Workplace circulation design and movement: a case study of three Australian campus buildings

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper explores the interconnections between a building’s spatial qualities and office workers’ health behaviours, specifically focusing on physical activity, circulation route usage, and sitting time. A mixed methods approach was adopted to examine three workplace buildings, using spatial analysis, physical activity measurement, and a survey of 99 participants. The findings revealed statistical differences in movement patterns among workers in the three case studies. The analysis highlighted the predominantly sedentary nature of the workplaces, staff’s prioritisation of the quickest route, their willingness to incorporate personal physical activity into the workday, and the significant impacts of circulation space design on movement patterns. In response to the pressing need for increased physical activity and reduced sedentary behaviour at work, a greater understanding of the embodied movement of workers must be central in workplace briefing, design, management, and research. We argue that circulation spaces in workplaces should be designed as more than just enablers of workplace functionality and emergency egress.