Designing for Movement: Good for People, Good for Business
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In today’s competitive commercial office market, physical movement isn’t just a wellness trend; it’s a strategic asset. The WELL Building Standard®’s Movement Concept emphasizes the importance of designing workplaces that reduce sedentary behavior, promote daily physical activity, and support musculoskeletal health. For landlords, developers, and leasing teams, adopting movement-forward strategies isn’t just good for people, it’s good for business.
Why Movement Matters More Than Ever
Sedentary behavior has become a defining health risk of the modern workplace. Office workers spend over two-thirds of their day seated, raising risks for obesity, cardiovascular disease, depression, and musculoskeletal disorders [1] [2] [3].
Globally, the burden is staggering. The World Health Organization warns that one in four adults is not active enough, contributing to roughly five million preventable deaths annually [2]. Physical inactivity increases all-cause mortality risk by 20–30% [4]. Meanwhile, productivity losses, absenteeism, and higher healthcare costs continue to climb, especially in white-collar sectors where sedentary work is the norm.
WELL-aligned buildings take a proactive stance. Through smart design, policy, and amenities, movement becomes an effortless part of the workday, helping employees feel better, focus longer, and perform at their best. As hybrid work reshapes when and how people return to offices, buildings with health-forward environments are emerging as clear differentiators in attracting and retaining top talent.
WELL Movement Strategies in Action
The WELL Movement Concept offers a flexible, scalable approach to reducing sedentary behavior in the workplace. It includes features that can be integrated during new construction or retrofits, allowing owners to tailor strategies to tenant needs and budgets. While WELL leads with a dedicated Movement Concept, frameworks like Fitwel and LEED also support active design, reinforcing the value of movement-supportive environments [11] [12].
To support movement, WELL-aligned buildings use strategies across five key categories:
Visible and inviting stairwells
Centrally located, well-lit staircases encourage usage. Design cues like natural light, artwork, or signage can boost daily step counts [13].Height-adjustable desks and ergonomic furniture
Sit-stand desks, mobile seating, and posture-supportive accessories reduce musculoskeletal strain and improve comfort, especially during long workdays [5] [6].Internal walking routes and circulation-first layouts
Placing meeting rooms, break areas, and amenities in walkable zones encourages natural movement and collaboration.End-of-trip facilities for active commuting
Bike storage, showers, and lockers remove barriers to cycling or walking to work while supporting ESG goals by reducing dependency on cars and lowering carbon footprints.Wellness-centered programming and digital prompts
Scheduled stretch breaks, walking groups, or apps that remind users to move can enhance participation and build a culture of wellness [4], [11], [12].
Real-World Impact: Lessons from Global Leaders
Movement-supportive design is delivering measurable results. The following examples illustrate how offices around the world are integrating movement-aligned strategies:
Perkins Eastman Chicago Studio (United States)
This adaptive reuse project created a movement-rich environment through circulation-first layouts, ergonomic furniture, and stair cues. Post-occupancy evaluations revealed increased incidental movement and improved comfort, even within a standard interior budget [9].EDGE Suedkreuz Berlin (Germany)
Germany’s largest hybrid-timber office building integrates biophilic staircases, vertical paths, and outdoor walkways. The 344,000-square-foot building earned WELL Core Platinum and the nation’s highest DGNB certification (awarded by the German Sustainable Building Council), showing wellness and sustainability can align [10].Embassy REIT (India)
With more than 90 office properties, Embassy REIT has scaled movement strategies through walkable campuses, stair-first layouts, and adjustable workstations. The result: the world’s largest WELL-certified office portfolio and positive tenant feedback on morale and satisfaction [4].
Other WELL-certified properties in the U.S., Australia, Singapore, and China report similar gains, from higher retention and renewal rates to stronger ESG performance.
Returns Beyond Wellness
Movement-supportive design drives value beyond health:
Enhancing productivity: Employees who move regularly report better focus, energy, and cognitive function [7].
Reducing absenteeism: Fewer injuries and musculoskeletal complaints are reported in movement-friendly offices [6].
