The Science of Thriving Workspaces: How Biophilic Design Shapes the Brain

For decades, architects have intuitively understood that natural elements improve our built environments, celebrating natural materials, natural light and fresh air. Today, neuroscience is revealing exactly why, and the findings are transforming how we approach commercial design. Biophilic design, the practice of integrating nature and natural elements into the built environment to improve human health and well-being, isn't just aesthetically pleasing. Research shows it fundamentally changes how our brains function in indoor spaces, reducing stress hormones, improving cognitive performance, and enhancing overall wellbeing. At ZPD+A, we've witnessed these principles come to life across our commercial projects, where strategic integration of natural elements creates workspaces where people genuinely thrive.

What Neuroscience Tells Us About Nature and the Brain

Our brains evolved in nature. Long before fluorescent lighting and climate control, we were wired to read the subtle language of rustling leaves, shifting breezes, and the scent of rain. Neuroscience confirms that we still respond powerfully to nature even in modern settings. Studies using fMRI imaging show that views of nature activate the brain's reward centers while simultaneously calming the amygdala—our stress response center. Natural light regulates our circadian rhythms, improving sleep quality and daytime alertness. Even brief exposures to greenery have been shown to restore attention and reduce mental fatigue, not to mention the role of natural plants in purifying indoor air.

The implications for workplace design are profound. When employees spend prolonged time indoors, the presence or absence of natural elements directly impacts their cognitive function, mood, and productivity.

Morgan Park: Bringing Light and Air to the Heart of Work

At Morgan Park, we faced a unique challenge: how do you create a healthy, inspiring environment for a call center—a building type often associated with windowless, artificial spaces? Our solution is centered on a large central courtyard that fundamentally reimagines the employee experience. This outdoor room floods the interior with natural light, transforming what could have been a conventional workspace into an environment connected to the rhythms of the day. From a neuroscience perspective, this central courtyard design addresses multiple pathways to wellbeing. Natural light exposure supports healthy cortisol patterns and vitamin D production. The opportunity to step outdoors provides what researchers call "attention restoration"—a brief mental reset that improves focus when employees return to demanding tasks. The courtyard also creates what environmental psychologists’ term "prospect and refuge," offering both openness and shelter that our brains find inherently comfortable.

The courtyard provides a natural gathering place for lunch and breaks, where employees can step outside, breathe fresh air, and reset. We've designed this space as a living ecosystem, not simply an outdoor room. Native plantings invite pollinators and songbirds into the courtyard, creating what biologists call "emergent movement"—the unpredictable flutter of butterflies, the arrival of goldfinches at seed heads, the quiet industry of bees among flowers. These small moments of wildlife activity provide what neuroscientists term "soft fascination," a gentle engagement that allows the mind to rest while remaining pleasantly alert.

The materiality of space matters too. Textured paver stones underfoot provide varied tactile feedback, a sensory experience that contrasts with the uniformity of interior flooring. A burbling fountain introduces the sound of moving water, which research has shown masks distracting ambient noise while producing white noise frequencies that actually enhance concentration upon returning to work. Water sounds also trigger measurable relaxation responses, lowering heart rate and reducing cortisol levels. Together, these elements create a multi-sensory environment that engages sight, sound, touch, and even smell as seasonal plantings bloom and fade. It's a space that changes with weather, season, and time of day, providing the temporal variety that our brains crave but interior spaces rarely offer.

Lacey Road: Creating Visual Connections That Heal

The Lacey Road project takes a different approach to biophilic design, weaving living plants throughout the interior while creating deliberate visual connections to the Morton Arboretum beyond. This layered strategy acknowledges that biophilic design works on multiple scales, from the intimate presence of a desk plant to distant views of tree canopies.

The integration of indoor plants creates what researchers call "fractal patterns"—the complex, repeating geometries found throughout nature that have been shown to reduce stress by up to 60% in some studies. These aren't decorative afterthoughts but intentional design elements that provide constant, subtle cues of life and growth throughout the workspace. Equally important are the framed views to the Arboretum. Neuroscience research by Dr. Roger Ulrich and others has demonstrated that even brief views of nature can lower blood pressure, reduce muscle tension, and improve mood. At Lacey Road, we've emphasized sightlines that draw the eye outward, creating a sense of spatial expansion that counteracts the claustrophobia common in commercial interiors.

The Power of Restorative and Native Planting

Morgan Park and other projects incorporate restorative and native plantings in their landscapes—a choice grounded in both ecological responsibility and human psychology. Native plants create habitats for local wildlife, introducing movement, sound, and seasonal change that our brains register as signs of healthy, thriving ecosystems.

There's also something neurologically significant about plants that belong to a place. While the research is still emerging, environmental psychologists suggest that native landscapes may resonate more deeply with our sense of connection to regional identity and natural history. These aren't generic corporate landscapes but expressions of the specific ecology that surrounds us.

Designing for Human Biology, Not Just Human Needs

What sets biophilic design apart from simply "adding some plants" is its systematic approach to human biology. We're designing for nervous systems that crave natural light cycles, respiratory systems that function best with fresh air and plants that filter toxins, and visual systems that relax when focused on the varied distances and textures found in nature. Morgan Park, Lacey Road, and so many other projects, these principles aren't applied as superficial amenities but as fundamental organizing strategies. The central courtyard isn't an amenity, but rather the central feature, and the generator of the plan. The indoor plants at Lacey Road aren't decoration, but one part of an intentional visual strategy connecting interior and exterior.

The Return on Investment in Human Wellbeing

While the neuroscience is compelling, the business case is equally strong. Research consistently shows that biophilic workplaces see reduced absenteeism, improved employee retention, and measurable productivity gains. In an era where attracting and retaining talent is paramount, workspaces that support human biology aren't luxuries—they're competitive advantages.

Perhaps most importantly, biophilic design acknowledges a simple truth: we are not separate from nature, even in our most built environments. Our bodies and brains carry millions of years of evolution in natural settings. When we design spaces that honor that biological heritage, we create workplaces where people don't just work—they flourish.

About ZPD+A Architects

ZPD+A Architects specializes in creating environments that enhance human experience through thoughtful integration of natural elements, light, and spatial design. Our portfolio demonstrates our commitment to evidence-based design that supports both organizational goals and human wellbeing.