Performance and wellbeing, beyond compliance - Revision history

Designing Buildings at 07:24, 21 January 2021

2021-01-21T07:24:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:24, 21 January 2021
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	* WELL Building Standard.		* WELL Building Standard.

−	[[Category:~~News~~]] [[Category:DCN_News]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Commentary]] [[Category:DCN_Event]] [[Category:DCN_News]] [[Category:News]]

Designing Buildings at 10:47, 12 November 2016

2016-11-12T10:47:53Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:47, 12 November 2016
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	= Introduction =		= Introduction =

−	On Friday 11 November 2016, the annual BSRIA Briefing was held at the Brewery near the Barbican, in North London. The event considered the ideas and issues behind the concept of wellbeing, and whether the industry should be aiming higher than mere compliance.	+	On Friday 11 November 2016, the annual BSRIA Briefing was held at the Brewery near the Barbican in North London. The event considered the ideas and issues behind the concept of wellbeing, and whether the industry should be aiming higher than mere compliance.

−	The morning session was kicked off by BSRIA Chief Executive Julia Evans, taking part in her third BSRIA briefing. She introduced the event Chair, Sarah Ratcliffe from the Better Buildings Partnership. With 20 years’ experience in sustainability, Sarah pointed out that 80% of the buildings ~~that~~ we will occupy in 2050 have already been built, making it a challenge to meet our carbon emission targets. But, we should not just see the building stock in terms of its potential to have a negative impact on the environment, it also has the potential to have a positive impact on health and ~~welllbeing~~. At present however, buildings are not performing as well as they could, and this, in part is due to a “design for compliance” culture.	+	The morning session was kicked off by BSRIA Chief Executive Julia Evans, taking part in her third BSRIA briefing. She introduced the event Chair, Sarah Ratcliffe from the Better Buildings Partnership.
		+
		+	With 20 years’ experience in sustainability, Sarah pointed out that 80% of the buildings we will occupy in 2050 have already been built, making it a challenge to meet our carbon emission targets. But, we should not just see the building stock in terms of its potential to have a negative impact on the environment, it also has the potential to have a positive impact on health and wellbeing. At present however, buildings are not performing as well as they could, and this, in part, is due to a “design for compliance” culture.

	She challenged the audience, suggesting it was down to them to deliver.		She challenged the audience, suggesting it was down to them to deliver.
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	= Lynne Ceeney =		= Lynne Ceeney =

−	The first speaker was Lynne Ceeney BSRIA’s new Technical Director. She pointed out that there is no universally-accepted definition of wellbeing, and that, in part, this is because wellbeing is dependent on context.	+	The first speaker was Lynne Ceeney, BSRIA’s new Technical Director. She pointed out that there is no universally-accepted definition of wellbeing, and that, in part, this is because wellbeing is dependent on context.

	This, she suggested, makes it difficult to know where to start, however, she proposed three main strands to wellbeing:		This, she suggested, makes it difficult to know where to start, however, she proposed three main strands to wellbeing:
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	* Psychological (related to the mind).		* Psychological (related to the mind).

−	The first of these is measurable, and so perhaps should be the easiest, and yet we still get it wrong. The functional aspect is becoming more complex as we demand more flexibility and the work life boundary is becoming more blurred. We are also becoming more aware of the psychological aspects of wellbeing, as we ~~become~~ increasingly health conscious and recognise the importance of access to nature.	+	The first of these is measurable, and so perhaps should be the easiest, and yet we still get it wrong. The functional aspect is becoming more complex as we demand more flexibility and the work life boundary is becoming more blurred. We are also becoming more aware of the psychological aspects of wellbeing, as we are increasingly health conscious and recognise the importance of access to nature.

	Despite some interesting case studies in wellbeing best practice, she suggested that wellbeing standards are generally seen as setting the maximum levels to be achieved, rather than the minimum and that there is still a general reluctance to change.		Despite some interesting case studies in wellbeing best practice, she suggested that wellbeing standards are generally seen as setting the maximum levels to be achieved, rather than the minimum and that there is still a general reluctance to change.
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	= Professor Paul Cullinan =		= Professor Paul Cullinan =

−	Professor Paul Cullinan, Honorary Consultant in Respiratory Medicine at the Royal Brompton Hospital, presented a very different perspective on the subject. His work ~~focusses~~ on respiratory diseases resulting from environmental influences, and has written about the lifelong impact of pollution.	+	Professor Paul Cullinan, Honorary Consultant in Respiratory Medicine at the Royal Brompton Hospital, presented a very different perspective on the subject. His work focuses on respiratory diseases resulting from environmental influences, and he has written about the lifelong impact of pollution.

