Contract - July/August 2016 - 131

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ways to integrate flexibility and choice into the work environment,
including where, when, and how employees work. This may result in
multiple options, including reconfiguring the workplace to contain
a variety of settings that better suit individual work preferences. It
may result in allowing for tailored furnishing or technology solutions,
such as a treadmill desk or a second computer monitor for some
employees. And it could also necessitate policy changes, such
as offering work-at-home or flexible schedules.
2. Nurture biophilia
Humans have a strong desire to be among nature, which is to
be expected-for most of human history we spent all of our time
outdoors. This human preference for the natural world, often
referred to as biophilia, was introduced by biologist E.O. Wilson.
He suggests that there is an instinctive bond between human beings
and other living systems. As Terrapin Bright Green noted in its 2012
report "The Economics of Biophilia," evidence exists that biophilic
environments can improve stress recovery rates, lower blood
pressure, improve cognitive functions, enhance mental stamina
and focus, decrease violence and criminal activity, elevate moods,
and increase learning rates.
Biophilia-based design can manifest in many ways. The most
obvious approach is to incorporate real plants, water features, and
views to nature. But another, more subtle way is to create analogues
that are one degree of separation away, such as materials and
patterns that evoke nature, including artwork, ornamentation,
biomorphic forms, or the use of natural materials.
A third way to incorporate biophilia-based design is through
the configuration of space-by organizing interior environments

It is in our best interest as designers
to look across industries for integrated
solutions when it comes to health because
we are all working toward the same goal,
and human health issues are impossible
to solve in silos.
or man-made outdoor landscapes with elements similar to natural
environments. It may sound odd, but evidence exists to support the
concept that humans prefer to be in settings that mimic the African
savanna, with wide open spaces, access to places of refuge (similar
to under a tree), and areas that are elevated. Interior and exterior
environments that simulate these configurations may evoke a
positive psychological response.
3. Leverage choice architecture
The phrase "choice architecture" in retail refers to how products
are presented and the impact on consumer decision-making. In
a workplace, many companies are using this strategy by reducing
the availability of unhealthy foods.
Employers can also subconsciously encourage healthy eating
habits in the workplace by creating an inviting, convenient place
for workers to eat with nice lighting and views outdoors, by providing

a space for people to store their own meals and snacks (to deter
the use of vending machines or going to restaurants), or by installing
refrigerators with glass doors to encourage all to see-and more
likely grab-healthy foods that often need refrigeration.
4. Install lighting to fit circadian rhythms
Our internal circadian rhythm, or biological clock, regulates the
periods of sleepiness and wakefulness throughout the day. This rhythm
is controlled by a part of the brain at the back of the eye, and it is
triggered by changes in natural daylight. Unfortunately, most of the
workforce spends 90 percent of the day indoors, and that plays
havoc with the human sleep cycle. To combat this, consider installing
a circadian lighting system designed to trigger wakefulness in your
next workplace project. Circadian lighting in workplaces takes into
account natural and artificial light, a certain intensity of light at the
desktop level, and the presence of high light levels for a certain
amount of time during the day. Even if your workspace is lit at 500
lux, which is more than enough light for reading and most work tasks,
it will not necessarily reset a sleep schedule.
Also know that the light that is important to our circadian
rhythm is different from the light that is important to our visual
system because of the spectral difference in the light sensitivity
of our photoreceptors. Special LED lights are required if we want
to use them to increase our wakefulness or help us sleep.
5. Locate buildings near parks or public transportation
Studies have shown that the proximity of a workplace to parks and
other recreational facilities is consistently associated with higher
levels of physical activity and a healthier weight. The same goes for
proximity to public transit-there is a link between access to public
transportation and physical activity, since transit use typically
involves walking to a bus or subway stop.
In one 2011 study by Richard Wener, a professor of
environmental psychology at the Polytechnic Institute of New York
University, train commuters walked an average of 30 percent more
steps per day and were four times more likely to walk 10,000 steps
per day when compared with car commuters. Not all design projects
involve a new location, of course. But if relocating is an option,
consider including building-selection criteria that take employee
health into account in ways beyond simply access to a fitness facility.
Seeking data outside the design professions
From my discussions with hundreds of people on the topic of
health and well-being at work, I learned that a large amount of data
is available but not all of it resides in our industry. To truly advance
our thinking and the sophistication of our buildings, design
professionals need to leverage and connect with the breadth
of health data from other fields as it relates to wellness programs,
environmental health and safety, engagement, and human
performance. It is in our best interest as designers to look across
industries for integrated solutions when it comes to health because
we are all working toward the same goal, and human health issues
are impossible to solve in silos.
The good news is that the design industry is well positioned
to lead the way. We may not be health professionals, but we know
how to implement a vision, and our collective impact is profound. c
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Contract - July/August 2016

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