SPACE PLANNING BY DEBORAH SPERRY AND KAY SARGENT
CREATING A NEURODIVERSE WORKPLACE
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Strong contrast and use of natural materials in Stryker’s office in Burlington, Ontario, grounds people in a sophisticated yet calming environment that feels secure. The styling and use of hospitality elements create a welcoming feeling.
Even before COVID-19 changed everything, more organizations were looking to create workplaces that help neurodiverse employees feel comfortable.
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bout one in eight people are neurodiverse. This means they have one of a range of conditions that include autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, Parkinson’s and other cognitive disorders. Though neurodivergents often have exceptional talents and above-average problem-solving abilities, they don’t always thrive in typical workplace environments. Some are hypersensitive, which means their brains become overloaded by what they see, hear,
smell or feel in the office. Others are hyposensitive and don’t receive enough sensory information. Before the pandemic, neurodiversefriendly workplace design interventions focused on things like the layout and character of space, acoustic quality, thermal comfort, materials, colours, elements in the field of view, lighting and degree of stimulation. The goal was to provide enough different space types to enable occupants to choose the best setting for them at any given time. These ideas became almost exponentially more relevant with the arrival of COVID-19. Fear of infection has threatened the second level of
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Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: the innate desire of all people to feel safe and secure. As employees eventually return to the office, most will bring with them a heightened sensitivity to their surroundings—specifically to what they touch and their proximity to coworkers. Both neurodivergents and neurotypicals alike will want to feel protected in their space. Offices will need to have fewer touchpoints and more space for people to physically distance themselves. Designers also will need to scale-up efforts to address sensitivities to noise, light, colour and clutter. The “prospect-refuge” theory, which refers to the primal need of people to “see without being seen” in order to feel safe, becomes especially germane. The most accommodating offices will provide clear lines of sight, controlled
