Research Projects

Evidence-Based Investigations Into the Effects of Workplace Design

 

CBRE WORKPLACE STUDY

  • CBRE — Healthy Offices  Healthy Offices was a longitudinal study and series of experiments in a workplace with interventions related to health and smart technology. Using wearable technology, we measured worker activity and sleep to track burnout, performance and adherence to health goals. Individuals with low quality sleep were more likely to experience burnout. Performance improved by >10% with healthy initiatives implemented.

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO SKY GARDEN

  • University of Toronto — The Sky Garden The Sky Garden is the first, and one of the largest, lightweight rooftop vegetable gardens in Toronto. Initially conceived as a solution to an engineering challenge, the social and environmental benefits of the space quickly became the core focus of the project. The garden remains a safe and relaxing space for students, staff and the local community, and also acts as an educational and research facility. Many of the volunteers and visitors comment about how happy the garden makes them, providing stress relief and access to nature.

BOOKING.COM HEADQUARTERS

  • Booking.com — The Work Environment Pilot We tested four workplace designs, rotating people through them and measuring space perception and performance via interviews and surveys. There was a direct correlation between work profiles and space preferences. For example, extroverts were sound-seeking vs. introverts which were sound-avoiding. There were also correlations between job profiles and the identified work profiles. These findings informed the design of Booking’s new headquarters.  

EDGE OLYMPIC

  • EDGE —Designing for Light This study  further applied the research and findings of the CBRE study to a building designed to be healthy and smart (the Edge Olympic office building). This included an additional study on light levels and showed that space utilization was significantly higher in the sunniest and brightest parts of the building. These findings supported and recommended design decisions for the inner, darker parts of the building to include more lighting and biophilic design elements.

GLAXOSMITHKLINE (GSK) HEADQUARTERS

  • GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)— Workplace Performance Hub This study involved building a smart space in GSK’s headquarters, and facilitating academic studies in the space with institutions including Harvard Business School, University College London and Imperial College London. We found that cognitive performance was different depending on the sound setting of the workspace. Silence was shown to be best for concentration and task performance.

THE FUTURE OF WORK, WORKPLACES AND SMART BUILDINGS

At the 9th ACM International Conference on Systems for Energy-Efficient Buildings, Cities, and Transportation (BuildSys 2022), the workshop titled “The Future of Work, Workplaces, and Smart Buildings” explored how smart building systems can support not only energy efficiency but also human well-being, social connection, and organizational resilience. The session brought together researchers, designers, and industry leaders, including award-winning academics. Key themes included integrating human-centered metrics—such as health, autonomy, and social interaction—into smart building design and evaluation.


“‘We were surprised by the results and worked with LAB to implement practical solutions. We’ve made some great improvements to the office.”

— Ben White CEO, VC4A.com