comfort is crucial for mental health in particular.
Proper sound management can significantly enhance workplace wellness by reducing noise-related stress in office environments.
Surveys show that mismanaged noise within offices impacts concentration, leading to headaches, distractions and low level stress that impede rather than enhance productivity.
By creating a quiet workspace with just the right amount of ambient background sound (note: not noise!), employers can feel confident that they promote health amongst employees in their regular work environment.
Research on acoustic comfort in office space
In a study conducted in America, out of 1000 employees, 70% reported noise affects their working rhythm and satisfaction, with a significant decrease in cognitive performance and health.
Recommended indoor noise range in an open space is 45-50dB, and 35-40dB in spaces meant for private work and concentration.
Participants in a study reported higher levels of fatigue and less motivation to continue working in open-plan offices with a loud environment.
“According to the Leesman Index, 75% of employees feel that better acoustics are an important quality in an effective workplace, however only 30% of employees were satisfied with noise levels in their workplace.”
Due to a higher reporting of stress in employees due to noisy offices, there is a correlation with increased coping strategies, which leads to an elevated amount of time wasted.
Design Concepts for enhanced acoustic comfort: Construction Phase
Acoustic strategies in Interior Design
Isolating HVAC Equipment: Proximity of HVAC equipment, poor noise isolation for equipment rooms, and exposed ceilings with open ductwork are some of the main causes of excessive noise in office design so be sure to plan ahead!
Acoustic flooring: Choose materials such as sustainable carpet, cork or rubber to dampen sound, consider the use of acoustic underlay as part of a workplace design acoustic strategy.
Double Glazing: Installing double-glazed windows and doors prevents external noise from affecting the working environment.
Acoustic Panels: Installed on walls and ceilings by interior designers, these panels can absorb sound, reduce echoes, and improve sound quality in specific areas, making them highly targeted ways of enhancing working life for staff.
Soundproof Paint: Special acoustic paint can be used to reduce noise and reflection
Soundproof partitions: Use dividers or partitions to create areas for focused work or relaxation by minimizing noise.
Layout planning to increase productivity via acoustic comfort
Zoning: Organize the office into quiet, focused work, collaborative areas, and recreational zones.
Open and Closed Spaces: Though open layouts lead to more collaboration, they can lead to noise. Consider enclosed spaces like privacy pods and private meeting rooms.
Design Concepts for enhanced acoustic comfort: Refurbishment
Healthy Materials
Ecological Materials: Using green materials like mycelium and cork with natural sound absorbing properties.
Soft Furnishing: Incorporating soft fabric curtains, rugs, and upholstered furniture can minimize reverberation.
Biophilic Soundscaping:Sounds from the natural environment, such as birdsong and flowing water, can help with reducing stress.
Sound-Masking: Implementing a sound-masking system generates a consistent background “white noise” to prevent private conversations from traveling in open floor plans.
Biophilic recharge room / restorative quiet space, HERO offices, Switzerland
Biophilia and biophilic design
Biophilia is the integration of natural elements, such as plants, natural light, and organic materials, into the design of a workspace.
It's about creating an office environment that reflects our innate connection with nature. Implementing biophilia into office design allows for a plethora of mental and physical wellbeing benefits.
Due to its power in psychological restoration, biophilic design enhances well-being by reducing stress and boosting mood, which in turn helps to increase job satisfaction.
Through biophilic, nature-inspired art and designs, these office interior design concepts can foster a sense of connection to the workplace.
Research into biophilic design for employee health
Environmental psychology research emphasizes that humans have an innate need for a connection with nature, which can aid in psychological restoration. In urban settings, incorporating elements like parks, interior designs inspired by nature, indoor plants, and green views can facilitate mental rejuvenation, contributing to overall well-being.
Some benefits from introducing biophilia into the workplace, as reported by workers, were enhanced collaboration, improved morale, and mitigation against stress.
10% of employee absences could be attributed to architectural elements that do not connect with nature.
