Contract Magazine - November 2018 - 10

EDITORIAL

Designing
is
Caring

One of the biggest reveals at NeoCon this year, and in my visits
to A&D firms over the past few months, is the attention that designers
and manufacturers are paying to the topic of health and wellbeing.
It makes perfect sense. After all, a healthy workplace equals happy
employees, which in turn benefits the employer-and these days,
with workers spending so much time in the workplace, the workplace
has become the perfect arena for employers to promote health
and wellbeing. Workplace wellbeing is no longer just a "nice to have"
extra; it's essential to making people healthier and happier.
Our lead story examines how Unilever-the global corporation
behind common products such as Dove, Vaseline, and Q-Tips-tapped
Perkins+Will to not only design a headquarters that promotes wellness
and work-life balance, but also unifies its many brands on a single
campus. The new facility offers perks such as an onsite fitness center
and rooms for meditation and nursing, along with features including
easy access to daylight, acoustical comfort, and non-harmful finishes.
It goes beyond the idea of the agile workplace: "Employees have
the ability to work whenever, wherever, and however best supports their
wellbeing," says Ian Dunning, Unilever North America's workplace
director. For example, "They can structure their day around their physical
activity by going to the onsite gym at a time that suits them."
We also cover the headquarters of Humanscale-the office
ergonomics pioneers-which combines their design offices,
workplace, and showroom to create a "living office" that embodies
its commitment to sustainability and wellness. The headquarters now
only functions as a workspace for R&D, marketing, and executives,
which makes it a hub for strategic thinking and creativity. Humanscale
wanted to develop the new workspace as a model where people
people can function at their best, and be more focused and less
stressed. "Daylight, views of nature, and other biophilic elements
impact how people feel and behave and how effective they are,"
explains Jane Abernethy, Humanscale's chief sustainability officer.
"So it was vital to incorporate and give our team a space that is not only

10

healthy, comfortable and sustainable, but one that is conducive
to strategic thinking and creativity."
At Contract, we love celebrating the best in interior design.
This month we highlight the the 2018 Healthcare Environment Award
winners, covering everything from how CannonDesign transformed
an outdated facility into an integrated, multifunctional space in Maryland
Heights, Missouri, to a hospital-meets-community-hub by HGA in rural
Minnesota. If that isn't enough, we're also excited to highlight the
winners of the sixth-annual International Interior Design Association
(IIDA) Latin America Design Awards competition, which celebrates
outstanding interior design and architecture projects in Latin America
and the Caribbean.
Finally, because health and wellness are key considerations
in the design of any space, whether they be from traditional healthcare
facilities to workplaces and schools, we've compiled some of our favorite
new products in this category that not only look great, but also provide
added benefits including ergonomic design, durability, hygienic
qualities, and cleanability.
Enjoy the issue. It's a true celebration of this month's motto
that "Designing is Caring!"
All the best,
Paul Makovsky
Editor in Chief

NOVEMBER 2018
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Contract Magazine - November 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract Magazine - November 2018
