Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces - Advancing Sensory Processing and Cognitive Well-Being in the Built Environment

Praise for Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces "Kay Sargent has been a passionate advocate shining a light on this critical issue in the industry highlighting why designing for neurotypes is good for people and good for business. Combining the insights of neuroscience, research, evidence, and the expertise of design, this book sets out considerations and recommendations for those who are building, designing, and operating offices-a holistic approach and must-read for the creation of enabling work environments, where all people can feel supported to thrive."
-DESPINA KATSIKAKIS, Executive Partner & Global Head, Total Workplace Consulting, Cushman & Wakefield "This book could not be more timely and important... written by one of the world's leading experts in the field, Kay Sargent demonstrates how neuroinclusive design can make a real difference, going beyond a duty of compliance to creating a sense of belonging."
-JEREMY MYERSON, Professor Emeritus, Royal College of Art; Director, Worktech Academy "I am thrilled to see cognitive well-being get such detailed exposure, and to earn its due attention as a critical component of indoor health. This amazing body of work... will help advance industry understanding and awareness for years to come."
-PAUL SCIALLA, Founder and CEO, Delos; Founder, International WELL Building Institute "HOK's pioneering research on neuroinclusive design offers a robust foundation for creating environments that are not only functional but also attuned to the diverse sensory needs of all employees. By integrating scientific principles and evidence-based strategies, we can craft spaces that are not just visually appealing but also supportive of mental and emotional well-being, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and effective workplace for everyone."
-RENIÉR ANDRÉ SAAYMAN, Head of Global Corporate Real Estate Services, The World Bank "For too long a one-size-fits-all approach has been the go-to for workplace decision-makers, grouping all humans in a singular category and increasing performance issues and well-being risks. Environments matter and mean different things to different people. With this book, HOK and Kay Sargent offer insights and tools to grow businesses and make the world a better place."
-DR. ANNEMARIE LOMBARD, Founder and CEO, Sensory Intelligence^® Consulting

List of contents

Foreword xi 
Preface xv 
Chapter 1 Framing the Issue 1 
Origin Story 1 
The Pitfalls of Well-Intentioned Design 7 
Understanding Neurodiversity 8 
The Opportunities 9 
A Growing Awareness 11 
HOK's Research on Designing for Inclusion 13 
The Value of Neuroinclusive Design 13 
Chapter 2 Defining Neurotypes 17 
Types of Neurodivergence 18 
Neurodiversity and Mental Health 28 
Chapter 3 Great for Business 35 
The Business Case for Neurodiversity 35 
Cognitive Diversity: Breaking Down Groupthink 37 
Impact on Business Performance 38 
Challenges and Accommodations 40 
Designing Inclusive Workplaces 40 
Chapter 4 Human Functioning and Sensory Processing 45 
Three Interconnected Systems 46 
Sensory Processing: Foundation and Mechanisms 49 
Sensory Thresholds and Processing Challenges 52 
Coping Mechanisms and Perception Variances 56 
Designing for Diverse Functioning 59 
Chapter 5 Sensory Intelligence 63 
The Sensory Matrix(TM) 63 
Chapter 6 Survey Findings 79 
Survey One: All Neurodivergent Populations 79 
Surveys Two and Three: Mixed Neurotype Population 81 
Survey Four: Mixed Neurotype Scientific Population 89 
Challenges in the Built Environment 93 
Survey Five: ZHAW ADD/ADHD Sensory Challenges Survey 103 
Design Strategies and Recommendations 107 
Chapter 7 Senses and Degree of Stimulation 109 
Accommodating Sensory Needs 110 
Visual 111 
Auditory 115 
Tactile 118 
Olfactory 119 
Gustatory 120 
Proprioception, Interoception, and Vestibular 121 
Chapter 8 Environmental Influences 127 
Neuroaesthetics and the Built Environment 128 
Environmental Factors Affecting Workplace Comfort 128 
Principles of Design 130 
Elements of Design 131 
Chapter 9 Other Elements to Consider 155 
Biophilia 155 
Wayfinding 159 
Multisensory Rooms 161 
Safety and Well-Being 165 
Focus Flow 168 
Chapter 10 Degrees of Inclusive Design 175 
Accessible Design 175 
Universal Design 176 
Contents ix 
Inclusive Design 177 
Equitable Design 181 
Chapter 11 HOK's Approach to Inclusive Design 189 
Organizational DNA 190 
Defining Personas, Work Settings, and Gathering Profiles 193 
Six Work Modes 198 
Spatial Sequencing 199 
Power of the 6 to the 48 201 
Journey Mapping 202 
Chapter 12 Steps Toward Designing for Inclusion 205 
Redefining Disability 206 
Creating Inclusive Workplaces 207 
Chapter 13 Design Considerations 217 
The Premise of Inclusive Design 217 
Six Modalities of Work 223 
HOK's Design Considerations 233 
Chapter 14 The Three-Legged Stool 243 
Leg One: Addressing Operational Strategies 244 
Leg Two: Designing an Inclusive Built Environment 247 
Leg Three: Enabling Individual Adjustments 248 
Chapter 15 Going Forward 255 
Growing Awareness and Increasing Diagnosis 256 
Technological Developments 260 
Changing Landscape 261 
More Comprehensive Approach 263 
Afterword 265 
Notes 267 
Acknowledgments 305 
About the Author 309 
What We Do 313 
Index 315

About the author

KAY SARGENT is the Director of Thought Leadership, Interiors, at HOK, a leading organization in the field of workplace design and architecture. She sits on the Delos Advisory Board alongside renowned wellness and sustainability advocates and is the winner of the IFMA Distinguished Author Award for research on neurodiversity.

Product details

• Authors: Sargent Kay
• Publisher: Wiley
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 10.04.2025
• EAN: 9781394309337
• ISBN: 978-1-394-30933-7
• No. of pages: 352
• Dimensions: 160 mm x 234 mm x 33 mm
• Weight: 567 g
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Art > Architecture; Social sciences, law, business > Business > Management; Architecture, ARCHITECTURE / Buildings / General, ARCHITECTURE / Individual Architects & Firms / General, Business & management, Individual architects and architectural firms, Diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Diversity & Inclusion