	He began by presenting 4 different levels of condition:		He began by presenting 4 different levels of condition:
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	* Wellbeing.		* Wellbeing.

−	These conditions ~~range from~~ very serious and well-known diseases, such as asbestosis, through to those that are “medically unexplained”.	+	These conditions can include very serious and well-known diseases, such as asbestosis, through to those that are “medically unexplained”.

−	He suggested ~~that~~ the word ‘syndrome’ is not one that medical professionals like, and that most people are experiencing at least some of the symptoms associated with conditions such as sick building syndrome all the time. Many such syndromes are culturally specific, seen in some areas and not others despite similar circumstances, and appearing and disappearing with no apparent understandable cause.	+	He suggested the word ‘syndrome’ is not one that medical professionals like, and that most people are experiencing at least some of the symptoms associated with conditions such as sick building syndrome all the time. Many such syndromes are culturally specific, seen in some areas and not others despite similar circumstances, and appearing and disappearing with no apparent understandable cause.

	That is not to say that these conditions are not real or serious, simply that many of them are not allergic reactions and so are difficult to understand.		That is not to say that these conditions are not real or serious, simply that many of them are not allergic reactions and so are difficult to understand.
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	Wellbeing, she suggested, emerged with generation x and generation y, and the realisation that the whole person comes to work, not just the working part, but that companies are not good at recognising this or responding to it.		Wellbeing, she suggested, emerged with generation x and generation y, and the realisation that the whole person comes to work, not just the working part, but that companies are not good at recognising this or responding to it.

−	She presented a number of case studies of workplaces that had been developed or transformed specifically to improve wellbeing, and presented evidence that this had increased the productivity of staff. These included; changes to the offices of the National Grid, which cognitive testing suggested had improved performance by 8%; Esteé Lauder’s beautiful offices intended to attract millennials, with healthy menus, spaces for yoga and an early finish on Friday’s; and Rolls Royce offices, where considerable effort ~~had~~ been made to encourage staff to move more and interact.	+	She presented a number of case studies of workplaces that had been developed or transformed specifically to improve wellbeing, and presented evidence that this had increased the productivity of staff. These included; changes to the offices of the National Grid, which cognitive testing suggested had improved performance by 8%; Esteé Lauder’s beautiful offices intended to attract millennials, with healthy menus, spaces for yoga and an early finish on Friday’s; and Rolls Royce's offices, where considerable effort has been made to encourage staff to move more and to interact.

	= Ben Robert =		= Ben Robert =
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	Ben Roberts, Senior Mechanical Engineer at Hoare Lea & Partners began by presenting a utopian vision of a tech-enabled future. He suggested that delivering wellbeing as part of this vision would be complicated and would require a much better understanding of people.		Ben Roberts, Senior Mechanical Engineer at Hoare Lea & Partners began by presenting a utopian vision of a tech-enabled future. He suggested that delivering wellbeing as part of this vision would be complicated and would require a much better understanding of people.

−	Research into the future of project teams he suggested, ~~pointed~~ to a likely shift to spending less time on detailed design, and more in the early stages and in post occupancy evaluation. There would be new roles, and a need to engage with wider disciplines and other industries. The sheer volume of data available to analyse and understand means computers will have to be considered members of the project team. We will also have to develop a greater understanding of the interactions between the buildings we design, the environment and their surroundings.	+	Research into the future of project teams he suggested, points to a likely shift to spending less time on detailed design, and more in the early stages and in post occupancy evaluation. There would be new roles, and a need to engage with wider disciplines and other industries. The sheer volume of data available to analyse and understand means computers will have to be considered members of the project team. We will also have to develop a greater understanding of the interactions between the buildings we design, the environment and their surroundings.

	This change, he proposed, will require different skills, and greater technical capability.		This change, he proposed, will require different skills, and greater technical capability.
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	* WELL Building Standard.		* WELL Building Standard.

−	[[Category:News]]	+	[[Category:News]] [[Category:DCN_News]]

Designing Buildings at 10:35, 12 November 2016

2016-11-12T10:35:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:35, 12 November 2016
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	* Indoor air quality.		* Indoor air quality.
	* Indoor environmental quality.		* Indoor environmental quality.
−	* Maggie's Cancer Centre, Manchester.
	* Light pollution.		* Light pollution.
	* Sick building syndrome.		* Sick building syndrome.