Supporting ESG goals: Health-forward amenities align with environmental and social governance priorities [10].
Boosting leasing performance: WELL-certified spaces can command 4.4%–7.7% rental premiums and increase tenant retention [8].
A Smart Move Forward
Movement isn’t just about fitness; it’s about designing workplaces that help people feel better, work smarter, and stay healthier for the long haul. For commercial landlords and property managers, supporting movement is no longer a luxury; it’s a market expectation. High-performing tenants prioritize well-being, sustainability, and human-centric environments.
Movement strategies address key workplace needs:
Reducing Sedentariness
Adults spend over 60% of their waking hours sitting. WELL-aligned strategies offer a practical way to reduce sedentary time and its associated health risks [4] [5].
Improving Mental Health
Regular movement lowers stress, enhances mood, improves focus, and enhances cognitive functioning, psychological benefits that ripple across the workforce [3] [7].
Building Tenant Loyalty
When tenants see that their workspace actively supports employee health, they perceive greater value in the space. This can translate into longer lease terms, higher renewal rates, and stronger word-of-mouth referrals [8].
Demonstrating ESG Leadership
WELL-certified buildings, particularly those implementing movement strategies, signal social responsibility— an edge for attracting mission-aligned investors and tenants [10].
Whether you’re pursuing full WELL certification or drawing inspiration from its Movement Concept, the message is clear: buildings that move with their occupants, not against them, are better positioned to succeed. Even modest changes like improving stair visibility, offering adjustable furniture, or starting a building-wide step challenge can spark meaningful change. The key is to begin with intention and build from there.
References
[1] D. Ding, K. M. Kolbe-Alexander, P. A. Bauman, T. L. Bennie, J. E. Brown, and M. Pratt, “The economic burden of physical inactivity: A global analysis of major non-communicable diseases,” The Lancet, vol. 388, no. 10051, pp. 1311–1324, 2016
[2] World Health Organization, Global Status Report on Physical Activity 2022. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO, 2022
[3] N. Owen, G. N. Healy, C. E. Matthews, and D. W. Dunstan, “Too much sitting: The population-health science of sedentary behavior,” Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 105–113, 2010
[4] International WELL Building Institute, WELL v2 Feature Library: Movement Concept. New York, NY, USA: IWBI, 2023
[5] S.-M. van Niekerk, Q. A. Louw, and S. L. Hillier, “The effectiveness of a chair intervention to reduce musculoskeletal symptoms in office workers,” BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, vol. 23, no. 1, p. 552, 2022
[6] L. Yang, J. A. Hipp, C. M. Marx, A. A. Araujo, and M. G. Moore, “Effects of stand-biased desks in classrooms on sedentary behavior and physical activity: A meta-analysis,” American Journal of Public Health, vol. 113, no. 3, pp. 277–285, 2023
[7] International Facility Management Association, Operations and Maintenance Benchmark Report. Houston, TX, USA: IFMA, 2022
[8] N. Turan, J. B. Lee, M. Rowe, and L. Moreno, “The financial impact of healthy buildings: Rental prices and market dynamics in commercial office spaces,” MIT Center for Real Estate Research, Cambridge, MA, USA, 2021
[9] S. Marzban, C. Candido, L. Zhang, M. de Dear, and R. Mackey, “The potential of high-performance workplaces for boosting worker productivity, health, and creativity: A comparison between WELL and non-WELL certified environments,” Building and Environment, vol. 243, p. 110708, 2023
[10] World Economic Forum, Healthy Buildings, Healthy Returns: How Building Health Drives ESG Value. Geneva, Switzerland: WEF, 2021
[11] Center for Active Design, Fitwel Scorecard v2.1: Workplace. New York, NY, USA: CfAD, 2022
[12] U.S. Green Building Council, LEED v4.1 BD+C Guide for Health-Promoting Strategies. Washington, DC, USA: USGBC, 2023
[13] G. Nicoll, “Spatial measures associated with stair use,” American Journal of Health Promotion, vol. 36, no. 5, pp. 751–760, 2022