Research Design Connections: Encouraging Stair Use

by Sally Augustin, Ph.D. | February 6th, 2023

Mustafa and Ali reviewed published studies to learn how workplace design can encourage people to use stairs instead of elevators.  They report that “safety, motivations, appeal and comfort, and legibility were the most common features in the studies, followed by connectivity, building codes, and elevator programming. The good quality of mentioned features positively affects stair use level and vice versa. . . . Safety of stairs includes 3 categories; maintenance, natural surveillance, stair dimensional, and provision of the railing. Motivational techniques followed safety by including the point of decision prompts artwork, music, step numbering, cardio indicator, and current location map. . . . comfort and appeal [are also] design interventions for promoting stair use.”  Getting people to take the stairs is worthwhile because “Stair use is of great importance in increasing physical activity and improving occupational health in the workplace.” Faris Mustafa and Janan Ali.  2023. “Active Design: Architectural Interventions …