Designing Buildings at 10:35, 12 November 2016

2016-11-12T10:35:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:35, 12 November 2016
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−	[[File:~~Bsria briefing 2016~~.jpg]]	+	[[File:Bsria_briefing_2016.jpg\|link=File:Bsria_briefing_2016.jpg]]

	= Introduction =		= Introduction =
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	=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===		=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===

−	BRE wellbeing research paper competition.	+	* BRE wellbeing research paper competition.
−		+	* BSRIA briefing 2016.
−	Building related illness.	+	* Building related illness.
−		+	* Building use studies (BUS).
−	Building use studies (BUS).	+	* Changing lifestyles
−		+	* Ergonomics in construction.
−	Changing lifestyles	+	* Inclusive design.
−		+	* Indoor air quality.
−	Ergonomics in construction.	+	* Indoor environmental quality.
−		+	* Maggie's Cancer Centre, Manchester.
−	Inclusive design.	+	* Light pollution.
−		+	* Sick building syndrome.
−	Indoor air quality.	+	* Sustainability.
−		+	* TG10 2016 At a glance, wellbeing.
−	Indoor environmental quality.	+	* The full cost of poor housing.
−		+	* Wellbeing and creativity in workplace design - case studies.
−	Maggie's Cancer Centre, Manchester.	+	* WELL Building Standard.
−		+
−	Light pollution.	+
−		+
−	Sick building syndrome.	+
−		+
−	Sustainability.	+
−		+
−	TG10 2016 At a glance, wellbeing.	+
−		+
−	The full cost of poor housing.	+
−		+
−	Wellbeing and creativity in workplace design - case studies.	+
−		+
−	WELL Building Standard.	+

	[[Category:News]]		[[Category:News]]

Designing Buildings at 10:34, 12 November 2016

2016-11-12T10:34:16Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:34, 12 November 2016
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		+	[[File:Bsria briefing 2016.jpg]]
		+
	= Introduction =		= Introduction =

Designing Buildings: Created page with "= Introduction = On Friday 11 November 2016, the annual BSRIA Briefing was held at the Brewery near the Barbican, in North London. The event considered the ideas and issues behi..."

2016-11-12T10:27:05Z

Created page with "= Introduction = On Friday 11 November 2016, the annual BSRIA Briefing was held at the Brewery near the Barbican, in North London. The event considered the ideas and issues behi..."

New page

= Introduction =

On Friday 11 November 2016, the annual BSRIA Briefing was held at the Brewery near the Barbican, in North London. The event considered the ideas and issues behind the concept of wellbeing, and whether the industry should be aiming higher than mere compliance.

The morning session was kicked off by BSRIA Chief Executive Julia Evans, taking part in her third BSRIA briefing. She introduced the event Chair, Sarah Ratcliffe from the Better Buildings Partnership. With 20 years’ experience in sustainability, Sarah pointed out that 80% of the buildings that we will occupy in 2050 have already been built, making it a challenge to meet our carbon emission targets. But, we should not just see the building stock in terms of its potential to have a negative impact on the environment, it also has the potential to have a positive impact on health and welllbeing. At present however, buildings are not performing as well as they could, and this, in part is due to a “design for compliance” culture.

She challenged the audience, suggesting it was down to them to deliver.

= Lynne Ceeney =

The first speaker was Lynne Ceeney BSRIA’s new Technical Director. She pointed out that there is no universally-accepted definition of wellbeing, and that, in part, this is because wellbeing is dependent on context.

This, she suggested, makes it difficult to know where to start, however, she proposed three main strands to wellbeing:

* Physical (to do with the body).
* Functional (related to tasks).
* Psychological (related to the mind).

The first of these is measurable, and so perhaps should be the easiest, and yet we still get it wrong. The functional aspect is becoming more complex as we demand more flexibility and the work life boundary is becoming more blurred. We are also becoming more aware of the psychological aspects of wellbeing, as we become increasingly health conscious and recognise the importance of access to nature.

Despite some interesting case studies in wellbeing best practice, she suggested that wellbeing standards are generally seen as setting the maximum levels to be achieved, rather than the minimum and that there is still a general reluctance to change.

