After their visit, the children were asked to draw a factory again. The children toured the headquarters building of Herman Miller, a furniture manufacturer. The building, designed by William McDonough, is a sustainable building showcase that not only prevents pollution and uses resources efficiently, but has created a workplace that is good for the employees social and mental well-being. The presenter was Dr. Judith Heerwagen, an environmental psychologist and consultant in workplace ecology. She spoke at a brown bag sponsored by Seattle City Light.
Sustainable buildings can do more than lighten their environmental footprints.
The benefits of sustainable buildings should be marketed in terms that speak to business concerns. Profitability, cost reduction, and greater market share are givens, but others include product quality, customer satisfaction, capacity for innovation, public image, employee retention, and quality of work life. Sustainable design can produce healthy work spaces which tell employees that their companies care about their well-being. For buildings to be a positive working environment, they must do more than keep the rain out and the heat in. They must meet people s mental and social well-being needs as well.