The effects of climate change are threatening cities and businesses around the globe. Increasingly frequent wildfires, droughts, flooding, and rising sea levels are displacing populations and impacting supply chains, both of which are disrupting social, cultural, and economic norms.

Buildings contribute nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to Architecture 2030. Of this amount, 28% is due to building operations, and 11% is due to building materials and construction, so incorporating resilient design strategies into office building and workplace design can have a big impact. At Gensler, we embrace resilience more broadly to suggest that design constantly evolves, adapting to and preparing for a changing world. Here, we take a look at five key design elements that will be a part of tomorrow’s resilient workplace.

VERTICAL ECOLOGY FOR OFFICE BUILDINGS

One promising solution for tall office buildings is vertical ecology, which borrows heavily from the concept of biophilia — the notion that the more humans connect with other living systems, the more they benefit. Studies have shown that biophilic elements in the workplace can reduce absenteeism and increase worker productivity, while daylight can boost melatonin production and enhance sleep. Viewing fractal patterns and shapes that mimic natural forms can reduce stress by up to 60%, according to a University of Oregon study. And since vegetation can absorb toxins and pollutants, biophilic design can vastly improve air quality.

Gensler’s design for China’s Zhuhai Huace International Plaza merges two towers into a single form with a vertical atrium system and sky and terraced gardens that create a breathing envelope to bring fresh air into the building. With louvers for air flow and plant growth, Huace Plaza’s vertical ecology embraces biophilic design to improve air quality and enhance occupants’ health and well-being.

INTELLIGENT BUILDING CONTROLS: Cisco Smart City, Guangzhou, China.
Gensler’s master plan for this smart city integrates technology across all scales, from buildings to infrastructure. The connected environment optimizes energy, water, and light efficiency based on real-time conditions. Systems also monitor temperature, pollution, and waste management.

ENERGY-SAVING FACADES

According to the International Energy Agency, buildings consume 50% of the world’s energy. To mitigate this consumption, we can add climate-responsive facades to office buildings and workplace projects. These adaptive envelopes can mitigate solar heat gain, reduce energy used to cool and heat the building, optimize daylighting and shading, and improve air quality while also reducing energy consumption. In megacities such as Beijing, where toxic air levels can exceed 300 AQI on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index, healthy interiors and buildings are critical contributions to the health of the community at large.

For Harbin Bank’s Beijing headquarters, a climate-responsive facade maximizes daylight and energy efficiency while minimizing harmful particulates. A single-glazed outer skin and a double-glazed inner skin form a cavity, which acts like a thermal duvet to insulate the building year-round.

INTELLIGENT BUILDING CONTROLS

Another way we can help lower energy and water costs is by making buildings more intelligent. By leveraging real-time data, intelligent building controls can lower energy consumption and make buildings safer and healthier. Sensor technology and IoT-enabled devices will allow individuals to adjust temperature, air, lighting, and acoustics.

Gensler’s master plan for the Cisco Smart City in Guangzhou, China, integrates technology across all scales, from buildings to infrastructure. The connected environment optimizes energy, water, and light efficiency based on real-time conditions. Systems also monitor temperature, pollution, and waste management.