Better lighting that correlates with a person's natural circadian rhythms means better sleep quality. Studies found that in offices with higher amounts of daylight and improved lighting systems (increase in 374 LUX), there was a 25% increase in participant's sleep score, which led to a 2.8 increase in cognitive function. There were also higher scores in crisis response and strategy.
Colors can dictate the moods of specific zones within an office. Green could help with calming occupants and could bring down eye fatigue. Blue is known for promoting productivity and well-being, being a stimulating color. And yellow is considered the color of creativity, known to stimulate mental clarity.
In a global study, a third of office workers stated that the design of an office affects their decision to work at a company.
Surveys show that the top elements employees want to see in their office, in descending order, are natural light, indoor plants, quiet working space, view of the sea, and bright colors.
Design Concepts incorporating biophilia: Interior design phase
Water features: Having elements like fountains or aquariums can provide a sense of tranquility.
Forms and Patterns: Incorporating patterns like fractals can encourage creativity.
Art: Nature-inspired sculptures, objets d’art, and artworks.
Design Concepts incorporating biophilia: Refurbishment phase
Individual Plants
Green Walls: Green walls have the added benefit of filtering air.
Materials
Ecological Materials: Natural and sustainable materials, such as stone, cork, and wood in decor and furniture can create a calming atmosphere.
Nature Views & Light
Install Large Windows: This will allow in more daylight, improving employees' circadian rhythms.
Layout: Position workspaces closer to windows and views of nature.
LED Lights: Install lighting systems with blue-white tones in the middle of the day, with warmer tones closer to sunrise and sunset.
Operable Shading: Give occupants control over the amount of light coming in.
Color
Nature-Inspired Color Palette: Choose colors inspired by nature, such as earthy tones or cool blues and greens.
Aromatherapy: Scents like peppermint, lavender, and rosemary aid in mental clarity and make rooms more enjoyable.
Wellness Spaces
Rooms that incorporate all of these concepts to give people a place to recharge.
Thermal Comfort in a healthy workplace design
Thermal comfort in the context of office wellness refers to creating an indoor environment where employees feel physically comfortable with the temperature and airflow.
It involves maintaining an optimal balance to prevent individuals from feeling too hot or too cold.
Achieving thermal comfort is essential for promoting overall well-being in the workplace. When employers are uncomfortable due to a deviation from their optimal thermal environment, they become disengaged with their work, focusing too much on how to stay warm or cool off, which shows up in lower satisfaction and productivity.
Research on thermal comfort in offices
Participants in a study who worked in a thermal comfort zone, as defined by ASHRAE, performed 5% higher on cognitive simulations than those outside of it.
Productivity reduces by 4% when occupants feel too cold, whereas warmer temperatures will
Design Concepts for thermal comfort: Construction Phase
Insulation
Temperature Control
Flexible HVAC System: Install a zoned heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system that allows individual temperature control.
Window Treatments: Provide adjustable blinds or curtains to control sunlight and temperature.
Design Concepts for thermal comfort: Refurbishment
Thermal Zones
Barriers: Use curtains or room dividers to create thermal barriers in open spaces, allowing employees to customize their comfort.
Thermostat Controls: Allow for smaller individual rooms to have thermostat controls.
Personal Desk Fans and Heaters: Designate spaces for personal desk fans or small space heaters that employees can use as needed.
HERO healthy offices, Switzerland - activated stairwells
Promoting physical wellbeing in a healthy office
Creating a wellness-focused office environment for physical well-being is critical, with ergonomics and active design two essential elements to achieve this goal.
By implementing ergonomic designs that fit the needs and capabilities of employees, you can promote comfort, reduce strain, and prevent injuries.
Ergonomic design involves a focus on creating products and environments that are comfortable and safe for people to use.
It aims to answer the question, "How do we design a workspace that fits the employee's needs rather than having employees mold into their space?"
Incorporatingactive design into the workday encourages movement and physical activity, leading to healthier behaviors and a more engaged workforce.
