The ‘S’ in ESG

It can be hard to imagine the impact of office design on wider society, but on the other hand we can also plainly see that a workplace touches the lives of all its occupants, and that number adds up to a significant chunk of any society.

We know the role of the office as a hub has ballooned in our imagined post-COVID era, and organisations are rethinking their priorities and giving prominence to collaboration and interaction over individual tasks and activities. Designers are encouraged to emphasise the social aspect of a scheme and how best to care for the whole range of users, making them feel welcome and valued, providing the ambience for hospitality and reflection. When this is done well the office can be a flagship for an organisation’s positive attitude to its people.

Consider also the aggregated impact on the working population and you will see a huge opportunity for design to make a difference in the wellbeing of society. This is a perfect fit with the intention behind the ‘S’ in ESG, so although environmental benefits might be easier to explain and measure, there is a strong case to give our social responsibilities the prominence they deserve.

We acknowledge now, more than before, that being productive is only part of the workplace ambition. A well-designed office should be an enjoyable destination for everyone and demonstrate how much an employer cares about inclusion and equality. We can help our clients tell this story in their ESG reports and give them the evidence they need in our finished projects.

s teve g a L e is head of business intelligence at m moser assocIates