Dive Brief:

• A new white paper from New York–based architecture and planning firm Perkins Eastman and Ontario, Canada–based Three H Furniture Systems outlines the health and worker productivity benefits of activity-based workplace design, according to Building Design and Construction.

• The first in a series of three planned white papers on office design argues for a variety of task-specific work and collaboration stations to maximize the adaptability of office environments to different worker habits and personalities.

• Components of ABW design include taller, bar-style workstations, modular wall systems and partitioned areas in addition to traditional enclosed office spaces.

Dive Insight:

Building on the popularity of open floorplans and work spaces, activity-based workplace design makes a strong case for modular office interiors while accommodating the creation of private spaces and task-specific areas — think creativity workshops, technology labs, and media studios.

While the productivity upshot of providing workspaces tailored for the needs of identified worker tasks may seem obvious, office builders and designers will want to stay tuned to this series of whitepapers, which next address how ABW design can address the variations in human personality through office furniture design.

The connection between more thoughtful, healthier workspaces and employee productivity is continuing to inform the evolution of office construction and design. A 2016 report from Dodge Data & Analytics found close to 75% of U.S. architects and more than 30% of building owners considered building health effects when designing or constructing projects. For asset owners that had adopted such wellness-related features, 73% saw increased worker productivity rates and 62% reported an increase in asset value.