Hill Center Brentwood – photo courtesy of COOPER CARRY
Nestled between historic buildings and modern office towers in the geographic center of Downtown Atlanta, Woodruff Park is a 6-acre green space and gathering place for a diverse cross-section of locals and visitors alike. The public area is also conveniently located within a few blocks of my desk inside COOPER CARRY’s Atlanta office, making Woodruff Park my go-to green space for a daytime diversion.
When I walk over around lunchtime, it’s commonplace today to see people working on laptops. However, using the park as an outdoor office is a relatively new phenomenon. Last fall, the greenspace joined a handful of other hotspots across metro Atlanta that have added free WiFi for guests within recent years.
While offering high-speed internet access may be the most important amenity for today’s workforce to get outside, it’s not the only element necessary. Here are three key design considerations to help employers and employees make the shift to functional outdoor workspaces where work, community and nature come together.
Room to Unplug
So, why should employers want to encourage employees to use outdoor workspace? A long list of recent studies have touted the various health benefits tied to biophilic design and spending time outside, from improving short-term memory, lowering blood pressure and protecting vision to boosting creativity, restoring focus and reducing stress. Simply put, taking a short break in the work day can go a long way in keeping employees healthy, happy and more productive when they return to their desks inside.
With these benefits in mind, consider adding defined areas for contemplation and solace. Whether someone is finding respite from a stressful day or mentally preparing for a big meeting, people desire spaces to unplug without having to go too far from work—after all, coworkers can still be just a phone call or email away via a smartphone. Options for enhancing the user experience could include installing a bench by a soothing water fountain or designing a nature trail with a labyrinth for walking meditation.
At Hill Center, a 32-acre, mixed-use community in the heart of Brentwood, Tennessee’s business and retail district, dedicated areas were designed for contemplation on the walk to and from the parking garage. When workers need to get out of the office, they can take in the tranquil surroundings of the adjacent Maryland Way Park trails or, depending on the time of day, perhaps find a peaceful moment at the central green space.
Fun and Functional Furniture
In terms of necessities for contemporary outdoor workspaces, a close second to WiFi are tables and chairs. While these may sound obvious, first consider the surrounding environment and whether the space is privately or publicly controlled. This distinction can help determine what types of furnishings the space needs.
In a public space operated by a municipality or a park association, flexible furniture is preferable as the space will probably be used for other purposes. In Woodruff Park, guests spread out among brightly colored bistro tables and chairs. While these might not be the most comfortable for prolonged periods of time, they are just fine for 30 minutes to an hour. If the intention is for people to work for a short amount of time or enjoy lunch, the seating doesn’t have to be plush.
If the space is privately owned, furniture can be heavier, comfortable and relaxing, such as Adirondacks chairs. At Hill Center, there are sturdy tables and chairs—permanent furniture that isn’t folded up and put away each night. Office tenants at Hill Center often take advantage of this community amenity, especially employers who use a hoteling model. Made popular by the rise of coworking where employees might not have assigned desks, this concept is becoming more mainstream for companies that permit flexible hours or work-from-home days for employees.
Although there might not be an expectation for workers to be in the office from 9-5 Monday through Friday, many employers are still seeking new ways to make coming into—and working at—an office more appealing and inspiring for their teams. If employees prefer to stay onsite, they are more available to attend an impromptu meeting or have an organic interaction with a colleague that sparks a bright idea. Creating an outdoor connection that resonates with workers can help facilitate these types of seemingly inconspicuous yet significant touchpoints that drive productivity and overall business growth.