The document discusses using data to understand how people interact and use workplaces and buildings. It discusses common myths about how architects believe people will use and interact in buildings, but reality often differs. The presentation provides data from over 160,000 people in 27 office buildings on where people actually interact and move throughout buildings. It also discusses analyzing spatial layouts and how integrated versus segregated spaces affect usage patterns, using the British Library as a case study. The interplay between space, people, and organizations is complicated, so the presentation advocates using data over opinions to understand workplace usage and design.

1. The science of the workplace Sailer, Oct 2016@kerstinsailer
The Science of the Workplace
Using data to understand people in buildings
Dr Kerstin Sailer
Reader in Social and Spatial Networks
Bartlett School of Architecture
University College London
Databeers London, 13th October 2016

2. The science of the workplace Sailer, Oct 2016
On Architecture and Data
Scott Berkun
“ Architects are notorious for
designing and disappearing,
never returning to see how
their choices worked or failed
after the building opens.
”

3. The science of the workplace Sailer, Oct 2016
Myths... (and reality)
Steve Jobs on Pixar:
“ If a building doesn’t encourage
[collaboration], you’ll lose a lot of
innovation and the magic that’s
sparked by serendipity. So we
designed the building to make people
get out of their offices and mingle in
the central atrium with people they
might not otherwise see.
”

4. The science of the workplace Sailer, Oct 2016
(Myths...) and reality

5. The science of the workplace Sailer, Oct 2016
(Myths...) and reality
Finding hard evidence? A google search…
Finding hard evidence? A google scholar search…

6. The science of the workplace Sailer, Oct 2016
Myths... (and reality)
Jon Gertner (2012) in the New York Times on Bell
Labs building in New Jersey (opened in 1941):
“ Traveling the hall’s length without
encountering a number of
acquaintances, problems, diversions
and ideas was almost impossible. A
physicist on his way to lunch in the
cafeteria was like a magnet rolling past
iron filings.
”

7. The science of the workplace Sailer, Oct 2016
This is where people actually interact
(Myths...) and reality
Standing
Walking
Sitting
Interacting

8. The science of the workplace Sailer, Oct 2016
(Myths...) and reality
This is where people actually interact
Data source:
160,000+ people in 27
different office buildings

9. The science of the workplace Sailer, Oct 2016
The British Library – a place for nomadic workers?

10. The science of the workplace Sailer, Oct 2016
The British Library – a place for nomadic workers?
What are spatial preferences? Do
they change throughout day and
week?

11. The science of the workplace Sailer, Oct 2016
Analysing the affordances of a spatial layout
Quantifying layout properties using Space Syntax

12. The science of the workplace Sailer, Oct 2016
Regular grid to create isovists
Floor plan
Syntax model:
Strategic visibility
IntegratedSegregated
Constructing a
visibility graph
(VGA)
A scientific approach to evaluate layouts: Space Syntax

13. The science of the workplace Sailer, Oct 2016
Integrated spaces: livelier and frequented by more people ↔ Segregated spaces: lesser
frequentation
A scientific approach in architecture: Space Syntax
First 10 minutes of museum visit of 100 peopleStrategic visibility on the ground floor of Tate Britain
IntegratedSegregated

14. The science of the workplace Sailer, Oct 2016
Usage patterns in the British Library
Data source:
7993 observations

15. The science of the workplace Sailer, Oct 2016
Usage patterns in the British Library
Data source:
7993 observations

16. The science of the workplace Sailer, Oct 2016
On the interplay between space, people and organisations
IT’S COMPLICATED!

17. The science of the workplace Sailer, Oct 2016
The new science of the workplace
“If we have , let’s look at data.
If all we have are - let’s go
with mine.”
Jim Barksdale, former Netscape CEO
DATA
OPINIONS
Thank you! @kerstinsailer