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THE EFFECT OF SPATIAL DESIGN ON COMFORT AND ENGAGEMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
MASTER’S THESIS BYDARPAN ARORA LEED Green Associate
Committee:Daniel L. Faoro, M.Arch UD, RA, Associate Professor (Primary Advisor)Anirban Adhya, Ph.D (Thesis Coordinator, Secondary Advisor)Deirdre Hennebury, Ph.D (Thesis Reviewer)
2018 | Lawrence Technological University
Informal meeting space in one of the offices surveyed having access to daylight, technology and furniture flexibility while promoting collaboration
AGENDA
1 Abstract and thesis statement
2 Workplace engagement and wellness
3 Office design trends and current issues
4 Significance of the study and Research questions
5 Research methodology: Survey design and analysis
6 Observations and Conclusions
ABSTRACT
There is a significant relationship between individuals and their environment crucial to determining how they feel, perform, and interact with others. Making room for the different ways employees work and teams collaborate is a key to effective workplace design.
With over 200 employees surveyed in seven architectural firms in Michigan, this study explores how a gap between spatial design and space preferences in an office affect physical and cognitive comfort of its employees- highlighting gaps between what employees have and what do they prefer/ need. What design factors contribute to the feeling of physical discomfort and disengagement from work? Does workplace culture or technological availability affect the way employees work in an office?
THESIS STATEMENT
The feeling of comfort and engagement in the workplace is driven by design to an extent that it affects the overall satisfaction of working within the environment and ultimately affects the wellness of an employee.
wor
kpla
ce
des
ign
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
com
fort
&
eng
agem
ent
ACTIVE INTERACTION
enha
nced
w
elln
ess
OVERALL SATISFACTION
91% 35%
91% of highly engaged employees report higher satisfaction level
35% of less engaged employees report higher satisfaction level
KEY CONTRIBUTERS IN THE FIELD OF WORKPLACE RESEARCH
Performance & Engagement Design, Business, Occupant behaviorWorkplace surveys since 2005
Design, Behavior, Ergonomics, Health, Performance
Health & Well-being, Culture, Engagement, Performance
Design, Creativity, Well-being, Collaboration, Innovation, Biophilia
Productivity, Financial development,
Technology, Flexibility
Health, Well-being, Productivity, Sustainability
Design, Health, Well-being, Biophilia
Corporate culture and trends, Heath
Real estate development, Workplace survey
WHAT IS ENGAGEMENT?
Engaged employees as those who are involved in, enthusiastic about and committed to their work and workplace.
Quantum Workplace office, Omaha, Nebraska
Law firm- Fish & Richardson’s Boston office
WHAT IS ENGAGEMENT?
31.1% 31.2% 31.4% 32.0%
Growth needs
Individual needs
Basic needs
Teamwork needs
Gallup: State of the American Workplace report | 2016PERCENTAGE OF ENGAGED WORKERS IN THE U.S. SINCE 2014
Performance development needs in an office
Studied by evaluating
WHAT IS WELLNESS?
PHYSICALSTATE
MENTALSTATE
SOCIALSTATE
Peer Interactions
Work-LifeBalance
HealthyHabits
PhysicalComfort
Self Motivation
Stress Handling
WELLNESS
HOLISTIC WELL – BEING
Positive Collaboration/
Communication
Perks and Wellness benefits
WORKPLACECULTURE
Lunch programs
Gym benefits
Paid time off/ Sick
leave
Examples
State of social wellness alsodepends on workplace culture
Wellness is a sum of one’s positivephysical, mental, and social state
Wellness as a part of overall well-being of a person- by Author
Phys
ical
Soci
alM
enta
l
6.66
7.21
7.76
Based on O.C. Tanner Institute research, 2015
WELLNESS and WORKPLACE DESIGN
2015 survey | Colliers International
Percent of respondents who reported their office incorporated following design features that contribute to employee wellness
CASE STUDY 2ASID HEADQUARTERSWASHINGTON, D.C.
PRIVATE ENCLOSED FOCUS INTERACTIVE COLLABORATION SOCIAL PUBLICAMERICAN SOCIETY OF INTERIOR DESIGNERS
CURRENT ISSUES IN WORKPLACE DESIGN
According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
the average American spends
87% OF THEIR LIFE INDOORS IN A SPACE
THE FACT
According to a 2014 survey by Gallup
the new average for most full-time workers has risen to
46-47 HOURSPER WEEK
THE CONTEXT
According to the IFMA (International facility management association)
IMPACTS COMFORT
IMPACTS ENGAGEMENT
PRIVACY
COLLABORATION
According to a 2016 report by Gallup
less than one-third of U.S. employees feel engaged in their workplaces (tracked since 2000)
SCOPE OF THIS RESEARCH
WGBC Guide to Health, Well-being, and Productivity in Offices
Exploring the impact of physical metrics on overall satisfaction using perceptual metrics – a workplace environments survey – by self reporting attitudes on various aspects
METRICS FRAMEWORK
FINANCIALMETRICS
PHYSICALMETRICS
PERCEPTUALMETRICS
Absenteeism; Turnover; Revenue
Medical cost;Physical-Complaints
Building spatial design
Indoor environment
quality
Self reported attitudes on
health, well-being
and productivity
SCOPE OF RESEARCHSURVEY FRAMEWORK
Office Furniture/ Space Layout
Choice and Control
Visual, Acoustic and Thermal environments
RESEARCH METHODOLOGYWORKPLACE ENVIRONMENTS SURVEY
Methodology: An online perception survey
Participants: Mid - Large size architectural offices in Michigan• Albert Kahn associates Detroit• Gensler Detroit• Hamilton Anderson Associates Detroit• Harley Ellis-Devereaux (HED) Southfield• HKS Inc. Northville• NORR group Detroit• Neumann/Smith Architecture Southfield
Survey tool used: Survey Monkey
Timeframe: 2 weeks from the date deployed (in March 2018)
RESEARCH QUESTIONS1. How does spatial layout in the office
affect comfort, engagement, and satisfaction of its employees?
2. What physical, visual, thermal, or acoustic factors contribute to the feeling of discomfort or disengagement from work?