= Professor Paul Cullinan =

Professor Paul Cullinan, Honorary Consultant in Respiratory Medicine at the Royal Brompton Hospital, presented a very different perspective on the subject. His work focusses on respiratory diseases resulting from environmental influences, and has written about the lifelong impact of pollution.

He began by presenting 4 different levels of condition:

* Disease.
* Sickness.
* Illness.
* Wellbeing.

These conditions range from very serious and well-known diseases, such as asbestosis, through to those that are “medically unexplained”.

He suggested that the word ‘syndrome’ is not one that medical professionals like, and that most people are experiencing at least some of the symptoms associated with conditions such as sick building syndrome all the time. Many such syndromes are culturally specific, seen in some areas and not others despite similar circumstances, and appearing and disappearing with no apparent understandable cause.

That is not to say that these conditions are not real or serious, simply that many of them are not allergic reactions and so are difficult to understand.

He also pointed to the unforeseen consequences of some well-meaning interventions, citing the use of disinfectants in dehumidifiers, which has resulted in lung disease in some parts of the world, and the phasing out of VOC (volatile organic compound) paints in favour of water-based paints. These he suggested where breeding grounds for bugs and so include biocides that can cause serious reactions in some people.

= Nicola Gillen =

Nicola Gillen, European Practice Lead for Strategy Plus at AECOM began by pointing to AECOM’s 40 year study into the future of work.

She said for the first time in history there are 4 generations in the workplace, and that surprisingly, it is the youngest and the oldest of these generations that have the most in common.

Wellbeing, she suggested, emerged with generation x and generation y, and the realisation that the whole person comes to work, not just the working part, but that companies are not good at recognising this or responding to it.

She presented a number of case studies of workplaces that had been developed or transformed specifically to improve wellbeing, and presented evidence that this had increased the productivity of staff. These included; changes to the offices of the National Grid, which cognitive testing suggested had improved performance by 8%; Esteé Lauder’s beautiful offices intended to attract millennials, with healthy menus, spaces for yoga and an early finish on Friday’s; and Rolls Royce offices, where considerable effort had been made to encourage staff to move more and interact.

= Ben Robert =

Ben Roberts, Senior Mechanical Engineer at Hoare Lea & Partners began by presenting a utopian vision of a tech-enabled future. He suggested that delivering wellbeing as part of this vision would be complicated and would require a much better understanding of people.

Research into the future of project teams he suggested, pointed to a likely shift to spending less time on detailed design, and more in the early stages and in post occupancy evaluation. There would be new roles, and a need to engage with wider disciplines and other industries. The sheer volume of data available to analyse and understand means computers will have to be considered members of the project team. We will also have to develop a greater understanding of the interactions between the buildings we design, the environment and their surroundings.

This change, he proposed, will require different skills, and greater technical capability.

= Matthew Webster =

Matthew Webster, Head of Wellbeing and Futureproofing at British Land talked about delivering places not buildings – ‘creating places people prefer’.

He pointed out that the typical operating costs of a company consist of 1% energy costs, 9% rent and 90% staff costs. This realisation encouraged him to move from a background in sustainability into the field of wellbeing.

He introduced the audience to the word ‘Eudaimonia’, or ‘human flourishing’ and explained British Land’s focus on wellbeing and placemaking as being “customer focussed”. He suggested this is likely to become even more of a focus with the emergence of wearable tech that can tell users, not only where they have been and who they have met, but also what the air quality was and what their exposure to UV has been.

He presented a number of case studies, and introduced the workplace concept “convene to collaborate, isolate to concentrate” and the idea of “sticky streets” designed to slow people down, encourage them to stay and to engage with their surroundings.

= Rt Hon Lord (Paddy) Ashdown GCMG CH KBE PC =

The event was closed by keynote speaker Paddy Ashdown, who presented an unapologetically gloomy assessment of a post-Brexit, President Trump world, but continued to claim throughout that he remained an optimist. He suggested that 70 years of liberal consensus was coming to an end, and repeated the old Chinese curse “May you live in interesting times”.

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===

BRE wellbeing research paper competition.

Building related illness.

Building use studies (BUS).

Changing lifestyles

Ergonomics in construction.

Inclusive design.

Indoor air quality.

Indoor environmental quality.

Maggie's Cancer Centre, Manchester.

Light pollution.

Sick building syndrome.

Sustainability.

TG10 2016 At a glance, wellbeing.

The full cost of poor housing.

Wellbeing and creativity in workplace design - case studies.

WELL Building Standard.

[[Category:News]]