WorkWell

The workplace and workforce have evolved and taken on a different personality than in the past. For employees the office environment has moved from a place where you must work, to a place where you want to work, to a place where you do your most productive work. Advances in technology continue to blur the lines between home and work. Although mobile devices had suggested they could set us free to work from anywhere, the reality is technology necessitates proximity. Employees need to be together to share ideas, to innovate and to collaborate. Although employees can work from anywhere, people are working together in closer proximity to each other. Additionally, the workplace environment is not as orderly and procedural as it was in the past. Today it's creative, innovative and collaborative.

This thesis explores the intersection of health and wellness within one's workplace, as a means to create a more productive, collaborative and healthy environment through a design intervention located in Alexandria, VA. The key drivers of the design include natural light, active design, biophilic elements and circadian lighting. Access to natural light creates happier and more productive employees. Staircases are readily accessible and inviting, encouraging occupants to walk up and down. Nature is brought indoors offering psychological benefits, connecting employees to the outside as well as recharging mood and focus. Lighting design works in line with our internal body clock, enabling our body to perform at the right time. This workplace improves the well-being of people by placing health and wellness at the center of the design.