3. Does increased technological flexibility and/or mobility increase overall satisfaction of working within the space?
4. Does workplace culture affect the way employees work in an office?
RESEARCH METHODOLOGYSURVEY DESIGN and EVALUATION SCALE
sections 1 and 4Context, Culture and Demographic questions
5-Point Likert scale
Multiple choice/ Dichotomous scale
Type of work space | Time spent in office | Working culture in office | Gender and Age
SURVEY DESIGN and EVALUATION SCALE
section 2Physical characteristics questionsOffice furniture | Assigned desk| Lighting and views | Acoustic and Thermal comfort
Open-ended responses
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
SURVEY DESIGN and EVALUATION SCALE
Overall perception of office environment on a scale of 1 to 10
section 3Questions on preference,choice and control
Choice of seating | Control over temperature and lighting | preference of spaces for different work modes | Overall perception of the space
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LOW MODERATE HIGH
Open-ended responses
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
CHANGES REQUESTED BY OFFICE A:
1. Q4 AND Q5 Rewording2. Adding question added on availability of space
and technology3. New section 5: Questions on Meeting Spaces
section 5Questions on meeting spaces
most effective size of meeting rooms | factor determining usefulness of a meeting room | frequency of use
Multiple responses
RESEARCH METHODOLOGYSURVEY DESIGN and EVALUATION SCALE
PROCEDURETEST SURVEY AND DEPLOYMENT
BETA SURVEY
1IRB APPROVAL
2SITE VISIT AND DEPLOYMENT
3
Conducted to test for any errors, overall time taken, data visualization
Participants:1. Individual respondents2. FCA employees (unofficial)3. S3 Architecture employees4. Tiseo Architects employees
Approval taken from LTU’s Institutional Review Board as human subjects were involved
Each office was visited for:1. Observations2. Photographs3. In-person discussion the
firm’s office design4. Survey deployment
4ANALYSIS AND
FEEDBACK
After detailed analysis of the survey, feedback from participants was taken
SURVEY RESULTSRESPONDENT CATEGORIES (all offices)
COMPLETION RATE
82%COMPLETE RESPONSES
1987OFFICES SURVEYED TOTAL RESPONSES
241
89%
TIME SPENT AT OFFICE
Full Time
Part Time Mostly Mobile
57%
AGE GROUP
36% (22 TO 44)
(45 TO 65)
55%
GENDER GROUP
42% Male
Female
(65 & above)
Survey analysis is based on 198 complete responses only
SURVEY RESULTSOFFICES COMPARISON
OFFICE AREA vs STAFF SIZE
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
18000
20000
22000
24000
26000
28000
30000
20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140
Area
(in
Squa
re F
eet)
No. of Employees
Office A
Office B
Office C
Office D
Office E
Office F
Office G
Office No. ofEmployees
Approx.Area Setting No. of
responses
A 80 – 85 27000 SF Historic office space 50 (66%)
B 115 – 120 20000 SF Modern office center 40 (35%)
C 35 – 40 12000 SF Reused industrial 19 (54%)
D 70 – 80 19000 SF Reused residential 32 (43%)
E 35 – 40 11000 SF High rise office space 20 (57%)
F 80 – 85 17000 SF High rise office space 20 (28%)
G 75 – 80 18000 SF Modern office center 17 (27%)
KEY FINDINGSWORK SPACE AND OFFICE CULTURE (all offices)
21%
TYPE OF WORK SPACE
25%
Bench seating (desks with no partitions)
Cubicles
Private office
48%
6%
Open-plan (desks with low-height partitions)
WORKPLACE CULTURE
SAY THEY OFTEN COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS IN CORRIDORS
73%
44%SAY THEY ATTEND MANY TEAM
MEETINGS ON A TYPICAL WORK DAY
22%SAY THEY DO NOT HAVE THE FREEDOM TO WORK WHEN,
WHERE & HOW THEY WANT TO
KEY FINDINGSOVERALL PERCEPTION OF THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT (all offices)
16%
20%64%
FEEL SATISFIED
8%
21%
71%
FEEL PRODUCTIVE
29%
30%
41%
FEEL INNOVATIVE
18%
24%58%
FEEL COMFORTABLE
20%
25%55%
FEEL ENGAGED
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LOW MODERATE HIGH
Based on 196 responses
RATING RATING RATING
OBSERVATIONS/ INFERENCESCATEGORY: SPATIAL LAYOUT (MEETING SPACES)
BASED ON OFFICE-A ANALYSIS
MULTIPLE, SMALL SIZED, AND SCATTERED MEETING SPACES SERVE WELL
Out of 36% of respondents who say they need to meet with others outside of their desk more than 3 times a day, 67%say that they spend less than 2 hours working at a space other than their assigned desk
Over 90% of them say that the office lacks enough conference rooms and would prefer to work in an enclosed-private room for collaborative team meetings
80% respondents say that a meeting space good for 3-8 people works best
Multiple meeting rooms within close proximity are more likely to be occupied than large rooms away from the desk
vs
Meeting spaces/ Conference
Proximity circle
Basi
s 1
Basi
s 3
“An interview with office E representative revealed that though their office has more than 2 conference rooms for 35-40 people, only employees sitting close use the space often”
Basi
s 2
OBSERVATIONS/ INFERENCESCATEGORY: SPATIAL LAYOUT/ CHOICE OF SPACES
BASED ON OFFICE-B ANALYSIS
Out of 51% of respondents who say they attend many collaborative team meetings on a typical day at work, 40-45% say that they spend 2-4 or less than 2 hours working at a space other than their desk.
Moreover, 65% of them say they would prefer to work in a common lounge for collaborative team meetings
“An interview with office B representative showed that group meetings take place in office’s central informal meeting area so as not to disturb the staff in the open-office”
< 2 hours2-4 hours
INFORMAL MEETING SPACES SUPPORT COLLABORATION AND ENCOURAGE DISCUSSIONS
Basi
s 1
Basi
s 3
Basi
s 2
Office B utilizes a reused industrial space because of which it has a very high ceiling level with exposed ducts. However, this increases the volume of the space reducing the feeling of congestion- as referenced by the representative of office-B.
While 100% of respondents have access to natural light in the space and 85% feel visually optimistic – 100% of the respondents say that they DO NOT FEEL CONGESTED within their office environment
However, this also adds to the distraction by noise within the space, which is evidenced by 47% of respondents who say they do not have enough acoustic privacy while working
HIGH-CEILING LEVEL REDUCES THE FEELING OF CONGESTION IN THE SPACE
BASED ON OFFICE-B ANALYSIS
OBSERVATIONS/ INFERENCESCATEGORY: OFFICE FURNITURE
DESKS WITH LOW-HEIGHT PARTITIONS WORK BETTER THAN CUBICLES
While majority (62%) of respondents work in a cubicle, it is observed that respondents who work at desks having low-height partitions (26%) feel more positive about their working environment in all variables
Satisfied
Productive
Innovative
Engaged
Comfortable
Highest influence is found on the feeling of engagement/ involvement while slight difference is found in productivity, innovation or comfortability
Cubicles
Desks with space dividers
BASED ON OFFICE-A ANALYSIS
In office-E, while 63% of respondents say they go out of office to make private phone calls, more than 70% of open-ended responses attribute the reason to the lack of enclosed spaces/ rooms for privacy within the office.
