Well-Being Design for Any Workplace Budget

This two-part series discusses a range of health and wellness features that vary in terms of time commitment and cost so business leaders can select approaches that align with their culture and budget. Part one, presented below, focuses on modifications related to air, water, lighting and acoustics, while the second article centers around nourishment, fitness, mental health and accessibility and inclusion.

After a year of working from a variety of remote locations, the task of bringing people back to physical workspaces is neither small nor simple. Business leaders across all industries are shifting from streamlining virtual operations and asking new questions: How do I make occupants that were ushered out of workplaces deemed unsafe more than a year ago feel renewed confidence in those same spaces? Further, how can I create a space that people aren’t just required to work from, but want to be in?

In the marketplace, several certifications have been in place for decades and others have recently emerged to help business leaders address just these issues; WELL Building Certification, WELL Health-Safety, Fitwel Viral Response and UL Verified Healthy Buildings are just some of them. These certifications provide meaningful and verifiable data and information about the quality of health and wellness components found in work environments. They also offer clear roadmaps that track progress toward a healthier workplace based on research-backed applications in design, operations and human resource management. These strategies facilitate a coordinated approach among a diverse set of stakeholders invested in health and wellness, including building owners, employers, designers, maintenance personnel, the community at large and even the natural environment.

In the recent past, building occupants have become skeptical of “greenwashing,” a tactic among building owners and employers where they focus more on marketing their environmental efforts than they do on implementing meaningful change. Today, “well washing” is emerging as a similar practice that is breeding skepticism among employees about health and wellness practices in the workplace. Many claims of increased comfort and productivity made by employers and building owners are largely self-reported and not verified by a third party.

Looking ahead, the incidence of zoonotic transfer — disease transmission from animals to humans, as was the case with the coronavirus — has increased over the past several decades, due in part to the increasing pace of climate change. This means that wellbeing assessments and interventions will not simply be “nice to have,” but rather critical tools for assessing very real risks.

However, attaining formal certification may not be for everyone, especially in a year full of uphill climbs on virtually all fronts. If a business owner is not in a position to relocate, doesn’t have allowances or capital for a redesign or just wants to implement health and wellness changes quickly, there are still substantive strategies they can employ to enhance the well-being of their workplaces.

The suggestions below present a range of health and wellness modifications for all types of commercial spaces across every budget. If a business is ready for a complete assessment, there are several on-site tests, design changes, performance standards and other strategies to employ. If a firm lacks the appetite or funds for an all-out upgrade and prefers to implement a more limited scope, some strategic interventions may not lead to a full-blown certification, but they will make spaces more comforting and appealing to occupants.

Over the past year, real estate professionals and occupants alike learned a very hard lesson about the importance of clean indoor air. Clearly, hermetically sealed buildings with low-quality filters and limited outdoor air delivery are now nonstarters for most businesses. And while COVID-19 is not believed to be transmissible through the water supply, previous public health emergencies have shown that this is another area where it’s important to have options to mitigate risk.

Major HVAC changes. If a tenant is ready to make infrastructure upgrades in existing space or move to a new location, they should look for buildings with HVAC systems that provide distinct systems for air delivery and for thermal comfort. Through dedicated outdoor air systems (DOAS), low-air wall distribution, under-floor air distribution, radiant heating and cooling sources and even operable windows, the risk of airborne infection is reduced. If the building HVAC system has enough capacity to push air through restrictive filters without overheating, it’s possible to increase the density of filtration to at least MERV 13 (higher is better) or even carbon filtration and add sensors to monitor filter status.

Basic HVAC modifications. For those locked into a longer lease, with more restricted funds, or on a tight timeframe, air quality can also be improved with standalone air filtration units. These products can provide HEPA filtration (which exceeds even MERV 16 performance) independent of the building system. These are rated based on the number of square feet covered. Costs for maintaining and changing filters on units should also be factored in. With very limited budgets, install these first in high-density areas, such as conference rooms and closed areas where multiple people gather.

