Gensler's upcoming 2008 Workplace Survey

Measuring the link between well designed space and productivity is the Holy Grail of architecture, design and the manufacturers who create office environments. We have heard stories, we know it has to be true - but few have ever seen it first hand.

In truth we have all seen the positive and negative impact of good and bad design, but never translated into a spreadsheet proforma or balance sheet.

But we are getting closer. Gensler will soon release their 2008 Workplace Survey for the United States. They are better defining work modes and present correlations between high performing companies and their internal assessments of their space.

Neuroscience offers a window to where this is heading. There exists a direct connection between the rapidly growing breakthroughs and usefulness of Neuropsychology and MRI technology.

With more accurate MRI technology science is moving from an understanding of basic brain function, to predictability and now to altering brain functions (enhancing performance). Advanced neuro-stimulators now recreate brain patterns to relieve Parkinson victims from the terrible shakes and tremors they experience. The next hills on the horizon are Alzheimer’s, depression and then your guess is as good as mine.

Here is the connection. For years we have understood that there is a connection between organizational performance and the space it inhabits. Reports like Gensler’s aid in understanding the basic components of an organizations “brain” functions. They have developed tools to better predict how one organization will perform compared to another based on how well the space supports the people who inhabit it.

The next step and breakthrough will lead to predictive design tied to a company’s proforma and traceable onto the balance sheet.

I’ll offer one more example. Apple makes some pretty awesome machines with the MacBook, iPod and iPhone. You can see, however, the migration placing more value on the software for functional distinction. Our industry has focused on the “machine,” the thing, the space but with tools and research from firms like Gensler we are discovering that the intelligence that improves the productivity of the people will become the new distinction.

This is my opinion, I think our shift toward the intelligence of space will result in simpler, more intuitive, open ended and adaptable design.

Other's rely on productivity gains the old fashioned way: