Building Design, Complexity and Manageability

Abstract

Looks at complexity in office buildings and its consequences, desirable and undesirable. Draws on evidence from studies of comfort, control, productivity, health, energy efficiency and human satisfaction carried out in offices in the United Kingdom since 1985. From this work, it is known that many office buildings do not function as well as their designers originally intended. They are frequently uncomfortable for their occupants, especially in summer, and too often make people chronically ill. This results in lower human productivity – a substantial hidden cost to many organizations. Their energy consumption is often excessive and, consequently, so are their emissions of carbon dioxide, which is one of the causes of global warming.