The same trend is observed in office-F, where 65% of respondents go outside of office to make private phone calls
ENCLOSED SPACES FOR PHONE CALLS ENHANCE PRIVACY
Basi
s 1
BASED ON OFFICE-E and F ANALYSIS
Basi
s 1
Basi
s 2
Office E and Office F are however in the same building with similar space types/ layout
OBSERVATIONS/ INFERENCESCATEGORY: INDOOR ENVIRONMENTS (VISUAL)
BASED ON all office’s ANALYSIS
Access to daylight affects the mental wellness which has also been evidenced in other studies*
In all office’s survey analysis, the results survey shows that three-quarters of the respondents who say the office environment feels visually optimistic, have high rating on satisfaction and engagement within the office
*WGBC Guide on Health, Well-being & Productivity
DAYLIGHT INCREASES MORALE and ultimately well-being
Extent to which daylight penetrates
Low space between top of cubicles and ceiling level augments the issue
High cubicle walls preventing visual transparency and light to penetrate further in
DAYLIGHT
CIRCADIAN RHYTHM
OVERALL MORALE
Office-A example: Staff seating area (row of cubicles)
OBSERVATIONS/ CONCLUSIONSCATEGORY: CHOICE OF SPACES
CONTROL OVER TEMPERATURE & LIGHTING
(FLEXIBILE TECHNOLOGY) = (INCREASED SATISFACTION) VARIES BY AGE
70% of respondents feel restricted to their desk for work having access to technology only at their assigned work space AND more than half of them say they often communicate with others in corridorsor circulation spaces
Satisfied ProductiveInnovative EngagedComfortable
22 to 44 age
45 to 64 age
In terms of the influence on overall perception of the environment, respondents within the age group of 45 to 64 feel more positive about their environment than the younger generation who prefer more flexible and mobile environment to be innovative and engaged
BASED ON OFFICE-A ANALYSIS
Out of 73% of respondents who say they go outside the office for relaxation/ disengaging from work temporarily, majority of them attribute the reason to having access to local market and/or a park next to the office in the open-ended answers. Access to a water body or natural vegetation helps them to re-energize or refresh their mind
“An interview with office D representative showed that because of easy walking distance to coffee shops outside the office, cafeteria is less often utilized inside”
OFFICE SURROUNDINGS DETERMINE THE USE OF BREAK SPACES
BASED ON OFFICE-C and D ANALYSIS
Basi
s 1
Basi
s 2
Not as projected
1
2
3
4
5
6
N
Entr
y
MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE THESIS WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENTS SURVEY: INDIVIDUAL OFFICE SURVEY ANALYSIS CHAIR: DANIEL L. FAORO M.Arch, RALAWRENCE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY BY DARPAN ARORA APRIL 2018 COORDINATOR: ANIRBAN ADHYA Ph.D.
OFFICE A Size: 80-85 employees Area: 27,000 SF
Break/ KitchenUtility/ Storage
Meeting/ Conference
Private officesOpen work space
Timeline: Mar 2 – Mar 17 2018Setting: Historic office buildingTotal responses: 50 ST
ATIS
TIC
S
INFE
REN
CES
DAYLIGHT & VIEWSEnclosed offices & roomsalong the periphery restrictdaylight to interior spaces.Low ceiling and highpartitions augment the issue.
CHOICE OF SPACESThe floor has enoughconference spaces forgroup meetings but lacksinformal or common areasfor breaks or socializing
STAFF SEATING FURNITUREC-shaped desks with low tomedium height partitions, andcubicles in open-plan workspaces with private offices forupper management
WORK IN A CUBICLE SPACE
DO NOT HAVE FREEDOM TO WORK WHERE & HOW THEY WANT
62% 34% 38%ATTEND MANY TEAM MEETINGS
ON A TYPICAL WORK DAY
Ove
rall
Perc
eptio
nO
ffice
Fu
rnitu
re DISAGREE TO HAVING VARIETY IN SEATING OPTIONS
90%AGREE TO FEELING CONGESTED IN THE
SPACE44%
LACK ENOUGH PRIVACY AT THEIR DESK
4 out of 10
Ligh
ting
& Vi
ews
FEEL VISUALLY OPTIMISTIC IN THE OFFICE
10% SAY THERE IS LACK OF ENOUGH VISUAL
TRANSPARENCY60% DISAGREE TO
HAVING ACCESS TO NATURAL LIGHT
54%
Acou
stic
&
Ther
mal
C
omfo
rt ARE GETTING DISTRACTED BY
NOISE41%
SAY TEMPERATURE & HUMUDITY LEVELS ARE
NOT SATISFACTORY54%
SAY AIR DOES NOT FEEL FRESH
IN THE OFFICE70%
Cho
ice
& C
ontro
l
AGREE & DISAGREE TO HAVING PRIVATE SPACES FOR FOCUSED WORK42% FEEL RESTRICTED TO DESK FOR
ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY70%HAVE NO CONTROL OVER
THE TEMPERATURE IN THE SPACE7 out of 10 5 out of 10
Spac
e Pr
efer
ence
s fo
r
28%
30%
42%
Feel Comfortable
34%
24%
42%
Feel Engaged
38%
28%
34%
Feel Satisfied
15%
24%61%
Feel Productive
46%
30%
24%
Feel Innovative
First floor layout
At the desk/ assigned space Common lounge area Cafeteria (inside the office) Secluded booth/ Private room Outside the office
HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING
IN THEIR SPACE
SITE
VIS
IT O
BSE
RVAT
ION
S
KEYFINDINGS
Cat
egor
y: O
ffice
Fur
nitu
re DESKS WITH SPACE-DIVIDERS WORK BETTER THAN CUBICLES
While majority (62%) of respondents work in a cubicle, it is observed that respondents who work at desks having space-dividers (26%) feel more positive about their working environment in all variables
Satisfied
Productive
Innovative
Engaged
Comfortable
Highest influence of the space type on overall perception is found on the feeling of engagement/ involvement
Cubicles
Desks with space dividers
Cat
egor
y: S
patia
l Lay
out MULTIPLE SCATTERED MEETING SPACES SERVE WELL
• Out of 36% of respondents who say they need to meet with others outside of their desk more than 3 times a day, 67% say that they spend less than 2 hours working at a space other than their desk on a typical work day
• Over 90% of them say they would prefer to work in a common lounge or an enclosed-private room for collaborative team meetings
vs
Multiple meeting rooms within close proximity are more likely to be occupied than large rooms away from the desk
For instance, yellow spaces indicated here depict conference/ meeting rooms and close proximity circle around them. They acquire same area in both types of layout but serve a large pool of users who would use these spaces for focused or collaborative work; or even for private phone calls or relaxation.
Open-ended responses too show a need for more enclosed-private meeting spaces good for 3-8 people
Cat
egor
y: C
hoic
e an
d C
ontr
ol (FLEXIBILE TECHNOLOGY) = (INCREASED SATISFACTION) VARIES BY AGE
70% of respondents feel restricted to their desk for work AND more than half of them say they often communicate with others in corridors or circulation spaces
Satisfied ProductiveInnovative EngagedComfortable
22 to 44 age
45 to 64 age
In terms of the influence on overall perception of the environment, respondents within the age group of 45 to 64 feel more positive about their environment than the younger generation who prefer more flexible and mobile environment to be innovative and engaged
MEETING SPACESPREFER MEETING
ROOMS GOOD FOR 3-8 PEOPLE
80%SAY THAT EQUIPMENT/
TECHNOLOGY IS MOST SIGNIFICANT FOR A USEFUL MEETING SPACE
65%
Entry
N
8
911
10
127
Second floor layout
DAYLIGHT & VIEWSA row of windows allowample daylight in the spacebut is blocked by highcubicle walls and low ceilingto penetrate further in. Viewsare minimum to the outdoor
CHOICE OF SPACESThere are minimalcommon/ informal meetingspaces, that too alongcirculation pathway. Pantryarea is under-utilized dueto lack of enough seating.
