Outdoor Office Spaces In the Post-Pandemic World
Now that COVID-19 has become part of our reality, building trends are shifting toward outdoor and hybrid outdoor spaces. This is especially true of office buildings, where the increase in ventilation provides a boost to both productivity and employee health. While sneeze guards, temperature checks, and social distancing have their place, more and more facilities are taking to long view and adopting changes that treat pandemics the way that do earthquakes and floods -- as another natural disaster to plan for.
Changes to the Open Plan Office
Open-plan offices have been a controversial topic for a long time. While some experts claim they boost creativity and collaboration, many employees find that they experience more distractions and reduced productivity. The pandemic may signal sweeping changes to open-plan offices as we know them. Some experts point out that rooms with large shared airspaces and few barriers provide the perfect conditions for disease transmission. Others say that the solution is to install intake vents in the ceiling and fresh air vents near the floor. Only one thing is for certain: If office managers plan to maintain an open-plan design, they need to do something to increase ventilation. That's where outdoor and hybrid outdoor workspaces come in.
The Benefits of an Outdoor Space
Even before the pandemic, commercial architecture was moving in a more natural, biophilic direction. Skylights, "living walls," light wells, and other features help bring in more natural light and fresh air while increasing employee exposure to nature. This doesn't just improve air quality, it can also help promote healthy circadian rhythms, lower stress, and keep employees happier, more productive, and more creative. Now, it's a known fact that one of the best ways to reduce potential viral exposure is to bring in as much fresh air as possible. (One study found that the risk of spreading the SARS-CoV-2 virus was as much as 20 times greater indoors than outside.) As a result, building developers are working to incorporate more outdoor space into their designs as a matter of course. Within a few years, there may be very few new commercial build-outs that still resemble ones from over a year ago -- patios, terraces, open courtyards, balconies, and hybrid rooms will be de rigueur, compared to the concrete blocks of the past.
Outdoor Working in a Four-Season Climate
While fresh air is great for employee health and happiness, inclement weather is not. In areas that experience cold winters, this can be especially tricky. One solution, already in use in Europe, relies on a window design that incorporates heat exchangers into the frame. Even with the windows open, any incoming air gets heated or cooled as needed before entering the room. The end result is year-round fresh air and a space that brings the outdoors in. Other buildings are pressing rooftop terraces and balconies into service. Overhangs provide protection from rain, while glass half-walls and hedges function as windbreaks. Large conference rooms or auditoriums are ideal for hybrid spaces. In one concept, a large conference room is backed by a glass garage door. Opening this door increases the number of available seats, and effectively turns the area into a space that's half-indoors, half-out. When it comes to heating, the increase in outdoor workspaces is likely to lead to a concurrent boom in climate control technology. Right now, portable outdoor heaters can help provide some comfort, as can wearable temperature regulating devices. With a way to block the rain and wind, flexible conference rooms, and the ability to provide heat in winter, outdoor workspaces can function in all but the most severe weather.
The Challenges of Working Outdoors
Other than the weather, there are two other big challenges faced by outdoor and hybrid spaces: flexibility and functionality. If outdoor air quality is worse than indoors, as happens in areas prone to wildfires or heavy air pollution, employees must be able to adjust their workspace accordingly. There should still be adequately ventilated indoor areas available, and workers should be able to control the windows and doors to their own areas. In the past, landscaped areas and patios were largely conceptualized as decorative -- not a place where people would spend a significant portion of their day. That's changing. Outdoor workspaces need to function the same as indoor workspaces. This means that lighting and shade need to work with screens without causing too much glare. Electrical and network connectivity should be just as seamless outdoors as it is inside. Outdoor furniture needs to be comfortable and ergonomic, not just decorative. Working outdoors is one of the best ways to improve worker health and happiness while also reducing the risk of transmitting the novel coronavirus. While this strategy poses a few challenges, particularly for offices located in areas with cold winters, technology and architecture are moving to adapt as swiftly as possible. In the future, outdoor and hybrid outdoor spaces may be viewed as a rule for office buildings, rather than an exception.
If you're an IFMA-LI member, please log in so you can comment on this article.
