Workspaces Promoting Well-being

About this course

In the Nordic countries, new ways of working, digitalization and sustainable thinking challenge traditional work environments. New office solution, especially activity-based offices are getting increasingly popular.

This course will shed light on the central features of spatial solutions in activity-based offices that support employees’ environmental satisfaction, well-being at work and productivity.

Course objectives

Course objectives are to provide an interdisciplinary overview on workspaces promoting health and well-being of employees. The aim is to get understanding on new types of remote work and multi-locational work as well as post-pandemic workplaces. The aim is also to introduce user-centred, participatory approach for workplace design and workplace changes.

Scope of the course is on contemporary office environments, especially activity-based offices. The objective is to identify central features of spatial solutions in activity-based offices that support employees’ environmental satisfaction, well-being at work and productivity.

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Main topics

• Remote multi-locational work: prerequisites, challenges and outcomes                
• Development of sustainable remote work
• Workplace design for physical, mental and social wellbeing at the office and at home
• Salutogenic and user-centred approach for workplace design
• Effects of activity-based offices on well-being and productivity
• The role of adaptive lighting in supporting personalized well-being
• Room acoustics and sound insulation – the fundamental factors of well-being and functional working spaces

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Target groups

Architects, workplace designers, interior designers, service designers, lighting designers, acoustics designers, workplace owners and managers, human resources managers and developers, occupational health professionals, researchers, university and doctoral students, practitioners, consultants.

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Subject background

Discussion on post-pandemic workplaces is a highly relevant topic: Where and how to work in the future? What kind of workplaces support employees’ satisfaction, well-being and performance? Remote work and multi-locational work are getting common. An increasing number of knowledge workers will work both at the office and at home. Therefore, the quality of office design is getting more relevant. Workplaces and office design should enhance well-being and performance of employees.

In Europe, energy and space efficiency are already central targets in all construction and renovation activities. Organizations are seeking cost savings through more efficient utilization of space.

At the same time, there is a need to support productive activities, promote better work outcomes and ensure healthy and safe spaces for knowledge workers. Efficient space solutions should not be detrimental to the ability to work efficiently and maintain well-being at work.

Activity-based office is a modern way of building space-efficient offices, which involve alternative room types for different work tasks. Nowadays, most of the new office premises are built or renovated to satisfy the activity-based concept. Therefore, the investigation of the functionality of this work environment has a significant societal and scientific importance. It is highly important to share new knowledge and research findings about the activity-based offices and their effects on human well-being and productivity.

Through interdisciplinary approach, the Finnish research consortium will theorize new knowledge from the perspectives of occupational health (FIOH), acoustic knowledge (TUAS) and spatial design knowledge (UO). The consortium partners will share new research findings from the ActiveWorkSpace -project financed by the Academy of Finland: https://www.ttl.fi/en/research-and-development-projects/active-work-space/

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General course fee and cancellation information

The courses and workshops vary in price. Please note that the course fee does not cover meals or accommodation. The course fee and day-package fee are invoiced after the registration deadline.

Travel arrangements

Please refrain from booking any tickets until we have confirmed the course. The confirmation, which will be sent after the registration deadline, will include detailed information on the payment of the course fee and day-packages, as well as information on accommodation options and practical arrangements.

Please note that you are not insured by NIVA.

Cancellation policy

Cancellations received by August, 25th 2022: full refund
Cancellations received by August, 26th 2022 or later: no refund

The total price of the course will be invoiced after the registration deadline.

The price is subject to minor changes.

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Contact person

Course leader

Virpi Ruohomäki, Senior Researcher, Project Manager, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH), Helsinki, Finland
email: Virpi.Ruohomaki@ttl.fi

In practical matters, please contact:

Project Manager & Quality Assurance Advisor
Cecilia Weckman
NIVA
email: cecilia.weckman@niva.org