STAFF SEATING FURNITUREMost of the floor has cubiclesarranged in a linear fashion,except a conference room andan informal seating. Thisrestricts visual transparencybetween spaces on the floor
Seco
nd F
loor
Firs
t Flo
or
96%
2% 2%Individual focused work
16%
54%
8%
22%
Socialize/ Take a break
14%
49%
37%
Working with a team
22%
2%
52%
24%
Talking on the phone
14%
10%
6%70%
Relax/ Disengage
1
2
5
12
OFFICE B Size: 115-120 employees Area: 20,000 SF
Office floor layout
Break/ KitchenUtility/ Storage
Meeting/ Conference
Private officesOpen work space
1
23
45
6
7
N
10
89
Timeline:Feb 23 – Mar 11 2018Setting: Modern office center
Total responses: 40
STAT
ISTI
CS
2 4 5 6
SITE
VIS
IT
OB
SERV
ATIO
NS
INFE
REN
CES
Cat
egor
y: S
patia
l Lay
out INFORMAL MEETING SPACES SUPPORT COLLABORATION
AND ENCOURAGE DISCUSSIONS
Out of 50% of respondents who say they attend many collaborative team meetings on a typical day at work, 40-45% say that they spend 2-4 or less than 2 hours working at a space other than their desk. Moreover, 80% of them say they would prefer to work in a common lounge for collaborative team meetings
< 2 hours2-4 hours
Cat
egor
y: P
hysi
cal E
nviro
nmen
t
DAYLIGHT INCREASES MORALE and ultimately well-being
Access to daylight affects the mental wellness also evidenced in other studies
The survey shows that three-quarters of the respondents who say the office environment feels visually optimistic, have high rating on satisfaction and engagement within the office
DAYLIGHT & VIEWS
Recent office renovations revivedthe space into open-plan layoutproviding daylight and access tooutside views from personal desksof employees. The current openlayout seems well-lit throughout.
CHOICE OF SPACES
The office revitalization addedample group meeting spaces,formal and informal, thatprovide opportunity for moreeffective collaboration andengagement within the office.
STAFF SEATING FURNITURE
C-shaped desks with low height partitionsprovide a sense of privacy while alsoproviding opportunity for peer interactionwhile seated. The floor area seems overoccupied in terms of a balance betweencirculation space and furniture.
WORK IN DESKS WITH LOW-HEIGHT PARTITION
OFTEN COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS IN CORRIDORS
83% 75% 51%ATTEND MANY TEAM MEETINGS
ON A TYPICAL WORK DAY
6%
18%
76%
Feel Satisfied
6%
20%
74%
Feel Productive
16%
29%55%
Feel Innovative
8%
24%
68%
Feel Comfortable
11%
21%
68%
Feel Engaged
Ove
rall
Perc
eptio
n
KEYFINDINGS
Offi
ce
Furn
iture AGREE TO HAVING
VARIETY IN SEATING OPTIONS
63%SAY SPACES DO NOT FEEL CONGESTED
75%LACK ENOUGH
PRIVACY AT THEIR DESK
6 out of 10
Ligh
ting
& Vi
ews
FEEL VISUALLY OPTIMISTIC IN THE OFFICE
73% AGREE TO HAVING ENOUGH VISUAL TRANSPARENCY
75% AGREE TO HAVING ACCESS TO
NATURAL LIGHT80%
Acou
stic
&
Ther
mal
C
omfo
rt ARE GETTING DISTRACTED BY
NOISE63%
SAY TEMPERATURE & HUMUDITY LEVELS ARE
NOT SATISFACTORY35%
SAY AIR DOES NOT FEEL FRESH
IN THE OFFICE38%
Cho
ice
& C
ontro
l
AGREE TO HAVING PRIVATE SPACES FOR FOCUSED WORK77% FEEL RESTRICTED TO DESK FOR
ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY46%HAVE NO CONTROL OVER
THE TEMPERATURE IN THEIR SPACE
HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING
IN THEIR SPACE6 out of 10 5 out of 10
Spac
e Pr
efer
ence
s fo
r
94%
3% 3%
Individual focused work
15%
50%
25%
10%
Socialize/ Take a break10%
65%
25%
Working with a team
18%3%
67%
12%
Talking on the phone
10%
23%
5%
59%
3%
Relax/ Disengage
At the desk/ assigned space Common lounge area Cafeteria (inside the office) Secluded booth/ Private room Outside the office
OFFICE C Size:35-40 employees
Area: 12,000 SF
Break/ KitchenUtility/ Storage
Meeting/ Conference
Support spacesOpen work space
Timeline:Feb 24 – Mar 11 2018Setting: Reused Industrial
Total responses: 19
STAT
ISTI
CS
SITE
VIS
IT
OB
SERV
ATIO
NS
INFE
REN
CES
Cat
egor
y: O
ffice
Set
ting OFFICE SURROUNDINGS INCLUENCE MOOD
AND WELLNESS
Out of 73% of respondents who say they go outside the office for relaxation/ disengaging from work temporarily, majority of them attribute the reason to have access to local market and/or a park next to the office. Access to a water body or natural vegetation helps them to re-energize or refresh their mind
Cat
egor
y: P
hysi
cal E
nviro
nmen
t
AMPLE DAYLIGHT AND HIGH-CEILING REDUCE THE FEELING OF CONGESTION IN THE SPACE
Access to daylight affects the mental wellness also evidenced in other studies.
The survey shows that 100% of respondents agree to having access to natural light as well as do not feel congested within the office. In fact, open-ended responses show that respondents feel the office occupies more space than it needs.
DAYLIGHT & VIEWSRow of steel sash and clerestory windows allow ample natural light intothe space eliminating the need for artificial lighting during the day at all.A park outside the office offers natural landscape and lake views.
CHOICE OF SPACESThe office has central informalgathering space with variety inseating options and access to amonitor for group discussions.A cafeteria in close proximity tomain flow of work servesinformal collaboration
STAFF SEATING FURNITUREMix of cubicle spaces and C-shaped desks with low – midheight partitions (with option toremove some as needed) groupedin teams. Overall, there seems tobe a good balance betweencirculation space and furniture.
