A Connected Environment

Although many employers offer traditional wellness programs such as yoga classes and standing desks, many of these offerings focus on employees’ physical health. An important pivot has taken place where employers are now shifting their focus from employee wellness to well-being which enhances the quality of the overall workplace experience. Thus, facility managers are charged with the upkeep and optimization of office spaces and resources.

Understanding biophilia & biophilic design

Biophilia was first coined and popularized by American biologist and naturalist Edward O. Wilson in 1984. Wilson believed humans have an innate desire to be connected to nature. The concept of biophilic design is the application of this connection that enhances when we integrate the organic patterns and forms of nature in our surrounding environment. By incorporating plants, scenting and nature-inspired elements into the space, it reinforces the human-nature connection.

But, biophilic design is more than just adding plants to indoor spaces. Research has proven that by bringing the outdoors in, incorporating nature into the built environment, there is a positive impact on the psychological and physical health and wellness of humans, particularly in office interiors where employees spend a large quantity of time. Thousands of case studies and pilot programs have shown adding biophilic elements to the workplace can boost productivity and reduce absenteeism, two factors that substantially impact a company's operating costs and the bottom line.

Benefits of biophilic design

Properties incorporating biophilic design elements provide benefits for all. From the boardroom to the reception desk, biophilia makes an immediate impact on the organization. Buildings inspire and motivate, creating enriched and empowered environments that unequivocally improve business outcomes. Now, creating a nature-infused workplace isn’t as simple as buying a few thousand ferns. Biophilic design expands beyond that and explores and implements existing strategies in a much savvier way. There are various design elements and spatial patterns in biophilic design and when properly balanced in a space, today’s workplaces can reap maximum benefit. Using natural light, vegetation, living walls, textures, materials and views of nature enrich the workplace and provide a healthy impact. These biophilic elements effectively promote a positive response as if people were exposed to the natural stimuli. Employees have experienced benefits including improved health, increased mood and feeling of well-being, improved productivity, increased employee engagement, reduced stress levels, mental restoration and reduced fatigue. As an additional benefit, plants naturally contribute to air quality and humidity which can help reduce energy costs.

It has become increasingly demonstrated that biophilic elements have real, measurable benefits relative to such human performance metrics as productivity, emotional well-being, stress reduction, learning, and healing. Amazon and Google are high-profile, forward-thinking examples of businesses already implementing nature-friendly design in the workplace. Each understands the importance of creating a work environment their employees would benefit from being immersed within daily. Google tested biophilic elements ranging from plants, terraces, water features and the inclusion of organic patterns in carpeting to design a workplace that creates a positive impact and makes a lasting impression. Located on Amazon’s main campus, the Amazon Spheres are three biophilia-inspired spherical conservatories which house more than 40,000 plants of 400 species, “living walls” adorned with 200 plant species, and implement automatic adjusted artificial light to supplement natural light as needed throughout the day.

6 trends for savvy businesses: Bring the outdoors in

TREND 1: Sustainably-sourced & reclaimed woods

Wood may be the most popular of the biophilic design construction elements. From simple aesthetic flourishes to large-scale architectural installments, wood is central to the biophilic revolution.

TREND 2: Eye to the sky

Ceilings are having their moment in the design spotlight. From hanging plants and skylights to statement ceiling designs and circadian lighting installations, the ceiling is the next frontier for interior designers and architects.

TREND 3: Green integration

Data suggests that architects and designers are increasingly integrating plants, green walls and large green installations into designs during pre-construction and renovations, rather than adding them post-completion as secondary aesthetic choice.

TREND 4: Biodynamic lighting

Biodynamic lighting is the next evolution of commercial lighting. This trend introduces lighting systems into the workspace that mirror natural sunlight conditions to help regulate the human body’s natural circadian rhythm.

TREND 5: Divide & prosper

Green wall dividers, a revolutionary new space-enhancing element that provides resolution to many of the challenges facing open office environments everywhere, are agile and adaptable for dynamic workspaces while also incorporating a natural biophilic component at minimal cost and invasiveness.

