Office Amenities and Wellbeing

California Buildings • Q1 2022

By Megan Skaalen and Amy Clark

Isolation and loneliness have been on the rise even pre-pandemic. Cigna’s Loneliness and the Workplace 2020 Report classified 61-percent of Americans as lonely, a 7% increase from the organization’s 2018 study. Since humans are social creatures, feelings of isolation can contribute to poor physical and mental health. According to Mental Health America, depression and anxiety are strongly

related to loneliness, and brain scans show that feeling isolated can activate the same areas of the brain that respond to physical pain.

During the pandemic, anxiety and depression rates continued to increase. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that adult anxiety increased from an average of 8.1-percent in 2019 to 27.9-percent reported January 2022. These same studies noted that adult depression increased from an average of 6.5-percent in 2019 up to 22.8-percent in January 2022. These results represent an increase of about 3.5 times the number of American adults experiencing anxiety and depression over a two-year period. Although we can’t make a direct correlation between the pandemic and the increase in mental health issues, it certainly seems to have accelerated the growing mental health crisis in the United States.

Residential-inspired living rooms, libraries and lounge areas promote co-worker connection.

Employers must understand these trends and the implications loneliness can have on the organization and company culture. Cigna’s Loneliness Index revealed that workers who identified as lonely are less engaged, less productive and report lower retention rates; more likely to be in the Gen Z cohort.

Luckily, the study also found that employees with strong co-worker relationships were almost 13-percent less lonely on average and colleagues who shared their goals were about 10-percent less lonely on average. Employees that feel less lonely could have better overall health and mental wellness, as well as be more engaged and productive at work. As the Great Resignation marches on, companies that seek to improve their employees’ work experience to retain top talent will outlast the others. One area of focus to consider: How can leadership and the spaces in which we occupy help forge strong relationships among employees?

Organizations that hope to positively affect change in a real way should focus on spaces and amenities that foster meaningful, in-person connections. Residential-inspired living rooms, libraries and lounge areas that encourage employees to linger and socialize promote co-worker connections and collaboration. Providing coffeeshop-like break rooms and cafés to serve as a gathering hub could do the same. Organizations should encourage employees to take a lunch break away from their workstation and eat together. Walking trails that allow easy access to outdoor space can also boost wellbeing—especially if employees utilize them with others. Certain types of meetings, like mentoring or coaching meetings, could even benefit from occurring during an outdoor walk. All of these scenarios work best when also modeled by leadership—it isn’t enough to just provide the amenity, the culture also has to celebrate the meaningful connections made.

California Buildings • Q1 2022

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Amenities for Wellbeing (Continued from previous page)

It is critical for companies to acknowledge the negative impact mental health issues like depression and anxiety can have on employee engagement and performance and, in turn, the organization. Creating spaces and program-activated amenities that encourage meaningful human connections can be a powerful antidote for these mental health challenges. As the future of work discussion continues to evolve, SmithGroup’s workplace design experts encourage companies not to ask, “What amenities will drive employees back to the office?” but rather, “What amenities can we offer that drive human connection and nurture bonds between co-workers?” The latter will move the needle on employee engagement and wellbeing must faster than the former. n

Amenities such as lounge areas encourage collaboration. Images above and on adjacent page are courtesy of SmithGroup, Copyright Connie Zhou.

California Buildings • Q1 2022

California CRE Renaissance (Continued from page 7)

With a construction cost of more than $1 billion, the project comprises 426 apartments (including 89 low-income units) in a 39-story residential tower, 171,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space, and 309 rooms at the first Equinox Hotel in Los Angeles, The Grand signifies the urban revitalization of Downtown Los Angeles and its reemergence as a leading destination to shop, dine, and live in the city.

Halo: To enhance dining and hospitality offerings in a campus-style environment on Bunker Hill, a $60-million-dollar makeover of the former atrium area at Wells Fargo Center is nearly complete. The three-story, 65,000-square-foot dining collective by Brookfield Office Properties sits between the Wells Fargo Center’s Bunker Hill towers. It will bring restaurants and shops offering innovative menus, leisurely cocktails, and sophisticated services in a more community-oriented, indoor-outdoor space called Halo.

Halo will feature a unique collection of establishments and experiences for Bunker Hill locals, professionals, and DTLA visitors including quick service eateries, a full-service indoor-outdoor bar, and sit-down restaurants including Bunker Hill favorite Nick + Stef’s Steakhouse and newcomers Trejo’s Tacos by actor Danny Trejo, Danny Boy’s Famous Original Pizza, and international fast casual chain Shake Shack.