WORK IN DESKS WITH LOW-HEIGHT PARTITION
OFTEN COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS IN CORRIDORS
58% 68% 37%ATTEND MANY TEAM MEETINGS
ON A TYPICAL WORK DAY
Ove
rall
Perc
eptio
n
KEYFINDINGS
Offi
ce
Furn
iture AGREE TO HAVING
VARIETY IN SEATING OPTIONS
79%SAY SPACES DO NOT FEEL CONGESTED
100%LACK ENOUGH
PRIVACY AT THEIR DESK
5 out of 10Li
ghtin
g &
View
s
FEEL VISUALLY OPTIMISTIC IN THE OFFICE
85% AGREE TO HAVING ENOUGH VISUAL TRANSPARENCY
68% AGREE TO HAVING ACCESS TO
NATURAL LIGHT100%
Acou
stic
&
Ther
mal
C
omfo
rt ARE GETTING DISTRACTED BY
NOISE47%
SAY TEMPERATURE & HUMUDITY LEVELS ARE
NOT SATISFACTORY53%
SAY AIR DOES NOT FEEL FRESH
IN THE OFFICE32%
Cho
ice
& C
ontro
l
DISAGREE TO HAVING PRIVATE SPACES FOR FOCUSED WORK37% DO NOT FEEL RESTRICTED TO DESK
FOR ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY58%HAVE NO CONTROL OVER
TEMPERATURE AND ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING IN THE SPACE
AGREE TO HAVING CONTROL OVER
WINDOWS FOR FRESH AIR5 out of 10 5 out of 10
Spac
e Pr
efer
ence
s fo
r
1
3
4
57
8
9
10
2
1 3
2
10
5%10%
85%
Feel Satisfied5%4%
91%
Feel Productive
26%
25%49%
Feel Innovative5%
16%
79%
Feel Comfortable
21%
25%54%
Feel Engaged
100%
Individual focused work5%
37%
37%
21%
Socialize/ Take a break
95%
5%
Working with a team
16%
11%
57%
16%
Talking on the phone5%
11%
73%
11%
Relax/ Disengage
At the desk/ assigned space Common lounge area Cafeteria (inside the office) Secluded booth/ Private room Outside the office
MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE THESIS LAWRENCE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENTS SURVEY: INDIVIDUAL OFFICE SURVEY ANALYSIS BY DARPAN ARORA CHAIR: DANIEL L. FAORO M.Arch, RA COORDINATOR: ANIRBAN ADHYA Ph.D. APRIL 2018
OFFICE D Size: 70-80 employees
Area: 19,200 SF
Break/ KitchenUtility/ Storage
Meeting/ Conference
Support spacesOpen work space
Timeline:Feb 24 – Mar 11 2018Setting: Reused Residential
Total responses: 32
STAT
ISTI
CS
SITE
VIS
IT
OB
SERV
ATIO
NS
INFE
REN
CES
Cat
egor
y: O
ffice
Set
ting OFFICE SURROUNDINGS DETERMINE THE
USE OF BREAK SPACES
The office utilizes a reused residential building space which has small kitchen areas scattered on a typical floor – not dedicated, but integrated. 51% of respondents go outside the office for socializing while 85% go outside for relaxing. Downtown location is attributed to the reason.
DAYLIGHT & VIEWSBeing in a reused residential space, only deskslocated next to a window have access to daylight.Spaces further interior solely depend on artificiallighting throughout.
CHOICE OF SPACESThe office design offers multiple common spaces scatteredthroughout the floor for collaborative meetings- formal orinformal. Similar to a residential interior, there are smallkitchen/ pantry spaces for food storage and heating.
STAFF SEATING FURNITUREC-shaped and L-shaped desks with no partitions provideample peer interaction but no privacy. There are ampleof storage spaces as well as variety in seating optionssuch as sofas, informal chairs and tables
WORK AT DESKS HAVING NO PARTITIONS
OFTEN COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS IN CORRIDORS
78% 91% 53%ATTEND MANY TEAM MEETINGS
ON A TYPICAL WORK DAY
Ove
rall
Perc
eptio
n
KEYFINDINGS
Offi
ce
Furn
iture DISAGREE TO
HAVING VARIETY IN SEATING OPTIONS
72%AGREE & DISAGREE
TO FEELING CONGESTED
31%LACK ENOUGH
PRIVACY AT THEIR DESK
8 out of 10
Ligh
ting
& Vi
ews
FEEL VISUALLY OPTIMISTIC IN THE OFFICE
53% AGREE TO HAVING ENOUGH VISUAL TRANSPARENCY
69% AGREE TO HAVING ACCESS TO
NATURAL LIGHT72%
Acou
stic
&
Ther
mal
C
omfo
rt ARE GETTING DISTRACTED BY
NOISE56%
SAY TEMPERATURE & HUMUDITY LEVELS ARE
NOT SATISFACTORY85%
SAY AIR DOES NOT FEEL FRESH
IN THE OFFICE60%
Cho
ice
& C
ontro
l
DISAGREE TO HAVING PRIVATE SPACES FOR FOCUSED WORK64% FEEL RESTRICTED TO DESK FOR
ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY68%HAVE NO CONTROL OVER
THE TEMPERATURE IN THE SPACE9 out of 10 4 out of 10
Spac
e Pr
efer
ence
s fo
r
6%
15%
79%
Feel Satisfied3%
19%
78%
Feel Productive
24%
32%
44%
Feel Innovative
22%
16%62%
Feel Comfortable6%
25%
69%
Feel Engaged
ENTRY
2
3
45
6
7
8
Main floor layout (out of two floors)
At the desk/ assigned space Common lounge area Cafeteria (inside the office) Secluded booth/ Private room Outside the office
HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING
IN THEIR SPACE
94%
6%
Individual focused work
9%
28%
6%
51%
6%
Socialize/ Take a break
16%
43%
41%
Working with a team
13% 3%
46%
38%
Talking on the phone
6%3%
6%
85%
Relax/ Disengage
Office floor layout
N
Cat
egor
y: P
hysi
cal E
nviro
nmen
t VISUAL PERCEPTION INFLUENCES COMFORT OF WORKING IN A SPACE
The survey shows that 100% of the respondents who say the office environment feels visually optimistic, have high rating on comfort and engagement within the office while at least 33%of respondents who feel visually depressed or neutral in the office space have low rating on comfort within the space
6 4
72
OFFICE E Size: 35-40 employees Area: 11,000 SF
Timeline: Feb 27 – Mar 17 2018Setting: High-rise office center
Total responses: 20
STAT
ISTI
CS
SITE
VIS
IT
OB
SERV
ATIO
NS
INFE
REN
CES
Cat
egor
y: O
ffice
Fur
nitu
re
Cat
egor
y: P
hysi
cal E
nviro
nmen
t
DAYLIGHT INCREASES MORALE and ultimately well-being
80% of respondents who say they lack enough privacy at their desk, work at desks having NO partitions.
