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background noise can raise stress hormone levels. Designers might
create quiet spaces, install phone booths for private conversations,
use white noise machines to provide an underlying hum, and integrate
sound-absorbent materials.
Carpet can act like a sponge for ambient sound, and it can also prevent
movement across the floor from creating excessive noise. In spaces
with multiple floors, carpet also helps prevent the transmission of
noise to the room below.
But not all carpet is equal. Milliken has developed an open-cell cushion
backing with high-density foam for better acoustics. Product tests
show that their cushion-backed carpet absorbs up to 60 percent
more ambient noise than hardback carpet. Walking or moving a
chair on cushion-backed carpet generates 25 percent less noise
than on hardback carpet, and 90 percent less than on hard surfaces.M
ENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH
are essential to employees’ well-
being. Biophilic design—that is, design
that connects people with nature—is
an innovative way to reduce stress and
enhance creativity, clarity of thought,
and happiness.
Architectural firm CBRE’s WELL Certified Gold office in Madrid was
inspired by a cabin in the woods, and includes a green wall, furniture
crafted in fluid shapes, and grass-like carpeting.
At real estate company JLL’s WELL Certified Platinum headquarters
in Shanghai, polished wood furniture evokes the feeling of walking
in a forest. Milliken’s cartography-inspired carpet patterns
contribute to the topography. The centerpiece is a fish tank
with 360-degree views, where the smart design makes fish
appear to fly freely in the air.
Milliken’s Chicago showroom features nature-inspired carpet patterns
reminiscent of a meandering stream or woodland forest. The space
is anchored by reclaimed tree stump tables. For fresh air, employees
can stroll along the Riverwalk or relax on the rooftop garden.
As WELL and other rating systems expand globally, they have
the potential to reach beyond office workspaces to transform
schools, hospitals, manufacturing floors, and more. Designing the
workplace of the future isn’t just about the environment—it’s about
the experience.Mind
Architects, designers, and engineers
are becoming more attuned to
wellness in the workplace.LEARN MORE AT MILLIKEN.COM