Green Star is not a physical activity star

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to report on research investigating the relationship between physical activity and workplace design. In particular, the paper explores the social–ecological context of a new workplace building. This paper seeks to understand why better physical activity outcomes for the staff were not observed in the new building despite influence from a staff wellness committee during design; achieving success against existing best-practice indicators; and staff reporting increased feelings of wellness, energy and satisfaction with the new building. Design/methodology/approach Three design aspects are taken as a focus from within an opportunistic pre-/post-physical activity study of an organisation as they move from a building they occupied for 30 years into a new purpose-designed building. This study was conducted through mixed methods, incorporating ethnographic, architectural and quantitative means. Findings The social, spatial and personal context is important for understanding participant workplace-based physical activity. Despite the health and well-being goals and 5 Star Green Star outcomes of the new building, participants were sedentary for a substantive part of their workday in both buildings. Practical implications A well-designed environment can support staff feeling healthier, but the 5 Star Green Star rating does not implicitly ensure a healthier, activity-promoting environment. Facilities managers and designers can act to provide physically active paths as the most straightforward circulation option in workplaces. Originality/value The originality of this study lies in the opportunity to conduct a pre-/post-study of physical activity where the organisation, workforce and type of work are constant and where the variable is the building design, spatial configuration and location. The methods used in this study draw from both health promotion and architectural research practices.

Office-based physical activity: mapping a social ecological model approach against COM-B

“…Another reason people move about an office is to talk to colleagues. A recent study in which office workers were relocated to a new building showed that expectations of quietness in the new building discouraged short non sedentary breaks in workflow occasioned by getting up to talk to colleagues or standing about having casual chats at colleagues' desk [55].…”

“…There has been little research on the impact of building design on physical activity and sedentary behaviour of office workers [55,62]. Building design and floor layout can indirectly shape the organisation of work and the opportunities for incidental physical activity at work [63].…”

“…Incidental physical activity occurs in the completion of everyday tasks. In the office, incidental activity is typically short duration trips to and from communal facilities such as kitchens, bathrooms, printers, and meeting rooms [55,[64][65][66]. The amount of incidental activity a worker accrues in a work day depends largely on a worker's desk location in relation to communal facilities.…”

“…Opportunities for physical activity at work can also be hardwired into the building design through the provision of facilities such as bike sheds, showers and a gym or space that can be used for exercise classes. Stairs are also an opportunity for including MVPA in daily work routines, however, importantly, the placement and visibility of the stairs relative to the ways in which people use space and move through the building impacts motivation, because convenience and efficiency are key considerations [55,65]. The importance of stairwell placement is illustrated in a pre/post study of a workplace relocation.…”

“…The importance of stairwell placement is illustrated in a pre/post study of a workplace relocation. Office workers moved from one building to a purposed designed new building which resulted in a small but significant decrease in stair use attributable to change in stair placement and functionality and lack of connectivity between floors [55].…”