SUPP O RT
1
D ay l i g h t d e s i g n i s m o r e
t h a n h av i n g w i n d o w s
WELL asks us to think critically about
how we bring in daylight, how much
natural light we need, and how we
mitigate glare. We seldom consider
window orientation in relation to
daylight when we plan our site.
2
D e s i g n f o r s pat i a l
va r i e t y a n d
thermal delight
People are happier and healthier
when they have choice in their lives,
particularly with respect to options for
thermal comfort and different work space
opportunities. WELL encourages us to
consider a wide range of opportunities,
from quiet rooms to standing desks and
spaces that are warmer or cooler.
3 Design for
ac o u s t i c a l c o m f o rt
4 C e l e b r at i o n o f c u lt u r e
WELL challenges us to think about
material selection to support very specific
acoustical goals for different types of
spaces. A laboratory building with its
wide variety of spaces provides us with
a number of opportunities to focus our
thoughts on acoustical comfort.
WELL asks us to consider
opportunities to incorporate public art
to support psychological health and
wellbeing. For scientific institutions,
we have an opportunity through art to
also express the idea that science is
central to a wider culture.
5
C o n n e c t w i t h n at u r e
Biophilic design strategies can lower
stress and improve wellness through
direct, indirect and metaphoric contact
with nature. Can we challenge ourselves
to include new garden spaces at entry
points to buildings to support this, and
include bioswales, vegetation, and other
natural elements to help create key
views to support wayfinding and stress
reduction? While direct access outdoors
Francis Crick Institute,
named R&D Magazine’s
Lab of the Year
is very beneficial, other strategies can
also be effective, including use of local,
natural materials, incorporation of fractal
patterns and other patterns from nature,
and views to nature outdoors.
6
Design labs with
v i e w s o f n at u r e
Research indicates that views of nature
can positively impact a wide range of
health indicators. One challenge is that
interior blinds are often pulled down to
prevent glare, and when pulled down
they often stay down, even when glare
conditions have passed. To help address
HOK is working to de velop
p r o g r a m s t h at e n c o u r a g e
p e o p l e t o ta k e w e l l n e s s t r a i l
w a l k s d u r i n g t h e i r l u n c h ho u r s
3 0 | U K S PA B R E A K T H R O U G H | S u m m er 2 0 17
this challenge, HOK has been working
with View Dynamic Glass to bring
electrochromic glazing products to
market. This system automatically
darkens and lightens based on the
position and presence of the sun,
reducing glare when direct sun is
present, then automatically lightens
to provide optimum views.
7
P r i o r i t i s e c o m f o r t,
h e a lt h & p r o d u c t i v i t y
People are happy and healthy when they
are physically comfortable in their work
environments. This includes attention
to glare, other visual comfort issues,
temperature control, building operability,
acoustics, and ergonomics. Building
massing, orientation, and design should
be tailored to improve occupant comfort
where possible. HOK uses extensive
building analysis to ensure that natural
factors such as sun, wind, and rain are
accounted for in the design process,
including solar and daylighting studies.