Co-Authors: Jay Maddock, Katherine Ellis, Ella Gates, Adefiola Gates | Advisor: Jay Maddock, Courtney Suess
Modern office workers spend nearly 90% of their time indoors, often in spaces that lack natural elements. This has been linked to stress, fatigue, and even Sick Building Syndrome—a set of health issues caused by poor indoor environments. To address this, biophilic design—integrating nature into workplaces—has emerged as a solution, offering benefits like improved mood, focus, and job satisfaction.
Literature has shown that Biophilic Design improves health, wellness, and productivity in offices....
But how do different biophilic elements—like plants, daylight, and water features—affect workplace well-being? This study takes an innovative approach by using Virtual Reality (VR) to simulate diverse biophilic office environments and measure their impact on employees.
Step 1: Study Setup
🟢 Participants: 90 office employees from various industries
🟢 Tools: VR headset (Quest Pro 2), TwinMotion software + Sketchup Pro
🟢 Environment: Orthogonal Plan with 5 biophilic elements for VR simulation (10 profiles).
🟢 Semi-structured interviews and conversations on wellness outcomes.
VR Simulations: Immersive office environments for realistic testing
Conjoint Analysis: Measuring user preferences and trade-offs
Surveys & Likert Scales: Quantifying perceptions of well-being & productivity
Thematic Analysis: Identifying patterns in qualitative feedback
Behavioral Observations: Capturing real-time reactions
Indoor greenery (plantscapes, green walls) → Top choice for improving focus, job satisfaction, and emotional well-being.
✅ Daylight (indirect natural lighting) → Enhanced job satisfaction and reduced stress.
❌ What Didn’t Work as Well?
🚫 Water features → Surprisingly, they were less preferred, especially for tasks requiring deep concentration.
🚫 Outdoor workspaces → Liked for relaxation but not prioritized for productivity.
📊 Key Workplace Impacts
🔹 Focus & Productivity: Indoor greenery significantly improved concentration.
🔹 Job Satisfaction: Daylight and plants increased motivation and workplace enjoyment.
🔹 Mental & Emotional Well-Being: Green walls, plants, and outdoor elements helped reduce stress.
🛠 Why It Matters?
💡 Organizations can optimize office design by integrating indoor plants, natural lighting, and green walls to enhance employee experience and performance.