Morgan Lovell Sheds New Light on Brighter Offices

Office transformation specialists, Morgan Lovell, are promoting the bench-desking style of office layout, as a means of ensuring all workers get their share of access to natural light.

The concept has been used at their new showcase office development in Fort Dunlop, Birmingham, and will increase the office's environmental score, as well as enhancing the working environment, helping to create a sense of well-being among staff.

The benefits of accessing natural light to help improve the well-being of office workers are being put under the spotlight.

According to office transformation specialist Morgan Lovell, the provision of natural light in the office is going to be a major theme in workplace design for the future.

Many companies are starting to sign-up to the Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) - which reviews and improves the environmental performance of office buildings - and credits towards the overall score can be gained if all staff and regularly occupied areas are placed within a seven metre radius of a window.

To reflect the growing trend, Morgan Lovell has introduced the ‘benching’ concept at their showcase office development at Fort Dunlop in Birmingham, to illustrate one way workers can get their fair share of natural light.

Although not an entirely new idea, benching is gaining popularity as an alternative from more traditional layouts seen in workplaces across the UK.

James Bleakman, an interior designer at Morgan Lovell, who is also a licensed BREEAM Offices Assessor, said: “In an office which uses the benching concept, work stations are situated on bench-style desks set at right angles from the windows, thereby allowing maximum access to natural light for the office workers.

“Ultimately, this enhances the local working environment and helps to create a sense of well-being.

“Traditionally, much of the workspace is centred in the core of a building, with directors’ offices around the borders, taking in the windows. In an open plan design, bench-desking offers shared natural light between all staff, not just a handful of people.”

Access to natural lighting can help create an uplifting, inspirational and ultimately more productive office. However, some offices cannot provide such a facility – but modern design technology means steps can be taken to address the shortage of natural light in many cases.

James added: “Through careful choice, innovative designs can be introduced, including skylights and suntubes, which use mirrors to cascade light down through the roof and into the floors below.


“In addition dynamic light fittings are available which alter the lighting level and hue throughout the day to mimic changes in natural daylight and its effect on the human body.”

The Workplace (Health, Safety And Welfare) Regulations 1992 already require employers to take advantage of available natural light when considering the positioning of workstations.

As well as helping provide a more inspirational workplace, light can also help play its part in reducing one of the largest causes of accidents in offices - slips and trips.


ENDS


Notes to Editors

Located in London, Birmingham and the Thames Valley, Morgan Lovell is the UK’s leading office interior design, fit out and refurbishment specialist. With its own teams of designers, surveyors and project managers, the company can design and deliver entire projects, with the benefit of just one point of contact. www.morganlovell.com

It is a member of Morgan Sindall plc, the construction and urban regeneration group. The Group operates through five specialist divisions: fit out, construction, infrastructure services, affordable housing and development.

Morgan Lovell is a licensed BREEAM Offices Assessment Organisation. This means it is now licensed to measure the sustainability score of an office in order to identify ways companies can reduce high energy usage and waste, whilst increasing comfort and satisfaction for users of the building.

This year, Morgan Lovell secured a top national safety award from RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) – the Gold RoSPa Occupational Health and Safety Award.

Press release issued by Jane Shepherd, Shepherd PR Limited. Tel 01538 308685. Mobile 07985 129315

jane@shepherd-pr.com


About BREEAM

Administered by the BRE, the leading research and consultancy group for the construction industry, the BREEAM Offices assessment scheme is one of the world’s most widely-used ways of reviewing and improving the environmental performance of office buildings.