dark stone cell

“There’s No Windows; What Happened to the Sun?…”

In 2019, I had a spacious office at work. I looked at the large bright window facing the main road. The sunlight came in, and I thought “life is good”.

One day, that all changed. My office moved down the hall. I packed my belongings and slugged down the gray walled- hallways to my new office. The new place I would be sitting for 8+ hours of my day. 

I walked into small gray box, at the end of the hallway. I slowly realized that things about me were changing. My attitude, my alertness, and particularly, my motivation declined drastically. I knew exactly what was causing this. Yes, It was the office with no windows.

I felt I was sitting in a cell to get my work done. No windows, horrible lighting…  All I could think was “this is no way to work or live ”. 

How can we do better to create a more breathable workplace for all? Is it possible to create a standard for office buildings better equipped for humans? Let’s take a look.

The negative impact of windowless offices

In 2014, there was a study conducted by researchers on the impact of windows on the health and sleep quality of office workers.

The findings suggest that the lack of light exposure during your 9-5, will effect you even outside the workplace. It will change your sleep patterns and your quality of sleep. The effect on your sleep has a direct association with increased appetite, impaired glucose metabolism, higher body mass index and a deterioration in mental health.

The study states “In the United States, the national building code lists windows primarily as a means of emergency escape and rescue as opposed to natural lighting. Given the results of this study, we conclude that emphasizing daylight exposure and lighting in the workplace may positively affect the well-being of people working in those spaces.”

It is time to reconsider what windows are actually used for and how windows can be used in architecture, and in the workplace. Keep in mind, Architecture is both a science and an art. There are psychological effects coming from your environment at all times and Architects know exactly how to create the right, subconscious feel. Utilizing natural light to open up spaces and create breathability, may be an obligation to our entire society moving forward.

Not to mention a windowless room is an environment for mold growth, stemming immediate health concerns.

Remember the film Office Space (Spoiler Alert) when protagonist Peter power-drilled away the side of his cubicle. He confidently kicked the wall over, exposing a large window, and the greenery outside. He leaned back in his office chair and smiled peacefully out the window. 

Art and film dictate reality. It’s true, there is a refreshing, breathable feel to having a window in front of you, exposing the outdoors and natural light. And a demeaning, exhausting, unmotivating feel without one.

Human beings are naturally meant to be outside and meant to work in teams as problem solvers. Being indoors, sedimentary at your desk, is not a natural thing for humans.

It is proven that workers with office windows, spend significantly more time at their desks completing tasks, than workers sitting in an office with no windows. It is natural light that improves your focus, creativity and overall productivity.

Creating a space that feels like you’re outdoors, and draws you into nature, will help improve the business by increasing worker satisfaction and productivity. 

The Office With Windows: The Future of Office Design

large window in office

Moving forward, we must view the office place, and office architecture in a different way. It now becomes a matter of “Is this building design, going to be healthy for workers and help them be more happy and productive?”. Making sure that an office with no windows is considered unethical and against modern building law and regulation is necessary moving forward.

The article on architecture states “Office architects are moving away from traditional office designs in favor of more dynamic and natural built environments”. This is a step in the right direction. A step towards a more sustainable, serotonin-induced atmosphere that will only better society as a whole.

How can we as a society make sure everyone is exposed to natural light in the office place? 

woman with big ideas

We need mandatory social and ethical planning involved in the building and construction process.

New builds should include small-footprint designing such as floor to ceiling windows and skylights Plants, foliage, nature spaces and even animals.

An option for newer builds is to consider the initial shaping of building. According to an article on how workplace design affects human behavior, “Using narrow floor plates to elongate the building allows light from side windows to penetrate more deeply into each room. L-shaped or U-shaped buildings also let in more natural light because there’s more exterior wall space available.”

Adding foliage, greenery, and natural elements inside and outside of the organization, will be just as critical to happiness and breathability, as natural light.

Below are just a few other ways we can initiate this change.

  • Improve city planning and architectural responsibilities. 
  • Updating building codes. These codes are implemented to protect the safety, public health and welfare related to the construction and occupancy of buildings.
  • Update existing buildings to let in as much light as possible foliage, greens, and natural elements inside and outside
  • Policy development for commercial and private buildings containing employees and independent contractors.
  • making this an OSHA health and safety requirement: OSHA covers most private sector jobs and ensures safe and healthful working conditions for workers.
  • tax incentives to upgrade: This is not an easy task, and will require redevelopment and redesign of public corporate structures. There will need to be government and private efforts to motivate businesses and add urgency. 

So when a company puts you in a dark windowless room, they aren’t valuing your health and well-being. In fact, they are hurting their bottom line in the long-run, and hurting your health in the short and long term.

It’s time to humanize our office architecture, and create a higher quality, breathable and productive workplace for all.