Besides being one of the more famous cases of breaking and entering, what is the one thing Goldilocks is known for? No, not her love of porridge or under-the-covers naps. It is her persnickety nature that shines through most and, as much as we may not want to admit it, we all have a little bit of that Goldilocks mentality in us.
Especially when it comes to shared spaces like offices. For some it’s too hot, for others it’s too cold. It’s too bright, too dark, too loud, or too quiet; in a given office, how many people are actually comfortable with their surrounding environment? In a supposed place of productivity, such as an office, it isn’t just an inconvenience to be uncomfortable; it can quickly become a hindrance to getting work done.
But what’s the solution? We aren’t all as fortunate as our friend Goldilocks and have a few different options to pick from in order to find the one that best suits us. Or are we? Many offices have begun to implement an open office floor plan, meaning there are no assigned seats or workspaces. You can change where you sit and work on a day-to-day or hour by hour basis, meaning if it is too noisy or cold in one area, its possible to just pick up and move to another quieter or warmer area.
But therein lies the next issue, how do you find that quieter, warmer spot? That’s where Goldilocks comes in. No, not the Goldilocks, but the proprietary sensor technology developed by NBBJ to help employees find the perfect spot in the office, the one that is just right.
Inside its 140 Broadway offices in New York City, NBBJ installed over 50 sensors to collect data and track light levels, humidity and motion, and sound. According to NBBJ, they are the only company to incorporate sound into a sensor of this type. And considering the fact that noise is the number one complaint in the workplace, this addition of sound sensors seems like one of those why-hasn’t-anyone-done-this-before type additions.
So, where does all of this information the sensors are collecting go? Right to the accompanying app (compatible with Apple or Android smartphones) in real-time. If you get to the office and decide you require a workspace that is bright and warm, simply fire up the app, set the parameters to warm and bright, and you will be shown the best spots in the office that match exactly what you are looking for.
Not only are these sensors a solution for employees to use on a daily basis, but the information gathered, especially the information about sound, can also be used to better design spaces in the future.
Photo courtesy of NBBJ
Photo courtesy of NBBJ
Photo courtesy of NBBJ
Related Stories
| Dec 18, 2019
Reconsidering construction robotics
After decades when experts predicted that robots would become more prevalent on construction sites, it would appear that the industry has finally reached that point where necessity, aspiration, and investment are colliding.
75 Top Building Products | Dec 16, 2019
Top Building Systems Products for 2019
FabricAir’s ceiling-hung fabric duct and Ellumi Lighting’s bacteria-killing lights are among the 13 new building systems products to make Building Design+Construction's 2019 101 Top Products report.
75 Top Building Products | Dec 12, 2019
Top Building Envelope Products for 2019
Sto's beetle-inspired exterior coating and Dörken Systems' UV-resistant vapor-permeable barrier are among the 28 new building envelope products to make Building Design+Construction's 2019 101 Top Products report.
Building Tech | Nov 8, 2019
Pittsburgh is developing a one-stop-shop campus for additive manufacturing and 3D printing
Neighborhood 91 is the latest tech venture for the city’s airport authority.
Multifamily Housing | Sep 12, 2019
Meet the masters of offsite construction
Prescient combines 5D software, clever engineering, and advanced robotics to create prefabricated assemblies for apartment buildings and student housing.
Codes and Standards | Sep 9, 2019
Free app calculates maximum allowable heights and areas for buildings
A free app that calculates the maximum allowable heights and areas for buildings of various occupancy classifications and types of construction has been released.
AEC Innovators | Aug 15, 2019
Oracle’s replica of a construction jobsite creates an immersive environment for AEC professionals
The Oracle Construction and Engineering Innovation Lab allows visitors to walk through five different stages of construction work, to test new AEC technologies and training techniques.
Building Tech | Jul 24, 2019
Building façade innovation: Water won’t dissolve this sugar cube
10 Jay Street’s unitized “sugar crystal” façade was engineered to withstand the water and wind from New York’s East River.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 23, 2019
Is prefab in your future?
The most important benefit of offsite construction, when done right, is reliability.
Building Tech | Jun 26, 2019
Modular construction can deliver projects 50% faster
Modular construction can deliver projects 20% to 50% faster than traditional methods and drastically reshape how buildings are delivered, according to a new report from McKinsey & Co.