Commercial Architecture April 2019 - 6

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DEPARTMENT

| the architects

Right. Collaborating with Arup on their new workplace in Boston, Dyer Brown used a blend of
lounge furniture and bar-height tables to completely transform the work experience. Photos:
Darrin Hunter, courtesy Dyer Brown
Below. Workspace flexibility helps employees stay focused and invigorated, while providing
an opportunity to take a break and reset when needed.

For Better Architecture, Think Active
Wellness is the goal in today's offices and active designs will deliver.
Ashley L. Dunn, AIA, Dyer Brown

rawing strongly on the larger societal move-

and spaces that best suit their moods or tasks. In office

encourage occupant movement is to strategically exploit

ment toward a culture of wellness, active-office

settings, this is called activity-based working (ABW),

windows and sunlight. Harvard Business Review recently

design is changing the way employees interact

where employees don't just sit at a desk but shift locations

reported on a convincing study of hundreds of U.S. work-

with their environment by merging and prioritizing their

based on function. This approach fosters employee well-

ers by consultant Future Workplace ("The #1 Office

personal, physical, and emotional needs, along with

ness, improves space utilization, and enhances occupant

Perk? Natural Light," by Jeanne C. Meister, 9-3-18), con-

the productivity and functionality of their work. This

experience.

cluding the number-one feature of an effective workplace

comprehensive approach to employee well being in the

* Variety is the spice of life. By expanding occupant

is availability of natural light and outdoor views. Use

workplace also benefits companies and managers. A

choice for locations, spaces, and furnishings, architects

those two elements to prioritize destinations that boost

recent, influential study by the Global Wellness Institute,

maximize opportunities for physical activity throughout

circulation in any building typology.

Miami (globalwellnessinstitute.org) found that managers

the day. Collaborating with Arup on their new workplace

When some facility owners hear the term active

who value employee health and happiness saw decreased

in Boston, Dyer Brown used a blend of lounge furniture

design, they immediately think of product solutions,

absenteeism and significant increases in productivity.

and bar-height tables to completely transform the experi-

such as sit-stand desks. It's the architects' opportunity to

Meeting the millennial generation's wellness needs

ence of daily work, regular meetings, and informal hud-

encourage clients to go beyond those easy (and valuable)

through active design is becoming a necessary and

dles. The various postures, heights, and movements help

concepts and think about how architectural elements

effective investment in workplaces and in schools, hotels,

employees stay focused and invigorated, while providing

that anchor the space can completely transform activity

multifamily properties, and any industries where goals

an opportunity to take a break and reset when needed.

patterns and movement inside their buildings.

include fostering healthy and welcoming facilities. It also

* Destination spaces encourage active work. Successful

That's the fun part, too: Reimagining architecture to

challenges architects to incorporate wellness activities

case studies demonstrate that destination spaces are

meet wellness and lifestyle aspirations of emerging gen-

directly into their design solutions from the beginning.

favored by building occupants who move around. Sunny

erations while also serving the health needs of an aging

Inventive, functional, and individualized active

windows by the stairs and open-air terraces, for example,

workforce. CA

design can be integrated at any organizational level, cre-

are delightful places to visit. So is the lobby café. Where

ating spaces that add a healthy twist to the increasingly

the traditional office model would allocate prime spaces

Ashley L. Dunn, AIA, is director of workplace for Dyer Brown,

true notion that people will be living where they work and

to rarely used boardrooms or C-suite offices, architects

Boston (dyerbrown.com). She has completed projects ranging from

working where they live. Consider these ideas:

instead can encourage occupant travel-enough to have a

4,000 to 400,000 sq. ft., taught at the Boston Architectural College

* Rethink how spaces are used. By strategically laying

positive impact on health-by organizing the plan to

as an adjunct faculty member, and is a committee member with the

out programmatic areas based on activities, architects

locate communal or free-address spaces in those desirable

Boston Society of Architects. A graduate of the Univ. of Tennessee,

encourage building occupants to walk, climb stairs, and

spots.

Dunn has been with Dyer Brown for almost 15 years and is the

move more, all day long. Occupants choose the places

* Follow the sun. Studies indicate that the best way to

youngest director in the firm's 50-yr. history.

APRIL 2019

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T UREM AG A ZINE.COM

http://www.globalwellnessinstitute.org http://www.dyerbrown.com

Commercial Architecture April 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture April 2019