Research Design Connection: Offices, 2016

by Sally Augustin, Ph.D. | January 9th, 2017

The British Council for Offices sponsored research on the workplace design-related opinions, expectations and experiences of office workers. The design of spaces where people work should align with tasks to be accomplished, organizational culture, etc., so although the insights shared are interesting, they do not necessarily indicate how workplaces should be designed. Findings are available free at the website noted below. Data, collected via a survey of people working in offices revealed that, “Employees are seeking greater control of their office. Lighting and temperature are of key importance to employees, and there is increased demand for new technologies that would allow these factors to be controlled at desk level…40% of respondents believe that the office positively impacts on their physical health and 48% believe the office positively impacts on their mental health…30% have the opposite view…[and] said the office does them harm…20% of male survey respondents would always or often …