With reduced physical discomfort and improved posture, absenteeism can decrease, and employers can take less time off work due to back pains and discomfort, leading to a reduction in healthcare costs.
Giving workers options on how they want to work leads to higher productivity and a positive corporate image as a wellness-focused employer.
By implementing both ergonomic design and active design, you can create a company culture and an environment where employees can thrive and be more productive.
Research into active design and ergonomic furniture in the workplace
Proper ergonomic solutions within an office can reduce the number of musculoskeletal problems by 61%, which is turn reduces the lost workdays by 88%.
Some studies may point to the fact that nonsitting work positions can lead to better cognitive function, with employees reporting less tiredness and higher concentration.
Implementing active design and proper ergonomics reduces frustrated and fatigued workers, with studies showing that with the right solutions in place, there is an average of 67% reduction in errors.
Physical and mental health in the office: Design Concepts for the Construction Phase
Bikes: provide bike racks/storage
Changing Rooms: Provide facilities for employers who want to bike or walk to work with lockers and showers
Walkable Pathways: Design walking paths inside and outside the building, which can be used for informal walking meetings or short breaks.
Facilities
Sleep Facilities: Nap Pods, couches, hammocks, roll-out mats, fully reclining chairs.
Restorative Space: Have a space for employees to step away from their desks.
Bathroom Cleaning Protocol: Regularly clean restrooms to reduce transmission of viral and bacterial infections.
Fitness: Allocate spaces for fitness, like installing a gym or using an empty studio for yoga.
Activated stairwells: Provide easier access and higher visibility to stairs than escalators or elevators on each floor.
Physical and mental health in the office: Design Concepts for the Refurbishment phase
Active Design
Personal Storage: Workstation cabinet or locker
Incentivize Staircase Use: By beautifying staircases and making them feel safe, employees are more likely to use them over elevators.
Installing music system
Installing creative lights
Decorating with art, murals, and colorful paint
Moderating temperature to match the rest of the building
Adding rubber treading
Allowing access to daylight
Stair signage: motivational language incentivizing usage of stairs.
Increased visibility
Stair safety: handrails, visual cues, lighting
Visual: Monitor stands to adjust computer screens to reduce eye strain.
Desks: Adjustable standing desks
Seats: Stability ball chairs or ergonomic chairs with lumbar support
Different levels of seating: floor, sitting, standing
Other: Adjustable keyboard trays and footrests to reduce pressure on the feet
Operational
Commuter Survey: Submit an annual survey to gather information of the satisfaction of commuters with current amenities.
Nutrition in the healthy office
Proper nutrition is crucial for promoting wellness in the workplace. It not only affects health and weight management but also plays a significant role in chronic disease prevention.
When employees have access to better food options, it can lead to physical health improvement, mental clarity, and overall productivity.
On the other hand, lack of proper nutritional resources can result in hunger and sluggishness, negatively impacting the well-being of workers.
A well-balanced diet can enhance concentration and mood, reducing fatigue and enhancing cognitive performance, contributing to better long-term health outcomes.
Research on nutrition in a healthy office space
Design Concepts to promote nutrition in a healthy office: Refurbishment phase
Seating design
Seating choice variety: Implement both high-top tables and booth seats.
Provide a quiet dining zone with no television to encourage mindful eating.
Eating Spaces
Provide a refrigerator, a device for reheating food, a sink, amenities for dishwashing, a storage unit, and eating utensils.
Water Supplies
Provide accessible drinking fountains, sinks, and water supplies throughout the workplace.
Water bottle refilling stations: can prompt to improve hydration.
Operational strategies to promote nutrition in a healthy office
Water testing
Ensure that the water is free of pathogens and contaminants on a regular basis.
Healthy Food and Beverage Policy:
Increase access to healthy foods and a variety of options that would make food accessible to those with dietary restrictions.
Feature healthy food and beverages as the default, prioritizing healthy options through layout and pricing.
Ensure vending machines and snack bars are stocked with healthy options.
Farm stands: Incorporate farmers' markets at or near the workplace to give employees access to fruits and vegetables.
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