Moreover, open-ended responses and an interview during site visit showed a need for more private-enclosed spaces for employees to go for privacy needs
DAYLIGHT & VIEWSAmple access to daylight andoutdoor elevated views of downtownand Detroit river. Low-height deskswith glass partitions and white open-ceiling increase the diffusion ofnatural light within the working space
CHOICE OF SPACESA mix of formal and informalmeeting spaces provide varietyin seating options throughoutthe space including seatingalong the windows plus acafeteria as socialization space
STAFF SEATING FURNITURERectangular desks with storage units asspace dividers provide opportunity forenhances peer interaction but sacrificeacoustic privacy. Movable pin-up boardsalong the central corridor provide wallspace for group discussions
WORK IN DESKS HAVING NO PARTITIONS
OFTEN COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS IN CORRIDORS
74% 60% 40%AGREE & DISAGREE ON ATTENDING
MANY TEAM MEETINGS IN A DAY
5%10%
85%
Feel Satisfied
5%
20%
75%
Feel Productive
10%
36%54%
Feel Innovative5%
35%60%
Feel Comfortable
15%
40%
45%
Feel Engaged
Ove
rall
Perc
eptio
n
KEYFINDINGS
Offi
ce
Furn
iture AGREE TO HAVING
VARIETY IN SEATING OPTIONS
75%SAY SPACES DO NOT FEEL CONGESTED
60%LACK ENOUGH
PRIVACY AT THEIR DESK
9 out of 10
Ligh
ting
& Vi
ews
FEEL VISUALLY OPTIMISTIC IN THE OFFICE
90% AGREE TO HAVING ENOUGH VISUAL TRANSPARENCY
89% AGREE TO HAVING ACCESS TO
NATURAL LIGHT95%
Acou
stic
&
Ther
mal
C
omfo
rt ARE GETTING DISTRACTED BY
NOISE55%
SAY TEMPERATURE & HUMUDITY LEVELS ARE
NOT SATISFACTORY50%
SAY AIR DOES NOT FEEL FRESH
IN THE OFFICE52%
Cho
ice
& C
ontro
l
AGREE TO HAVING PRIVATE SPACES FOR FOCUSED WORK78% FEEL RESTRICTED TO DESK FOR
ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY53%HAVE NO CONTROL OVER
THE TEMPERATURE IN THEIR SPACE
HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING
IN THEIR SPACE6 out of 10 5 out of 10
Spac
e Pr
efer
ence
s fo
r
At the desk/ assigned space Common lounge area Cafeteria (inside the office) Secluded booth/ Private room Outside the office
OFFICE F Size: 80-85 employees Area: 17,000 SF
Break/ KitchenUtility/ Storage
Meeting/ Conference
Support spacesOpen work space
Timeline:Feb 22 – Mar 1 2018
Total responses: 20
STAT
ISTI
CS
SITE
VIS
IT
OB
SERV
ATIO
NS
INFE
REN
CES
Cat
egor
y: S
patia
l Lay
out ENCLOSED SPACES FOR PHONE CALLS
ENHANCE PRIVACY
While 65% of respondents say they go out of office to make private phone calls, more than 70% of open-ended responses attribute the reason to the lack of enclosed spaces/ rooms for privacy within the office.
Cat
egor
y: P
hysi
cal E
nviro
nmen
t
USE OF GLASS FOR INTERIOR ENCLOSED SPACES PROMOTES VISUAL CONNECTIVITY AND PENETRATION ON DAYLIGHT FURTHER IN
Out of 80-85% of respondents who agree to having ample daylight and visual transparency within the space, majority of them have high rating on overall satisfaction and engagement in the space
DAYLIGHT & VIEWSDesks are aligned along the periphery of the interior space allowing amplenatural light to penetrate. Private offices and conference rooms towards thecenter have glass walls along that provide visual transparency and exchangeof diffused light in and out of the room
CHOICE OF SPACESThe office has two mid-size and one largeformal conference room and a few tablespaces for group discussions. A kitchenwithin the office, it is under-utilized due tolack of proper seating around it
STAFF SEATING FURNITUREMajority of the work spaceswithin the open-plan haveeither C-shaped desks with lowheight partitions or linear deskswithout any dividers.
WORK IN DESKS WITH LOW-HEIGHT PARTITION
OFTEN COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS IN CORRIDORS
75% 85% 50%ATTEND MANY TEAM MEETINGS
ON A TYPICAL WORK DAY
Ove
rall
Perc
eptio
n
KEYFINDINGS
Offi
ce
Furn
iture DISAGREE TO
HAVING VARIETY IN SEATING OPTIONS
65%SAY SPACES DO NOT FEEL CONGESTED
35%LACK ENOUGH
PRIVACY AT THEIR DESK
3 out of 10Li
ghtin
g &
View
s
FEEL VISUALLY OPTIMISTIC IN THE OFFICE
70% AGREE TO HAVING ENOUGH VISUAL TRANSPARENCY
80% AGREE TO HAVING ACCESS TO
NATURAL LIGHT85%
Acou
stic
&
Ther
mal
C
omfo
rt ARE GETTING DISTRACTED BY
NOISE55%
SAY TEMPERATURE & HUMUDITY LEVELS ARE SATISFACTORY
35%SAY THAT AIR
FEELS FRESH IN THE OFFICE
40%
Cho
ice
& C
ontro
l
DISAGREE TO HAVING PRIVATE SPACES FOR FOCUSED WORK75% FEEL RESTRICTED TO DESK FOR
ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY75%HAVE NO CONTROL OVER
THE TEMPERATURE IN THE SPACE
HAVE NO CONTROL OVER ARTIFICIAL
LIGHTING IN THE SPACE9 out of 10 8 out of 10
Spac
e Pr
efer
ence
s fo
r
5%
20%
75%
Feel Satisfied5%
30%
65%
Feel Productive
25%
35%
40%
Feel Innovative
20%
20%60%
Feel Comfortable
20%
15%
65%
Feel Engaged
At the desk/ assigned space Common lounge area Cafeteria (inside the office) Secluded booth/ Private room Outside the office
MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE THESIS LAWRENCE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENTS SURVEY: INDIVIDUAL OFFICE SURVEY ANALYSIS BY DARPAN ARORA CHAIR: DANIEL L. FAORO M.Arch, RA COORDINATOR: ANIRBAN ADHYA Ph.D. APRIL 2018
OFFICE G Size: 75-80 employees Area: 18,000 SF
Timeline: Feb 26 – Mar 11 2018
Total responses: 17
STAT
ISTI
CS
INFE
REN
CES
Cat
egor
y: P
hysi
cal E
nviro
nmen
t
VISUAL TRANSPERANCY IN THE SPACE INCREASES ENGAGEMENT AND OVERALL SATISFACTION WHICH INFLUENCES THE FEELING OF INNOVATIVENESS
37% of respondents have low and high rating on the level of engagement in the space.
