logo redirect pin user minus plus fax mobile-phone office-phone data envelope globe outlook retail close line-arrow-down solid-triangle-down facebook globe2 google hamburger line-arrow-left solid-triangle-left linkedin wechat play-btn line-arrow-right arrow-right solid-triangle-right search twitter line-arrow-up solid-triangle-up calendar globe-americas globe-apac globe-emea external-link music picture paper pictures play gallery download rss-feed vcard account-loading collection external-link2 internal-link share-link icon-close2
New Zealand
  • Global
  • United States
  • Albania
  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Bahrain
  • Baltics
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia & Herzegovina
  • Brazil
  • Bulgaria
  • Cambodia
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Egypt
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hong Kong
  • Hungary
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Jordan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kenya
  • Korea
  • Kuwait
  • Latin America
  • Luxembourg
  • Mainland China
  • Malaysia
  • Mexico
  • Montenegro
  • Morocco
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Oman
  • Pakistan
  • Panama
  • Philippines
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Serbia
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • South Eastern Europe
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • Venezuela
  • Vietnam
Log In
  • Global Intranet
  • myCBRE
  • Services
    • Business Lines
      • Advisory & Transaction Services
      • Capital Markets
      • Global Workplace Solutions
      • Property Management
      • Valuation & Advisory Services
    • Industries & Specialties
      • Build-to-Rent
      • Building, Depreciation & Cost Consultancy
      • Hotels
      • Industrial & Logistics
      • Office Leasing
      • Retail
      • Self Storage
      • Sustainability
      • Flexible Workspace
    • Services for Investors
      • Debt & Structured Finance
      • Host
      • Institutional Investments
      • International Investments
      • Investment Advisory
      • Property Sales
      • Structured Transactions and Advisory
      • Leasing & Advisory
      • Metropolitan Investments
      • Property Management
      • Valuation & Advisory
    • Services for Occupiers
      • Enterprise Facilities Management
      • Host
      • Leasing & Advisory
      • Portfolio Services
      • Project Management
      • Transaction Management
      • Valuation & Advisory
      • Workplace
  • Properties
    • Office
      Industrial
      Retail
      Land
  • Research & Insight
    • New Zealand Research
      Asia Pacific Research
      Global Research
      COVID-19 INSIGHTS
      Insights & Expertise
      Talking Property Podcast
  • People & Offices
    • New Zealand Executive Committee
      Pacific Executive Committee
  • About CBRE
    • Careers
      Case Studies
      Client Tools
      Corporate Information
      Corporate Responsibility
      Investor Relations
      Media Centre

Previous

Press Release
Demand still high for quality in Hamilton despite overall increase in office vacancy

Next

Press Release
Amenity is everything
  • Home
  • About CBRE
  • Media Centre
  • Why designing workspaces should be a walk in the park

Why designing workspaces should be a walk in the park

Auckland | 5 April 2019
  • Email
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Share

Workspace Blueprint CBRE Workplace Design

Bringing the outside in, today’s workspaces are increasingly mirroring the lush green landscapes of the great outdoors. From cascading fountains to botanical-rich workspaces, companies big and small are creating natural, park-like environments. More than aesthetically pleasing, greened indoor workspaces are good for people and for business.

These calming spaces are designed to reduce stress, enhance overall wellness and boost productivity and efficiency. Plus, they offer financial benefits for property owners and developers.

We look at the myriad of ways nature can improve workspaces and serve as good investments for landlords.

Blossoming with wellness benefits

Employees’ wellbeing is crucial to the success of any business. Incorporating greenery like plants into workspaces is a good way to keep them happy and healthy. Plants aren’t just pretty to look at; they also provide remarkable health benefits. For starters, they’re natural air purifiers. Bringing them into office spaces can reduce toxins—essentially becoming a great air filtration source. As the NASA Clean Air Study points out, plants can trap air pollutants in its tissue providing cleaner air for employees.

It’s important for developers to keep in mind that adding plants can be an attractive, practical and cost-effective way to improve air circulation. Plus, thanks to their natural filtration system, sprucing up the space with plants can also prevent the spread of nasty germs and viruses that keep employees home sick, reducing productivity.

In fact, a recent report by the University of Twente, VU Amsterdam and CBRE found that implementing greenery into the workplace design has substantial benefits. The study of 124 employees at CBRE’s Amsterdam office found that adding plants to the office floor energized 76% of the workers surveyed. 78% of employees reported a boost in happiness, while feelings of healthiness improved in 65 %.

Planting efficiency and productivity

Plants aren’t the only natural way to bring wellness into the office. Enhancing workspaces with water features can add peace and calmness to employees, giving them a sense of serenity. Whether it’s the beauty of a man-made waterfall that brings visual interest or the noise-cancelling sounds of a trickling fountain, indoor water elements can create a soothing work environment and reduce stress.

For office spaces in dry climates, the presence of running water can also provide moisture. Droplets from fountains and water features evaporate into the air, providing

Cashing in on curb appeal

For larger offices with outdoor spaces, inspiration can be drawn from water features and eye-catching greenery—not only boosting employee moods and performance levels, but also attracting foot traffic and adding to curb appeal.

Properly landscaped office exteriors can suggest an impressive interior, creating interest to passersby and potential employees.

For developers, that’s key. In today’s competitive job market, with millennials projected to make up 75% of the workforce by 2025, employers and developers must work to ensure they’re providing prospective employees with the most attractive workspaces—both indoor and outdoor. Since studies indicate that work environments are a big concern for employees, landscaping can potentially play a defining role in attracting and retaining top talent.

Additionally, beautiful, well-maintained exteriors can entice higher-calibre tenants, resulting in lucrative rents. Potential tenants are far more likely to sign secure, long-term leases with property owners who maintain and invest in the appearance of their buildings.

Going green

Offices are where many people spend most of their day. That’s why it’s imperative that employers and developers acknowledge and embrace the benefits of incorporating greenery and water features into their workspace designs. Enhancing work environments with wellness and beautifying elements are a win-win for employees, employers and property owners.

Brought to you by Blueprint, presented by CBRE

Featured
Related

Looking for new office space in Auckland? Find a workspace you’ll love to work in.
Read Magazine
  • Corporate Information
  • Corporate Responsibility
  • Media Center
  • About CBRE
  • Careers
  • People & Offices
  • Executive Committee
  • Investor Relations
  • Contact Us
  • Global Web Privacy and Cookie Notice
  • Whistleblower Policy
  • Complaints and Dispute Resolution Procedures
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Use
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
CBRE Limited and CBRE (Agency) Limited, Licensed Real Estate Agent (REAA 2008)