We should all strive to be more sustainable in every aspect of our lives, whether as individuals or as part of a group or organisation. By doing so, we can help mitigate the impacts of climate change and preserve natural resources while also improving our overall quality of life.
According to the World Green Building Council, the construction industry generates an estimated 39% of the world’s carbon emissions. That’s why we value sustainability as a crucial part of every single project we undertake, cutting no corners to meet our goals.
Sustainable office buildings are becoming increasingly popular with both commercial landlords and tenants. For landlords, investing in sustainable office buildings can often attract a higher tenant ‘covenant’, maximising lease value and saving long-term costs.
For tenants, sustainable offices offer an enhanced employee experience. This doesn’t just mean employees get to look at some lovely plants (although this is definitely a bonus!), it means happier, healthier staff. For instance, sustainable offices often have better air quality and an abundance of natural light – both of which have been linked to increased productivity and wellbeing. Read more about workplace wellbeing here.
Furthermore, people want to make sure that prospective employers are a good match for their own personal values. Part of this involves looking at sustainability credentials when scoping out new places to work. For example, tenants may be attracted to an organisation that is taking direct action to reduce its carbon footprint.
We’re all too familiar with the blinking cursor. The overwhelming dread when you know you have a deadline to meet but just can’t block out the accumulating distractions any longer. While there have been many investigations into how colour theory and ergonomic design can affect how we work, acoustics remain relatively unexplored. Studies have shown that noise can significantly reduce our attention span and mental capacity, with sounds of 70 decibels becoming annoying and sounds of 80 decibels potentially being damaging over an 8-hour period.
In the modern workplace, hybrid working makes up 78% of organisations’ arrangements, which means that people are making more calls - occasionally on group calls where multiple participants are sitting near each other yet dialling into the same hybrid meeting. Background noise, music and chatter on top of this can prove too much. It is important that offices are designed so that private conversations can stay private - there's nothing more infuriating that being forced to hear half a conversation - a "halfologue".
Equally, we must consider a neurodivergent workforce. This group in particular may be more prone to sensory overload, and it’s vital we understand acoustics in office design so that everyone can work comfortably and with focus.