Happy, healthy, sustainable: Designing an inclusive workplace

Name: Happy, healthy, sustainable: Designing an inclusive workplace
Uploaded: 2023-01-11T13:54:39.576Z

21 Dec 2022|Sustainability 2100

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PREVIEW

Sustainable Design DEI Employee Wellbeing

Komal A. KotwalEducator in Sustainable, Equitable Design and Well-being Architecture. at International Consultant

Komal is a visionary at the crossroads of health, equity, and climate change, weaving these passions into a dynamic harmony of designing for well-being and building performance. With 17+ years of experience, she has pioneered global sustainable design, overseeing ten million sq. ft. of diverse projects. This includes groundbreaking net-zero energy and carbon initiatives, as well as leadership in five million sq. ft. of LEED and WELL Platinum projects.

A seasoned educator and advisor, Komal navigates clients through complex architecture, planning, and infrastructural endeavors.

An award-winning Architect and Thought Leader, she uses her platform to share industry and academic insights, captivating change-makers invested in creating sustainable, healthy, and equitable environments. Komal was recognized as a global sustainable design and equity influencer in an exclusive interview with Madame Architect in April 2023 for redefining industry standards and acknowledged by the International WELL Building Institute with the Rising Star Award in the WELL Faculty Category for exceptional contributions to the WELL movement in 2022.

Komal has been an invited member of the Fast Company Impact Council, New York in 2022-23 dedicated to discussing the impact of business on the most pressing issues of our time. Komal has served on IWBI's Health Equity Advisory, AIA Houston Board of Directors, the Texas USGBC Regional Council, and the USGBC’s Greenbuild Program Committee. A strong advocate for equity and inclusivity, Komal has also served on HOK’s Diversity Advisory Council and HOK’s Management Board. Komal’s academic foundation includes a Master's in Architecture from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor's in Architecture as a Gold Medalist from the University of Mumbai. Currently, a WELL Faculty with the International WELL Building Institute, Komal has also served as a guest lecturer and studio reviewer at Arizona State University's Herber Institute for Design and the Arts, acted as a juror at Manipal University in Dubai, and delivered a keynote address at the University of Michigan's Taubman College of Architecture 2023 Career Intensive

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Description

With hybrid working on the rise, businesses are being forced to reassess their workspaces. Employees facing cumbersome commutes increasingly expect their office time to be worthwhile and comfortable.

Komal A. Kotwal, sustainable design leader for health, well-being and equity at HOK, explains the benefits of sustainable office design and how such spaces can be achieved to maximise inclusive workspaces.

Table Of Contents

What is inclusive design?

Find out how inclusivity ties in with sustainability, and what this means for design.

How do I achieve it?

Kotwal draws attention to the diversity of people using one space, highlighting some of the factors that designers need to account for when striving for inclusivity.

What are the challenges of inclusive design?

Managing the various needs of a diverse workforce inevitably brings challenges, but Kotwal explains how to overcome some of the main obstacles.

So what can I do?

Dive into the details of what you might consider when designing an inclusive workplace, whether this is from scratch, or a renovation of an existing office space.

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