Improved water quality for all. For improving water quality, the answer is similar regardless of budget. While water filtration plants in the U.S. are generally exceptional in quality, in some areas, water must travel through ancient infrastructure — some of it predating the civil war — to get to the point of consumption. If a business is looking to redesign or retrofit a large building, consider water quality testing as close to the building’s main connection as possible. If testing turns up undesirable results, or if the facility is small in scale, water filtration — carbon filters, kinetic degradation or reverse osmosis systems — are easily and affordably installed wherever water is consumed.

Over the past year, the ability to control lighting and acoustics — stimuli that affect various sensory modalities in individuals — has been mixed. The dominant narrative has been about households with small children, and the problems faced by people forced to simultaneously work and run a school out of a home that wasn’t designed with either of those activities in mind. Other households expanded to include returning adult children, spouses, additional roommates and extended family.

On the other hand, 28% of all households have lived alone for this extended time period, with a dearth of stimulation and interaction. Accordingly, what occupants will be looking for in shared workspaces will vary widely, but their needs may also cause a clash as individuals look to maintain some measure of sensory and stimulus control.

Significant acoustic changes. If a company is moving to new space or if their existing space needs an overhaul, now is the time to set parameters for sound barriers and reverberation performance. Acoustic design has long been an underappreciated element in both residential and commercial design, and it will become even more critical for commercial buildings that will now host an even wider array of activities. Sound absorbing acoustic tiles on ceilings and walls, more insulation, extra layers of drywall and thicker carpet can all be incorporated into a new space. Additionally, plush furniture or even plants will help minimize undesired sound.

Significant lighting changes. For lighting, consider utilizing circadian lighting systems that adapt as daylight changes, or at least select a light color that does not alter the color of skin, drapes, food, etc., and is appropriate for the task at hand. Be sure to institute a minimum level of performance for visual acuity and color rendering. Visual acuity basically boils down to making sure there is enough light for the task being carried out. Different lighting levels are needed in spaces such as corridors, desks and lounges for both practical reasons and occupant comfort. The Color Rendering Index (CRI) is a rating on light bulbs that indicates how accurately the light will “render” or portray color. Lights with a CRI of 100 (the best) don’t alter the color of materials, but CRI of 70 or below starts to skew or wash out colors.

Significant thermal modifications. When it comes to thermal performance (i.e., even temperature and humidity in an area) consider low-air wall distribution or under-floor air distribution. The former can be incorporated into buildings with variable air volume (VAV) systems through straightforward modifications. Also, add in a requirement for systems that enable the control and response of humidity settings — another critical “lever” in the quest for better infection control, as well as a key component of thermal comfort.

Basic acoustic, lighting and thermal modifications. If the thought of just touching HVAC, electrical or other building systems strikes fear in the heart of your CFO due to costs, there are still many measures that can shift the locus of control to the occupant. For instance, removing the “assigned seat” premise for as many office positions as is practical can create significant benefits. Occupants that can select the space that suits them for the work at hand will have some semblance of control over acoustics, lighting, temperature and interaction with others. They can select a space based on the type of furniture they prefer, such as a desk, sofa or a conference table. They might choose a location away from gathering spots if they are looking to focus or select a space that is close to the coffee and hang-out lounge if they’re in the office to connect with others.

Operational rules that restrict speakerphone use and set acoustic and behavior guidelines for various areas of the office (like the study lounge at a college library) can create spaces that allow both stimulus seekers and shunners to find what they need.

Regarding lighting, most commercial space that has not been upgraded in the last five to 10 years is generally over-lit, providing light quality that is considered poor by today’s standards. Decrease general ambient light levels to about 35 footcandles (FC) — a unit of measurement lighting professionals use to calculate light levels in business and outdoor settings. Additionally, provide 90+ CRI task lights. For additional thermal comfort control, supply personal devices such as small fans or heating pads.