The link between human health and the built environment is undeniable. With 90% of our time spent indoors, a building can support or hinder our mental and physical well-being.
In recent years, improving human health has become a growing priority for the design profession, with the Covid-19 pandemic accelerating these efforts. Building certification systems like Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), WELL, and Living Building Challenge (LBC) emphasize occupant health and provide strategies for improvement.
To prepare you for your project, this article will discuss seven design strategies that have a tangible impact on human health, including:
- Selecting healthy materials
- Prioritizing daylight
- Considering acoustics
- Providing opportunities for movement
- Emphasizing choice
- Creating community spaces
- Considering Biophilia
After reading, you will better understand the importance of each strategy and how to work them into your project.
7 Design Strategies for Improving Occupant Health
1. Select Healthy Materials
Improving human health within the built environment starts with selecting healthy materials. Many common ingredients in building materials are linked to short- and long-term health conditions.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in paints, adhesives, textiles, and cleaning products can cause headaches, nose and throat irritation, and respiratory illnesses. To reduce the likelihood of these outcomes, designers should choose VOC-free products, especially for large surface areas like floors.
Other building materials like flame retardants, antimicrobials, and BPA have been linked to conditions like asthma, cancers, and neurological disorders. While avoiding such materials can be difficult, designers can use resources like the International Living Future Institute’s Red List—a database of materials known to harm human and environmental health. Designers can also choose vetted Declare Label products.
2. Prioritize Daylight
Daylight is essential to human health. It controls our circadian rhythms, and regular access can boost our moods and improve productivity.
The best practice is to ensure daylight reaches the maximum number of occupants—especially when designing workplaces. Traditional workplace design places private offices around a building’s perimeter and open workspace in the core. A more equitable practice is placing open workstations near windows and using glass fronts for private offices deeper in the building’s footprint.
Placing open workstations near windows distributes light more equitably.
Circadian rhythm lighting can be an alternative when daylighting is unavailable. These systems mimic natural light by changing color temperature throughout the day.
3. Consider Acoustics
Acoustics also contribute to occupant health. Noisy environments can hinder privacy and concertation, creating an uncomfortable working environment.
Reducing noise starts with a thoughtful spatial layout. Placing private spaces next to public ones does little to stop distractions. Instead, floor plans should flow from public to private or the inverse.
For example, in our Iowa City studio, public collaboration spaces are toward the entrance, while private spaces like focus rooms are in the back. This separation ensures everyone has a space that suits their needs. In-person interaction does not distract those who need quiet.
Private spaces like focus rooms provide acoustic seperation.
Another approach is to use absorptive materials. Hard surfaces like glass and concrete can reverberate and amplify background noise. Replacing hard surfaces with more absorptive materials can prevent noise from traveling. Ceilings especially benefit from materials with acoustic properties.
4. Provide Opportunities for Movement
Movement is essential to human health. Most office settings provide few opportunities for movement, and studies show that extended periods of inactivity can lead to chronic health problems like diabetes and increased blood pressure.
Thoughtful design solutions can encourage occupants to move more throughout the day. Placing coffee bars, copiers, and bathrooms away from workstations is a basic but effective strategy for increasing the steps occupants take in a day. To go further, a building’s circulation can be planned around stairs rather than elevators.
An attractive staircase encourages healthier habits.
At the Kreg Tool headquarters, the stairs are at the building’s center and outfitted with exterior views. Although the building has elevators for accessibility, the stairs are the most logical and attractive way to navigate the building.
5. Emphasize Choice
A healthy environment gives occupants freedom and choice, allowing them to determine what is best for their well-being. In workplaces, occupants should be able to leave their workstations and find a location that suits their needs.
Smaller workstations can provide room for various spaces, including open collaboration zones and enclosed focus rooms. These options can help occupants manage noise and find a setting where they feel most productive.
Reducing the size of individual workstations can also make room for spaces like wellness rooms. These private spaces can be used for lactation, prayer, or respite.
Wellness rooms can promote mental well-being.
It also helps to give occupants more control over their comfort. Strategies like using separate mechanical zones in private, enclosed rooms allow occupants to adjust the temperature to their liking. Sit-to-stand workstations further contribute to occupants’ sense of control by allowing them to adjust their desk height to their body type.
Although design plays a large role in crafting a comfortable environment, administrative policies are equally important. Relaxed dress codes, for example, can reduce physical discomfort caused by restrictive attire.
6. Create Community Spaces
Health has a social component. Buildings should provide opportunities for people to interact and form connections with their neighbors or colleagues.
Our Iowa City studio is centered around the kitchen and the forum, an open space for internal and community social events. Previously, we had a break room tucked behind a door that limited social interaction. The new open, flexible space gives our team more opportunities to connect, break bread, and get to know each other.
Building-wide, it helps to provide spaces for public enjoyment. Outdoor bench seating or green spaces provide vital “third spaces” outside the home or workplace for people to socialize. Such spaces can go a long way in improving the health and vitality of your community.
7. Consider Biophilia
Stemming from the Greek words for life (bio) and love (philia), biophilia is the theory that humans have an innate connection to nature. It explains why people from across cultures enjoy experiences like listening to ocean waves, walking through a forest, or sitting by a fire.
Cultivating experiences in and around nature is crucial to occupant health. Simple moves like providing outdoor views, adding indoor plants, or using natural materials can help reduce anxiety and boost moods.
Indoor plantings and daylight create a biophilic experience.
Biophilic design should also help cultivate a sense of place. Referencing your area’s history, showcasing its culture, or using native plantings can help strengthen your community and create shared pride.
One approach is to host a Biophilic Exploration in the early stages of the design process. This workshop can include community stakeholders and experts like historians and ecologists. With their input, you can discover how your project can tie into and benefit the larger community.
Discover Other Ways to Improve Occupant Health
The link between the built environment and our mental and physical health is well-documented. Whether a renovation or new construction, a building project is an opportunity to invest in your people and create an environment where they can thrive.
Simple moves like increasing daylight, emphasizing choice, and providing opportunities for movement can have a tangible impact on occupants’ experience. To go further, consider the quality of building materials and find ways to cultivate occupants’ innate connection to nature.
Along with these strategies, find ways to incorporate color and personality into your space. A healthy environment should never feel stale or cold. It should reflect your culture and excite occupants and visitors. To learn more, read our tips for incorporating color into commercial spaces and the impact it has on occupants’ psychology.