This event in London on 26th March 2019 was the first SCSS Facilities Manager Supplier Day to focus on the issue of Wellbeing in building design, construction and operation.
Four speakers looked at the issue from four different angles:
Miles Brown, Head of FM for Grosvenor Estates gave us the end-users view of designing wellbeing into the workplace;
Eleanor Stewart, Senior Environmental Advisor with Skanska, provided a contractors’ aspect of working with the WELL Building Standard;
Gordon MacLean, architect, took a hard look at how buildings are used and who they are for;
Oliver Heath, interior designer and Biophilic Design champion explained that there was another way that offers gains for employers and employees alike (that’s all of us, then).
To a room full of Facilities Managers and the numbers-driven environmental and sustainability consultants present, the content was probably new and challenging; after all, none of this stuff comes cheap, although the argument stands up – do this job properly and business will operate more efficiently and at an overall lower cost.
The 1:9:90 rule (or 3:30:300 if you prefer) was strongly in evidence. It is, after all, the metric that provides the underpinning for the argument that treating staff like human beings and not machines to be worked long and hard could reap real benefits to a company’s bottom-line.
If we’re looking for take-aways from the presentations, here’s a few:
The term ‘Facilities Manager’ is now a misnomer. A better term would be Workplace Manager, given that much of the work of the FM is now to do with working conditions and staff well-being – not changing light bulbs and checking the central heating. This is about staff engagement.
That the real value of a project needs to be measured in terms of The Quality of Offer, not the Profit & Loss statement – still important of course, but hugely influenced by the success of the QofO.
That good design that is driven by Wellness criteria (and not just the Well Standards) has continuing cost benefit. For example, a better WC can reduce the likelihood of bacteria being splashed around a cubicle, but it’s an expensive specification . . . but it also delivers an 80% reduction in water use; and that’s a saving that keep on giving.
That there is very little difference between ‘traditional’ environmental design and design for Wellness. Its all a matter of degree.
The Wellness metric needs better support from data harvesting techniques. We need to improve the correlation between occupants’ response to the internal environment with the factors that make up that environment. There is a still a major disconnect there.
The WELL standard brings a new dimension into construction – literally. At last, TIME has a role in reporting. Whereas programmes like BREAM and LEED are based on construction design criteria, keeping hold of WELL certification requires on-going monitoring of building performance and occupant feedback.
When working to a Wellness brief, its important to keep your eye on the ball; remember who the design is for and not be diverted into damaging design cul-de-sacs.
The places where we prefer to be are nearly all associated with nature, but we spend 90% of our time indoors. Biophilic design provides the connection with nature that we crave – and improves the triple bottom line of delivering social, environmental and financial benefits to the organisation.
And here’s something to think about:
With flexible working becoming more popular – and with companies seeking to reduce their business costs by reducing office space – we are seeing a rise in home working.
Here’s the big BUT that’s not often considered:
while we talk about the quality of the environment in the workplace, its worth pausing a moment to consider the quality of the working environment at home; insufficient lighting – reduced time in the open air – poor ergonomic design (dining table and chair, desk under the stairs, anyone?) – no control over working hours – reduced personal interaction. These are aspects of our working lives that we’re trying to eradicate from the workplace, but we risk exacerbating the problem. Companies will need to understand that their responsibilities extend beyond the office premises.
The Supply Chain Sustainability School
The SCSS is for everybody working in the Construction, FM, Homes and Infrastructure sectors who work in England, Scotland and Wales. We cover a wealth of topics from Waste & Carbon, Fairness Inclusion and Respect and The Modern Slavery Act as well as many more sustainability issues
The School has a membership of over 7,000 companies. It is funded by over 600 Partner companies. That is where the money comes from that enable training days such as this one. The school provides training completely free and there is no cost to those attending the seminars.
Fairness, Inclusion and Respect
SCSS also has a Fairness, Inclusion and Respect Programme (FIR) that promotes equality and diversity, combating discrimination in the workplace.
The FIR Programme provides freely accessible, industry-endorsed, training and resources, guidance and materials. This is available to support businesses to be more innovative and profitable by addressing workplace culture challenges, and helps attract and retain people from the full pool of talent.
Access the free Toolkit now – https://www.supplychainschool.co.uk/uk/fir/construction/toolkit/fir-toolkit.aspx”
For more information on FIR:
Contact the Supply Chain Sustainability School
