BrightView Design Group & Pre Development

By Christine Menapace From the October 2018 Issue of Facility Executive Imagine a workplace that attracts top hires, increases employee productivity, reduces healthcare costs, and even saves money. Sound too good to be true? Perhaps not. But it may require looking beyond the building envelope to capitalize on the beneficial effects of the outdoors. “It has even been called the new ‘workplace frontier,’” says Megan Horn, principal with BrightView Design Group & Pre Development. Benefits Of Outdoor Workspaces In an initiative launched this past June, outdoor retailer L.L. Bean partnered with coworking provider, Industrious, and workplace strategy expert Leigh Stringer, author of The Healthy Workplace: How to Improve the Well-Being of Your Employee—and Boost Your Company’s Bottom Line, to better understand the benefits and barriers of the outdoor environment as it relates to work. The L.L.Bean 2018 Work and the Outdoors Survey revealed: 82% of indoor workers liked or loved the concept of an outdoor workspace. Workers believe there are tangible benefits to working outside. The top five perceived benefits are: improved mood (74%); lowered stress level (71%); relaxation (69%); promotion of health and wellness (66%); and increased happiness (64%) Respondents say they are most likely to do creative work (77%), brainstorms (73%), or one-on-one discussions (73%) outside. They are least likely to do computer-based work (41%) or conference calls (32%). Steve Smith, President and CEO of L.L.Bean, said he hopes the initiative “will inspire employees to be creative in finding new ways to incorporate outdoor time in their day. ...