The property will also feature a private club and hospitality lounge reserved for Brookfield’s Bunker Hill office tenants, called The Peak at Halo. It will provide meeting venues, outdoor dining, a wellness studio, and a private bar operated by the flexible office space company Convene.

Metropolis is an ambitious new, mixed-use megaproject on a 6.33acre site in Downtown Los Angeles. Metropolis is one of the biggest mixed-used developments on the West Coast, and will greatly enhance Downtown LA. It will put approximately 1.8 million sf of vertical, high-density community living in the heart of the city built by connecting expansive suburbs.

Syska Hennessy Group was retained to design the essential mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems of this twophase, multi-structure, fast-track project encompassing a luxury hotel, and retail and residential components, with plenty of subterranean parking located within walking distance of L.A. LIVE, Staples Center and the Los Angeles Convention Center.

California Buildings • Q1 2022

One of the project’s biggest challenges was that some MEP/FP infrastructure included extending medium-voltage power to the site and upgrading natural gas, storm and water systems to handle the development requirements. Syska determined the MEP/FP loads through collaboration with the design team, building officials and utility companies.

Phase one will feature a 21-story, four-star hotel tower and a 33-story residential high-rise tower with restaurants and retail spaces at street level. It will also feature a podium integrated into the hotel tower with a lush courtyard, meeting rooms, additional restaurants and bars, a spa, a fitness center and a pool. Phase two will consist of two residential highrise complexes: a 47-story building and a 67-story building, featuring a podium-level park and a plaza.

Syska produced design-development bridging documents using Revit and following CALGreen Code and California's Title 24 design requirements to ensure optimum energy efficiency.

The continuing expansion of this planned community includes 14,000 dwelling units and 5.2 million square feet of non-residential use with 12,203 acres of permanent open space and habitat preservation area to be dedicated by phases of development (75% of 22,683 Rancho Mission Viejo area). Two Villages have been completed thus far: Sendero and Esencia with more than 4,000 homes already occupied, with approximately 10,000 residents and 500,000+ square feet of non-residential uses occupied.

The Mission Bay Project is a public/private partnership with the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, involves the continuous transformation of a 303-acre former rail yard into a vibrant, high-density, transit-oriented community. It is a brownfield infill site adjacent to the San Francisco Giants baseball stadium is fully entitled for, and under construction with: w 6,400 units of housing, including 4,500 market-rate and 1,900+ affordable homes. w 3.4 million sf of commercial office and biotech lab space w 3.15 million sf UCSF Research Campus w 550–bed UCSF Medical Center on 14.5 acres w 285,000 sf of retail w 250 room hotel w A new school, police and fire station and library w 49+ acres of public parks and open space, providing vastly improved access to the waterfront.

This proposed new site for the Oakland A’s new ballpark, according to the City of Oakland, will be an approximately 35,000-person capacity park, up to 1.77 million square feet of commercial development, 3,000 residential dwelling units, a new hotel with approximately 400 rooms and a new performance venue with a capacity of approximately 3,500 individuals.

The project site consists of approximately 55 acres that comprise the Charles P. Howard Terminal and adjacent parcels, located at the Port of Oakland along the Inner Harbor of the Oakland-Alameda Estuary. The site is bound generally by the Oakland Estuary Middle Harbor on the south; Jack London Square on the east; Union Pacific railroad tracks and Embarcadero West on the north; and the heavy metal recycling center, Schnitzer Steel, on the west. n

Now under construction, Ranch Camp at the Village of Rienda is part of the Rancho Mission Viejo planned community. Ranch Camp at Rienda is a destination for ranch fun and festivities with recreational amenities and experiences inspired by life on the ranch.

Photo credit: Rancho Mission Viejo.

California Buildings • Q1 2022

The Dynamic V8 Air Cleaning System, with MERV15 performance, uses 2/3 less fan energy than conventional MERV14 filters. The system removes airborne pathogens, odors, VOCs, and ultrafine particles from recirc indoor air and/or outdoor ventilation air without Ozone. The Dynamic V8 also offers maintenance intervals measured in YEARS instead of months. Low static pressure makes it ideal for retrofits. For more information, visit www.DynamicAQS.com.

Strataflex® is a peel-andstick, sheet membrane is designed for use on interior or exterior surfaces that require waterproof protection. Strataflex features a 2” double stick lap joint that creates a water-tight seal, allowing for immediate flooring installation as soon as it is applied. Strataflex is certified Clean Air GOLD and contains no VOCs in compliance with CDPH Standard Method v1.2 for private office, school classroom, and singlefamily residences. The ultimate solution for apartments, condominiums, restaurants, bathrooms, kitchens and any commercial or residential installations requiring waterproof protection. Visit www.nacproducts.com to learn more.

