Using lighting to improve productivity

Early in the design phase, it’s essential to think about office lighting

With so many decisions to make when undertaking a new facility or renovation of an existing business space, it’s easy to put lighting on the back burner. After all, it’s just a lightbulb and switch, right?

Not so fast. It turns out lighting is more important to the success of your business than you might think, and it can actually have a huge impact on worker productivity. In fact, research shows office lighting can also affect the health of your employees, their attitudes, their job satisfaction, their likelihood of workplace accidents and more. And the right lighting can even reduce your energy costs. But it’s not as easy as flipping a switch. To make the most of lighting for your commercial build, you’ll want to think about it early in the project, along with your design-build team.

So how can you harness the power of light with your renovation, redesign or new construction? Here’s what you need to know to get started.

Making the most of office lighting for productivity

To get the biggest productivity boost from your lighting, you’ll want to consider the types of light you want to use, the purpose of the space and, of course, the smart technology options available. It may seem like a lot to think about, but the cost of a poorly-lit workspace can impact your bottom line. Bad lighting has been known to trigger symptoms of migraines, make employees feel sluggish, cause accidents and affect the office mood.

One study showed that a third of all workers say they would be happier at their job if the office had better lighting, and 80% of workers said lighting in the workspace was important to them. All things considered, it’s worth your while to invest a little time into thinking about your lighting early in the design process.

Primary considerations for workspace lighting

From artificial lights to natural lighting, from LED to fluorescent lights, the types of light you use will have a profound impact on productivity and well-being in the workspace environment, not to mention your energy bills. The architecture of your construction plays a huge role in the process of selecting and maximizing light as well.

Balancing the color and temp of workspace lighting with the use of specific spaces is important. For example, warm, yellow lighting can aid relaxation while white and blue lighting can help staff feel alert and sharp. Yet too much bright light can also create eye strain for staff working on screens all day. And it’s important to note that it’s even possible to install lighting that adjusts according to the needs of your staff at a particular time of day, helping them be productive in the mornings and helping them relax near day’s end.

The experts on your design-build team can make recommendations based on your goals and your unique commercial construction project.

Ready to shine the light on your office construction project?

When it’s time to start planning your facility upgrade or new construction, we’re here to help you maximize the potential for your project and your business productivity. Engage our design-build experts early in the process to experience all of the benefits of this approach to construction. Want to learn more? Contact us and we’ll help make the vision for your facility a reality.