New Zealand Commercial Design Trends Series NZ Commercial Design Trends Vol. 35/01C | Page 55

These pages: Mirvac’s general
manager of asset management,
office and industrial Victoria
Tavendale talks about what
adds up to a healthy workplace
in today’s business environment,
using Mirvac’s own head office in
Sydney’s high-profile EY Centre
as an example of good practice.
mentally healthy environment.
Every morning, one in six working age people will
arrive at work and begin their day while suffering
from a diagnosed mental illness. A further one-sixth
of the population will be dealing with symptoms
associated with mental ill health, such as worry,
sleep problems and fatigue, which, while not meet-
ing criteria for a diagnosed mental illness, will be
affecting their ability to function at work.
This is having far reaching implications. Over
the past year, one in five (21%) Australians have
taken time off work because they’ve felt stressed,
anxious, depressed or mentally unhealthy. To put
that in perspective, this can amount to three to four
sick days taken each month for those living with
untreated depression.
What can be done?
While we are happy to leave analysis of the
causes of mental ill health to the medical experts,
we do know that the design of our built environment
contributes significantly to our mental health. Today’s
average office worker spends nearly 90% of their
working day indoors, with a large part of that time in
an office. This means that developers and manag-
ers of office space have a critical role to play in the
provision of buildings and workplaces that enhance
the productivity, happiness, human experience, health
and the wellbeing of employees.
Over recent years, there have been significant
steps taken to design and manage buildings in a
way that actively promotes the mental and physical
health of their occupants. As well as our social care
and responsibility to create sustainable, connected
communities, we believe the productivity and
engagement levels of a workforce are intrinsically
linked and reliant upon the health of the employees.
Mirvac’s headquarters within the EY Centre at
200 George Street, Sydney, is an example of an
office where a whole range of successful wellness
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