Elevator malfunctions are inevitable. Entrapments coupled with health emergencies and a wide spectrum of passenger reactions can quickly become an ongoing headache. Kings III helps you reduce risk and mitigate liability exposure via its class leading emergency monitoring for help phones in elevators, stairwells, parking structures and more. Its concierge level service helps you manage tenant experience, while also reducing your risk and liability with value-added benefits not common in the monitoring space. For more information, visit www.kingsiii.com.

The warmth and character of natural wood

Sonic Timber products can be suspended from ceilings or affixed to interior walls to create one-of-a-kind, beautiful spaces. Their lengths, cores, and finishes can be interchanged to suit décor, personal style preferences, and needs of the space in which they will be installed. Designers can choose from 40 woodgrain finishes across three color collections: Timberline, Heritage, and FeatherGrain. Timberline offers a very traditional wood-like appearance; Heritage has more pronounced wood veining, whereas FeatherGrain, as the name implies, features fainter striations. Learn more about LAMVIN and all their sustainability efforts and product offerings by visiting lamvin.com.

Even in the most uncertain times, vertical transportation remains essential for multi-story buildings, and Mitsubishi Electric has developed PureRide™ to help people feel more comfortable with elevators. The PureRide™ Touchless Control System is a simple, no-touch display that allows users to call an elevator from the lobby and designate a destination floor in the car by simply placing their hand or finger over a sensor. The panels feature an LED “halo” that centralizes the sensor’s target and provides users feedback regarding their hand position. Learn more at www.mitsubishielevator.com.

California Buildings • Q1 2022

PAC-CLAD Precision Series architectural wall panel systems are available in four box rib profiles. These panels offer design flexibility, bold visual effects and easy, cost-effective installation. They can be installed horizontally or vertically and intermixed with other Precision Series panels. Box Rib panels come in 46 standard colors with a 30year finish warranty (most meet LEED® and Cool Roof certification). Custom colors and finishes are also available. For Petersen’s full product line, visit PAC-CLAD.com.

Every project has its own unique challenges, and keeping tools and equipment organized is just one of the many important aspects of a well-managed job site. National Construction Rentals offers mobile storage containers in many sizes, so additional room is never an issue. Whether it’s 10, 20 or 40 feet in length, every unit offers the maximum in usable space. For additional information, call 800-352-5675 or visit www.rentnational.com today.

California Buildings • Q1 2022

Kastle Systems is the leader in “Managed Security,” an end-to-end approach for servicing clients’ security needs, taking long-term responsibility of their security package and operations. The company created KastleSafeSpaces to get workers back to work safely in the COVID-19 era by integrating its access control system of touchless technologies for doors, turnstiles, elevators and more, with employee health screening protocols, social distancing and contact tracing to reassure workers they are returning to their offices safely. To learn more, visit www.kastle.com or call 415-962-1300.

Touchless Everything Screen In / Screen Out Contact Tracing

Social Distancing

LEARN MORE HERE: www.kastle.com/safety–wellness/kastlesafespaces/

415.962.1300

415.962.1300

Senior Housing Communities (Continued from page 4)

the necessary details about upcoming events and decide for themselves which activities to take part in. At each event, attendees can easily and independently check in via tablet or smartphone. Learning

At Vivalon Healthy Aging Campus in Marin County, California, one of the amenities we worked to develop was a computer lab. Upon completion, residents will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in classes of their choosing—encouraging technology empowerment and learning at any age. In addition to providing a place where seniors can become proficient in email or other modes of online communication, the computer lab also provides ways for seniors to discover programs that foster creativity. As a social hub, the computer lab supports social interactions amongst residents by enabling them to bond over technology as they become adept at the skills needed to use the devices.

This computer lab also serves as a space to learn about the latest smart building technology within the facility. Vivalon has implemented some of the latest UVC technology to help filter and clean the air within the facility. The lab teaches the building occupants and staff how this technology operates and how it impacts them. These sessions help ensure staff and operating and checking on the equipment per manufacturer’s requirements and gives occupants a better understanding of how the UVC systems help to eliminate any potential dust and pathogens circulating in the air.

Fortunately, technological advancements have opened several doors for seniors. Not only has technology allowed them to stay connected with loved ones during the pandemic, but it has also given them a sense of freedom and autonomy that is not otherwise possible without technology’s help. Through these implementations, we’ve been able to create future-forward spaces that are modern in design while also increasing seniors’ connectivity, learning, and health. n Ng is a project manager at MBH Architects in Alameda.

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