# Workplace Wellness Takes Center Stage at Industry Event
The connection between workplace design and employee wellbeing has never been more critical. That's exactly what industry leaders explored at an exclusive gathering co-hosted by the International Executive Committee of the Internet Marketing Association and Tangram.
Held at the oceanfront Crystal Cove home of Tangram CEO and President Joe Lozowski and his wife Sonya, the intimate event brought together experts from healthcare, design, and fitness to discuss **"The Cost of Waiving Wellness: Building Health and Wellbeing into Workplace Design."**
## The Health Reality Check
Nick Payzant, founder and CEO of Cerna Healthcare, opened with sobering statistics about our aging population and the urgent need for long-term health planning. His key insight? **People spend most of their waking hours at work, yet it's often the least healthy environment they encounter.**
Payzant emphasized the critical role of physical movement in preventing conditions like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and stroke. This sets the stage for why workplace design matters more than many organizations realize.
## The Three Pillars of Workplace Wellbeing
Mary Butman, Workplace Consultant with Steelcase, shared research-backed insights on workplace wellness, breaking it down into three fundamental aspects:
- **Physical wellbeing**: The ergonomic and environmental factors that support our bodies - **Cognitive wellbeing**: Spaces that enhance focus and mental clarity - **Emotional wellbeing**: Environments that support psychological health and job satisfaction
Butman left attendees with a powerful question: **"Do you feel better when you leave work than you did when you arrived?"** For many employees, the honest answer reveals opportunities for improvement.
## Five Essential Work Modes
Mark Chaput, Regional Sales Manager at Steelcase, outlined five key work modes that effective workplace design must support:
1. **Focus** - Spaces for deep, concentrated work 2. **Collaboration** - Areas that facilitate teamwork and communication 3. **Change** - Flexible environments that adapt to different needs 4. **Social** - Informal spaces that build relationships and culture 5. **Rejuvenation** - Areas for rest, reflection, and mental reset
Understanding these modes helps designers create comprehensive environments that support the full spectrum of work activities.
## Practical Wellness Strategies
Dr. Sajjad Syed, a pathologist with Kaiser Permanente, introduced the concept of **"choice and control"** in workplace wellness. His recommendations included:
- Stop eating four hours before bedtime - Wait at least 12 hours before the next meal - Monitor and optimize sleep patterns - Maintain gut health through proper nutrition - Integrate regular exercise into daily routines
These principles can be supported through thoughtful workplace design, from kitchen facilities that encourage healthy eating to spaces that promote movement throughout the day.
## The Business Athlete Mindset
Michael Matuz, founder of First Step Fitness, challenged attendees to think like **"business athletes."** Just as professional athletes optimize their environment for peak performance, organizations should design workspaces that help employees perform at their best.
This approach recognizes that physical and mental health directly impact productivity, creativity, and job satisfaction.
## The Hidden Impact of Design
Workspaces influence mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing in ways that aren't always immediately visible. However, the effects are measurable:
- **Healthier, happier employees** who experience less stress and fatigue - **Increased motivation and productivity** from environments that energize rather than drain - **Reduced absenteeism** as wellness-focused design supports better overall health
## A Comprehensive Approach to Workplace Design
Creating truly wellness-focused workplaces requires looking beyond furniture selection. It involves integrating:
- Ergonomic furniture that supports physical health - Technology that enhances rather than hinders wellbeing - Lighting design that supports circadian rhythms - Acoustic solutions that reduce stress and improve focus - Flooring and wall systems that contribute to air quality and comfort - Flexible spaces that can adapt to changing needs
## Moving Forward with Wellness in Mind
The insights shared at this gathering underscore a fundamental shift in how we think about workplace design. It's no longer enough to create spaces that simply function—they must actively support the people who use them.
For commercial design professionals, this means:
- **Asking deeper questions** about how spaces will be used and what outcomes clients want to achieve - **Considering the full employee experience** throughout the design process - **Staying current on wellness research** and how it applies to the built environment - **Measuring success** not just in aesthetic terms, but in employee satisfaction and health outcomes
As the line between work and life continues to blur, the responsibility to create supportive, health-conscious environments becomes even more critical. The question isn't whether wellness belongs in workplace design—it's how quickly we can make it a standard part of every project.