TREND 6: Flooring & restoring

Designers are incorporating natural textures into flooring such as natural stone, wood, forest floors, and more with the goal of creating similar qualities and esthetic to nature itself, further implementing biophilic design characteristics in the space.

How it impacts FM

Many building managers and business owners report cost-saving benefits from implementing biophilic design. Biophilic design is an economic investment that pays dividends in the long run, both environmentally and financially.

The movement towards sustainable design has largely led to standardized methods of lowering energy consumption and using resources and building materials more efficiently. By integrating specific biophilic design elements, buildings can create efficient spaces through reduced heating, cooling and lighting costs. For example, installing green walls or other plant features can create an appealing environment while helping to maintain the air quality, converting carbon dioxide to oxygen. Another example is a well-designed natural lighting space which uses zero electricity while generating minimal heat gain.

But it’s investing in people where facility managers stand to cover ground on their financial objectives. Real estate investments which boost employee satisfaction often result in the biggest reward by supporting employees and improving officewide morale. Furthermore, these investments may benefit companies from a budgetary perspective.

If there isn’t a budget for a big office design project or permanent additions to the building such as a living green wall or a water feature, there are small biophilic changes that can easily be made to channel the outdoors and improve employee well-being. A simple rearrangement can improve the space, and facility managers can see a return on investment. Whether it’s repositioning desks to be closer to natural lighting, creating small nooks with potted plants or including nature-inspired artwork in the entryway, minor enhancements can help support a more positive workspace environment. The addition of plants into an office environment has been proven to increase productivity by 15 percent. Biophilic design is often about thinking smarter, not working harder.

LEED vs WELL vs Fitwel

Rating and certification systems such as LEED, the most widely used green building rating system in the world and globally recognized as a symbol of sustainability achievement, WELL Building Standard, a building performance rating and certification system, and Fitwel (Facility Innovations Toward Wellness Environment Leadership), a certification system designed to assess and support healthier workplace environments, help promote and identify energy-efficient spaces which enable a healthier, more productive workforce. While LEED focuses on the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings, both WELL and Fitwel focus on the health and well-being of a building’s occupants.

These three certification systems highlight the benefits of biophilic design by assessing the buildings sustainable and health-oriented elements. Each system analyzes a different component of the building and showcases the unique results, as follows:

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), from the U.S. Green Building Council, certification requires a facility must meet specific standards to demonstrate the steps taken to reduce energy consumption, conserve water, improve indoor air quality, lower operating costs, and more, which reduces the facility's overall environmental footprint. By creating healthier environments with LEED protocols, 11 percent of workers now have fresher air, 23 percent have improved lighting and access to views and 18 percent have access to daylight and windows, making workers more productive and more satisfied at work than ever before.

WELL, from the International Well Building Institute, focuses solely on human well-being and performance rather than environmental sustainability. In order to be WELL certified, a facility must meet seven core concepts that measure, certify, and monitor the health in a workplace environment – air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind. Under each of these concepts is a more complex list of certification “Features” or metrics. WELL Features are categorized as either “Preconditions” – necessary for baseline WELL Certification – or “Optimizations” – optional enhancements. Biophilia is only one of the many Features addressed through the WELL Building Standard.

Fitwel, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, can also be used as a roadmap to design new buildings being constructed. Eligibility for certification is evaluated by the Fitwel Scorecard which measures health within 12 areas of design and operations. Points are given to each of the Fitwel strategies based on how the concept impacts health and wellness and how they correlate. For example, when a company implements biophilic design solutions in an office environments, points are given in the “outdoor spaces” and “workspaces” scorecard sections for providing a restorative garden amenity accessible to all regular occupants, natural daylight in a majority of the workplace, and providing views of nature from a majority of workspaces

Today’s business leaders have a tremendous opportunity—and obligation—to design the ideal office environment for their most valuable assets. By placing a strong emphasis on workplace design and employee’s well-being, it creates a healthier, empowered and productive workplace that benefits everyone - and that's good for business.