As Offices Evolve, Owners Look Outward

After the onset of the pandemic in 2020, people flocked to the suburbs for more space, both interior and exterior. Still, what about those in dense urban environments? With more space in the suburbs, it is easier to expand buildings to house flexible outdoor areas. The challenge comes when applying outdoor spaces to those properties in the highly populated, dense urban core, where high-rise buildings are the primary forms of real estate.

In urban environments, almost everyone has access to outdoor space at the ground level, but it is not always a workable space. Limited access at the ground level can also be a hassle for those that need to travel 10 floors to reach fresh air. There is an increased opportunity for building owners and operators to retrofit their properties within these densely populated areas to include outdoor space. As designers, we want to ensure that we are dispersing outdoor spaces beyond the main floor and rooftop, giving occupants a generous amount of outdoor accessibility on every floor through the addition of large, well-landscaped, covered balconies, and patios set on each level.

Before moving forward with outdoor programming, structural and life safety concerns must be considered. For new developments, the architect and structural engineer will factor in the life safety and loads that come with the additional occupancy and weight of outdoor spaces throughout the design process. For repositions and renovations, a structural engineer is needed to determine whether or not the existing building structure can handle the additional loads that come with the addition of outdoor space(s) and what additional structure is needed if not. An architect will need to analyze whether the existing exit doors and exit stairs have the capacity to provide safe egress for the additional occupancy and if not, what measures are needed to do so.

Another primary consideration is the weather and maintaining the proper thermal and moisture protection, particularly if the outdoor space(s) will be directly above enclosed interior spaces. The architect will factor these conditions throughout the design process for new developments. For repositions and renovations, the architect will need to analyze and devise what methods will be required to retrofit the existing building to provide the proper thermal and moisture protection.

We also have to consider the climate of where the building is located. To have a successful and comfortable outdoor working area, the space must be ready for employees to use year-round. Whether this is satisfied by installing fans, heaters, or shades, the space should be weather-ready for the varying local conditions. These spaces also need to be properly landscaped and programmed to ensure the health and well-being of those that use them. Adding in biophilic elements like plants and other vegetation is sustainable and brings added benefits to the environment and employees. The addition of greenery can help clean and filter the air, mitigate noise, and help block the elements like wind and sun. A properly designed outdoor space contributes to an employee’s overall health and wellness and offers resiliency.