2012 Workplace Trends Report: Evidence-based Space Design

BRIEF: Evidence-based Space Design (EBD)

By Kevin Rettle, FMP
Director of FM/CRE Market Research and Insights, Sodexo

Evidence-based design (EBD) is neither novel nor surprising; however, its resurgence since the late 1980s is relevant, due to the manner in which it has evolved in the last three decades, including a greater understanding and emphasis on environmental stewardship, economic impact, and the ever-changing dynamic of the workplace.  Architects and engineers have long approached the design of built spaces as a strict and rigorous science.  However, what differs today is the expectation that these professionals will also seek the input of various disciplines and subject matter experts to create spaces that are beautiful, inspiring, and outcome-focused.  In addition, corporate real estate executives must meet dual expectations of not only selecting economically feasible sites, but also delivering a results-driven service architecture.

With increased emphasis on environmental factors, and the economic scrutiny of building and designing space, smart designers are turning to (EBD) as a method to ensure predictable, practical and results-focused design.  The practice of evidence-based design is a process for the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence from research and practice in making critical decisions, together with an informed client about the design of each individual and unique project (Hamilton & Watkins, 2009).

Evidence-based design's roots are in medicine, in which practitioners aimed to apply the best available evidence gained from the scientific method to clinical decision-making (Timmermans & Mauck, 2005).  It seeks to assess the strength of evidence of the risks and benefits of treatments (including lack of treatment), diagnostic tests, top-down research, and bottom-up conventional wisdom.  Other factors include statistical validity, clinical relevance, currency and peer-review acceptance.  Quality of care, patient outcomes, increased rigor, and credibility are all defining factors of success.  It is clear how the health care architectural and design community soon adapted this practice to the design of hospitals and health care facilities, in which critical design decisions surrounding life and death within the built space were being made.

Today's design professional must recognize that built space that is expected to provide clear outcomes for its inhabitants or users must be explicitly built for that purpose.  Take for example the construction of a high-tech manufacturing facility compared with executive office space.  Technical, social, environmental and service considerations must be taken into consideration.  Insight into each of these subjects is gathered from researchers, manufacturing engineers, social scientists, LEED practitioners, and end-users.  Designers hold the trust of their clients, end-users, and public at large in their design decisions; therefore, it is clear that a broad spectrum of insight must be gleaned.

Corporate real estate professionals charged with the effective and efficient service architecture of a built-space can also rely on (EBD).  One example of an instrument to accomplish this is the use of both psychographic and firmographic variables (such as industry, seniority, and functional area) to achieve quality, excellence, sustainability, performance, productivity and overall integration.  This use of psychographic clustering is one method by which designers can create space, and a complementary service architecture that is definitively created for the end user, with a high degree of accuracy.

Psychographic variables are any attributes relating to personality, values, attitudes, interests, or lifestyles.  These variables may be cross-tabulated against demographic information (such as age and gender), behavioral variables (such as usage statistics), and firmographic variables to create a robust view of the need state of the end-user population.

It is important to note that psychographics are not demographics.  For example, historical generations are defined by psychographic variables like attitudes, personality formation and cultural touchstones. Psychographic analysis tends to be a more accurate way of programming space and services, as attitudes and behaviors transcend all demographic markers. 

Thru detailed analysis of end-user requirements, clusters are created that define points of activation, which then may be incorporated into the built-space design.  Through algorithmic analysis, planners can cluster the population with activation points germane to space and service.

The less attractive side of this trend is the appearance of practitioners who would like to be associated with evidence-based design but who have not studied to become current.  Given the almost endless potential sources of information, there is a need to reach speculative conclusions about the design implications of narrow studies.  Bringing together the architect, designer and real estate executive is crucial in translating and applying the research to useful design.  Inexperienced practitioners will find it difficult to make the leap from data to a successful design.  Another fear revolves around (EBD) leading to “cookbook” architecture.  This is far from the truth. “cookbook” suggests dull, repetitious buildings stamped from a mold (Hamilton & Watkins, 2009).  Yet research-informed design is like the continuous search for truth in the world of science.  Not static, it does not easily conform to fixed regulations that will be made obsolete by new findings.

As building footprints become smaller, social dynamics change, and expectations of built space continue to grow, the architect, designer and real estate professional must rely on a large set of tools including evidence-based design to create both inspirational and outcomes-based spaces. Timing is good for today's facility manager or building management to take an active role in creating real and tangible business impact and creating an enhanced environment where the business can thrive.  True value to the client and end-users is only derived when the built space performs for the business over the life of the building.