70% of highly engaged respondents feel visually optimistic in the office while only 17% feel optimistic who have low rating on the level of engagement but say they have low visual connection between spaces
It is also observed that 40% of highly satisfied respondents feel highly innovative within the space while no respondents having low-rating on satisfaction feel highly innovative
WORK AT DESKS WITH LOW-HEIGHT PARTITIONS
OFTEN COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS IN CORRIDORS
65% 82% 35%ATTEND MANY TEAM MEETINGS
ON A TYPICAL WORK DAY
Ove
rall
Perc
eptio
n
KEYFINDINGS
Offi
ce
Furn
iture DISAGREE TO
HAVING VARIETY IN SEATING OPTIONS
88%SAY SPACES
FEEL CONGESTED
59%LACK ENOUGH
PRIVACY AT THEIR DESK
5 out of 10
Ligh
ting
& Vi
ews
FEEL VISUALLY OPTIMISTIC IN THE OFFICE
24% AGREE TO HAVING ENOUGH VISUAL TRANSPARENCY
53% AGREE TO HAVING ACCESS TO
NATURAL LIGHT47%
Acou
stic
&
Ther
mal
C
omfo
rt ARE GETTING DISTRACTED BY
NOISE59%
SAY TEMPERATURE & HUMUDITY LEVELS ARE
NOT SATISFACTORY82%
SAY AIR DOES NOT FEEL FRESH
IN THE OFFICE80%
Cho
ice
& C
ontro
l
AGREE TO HAVING PRIVATE SPACES FOR FOCUSED WORK65% FEEL RESTRICTED TO DESK FOR
ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY70%HAVE NO CONTROL OVER
THE TEMPERATURE IN THE SPACE8 out of 10 6 out of 10
Spac
e Pr
efer
ence
s fo
r
38%
29%
33%
Feel Satisfied
18%
25%57%
Feel Productive
57%25%
18%
Feel Innovative
37%
26%
37%
Feel Engaged
43%
26%
31%
Feel Comfortable
At the desk/ assigned space Common lounge area Cafeteria (inside the office) Secluded booth/ Private room Outside the office
HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING
IN THEIR SPACE
ENTRY
1
2
34
5
6 7
8
9
Break/ KitchenUtility/ Storage
Informal Meeting/Conference
Private offices
Open work space
Office floor layout
N
79%
5% 11%5%
Individual focused work6%
28%
44%
22%
Socialize/ Take a break6%
71%
17%
6%
Working with a team
11%
26%63%
Talking on the phone
16%
11%
73%
Relax/ Disengage
9 8
5 1 7 6
ENTRY
Unoccupied space
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
89
1011
12
13
14
Office floor layout
N
85%
10%5%
Individual focused work
15%
40%20%
25%
Socialize/ Take a break5%
70%
25%
Working with a team
20%
15%65%
Talking on the phone
10%
16%
74%
Relax/ Disengage
Office plan not received
76%
12%
12%
Individual focused work
18%
41%12%
29%
Socialize/ Take a break12%
29%53%
6%
Working with a team
6%
69%
25%
Talking on the phone
24%
76%
Relax/ Disengage
DESKS WITH NO PARTITIONS INCREASE IMPROMPTU INTERACTIONS BUT SACRIFICE SPACE PRIVACY
Access to daylight affects the mental wellness also evidenced in other studies
The survey shows that three-quarters of the respondents who say the office environment feels visually optimistic, have high rating on satisfaction and engagement within the office
1 12
2
11
Health, Well-being, & Productivity
THESIS 2: Forum 4: Context Darpan Arora
explanatory research:WHY?
employee salaries and benefits account for 90% of typical business operating expenses…HEALTH incorporates physical
health outcomes that can be measured or evaluated such as: headache, eye strain, stress & depression, etc. that constitute physical and mental health of employees.
An occupant’s sense of WELLBEING is also comprisedof their perception of numerous factors, including how PRODUCTIVE they think theyare: perceived physical & psychological stability, perceived productivity, perceived office environment, perceived organizational culture, etc.
METRICS FRAMEWORK*
Financial metrics
Absenteeism, Staff Turnover, Revenue
breakdown,
Medical costs & complaints, physical
complaints
Physical Metrics
Physical spatial design of the building
Indoor environmental quality of the space
Perceptual metrics
Self-reported attitudes on health, well-being, &
productivity in the workplace
SCOPE OF RESEARCH
1 Cited in Browning B. (2012) The Economics of Biophilia: Why designing with nature in mind makes sense. Available: http://www.interfacereconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/The-Economics-of-Biophilia_Terrapin-Bright-Green-2012e_1.pdf
1
SPATIAL DESIGN
COMPONENTS STUDIED
Layout and planning
Furniture and Ergonomics of
the space
WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT COMPONENTS
STUDIED
SENSORIAL CONNECTION
Visual
ThermalAcoustic
SURVEY FRAMEWORK
Variable:Sound Privacy
Cause:Poor spatial planning where collaborative & focus zones are too close or not enough physical barrier
Effect:Difficulty in concentrating at work can lead to discomfort, and low productivity at work
Variable:Sitting Posture
Cause:An effort to increase productivity, individual put in more & more work hours sitting at their workstations
Effect:Sitting in same posture all day and not moving increases the risk of health issues such as back-pain, obesity , eye-strain, etc.
*WGBC Guide: Health, Well-being, & Productivity in offices
Spatial Program
Within the context of PROGRAM, the study explores tangible and intangible elements that constitute the physical spatial design of a workplace and its indoor environment –which affects the comfortability of the users in that space.
descriptive research:WHAT?
Indoor Environmental
Quality
LAYOUT FURNITUREPhysical, Spatial
elements of design
HEAR
SEE
FEEL
Growth of alternate workspace layouts (Illustration by Benjamin Monroe)
FURNITURE is an important attribute that is studied in terms of ergonomics as well as flexibility of it within the workplace.
Barbarian group’s New York office
Kneeling chairs
Daylight Views
Air temperature
Peer sound privacy
Equipment sound privacy
See-through spaces
Humidity Fresh air
THESIS 2: Forum 4: Context Darpan Arora
Culture
descriptive research:WHAT?
While factors such as employee relations, work regulations, organizational practice, etc. serve as a halo effect factors in determining employee satisfaction; providing CHOICE & CONTROL, that is within the architectural realm, significantly affects cognitive comfort in employees.
THESIS 2: Forum 4: Context Darpan Arora
• The context of Choice revolves around engagement anddisengagement.
• Incorporating a variety of settings, styles and postures to choose fromis essential to wellbeing and employee engagement.
Choice to work in secluded pods for focusing
Choice to conduct video calling in a private room
Choice for group meeting space and furniture flexibility
Office culture affects behaviors that make movement and control acceptable during the workday.
Providing workers a control over their working environment significantly affects comfortability.
These two examples depict the freedom to
control lighting levels –both artificial and natural
MOVE CHANGE POSTURE
ADJUST LIGHTING
ADJUST TEMPERATURE
WHERE TO WORK?
HOW TO WORK?
SPATIAL PROGRAM
CHOICE OF SPACE
WHAT TYPE OF WORK?
CONTROL WITHIN THE
SPACE
Observed factors that influence architectural design of a workplace (based on literature review and case studies) and contribute to the health, well-being and productivity of an individual.
OFFICE CULTURE TECHNOLOGY
Does my work include attending meetings?
Do I need to focus all day at spreadsheets?
Can I move around my office with my laptop?
Can I control the height of my desk?
Can I have warm lighting in my space?
Can I open the window for some fresh air?
Can I go to a pod for working?
Do I have a private room for making phone calls?
Is there private spaces within my close proximity?
Is the cafeteria too close to my work desk?
Is the space big enough for large group meeting?
Can I access my account from the common area?
Is there a power outlet in the secluded pod?
Is there a monitor in the private enclave?
Forum 4: Context
□ CubiclesD Enclosed spacesD Open layout
Office: Harley-Ellis
Devereaux (HED)
Location: Southfield, MI
Size: About 120 employees
Area: About 20,000 Sq.Ft.
