Our minds are complex and our potential to create masterpieces and innovative ideas is unbounded and profound. But then, there are the looming questions:

• Where does our creativity come from?
• Is it innate or is it rather an influence or inspiration from the surrounding environment?
• Introduction

“Inspiration comes from within” While it holds truth, it is more of a poetic statement. It is evident that how we think, speak, perceive and react are largely influenced by our environment. For many, we spend most of our days at work, this means, for long hours, every day our senses are subjected to what we experience in these enclosed spaces.

At present, many case studies have shown a strong correlation between our environment and our creativity. Such as the EBD or Evidence-Based Design for instance. It was developed as a scientific approach to coming up with a building design from acquired data. While EBD primarily focuses on healthcare facilities, its scholarly research affirms other occupancy types such as office and residential spaces. 

More companies today are now leaning towards the mantra “happiness sparks creativity”. Big names such as Google, Apple and Pixar have made changes to their office designs stimulating creativity and encouraging collaboration among different departments.

1. Trends for Office Space

Encouraging creativity and productivity in your office space is not merely shifting from cubicles to open spaces. There are actually many factors to consider. Nature of business, company mission and vision, employee demographics, availability of space and budget are general aspects that interplay into your final office design.

• Biophilic Design.  Nothing is more inspiring than nature itself. Around a 15% increase in employee productivity is seen in workplaces that have integrated nature into their office design.

There are many ways to bring nature to an office space. For generous spaces, pocket gardens, and open terraces with plantings are great additions.

The Apple company’s 175-acre corporate campus called “Apple Park” provides employees with 10,000 trees, planted across the vast area.

For smaller spaces on the other hand it is more challenging but possible. Vertical gardens can curtain down through walls and can well be a screen to define in-between spaces.

• Day Lighting. While an element in biophilic design, daylighting is emphasized here due to its crucial role in successful space planning. Natural lighting evidently improves cognitive functions and prevents eyestrain in employees. Research conducted has shown that employees who receive natural daylight have reported fewer sick days than workers who work in enclosed spaces.

Solar tubes, clerestories and skylights are effective ways to bring in natural light to dark areas indoors. Sunwell’s and solar tubes are great design solutions that are primarily used in areas where windows are not possible. This is common in most commercial office spaces.

• Green and Vibrant Color. Colour can dramatically change the mood of space as well, depending on the nature and service of the company. The overall color scheme of an office should be relaxing but not bare. Create spaces with different color treatments to define each space. Break out from the usual white plane wall facades by adding green or lime colors on walls or hallways. Vibrant colors such as adding neon accents can stimulate the eyes. Patterned walls with nature-inspired prints can also boost energy in the office atmosphere. 

• Furniture and Décor Pieces. The return of graphic and art deco is seen to be gaining popularity in line with the growing popularity of social media and the internet. Uptight and formal lounges appear to not work with the youth. Create Instagram-worthy cockpit seaters or include interactive wall puzzles or games. Three-dimensional décor pieces are great visual stimuli for employees and clients.

• Office Layout. Encouraging collaboration among departments is seen as a strategy for younger companies. Where hallways and break rooms are laid out to raise the likelihood of employee interaction, but creating too many common spaces can defeat the purpose.

1. Summary (Take Away)

So, is creativity innate or environmentally enhanced? I think both complement each other. Our senses perceive information and quickly interpret it in our minds. In conclusion, to keep the creativity flowing we need to feed our experiences and a good way is to provide a working environment that keeps our senses awake. Encouraging interaction among employees is another way to spark creativity.

With the rapid spread of the COVID-19 disease, millions of workers from different enterprises are now on hold. An estimated 200 million jobs will be lost globally due to the pandemic outbreak according to ILO (International Labor Organization).

For the remaining operable businesses there is a great need to address the built-environment and in particular the workspace.

Aside from healthcare facilities, operable businesses also have a great percentage of transmission in the workplace. This also applies between workers in contact with the public spaces.

The worldwide pandemic will surely change the built-environment. Employees will start to plan on how to redesign their work spaces to safeguard and secure employees.

Public spaces may also follow through as preventive measures will be implemented to control bottle-neck effects and mass gatherings at the same time maintain the social distancing measures.

An assessment is needed. Classifying businesses according to the degree of their exposure to the virus should be initiated to successfully apply solutions.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has presented 3 main levels of exposure.

