Irvine-Company – Photographed by Sherman Takata
Today, keeping a pulse on design trends means looking beyond color palettes and furniture designs. As technology continues to permeate interiors and with an increased demand for more human-centric environments, the architecture and design community must extend their knowledge of how to create more comfortable spaces. Once mostly driven by a functional and aesthetic approach, commercial building design must now pay greater attention to considerations related to human health and well-being, and to the changing needs of a new generation of workers.
Energy efficiency has long been a driver of building owners, with energy saving rebates and cost reductions leading the demand. For the last ten years, building owners have continued to implement more energy efficient solutions such as LED lighting, lighting control systems, Energy Star rated products, and more, not only as a cost-saving measure but as a way to attract tenants. A shift from maximizing energy efficiency to concentrating on how spaces are affecting human well-being is creating a new process for designing commercial offices. Organizations are leading the charge of future-proofing buildings and ensuring they protect their most valuable asset: their employees. By addressing the impact of the built environment on one’s health and well-being through design, organizations can achieve improved employee productivity, engagement, and retention, reduced absenteeism, and ultimately cost savings.
Global building certifications such as the WELL Building Standard™ (WELL) are also contributing to an increased awareness of the importance of balancing human health and well-being with efficiency and sustainability. WELL was created using scientific and medical research and articles on behavioral and health factors that suggest a correlation between productivity and health benefits as they relate to building design, construction, and management. Now more than ever, designers are diving deeper into how they can create environments that maximize occupants’ comfort by addressing elements such as air, noise, and lighting in workplaces.
The following are propelling changes in workplace design to promote well-being and create more comfortable environments.
Preferred light room – Image courtesy of Focal Point, LLC
The IoT
Building design and construction has entered the digital age with the introduction of the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT allows for the connection of devices in commercial spaces to provide a host of advantages for both tenants and building managers. The integration of the IoT in commercial buildings allows for the monitoring and modulation of lighting levels and temperature, thus reducing energy costs and maximizing occupant comfort. LED luminaires, inherently electronic devices, are being used as data collection points, transforming luminaires from simple light sources to devices that support intelligent building management. These smart devices are known as connected luminaires. Connected luminaires integrate special features that include both light control functionality and non-lighting sensors, and they transmit data through wired and wireless networks. Because the sensors are integrated in the luminaires, a cleaner ceiling aesthetic can be achieved while providing maximum control. The integration of connected luminaires with intelligent building management systems provides building owners and tenants many benefits such as personalized control, optimized building maintenance, meeting energy codes and standards, and enhancing the comfort of those that work in the space.
Networked systems offer a powerful value proposition and, as forecasted by the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE), half of the lamps in the commercial sector will be connected within 10 years, a clear indication that connected lighting is the future. Incorporating this smart technology into current commercial workplace designs can serve both building owners and organizations by increasing tenant and employee retainment. Investing in IoT enabled devices is a cost-effective and future-proofing solution. Many manufacturers offer simple IoT solutions suitable for either new construction or remodel projects.