Organizations increasingly value their workplaces as important to their success through stimulating collaboration and innovation, enhancing morale and engagement, and supporting health and wellness. This paper introduces methods Zaha Hadid Architects developed using in-house algorithmic floor plate analytics tools to measure the potential impact of design decisions on occupant experience. These tools support and guide design teams, not only by simulating the effectiveness of design proposals, but also by assisting in the development of multiple design options and their rapid evaluation. This essay outlines how these tools provide invaluable insights into how subtle changes in spatial design influence productivity, wellness, and collaboration. This allows the development of better office floor plates and space plans that more closely match multiple criteria early in the design process, resulting in buildings that can suit a diversity of individuals’ needs more than ever before.