Foru
m 4
: Con
text
SURVEY INSIGHTS Initial Analysis
METADATA:
1. No of respondents: 20 (17 complete, 3 partial)2. Response sources: 15 FCA employees; 3 random
employees; 1 from HED; 2 from Tiseo Architects3. Average time: 8-13 min to complete
Based on 17 complete responses:OFFICE CULTURE
OFFICE FURNITURE VISUAL COMFORT
ACOUSTIC COMFORT THERMAL COMFORT
OVERALL FEELING CHOICE & CONTROL
Some open-ended answers:
change ONE thing about your office furniture/ layout“ability to have a standing desk”
“add height adjustable worksurfaces”
“move next to a window”
“More of a variety of desks in all offices (standing, sitting, and pods)…. option to sit, stand”
change anything about your visual, acoustic, or thermal comfort“Make a provision for natural light”
“More windows which are openable”“More sunlight and fresh views”
“Make partitions taller”
why do you prefer to leave your workplace“working indoors makes me feel confined and uncreative”
“private”
”I like to keep my life private”“TO go for walks and stretch my legs”
“Fresh air”
Foru
m 4
: Con
text
PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE STUDYTo advocate for the need for wellness within the workplace by identifying spatial design factors that influence one’s physical and cognitive satisfaction and involvement. Wellness is a sum of one’s positive physical, mental, and social state.
A 2016 study by Foundation for Young Australians, estimates that
260%jobs in the future will demand
MORE CREATIVITY & INNOVATION SKILLS
According to a 2014 survey by Gallup
the new average for most full-time workers has risen to
46-47 HOURSPER WEEK
WHAT IS WORKPLACE WELLNESS?
PHYSICALSTATE
MENTALSTATE
SOCIALSTATE
Peer Interactions
Work-LifeBalance
HealthyHabits
PhysicalComfort
Self Motivation
Stress Handling
WELLNESS
HOLISTIC WELL – BEING
Positive Collaboration/
Communication
Perks and Wellness benefits
WORKPLACECULTURE
Lunch programs
Gym benefits
Paid time off/ Sick
leave
Examples
State of social wellness alsodepends on workplace culture
Target Audience: Employees working in an office
Sample audience: Architecture/ Design firm employees in Southeast Michigan
The study aims at contributing to the growing body of research in the field of workplace wellness by correlating spatial design attributes with physical and cognitive environmental satisfaction within employees
The anticipated outcomes will highlight the gap between spatial design of the surveyed firms and employee preferences. The study will also identify common design factors that work and that don’t work within those offices
According to a 2015 report by Gallup
less than one-third of U.S. employees feel engaged in their workplaces (tracked since 2000)
PERCENT OF ENGAGED EMPLOYEES (Gallup data)
32% 13%
In an study by Continental Office, it is foundCreativity in an office can depend on
COLLABORATION TEAMVISIBILITY
IMMEDIATESETTING
FORUM 5: PURPOSE
HOW DOES DESIGN IMPACT WELLNESS?Workplace design affects one’s ability to do a task by providing comfortable ambient conditions as well as motivation by promoting psychological engagement.
Extent to which daylight penetrates
Low space between top of cubicles and ceiling level
High cubicle walls preventing visual transparency
Seco
nd fl
oor o
ffice
spa
ce-
Albe
rt Ka
hn A
ssoc
iate
s, D
etro
it
DAYLIGHT
CIRCADIAN RHYTHM
OVERALL MORALE
OPEN PLAN
VISUAL TRANSPARENCY
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
KED (Kelby Ergo Design) explains
THE CORRELATION BETWEEN WELL-BEING and WORKPLACE DESIGN
According to Jennifer Veitch there are four areas in which there is some evidence that workplace conditions can benefit employees (especially with certain mental health problems):
SOCIAL RELATIONS
ATTENTIONFOCUS
STRESSREDUCTION
PHOTO-BIOLOGY
PERSONAL Space
C R O W D I N G
ACCESS TO WINDOW
Seasonal Mood Disorder
due to insufficient access to daylight
FORUM 5: PURPOSE
WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENTS SURVEYAnalysis of the survey data
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY(An example of a surveyed firm)
N
Entr
y
Corridor/ Circulation
Break/ Kitchen spaces
Utility/ Storage
Conference rooms
Enclosed private offices
Open work spaces
SUMMARY
This firm studied occupies part of a historic building in Detroit. The first floor has private and open offices including multiple conference rooms and runs management-based activities. The second floor has more departmental-type setup (cubicle spaces) and runs design-based activities.
SURVEY STATISTICSTimeline: March 2 – March 17, 2018Total responses: 55 (66% of the firm size)Completion rate: 91% (50 complete responses)
Square Feet_________________________________________________________
About 27,000 Sq. Ft. divided between first and second floor of the building
Recent renovations_________________________________________________________
First floor – 2001 Second floor – Mid 90s
First floor Second floor
Entry
N
Types of spaces_________________________________________________________
Open-plan, Private enclosed, conference rooms (big and small), break rooms (small), material library + utilities
Firm Size_________________________________________________________
80-85 employees
Main entrance lobby area
FOR
UM
5: P
UR
POSE
SPATIAL DESIGN OBSERVATIONS AND INFERENCES FROM THE SURVEY RESULTSC
ateg
ory:
Spa
tial L
ayou
t DESKS WITH SPACE-DIVIDERS WORK BETTER THAN CUBICLES
While majority (62%) of respondents work in a cubicle, it is observed that respondents who work at desks having space-dividers (26%) feel more positive about their working environment in all variables
Satisfied
Productive
Innovative
Engaged
Comfortable
Highest influence of the space type on overall perception of the working environment is found on the feeling of engagement/ involvement while slight difference is found in productivity, innovation or comfortability
Cubicles
Desks with space dividers
Cat
egor
y: S
patia
l Lay
out MULTIPLE SCATTERED MEETING SPACES SERVE WELL
• Out of 36% of respondents who say they need to meet with others outside of their desk more than 3 times a day, 67% say that they spend less than 2 hours working at a space other than their desk on a typical work day
• Over 90% of them say they would prefer to work in a common lounge or an enclosed-private room for collaborative team meetings
• Open-ended responses too show a need for more enclosed-private meeting spaces good for 3-8 people
< 2 hours2-4 hours
vs
Multiple meeting rooms within close proximity are more likely to be occupied than large rooms away from the desk
For instance, yellow spaces indicated here depict conference/ meeting rooms and close proximity circle around them. They acquire same area in both types of layout but serve a large pool of users who would use these spaces for focused or collaborative work; or even for private phone calls or relaxation.
Cat
egor
y: C
hoic
e an
d C
ontr
ol (FLEXIBILE TECHNOLOGY) = (INCREASED SATISFACTION) VARIES BY AGE
70% of respondents feel restricted to their desk for work having access to technology only at their assigned work space AND more than half of them say they often communicate with others in corridors or circulation spaces
Satisfied ProductiveInnovative EngagedComfortable
22 to 44 age
45 to 64 age
In terms of the influence on overall perception of the environment, respondents within the age group of 45 to 64 feel more positive about their environment than the younger generation who prefer more flexible and mobile environment to be innovative and engaged
36%
28%
34%
2%
Feel Satisfied
14%
24%61%
1%
Feel Productive
44%
30%
24%
2%
Feel Innovative
26%
30%
42%
2%
Feel Comfortable
32%
24%
42%
2%
Feel Engaged/ Involved
OVERALL PERCEPTION OF THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT –
FORUM 5: PURPOSE
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