Wellness
Our Approach to 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