Neuroinclusive Workplace Design, Functional Obsolescence and Post-Occupancy Evaluation: Insights from a Corporate Office Environment

Atkins, Ellen, Boyd, Philippa and Singh, Ankit (2026) Neuroinclusive Workplace Design, Functional Obsolescence and Post-Occupancy Evaluation: Insights from a Corporate Office Environment. In: ARCOM Conference 2026: Network and Connectivity in Construction, 7-9 September 2026, Loughborough University. (In Press)

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Abstract

Commercial office buildings typically have structural lifespans extending over several decades, yet their interior fit-outs are replaced far more frequently. These interventions are often driven by functional obsolescence, where workplace environments no longer support evolving work patterns and user needs.. Creating office spaces which meet user needs and increase workplace satisfaction is an important step to reducing the re-fits and the recurring associated embodied carbon and waste. This paper investigates whether an office designed on neuroinclusive principles improves workplace satisfaction amongst both neurodivergent and neurotypical employees and explores the implications for workplace effectiveness, functional adaptability and workplace lifecycle management. Using a mixed-methods Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) of a neuroinclusive commercial office, the study draws on survey responses from fifty employees and semi-structured interviews with occupants and the workplace designer. Findings indicate that neuroinclusive design should be understood not as targeted accommodation for a minority of users, but as an approach that identifies and responds to shared workplace needs for acoustic comfort, privacy, visual calm and spatial flexibility. The study demonstrates how user experience evidence can inform workplace adaptation and briefing decisions, supporting the use of POE as a feed-forward mechanism within workplace lifecycle management. While no direct causal relationship between neuroinclusive design and reduced refurbishment frequency is established, the findings suggest a potential pathway through which addressing functional dissatisfaction may support longer interior lifespans.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Sustainable Development Goals:	Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Keywords:	embodied carbon, lifecycle resilience, neurodiversity, post occupancy evaluation, sustainability
Divisions:	Sustainable Built Environment & Property Research Centre > School of Town Planning
Depositing User:	Dr Pippa Boyd
Date Deposited:	20 Jul 2026 09:16
Last Modified:	21 Jul 2026 19:55
URI:	https://ube.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/283

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