• Very High and High Exposure Risk – Healthcare workers, particularly those working with known or suspected pandemic patients.

• Medium Exposure Risk – Workers with high-frequency interaction with the general public (e.g., those working in schools, restaurants, retail establishments, travel and mass transit, office receptions bank tellers or other crowded environments).

• Lower Exposure Risk (Caution) – Workers who have minimal contact with the general public and other coworkers (e.g., office workers)

1. Design Strategies for a disease control

Beside changing the work schedules and practices that will help protect workers and clients alike, modifying the work environment and adapting the work spaces to current realities have a more sustainable impact on the future of work.

The following design measures are critical to a healthy work and public spaces.

1. Increase humidity. Studies show that viruses are unlikely to survive in a high humidity environment. Centralized ventilation systems should be optimized for a cleaner air There are also portable humidifiers that can be run throughout the building.

• Shift to limited or non-contact arrangements. Assign drive-through windows, opt for virtual meetings and online work-at-home set up.

• Improve Ventilation. Install high-efficiency air filters, make sure mechanical ventilation systems are up and running and an increase of its operating hours should be increased. Open windows to continuously flush out stagnant air from the inside.

• Assign Isolation Room.  Consider designating a room where workers can be temporarily placed in the event that a worker becomes sick and is not able to leave the workplace immediately.

• Observe Social Distancing. Space between workers should be at least 3 feet and limit face-to-face contact between workers. Offices with open plans should redesign layout of office desks and chairs.

• Place Disinfection Tents. Provide enclosed areas on entry points to sterilize workers before entering the work premises. The number of disinfection tents should correspond to the number of employees entering to prevent bottlenecking on ques.

• Provide Stockpile Warehouse. PPEs (Personal Protection Equipment) such as masks and gloves; respirators, hand sanitizers, alcohol and other preventive materials.

• Specialized Negative Pressure Ventilators. This is applicable to health facilities. Provide airborne infection isolation rooms for healthcare and for morgues and mortuary settings specialized autopsy suites.

1. Add Hand-washing Station. Strategically place hand-washing areas throughout the workplace. For a large building under construction for instance, placing temporary washing stations every 1 to 2 floors for workers. 

1. Challenges

Most businesses today have begun closing and shifting to the staff home to conduct work and transactions remotely. Larger firms are seen moving quickly with strategic response and planning underway. The smaller businesses on the other hand, will have a harder time in adjusting to the new office home arrangement due to budget and resource constraints.

Cost in infrastructure redesigning and allocating is most likely the largest hurdle for most of the businesses. The added expenditure by companies can add strain to the already declining economy.

But not all industries are suitable for home work set up. Services such as infrastructure and manufacturing will need to wait for an end to the lockdown.

This segment below requires more content. A few more research would help.

Projections

• Waiting Area to Waiting Cubicles
• No-touch-technology
• Improved Ventilation Systems
• Antibacterial Materials
• IFSS (Infrared Fever Screening Systems)

Companies today are now leaning towards architectural solutions to redesign existing built-environments. If not with this pandemic most businesses are reluctant to shed funds on improving infrastructure assets. It is presumed that offices and meeting rooms will be limited or if not eliminated and instead will utilize virtual meetings and collaborations. Waiting areas from establishments may also be converted instead to “waiting cubicles” or “waiting nooks”.

A rise in the use of automated or no-touch-technology such as voice activated elevators, automatic doors and light switches are a few possible changes in work places.

Installation and maintenance of HVAC systems and increase the capabilities of ventilators in buildings.

Another foreseen trend will be the use of antibacterial materials in paint and fabrics. At present there are products that do offer self-cleaning capabilities and will be seen to rise.

Integration of IFSS OR Infrared Fever Screening Systems which was first developed for the 2003 SARS outbreak. The technology can monitor elevated body temperature on screen. The IFSS might well be integrated in most of our public spaces and work areas.

1. Conclusion

As COVID-19 disease continues to infect thousands of people around the globe, the need to create strategic plans and emergency response solutions to protect the welfare of the workforce has never been pressing. Amidst the grapple of legislators to provide efficient solutions many professionals and specialists have presented their expertise. Leveraging in our professional expertise such as architects, engineers and certified health care facility designers, is paramount as proper planning of the built-environment will efficiently utilize available resources.