Biophilic Design Shines at Omni HQ
Sourced from Omni Ecosystems
Biophilic design has become a popular topic in the design industry over the last several years, especially as of late with many organizations considering the form and function of the post-Covid workplace. This shift, coupled with spending a greater than usual amount of time indoors, has reintroduced many of us to the value green spaces and living infrastructure have in connecting us with nature in both indoor and outdoor spaces.
When Omni relocated its headquarters to Bronzeville last year, a leading factor for the design of our new facility was to holistically showcase the range of solutions that our talented, multidisciplinary team provides. With more than 2,700 interior plants and a 10,000 SF green roof, biophilic design is on display throughout the entirety of the space.
The Omni team collaborated to design our headquarters from the outside in, creating an inspiring workplace immersed in nature. Omni installed and continues to maintain the vast array green infrastructure within and atop the building, from the 180 SF living wall that greets visitors in our lobby to our 33’-tall palm tree named Monty, to the robust and diverse rooftop garden that doubles as a flexible event space.
All these elements are beautiful green additions to our space, but what is truly meant by biophilic design, and what positive impacts does it have beyond aesthetics?
Understanding Biophilia and Biophilic Design
Biophilia is a term to describe humans' innate tendency to seek out and interact with nature.
When biophilia is applied as a design principle to the built environment – often referred to as biophilic design – there is an array of benefits not only to the function of a building and its surrounding environment, but also to the physical and mental wellbeing of the people within it.
In urban environments where there is less access to green space, biophilic design becomes even more important.
Cognitive Benefits: Mental Agility & Memory
Cognitive functioning encompasses our ability to think, learn and output either logically or creatively. This includes the directed attention that is required for repetitive tasks, such as routine paperwork, reading and performing calculations or analysis. It also includes operating in highly stimulating environments. Directed attention is energy intensive, and over time can result in mental fatigue and depleted cognitive resources (e.g., Kellert et al., 2008; van den Berg et al., 2007).
Having strong and/or routine connections with nature as part of our daily routine provides opportunities for mental restoration, which gives our higher cognitive functions a break. In turn, our capacity for performing focused tasks is greater than someone with fatigued cognitive resources.
