The concept of walkability is becoming increasingly discussed in urban planning and design environments, as it impacts well-being, health, livability, and real estate economics. In this article, we discuss the walkability trend in relation to the office market, and explore its benefits, as well as the amenities, data, and calculations used to generate a property’s walking score.

About the concept 

In the United States, walking scores for real estate were first published by WalkScore, a company developed in the mid 2000s by former Microsoft developers that understood the importance of walkability and its connection to quality of life. 

These WalkScore founders developed a tech-supported system that generated walkability scores for any given postcode. The overall score shows how easy and convenient it’s to live or work in a location without needing to drive or use mass transit. 

Initially, walking scores were one of the criteria used to choose a residential property, but eventually they were applied to all kinds of real estate, including offices. Nowadays, it’s common to see walkability scores displayed in real estate listings. As time went by and people became more familiar with the importance of walkability and its connection to real estate, different walkability tools and calculators appeared in the market.

How do walking scores affect real estate economics?

There’s a strong correlation between walkability and commercial real estate economics. Researchers analyzed property price trends over a decade and uncovered wide gaps in price increases between highly walkable CBD real estate (which experienced 125% price increases) and those in car-dependent areas, where prices only rose by 20%. 

Read the rest of this entry »

The use of color in an office space has a significant impact on the atmosphere of the workplace and on those that occupy it. The right combination of colors can enhance the overall design, improve the functionality of the space, and create a more positive and productive work environment. 

According to the Institute for Color Research, within 90 seconds of first viewing, people make a subconscious judgement about a space or a product, and between 62% and 90% of that evaluation is based only on color. Additionally, in a ground-breaking study, the University of Texas discovered that when presented with different colors, varying brain responses can affect employee productivity and attitude.

In this article, we will discuss the power of color in offices by delving into the evidence surrounding color psychology, and the impact lighting and materials have on color, and how this should combine to be applied to office design. So, after reading, office interior designers, occupiers and landlords should gain some insight into how to use color to enhance the overall design of spaces, and improve the functionality and productivity of the office environment.

Read the rest of this entry »

Who would have thought that the simple act of sitting could be so dangerous to a person’s health? But more and more medical researchers are releasing information indicating that sitting for long periods of time can cause a variety of physical ailments. Since many Americans sit for hours a day at their jobs, this kind of information can be both enlightening and frightening. There is a lot to be said for getting up out of your chair and stretching every once in a while.

It is easy to take health and safety in the office for granted, until someone gets injured in an accident that could have been prevented. The Occupational Health & Safety Administration, also known as OSHA, has a comprehensive set of guidelines that every office can follow to keep workers safe.

When it comes to office safety, there are some key areas to consider. Your office desks, cubicles, and office accessories all need to be treated with the proper respect if you are going to avoid accidents and injuries. The worst mistake you can make is assuming that you are safe from danger just because you are in an office.

Read the rest of this entry »

Going to work each day can become a difficult task if you are constantly battling with illnesses. Staying healthy in the office is an important part of work, and there things that you can do that will help you stay as healthy as possible. A lot of employees become tired during the day or they may feel weak and lethargic. While these are common problems, there are ways to beat them. Following these tips may offer more insight to you regarding this subject, and this might help you with your battle of staying healthy in the office.

The Importance of Good Posture

Read the rest of this entry »

Looking after your back

Sitting at your desk all day can lead to back problems, especially if you have bad posture. There are some things you can do to help relieve the aches and pains associated with prolonged sitting.

Good Posture

When sitting at your desk, what is your posture like? Do you slouch over while you work? Sitting straight is very important, as is having back support. Your shoulder blades, lower and mid back should all make contact with the upright support of your office chair.

Read the rest of this entry »

A report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration has revealed which occupations have higher levels of smokers. Of all the full time employees in the United States aged between 18 and 64, 28% had smoked cigarettes in the previous month. Food-service workers came in highest with 45% having smoked during that same period. The second highest groups are construction workers and miners, coming in at 42.9%.

The study also showed that people who work in training, education and library fields smoke the least, with only 12.3% having lit up in the previous month.

Read the rest of this entry »

Sitting at a desk for nine hours a day is detrimental to your figure and it can be very easy to gain excess weight by eating unhealthily or snacking unnecessarily at work. All your willpower will be out the window once someone brings out the chocolates, cookies and potato chips. The hardest part of the day to resist these temptations is around 2pm, when your blood sugar levels have dipped. There are ways to combat the ‘office spread’ and here are some ideas and tips to help you on your way.

1. Eating breakfast before you go to work.

Although you may think that by skipping a meal you will lose weight, this is counter productive. Eating healthily first thing sets your metabolism for the day, and helps you to steer clear unhealthy snacks mid morning when your body craves sustenance.

2. Stay away from the doughnuts, muffin baskets and candy dishes.

Read the rest of this entry »

Swine Flu or the Novel Influenza A H1N1 virus is sweeping the USA, with more cases being reported daily. The World Health Organisation (WHO) raised the pandemic alert level to Phase 6 on the 11th of June 2009. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)’has issued advice and guidelines along with taking steps to respond to the outbreak.

We all need to be aware of the symptoms so that we can recognize if someone has the virus and what to do next. The symptoms of Swine Flu are very similar to seasonal flu and include:

Read the rest of this entry »