Recent evidence suggests traditional guidelines for fresh air ventilation may be insufficient for the highest level of cognitive functioning.

Increasing the amount of fresh air brought into our buildings can increase the ability to process information and perform at the highest level.

Evidence

Office and education spaces that are visually and acoustically ‘open’ do not necessarily result in more effective collaboration.

Accommodating the different needs of individuals and their cohorts is the best strategy for promoting effective collaboration. This pertains to air quality, acoustics, views, and control.

Evidence

Communication is challenging for special education students, both student-to-teacher and student-to-student.

Technology can enhance communication for special education students when supported by facility infrastructure.

Evidence

Sudden or strange noises increase stress, and background noise above a certain level interferes with learning and communication.

Thoughtful acoustic design will reduce these negative impacts.

Evidence

Working non-standard hours disrupts an employee’s circadian rhythm, negatively impacting sleep.

Thoughtful lighting design can be used to help minimize these disruptions.

Evidence

It’s not uncommon for a building’s sustainability performance to fall below design intent, and even for sustainable features to be value engineered out of design.

Earlier and more comprehensive modeling has the potential to improve both sustainable decision making as well as the ability of a project to meet early established sustainability goals.

Evidence

Disconnecting employees from nature can lower their satisfaction, health, productivity and ultimately their level of engagement.

Incorporating biophilic design principles has the potential to reduce these negative impacts.

Evidence