A breath of fresh air
Build Studios recently hosted the 2017 Green Infrastructure Challenge awards, held by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and the ARCC Network. Helen Santer, Executive Director of Build Studios, London’s first co-working space for the built environment sector in Waterloo - writes about the recent installation of a living wall to the work space, and the benefits she hopes it brings.
To
coincide with the awards, we were delighted to see the installation of a
Botanic ART living wall in our reception area, kindly provided by Biotecture.
Build Studios is a work space that promotes collaboration across the different
disciplines within the built environment sector and it has been fascinating to
see the responses it has provoked from the different companies based in the
building - from an interest in its air purifying qualities, to questions about
its ability to absorb sound, to a simple appreciation of its aesthetic
qualities and the colour and life it brings to the space.
The presence of the wall has provoked interest in green infrastructure from the building's occupants |
The
wall has helped to highlight the growing area of research into the impact of
indoor plants on air quality, as well as staff productivity and wellbeing. Featuring
over 200 plants including climbing fig, green ferns and English ivy, the
wall aims to reduce stress levels and mental fatigue as well as improve air
quality by removing carbon dioxide, increasing oxygen and removing
significant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene and formaldehyde
from the air. The Peace Lily plant which is also included has been
identified by NASA as the plant most appropriate to be taken to the
international space station due to its extraordinarily high tolerance for
absorbing air pollution.
One
of our members, Asset Mapping, is also monitoring the impact of the living wall
on the air quality in the office, using sensors placed in the building and
linked to their digital platform. It will be fascinating to see what impact it
has on C02 levels in the space, especially given the proximity of Build Studios
to a busy road. As Asset Mapping's CEO commented - 'Nature can help us just as
much as tech in delivering a Smart Building'.
The living wall at Build Studios features over 200 plants |
The
wall will be in place until Friday 16th June at Build Studios. As building
managers we're now grappling with how our members are reacting to the prospect
of it no longer being in the space - now it's here, they're not sure they can
bear to be without it. At the end of the day - regardless of the data we can
generate and the scientific evidence of the impact of plants in workspaces -
the most common reaction to greenery at work is a simple and emotional one. It
makes people feel good. It makes it a little bit more appealing being in the
office all day!
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