Shaw showroom and office, Shanghai

Shaw’s Shanghai showroom and office achieved WELL Certification at the Silver level, successfully integrating sustainability and design innovation into the space.

Shaw’s Shanghai showroom and office claimed the very first WELL Certification plaque granted to a flooring company in China. Shaw’s space achieved WELL Certification at the Silver level in June, 2018.

Located in Century Business Plaza in Shanghai, the project team deliberately integrated Shaw’s culture of sustainability and design innovation into the space, creating a physical representation of these values. We sat down with Shaw Sales Director of the Asia Pacific region, De Feilong, to gather insights into the certification process from initial challenges to encouraging feedback.

At a glance:

Background:

Why did Shaw decide to pursue WELL Certification for this project? What were your main objectives?

For Shaw’s Shanghai showroom, achieving WELL Certification for our office is a meaningful investment because it proves we live our value of sustainability. WELL^TM, due to its established market recognition, is being broadly adopted by many developers and design firms, and WELL features are being implemented in projects throughout the region. I’m pleased by the fact that our WELL Certified office now serves as a workplace that enhances our employees’ health and well-being, helping improve employees’ overall satisfaction and productivity.

How did the project team approach WELL Certification?

Shaw’s open corporate culture ran throughout the entire certification process. Employee participation was a key characteristic of this project. From site selection to feature recommendations, Shaw employees were actively engaged. Project designs reflected participation of and feedback from Shaw’s teams in China and the U.S., the project consultant, the asset management team and the design teams. In order to balance the conventional focus on space functionality and aesthetics, we organized seminars for our design team to deep dive into the WELL Building Standard^TM, the wellness intents and feature requirements. We made an adjustment to put the focus on human health and well-being. Our new focus revolved around air quality, water filtration, circadian lighting and aesthetic satisfaction.

In order to allow all users to understand the health impacts of the WELL features adopted in the project and encourage them to adopt a healthier lifestyle and work style, we invited IWBI Asia’s Education team and WELL coaching contacts to present WELL to all employees in the Greater China area. Our goal was to help employees fully appreciate the health and wellness offerings in our new office.

What are some of the challenges that arose when implementing the WELL features? And how did you overcome these challenges?

Controlling air pollutants such as TVOCs was one of our major challenges. We took comprehensive measures to achieve our desired air quality. First and foremost, we used Shaw carpeting that met stringent international environmental certification guidelines including Cradle to Cradle and Green Label Plus. We also completed the cabinet painting process outside the space prior to moving them in, cutting off a potential source of air pollution. Secondly, we advanced the ceiling installation to an earlier stage of the interior construction to leave enough time to air out paint-related pollution. In addition, during the entire construction process, we conducted sufficient air flush, removing harmful substances through exterior windows.

Highlights:

MIND
Feature 89: Adaptable Spaces
WELL v2 equivalent - Feature M07: Restorative Spaces

Intent: To reduce distractions, mitigate stress and enable focused work by integrating a stimuli management program within the building.

Since this space serves as our office as well as our showroom, the project needs to satisfy the needs of two different groups of people – employees and customers. Our project team has created flexible space zones to accommodate these needs.

The dual-level seating area by the entrance provides not only a place for daily presentations or trainings, but also an unconventional and interesting setting for meeting with customers. The staircase area offers multiple purposes too, with a clever integration of pullout drawers for extra storage.

Two telephone rooms provide staff with necessary privacy and can also be used as multi-functional, small meeting spaces. The flexible work areas give employees more choice, with three sets of lounging seats, two sofa sets and one bar table by the window area, and also promote collaboration among team members.

Thanks to the flexible space design, we can provide yoga classes in the office every week, which help employees feel more energized and productive. This also creates more opportunities for employees to connect and communicate outside of work.

COMFORT

Feature 73: Ergonomics: Visual and Physical
WELL v2 equivalent - Feature V02: Visual and Physical Ergonomics

Intent: To reduce strains to the body and maximize ergonomic comfort and safety.

Upon entering the showroom, geometric design elements immediately catch the eye. Both the carpeting and lighting fixtures incorporate hexagonal shapes, creating a unified theme from floor to ceiling. Additionally, a set of hexagonal cabinets stand near the windows, providing countertop space at three staggered levels to meet the varied ergonomic needs of people using the space.

To create a truly flexible multi-level experience, the long table near the entrance has adjustable heights, and the break area is furnished with high tables, allowing employees to choose between sitting or standing.

COMFORT

Feature 75: Internally Generated Noise
WELL v2 equivalent - Feature S01: Sound Mapping

Intent: To reduce acoustic disruptions from internal noise sources and increase speech privacy.

At the design phase, our team planned to incorporate features to mitigate noise level inside the space, including reducing mechanical noise and reverberations. This was achieved by using sound-absorbing carpets, sound-absorbing ceilings and soundproof partitions.

NOURISHMENT

Feature 38: Fruits and Vegetables
WELL v2 equivalent - Feature N01: Fruits and Vegetables

Intent: To promote the consumption of fruits and vegetables by making fruits and vegetables easily accessible to occupants.

The multi-stage water filtration system provides easy access to drinking water infused with lemons, while fresh seasonal fruits and healthy snacks are served in the bar area for employees to enjoy. Educational infographics around the eating area constantly remind employees and customers to make healthy choices for a healthier lifestyle.

LIGHT

Feature 61: Right to Light
WELL v2 equivalent - Feature L01: Light Exposure and Education

Intent: To promote exposure to daylight and views of varying distances by limiting the distance workstations can be from a window or atrium.

Our window view of a bustling, historic and charming old neighborhood is a scene that is hard to pass up. To maximize the view experience, we placed work stations around the windows and used glass partitions to invite more natural light into meeting areas. The lighting design in the space is simple and comfortable while minimizing glare.

Scorecard

Looking to the future

What positive effects resulted from WELL Certification?

The project provided project owners, designers and the general contractor with an opportunity for thorough understanding of WELL, while engaging employees and customers with the health and wellness benefits associated with the space. We also used this opportunity for the extended project teams to prepare for the WELL AP exam so that they are able to use WELL as a tool to create healthier spaces in the future.

What kind of feedback do you hear about this project?

“Our WELL Certified space enables people to work and live more positively.” – Cai Xiujun, Sales Director of SHAW Carpet, Greater China Region

“WELL, as a shared value among the design and operation teams, is instilled in the project from space planning, customer engagement and material selection to everything else throughout the implementation process; this is how projects should be done and how they must prevail in the future.”
– Di Tianning, Senior designer of APEX

“A comfortable office environment keeps me engaged and productive throughout the day.”
– Zhu Shun, Designer of SHAW carpet