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When planning new construction or significant renovation, building owners are increasingly looking to incorporate wellness design into the built environment. After two and a half years of the pandemic and lockdown, more and more people are returning to work. Now more than ever, people want refreshing working and living environments. Designing with wellness is beneficial to everyone, from employees in office buildings to tenants in apartment complexes.
The built environment plays a big part in a person’s physiological and psychological health. Wellness design seeks to improve the quality of life through lighting, indoor air quality, and natural elements.
People want lots of natural light and open spaces—we’re tired of being cooped up. High-performance windows and skylights create sunny and productive workspaces. Plus, it’s good for the well-being of occupants. Daylight helps regulate the body’s circadian rhythms. It also reduces eye strain and improves mood. In addition, using less artificial light reduces energy consumption.
Building occupants are ready for a breath of fresh air. However, pungent odors, allergens, and volatile organic compounds (VOC) are detrimental to occupant well-being and can lead to long-term health effects. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) encompasses things like temperature, humidity, and pollutants. A tight envelope can reduce heating and cooling costs, but it also traps pollutants inside. Sound ventilation systems along with air purifiers and HEPA filtration in the HVAC system let occupants breathe easily.
We spend the vast majority of our time indoors. As a result, architects are thinking of ways to bring the outdoors in. Biophilic design creates an intentional connection to nature by incorporating organic elements into the built environment. Exposure to verdant surroundings plays a massive role in psychological wellness. A 2019 study found that children living in green spaces were 55% less likely to have developmental disorders. Through biophilic design, building planners bring green space into the urban environment.
Daylighting, clean air, and natural elements go a long way in supporting the well-being of building occupants. If you are ready to incorporate wellness design, the experts at Bettencourt Construction can help you through the process from beginning to end. Let us know your goals, and we’ll take care of finding the right people for the job. Give us a call at 727-329-8803.
