Wellness
Our experience recognizes that human wellness and the built environment are intrinsically linked. We believe in advancing wellness beyond health and wellness centers to academic projects, urban towers, mixed-use developments and work environments.
Design for wellness begins early in a project’s development. We identify features that enhance human comfort, encourage positive behaviors, make conscientious hygiene easier, and support a ‘mind, body, spirit’ approach to a more healthful daily life. Fundamentally, our architecture must connect people to nature.
A healthier planet means healthier inhabitants.
Sustainability is the baseline of design for wellness. Rising awareness of carbon-neutral, net-zero, LEED and WELL Building standards speak to our collective desire to reduce pollution, conserve resources and advance energy alternatives.
Characteristics and qualities of wellness environments
Nature
- Views of nature and occupiable terraces and gardens provide occupant connections to the outdoors.
- Outdoor spaces that extend interior activities to the outside such as ground-level greenspace, sky gardens and upper-level amenity terraces for urban towers.
Materials
- Use of natural materials like stone and wood impart warmth, comfort and calmness.
- Materials that reference a building’s surroundings deepen a sense of belonging for emotional wellness.
Choice
- Allowing building users spatial and configuration options for working, socializing and/or studying reduces stress and empowers choice.
- Design features that promote healthy behaviors and accommodate distancing as needed, such as interconnecting staircases and generous circulation pathways that also invite movement.
- Flexible and mobile offices, meeting and collaboration spaces and furnishings that adapt to different working styles can also answer distancing needs.
- Spaces that generate innovation by facilitating collaboration and cross-disciplinary problem-solving .
Community
- Substantial street-level open space, such as deep setbacks and canopies, for users to build neighborhood connections.
- Integrated art and publicly accessible art provide a positive point of focus to encourage mindfulness.
- Easily accessed, walkable landscaping.
- Flexible multipurpose and lounge spaces for teaming, collaborating, socializing and community building practices.
Features of design for wellness:
- Natural light deep into interior spaces
- Views of nature from interior spaces
- Natural materials
- Local materials
- Art installations
- Flexible spaces
- Comfortable, mobile furnishings
- Fresh air access
- Operable windows
- Elevated greenspaces and roof gardens
- Open, grand connecting stairs
- Clear wayfinding
- HVAC filtration and measurable air quality systems
- Hand hygiene stations
- Touchless elevator and conveying systems
Program spaces for health & wellness
- Central common spaces or “living room” space
- Flexible multipurpose, meeting and lounge spaces
- Spaces for teaming, collaborating and community building
- Fitness facilities
- Indoor and outdoor walking tracks
- Teaching kitchens
- Multipurpose classrooms for yoga, meditation, etc.
- Healthy dining venues
- Planted greenspace, both occupiable and non-occupiable
- Interior and exterior decompression space, nooks, alcoves, etc.
- Roof gardens/green sky gardens
- Small interior and exterior quiet/contemplation spots