Sustainable Facilities Tool

Spatial Equity

Organizations today are less hierarchical and work is more team based, more mobile, and more cross functional. The typical 9 to 5 worker has shrunk as a portion of the workforce from 37% in 1997 to an estimated 8% in 2007*. A key to spatial equity is that space layout and workstation standards are based on new ways of working and specific work tasks and business needs rather than organizational hierarchy.

Achieving Both Spatial Equity And Sustainability: Key Practices

1. Start with the work, not the space. Analysis of work styles and key tasks, not organizational hierarchy, should be used to guide workstation features and location.
2. Assure a balance of privacy and interaction for all. Shared enclosed spaces should be provided to support confidential conversations and focused work for those in open plan space.
3. Assure equitable access to daylight and views. Lower workstation panels and view corridors will increase daylight and views to the outdoors. Lower panels also reduce the material load and waste for landfills.
4. Develop space standards for workstations and private offices. Standards assure equity in workstation design, while also making it easier to move people.
5. Support mobile work for all eligible staff. Mobility includes work at home and ability to work elsewhere in the building. Mobile work also reduces the time and energy required for daily commuting.

Benefits:

Social:

• Improved employee morale and engagement.
• Improved employee comfort and satisfaction.

Economic:

• Space standards reduce costs of churn.

Environmental:

• Reduced energy consumption with greater use of daylight.
• Materials waste reduction from lower workstation panels.
• Space standards reduce need for construction associated with moves.

Case Study: PBS Chicago Regional Office

Strategy:

Prior to the workplace renovation, PBS leadership and high level managers were located in private offices along the window wall. Workstations of various sizes had high panels which created dark interior corridors and blocked access to daylight and views.

The new workplace promotes spatial equity by relocating private offices to the interior, Workstations and conference rooms are located along the windows. The low panels, with seated and conference visual privacy, enable all to have access to daylight and views of the cityscape.

Results

• Energy savings from reducing electric light, while maintaining high perceived light quality.
• Increases of 10 to 15% in daylight and view satisfaction.
• 26% increase in workspace satisfaction.
• 65% said their job satisfaction was higher in the new space.

Project Checklist

• Workstations occupied more than 50% of the time should be within 30" of a window and should have a view to the outdoors.
• Daylight analysis is used as a design aid.
• Color of furnishings, partitions and walls chosen to maximize daylight effectiveness.
• Private offices are moved to the interior.
• Design standards are in place for both private offices and open plan spaces
• Glazing is used on interior offices and shared spaces to maximize access to daylight and views from all locations in the office. (Opaque glazing to 60" above the finished floor can provide privacy when required).
• Workstyle analysis is used to identify key work patterns and associated workspace needs
• Space utilization analysis is used to identify spaces that can be shared or altered to increase use to increase efficiency.
• Change management is considered when design for spatial equity requires cultural change.

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