Over 2014/2015, the UK had approximately 27 million working days lost due to work-related illness, costing an estimated £13.4bn to the economy. This astounding figure begs the question: what is being done to improve the wellbeing of employees in office environments?
Newly-completed office developments are a far cry from those we have become accustomed to. Comfortable working temperatures through advanced heating, ventilation and cooling technologies, biophilic design to allow staff to feel closer to nature, and flexible pods and break-out zones to improve productivity – these are all features that are becoming standard in the development of today’s workspaces. In this issue of FC&A, we have collated some of the latest workplace schemes that have put wellbeing at the core of their designs.
On page 28, FC&A pays tribute to New Ludgate, a new development by Land Securities designed by Fletcher Priest Architects and Sauerbruch Hutton, which was named as The City of London Building of the Year 2016 last month. The building has been recognised for delivering a world-class working environment and praised for the impact it has on the city’s street scene. Comprising a multitude of aesthetic and energy-efficient features, New Ludgate really has set a benchmark for innovative design in working environments.
Meanwhile, on page 10 we explore another workplace that has gone to great efforts to enhance the wellbeing and productivity of its staff members. At Broadgate Estates’ new HQ ‘The Hub’, the team stipulated an exacting ‘boardroom to yoga class’ design, execution and evaluation brief, to create a natural working environment that balances wellbeing and organisational effectiveness in equal measure.
Elsewhere in this issue, EeStairs showcases its stunning staircase installation at top law firm CMS, Resonate Interiors unveils a new interior scheme for quantity surveying practice Core Five and Knauf Technical Support Officer, Fiona Tullett, discusses the mistakes being made in the specification of fire resistance panels.
I hope you enjoy this issue. Don’t forget, you can also access all of the magazine’s features, product news and supplier information at your fingertips via Future Constructor & Architect’s state-of-the-art app. To download your version free of charge, simply search ‘fc&a’ on Google play or the App Store.