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Part 4: Can Material Selection Reduce Hazards to Occupants?

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matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Mar 29

Did you know?⁠
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Glare has been associated with a host of health issues that range from visual discomfort and eye fatigue to headaches and migraines. Studies have also shown that glare can lead to visual impairment and discomfort, which can cause accidents in the workplace.⁠
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Reducing glare improves the visual experience of the occupants in the space. It is important to address glare to avoid visual fatigue and glare-induced headaches by using strategies, such as calculation of glare and choosing the appropriate light fixtures for the space.

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Mar 27

Lighting design can be a daunting and complex task.💡⁠
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There are lots of important things to keep in mind, such as establishing proper light levels, removing glare, and setting a mood with a light source that allows people to perceive rich color accurately. Ultimately, meeting all of these requirements will help you achieve a good quality lighting design - while being energy conscious of course. ⁠
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Reach out to info@matthewsdesigngroup.ca for more lighting design ideas.

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Mar 22

Its World Water Day⁠
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Did you know?⁠
All water systems require some degree of validation to ensure that the health targets are met under its operational conditions, for which sampling is an effective verification tool . Legionella bacteria is naturally present in waters at low concentrations, but it may colonize recirculated water systems and can cause lung disease and even death if contaminated water aerosols are inhaled.⁠
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Basic management for water quality ensures that the water sourcing, treatment and delivery operates as designed. Turbidity, residual chlorine and pH monitoring help control basic chemical and microbiological water characteristics and, if trends are detected, may inform that actions may be needed to protect the quality of the water, such as changing a filter or checking the building’s pipes for leaks etc.

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Mar 20

Are you looking for Health and Safety in a Shared Office Space?⁠
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Here is how to go above & beyond for coworking comfort:⁠
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Office health and safety should include more than just the essentials—other factors can, and do play a role in coworking clients’ health and productivity at work. Having your co-working space updated with a rating verified by the third-party Green Building Certification Inc. (GBCI) such as FitWel or WELL will communicate your commitment to best practices for safety.⁠
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The WELL Health-Safety Rating includes more than 20 features across the following core areas:⁠
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🍃Cleaning and Sanitization Procedures⁠
🍃Emergency Preparedness Programs⁠
🍃Health Service Resources⁠
🍃Air and Water Quality Management⁠
🍃Stakeholder Engagement and Communication⁠
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Contact us for details on how to create a shared space that meets the needs of today’s community of co-workers. ⁠
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matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Mar 15

Did you know?⁠
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Sedentary behavior has been linked to numerous negative health outcomes.⁠
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Active workstations are effective at decreasing time spent sitting, thereby increasing energy expenditure. Let's encourage movement, postural breaks & active workstations!⁠
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⁠Contact us for more information on active workstations and wellness designs.⁠
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matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Mar 13

Why Build Green?⁠
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According to the most recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a “rapid and far-reaching” sustainable transition in the land, energy, buildings, transport, and cities is needed to meet global carbon reduction goals. Buildings account for almost 40 percent of global energy-related CO2 and will play a major role in a sustainable transformation.⁠
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Green buildings, like those that are LEED certified, are a global solution for cities, communities, and neighborhoods. The tangible benefits may not be easily recognizable to tenants or visitors, but through sustainable design, construction and operations green buildings are reducing carbon emissions, energy, and waste; conserving water; prioritizing safer materials; and lowering our exposure to toxins.⁠
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Contact us for more information on how to improve your space at info@matthewsdesigngroup.ca⁠

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Mar 8

Did you know?⁠
On February 28, 1909, the Socialist Party of America established National Women’s Day in New York. This was proposed by labour activist Theresa Malkiel to commemorate citywide protests against garment workers. Later that year, drawing inspiration from American socialists, German delegates proposed the idea of a women’s day, though no specific date was set.⁠
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United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day in 1975, and in 1977, the UN General Assembly declared March 8 as International Women’s Day in support of women’s rights and global peace. Since then, the United Nations has commemorated the day by establishing a theme each year.⁠
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This day is significant because it celebrates women’s achievements, raises awareness about gender equality, and accelerates gender parity, as well as fundraising for various female-focused charities.⁠

This year, on women’s day “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality” is the theme of International Women’s Day 2023 which is aligned with the priority theme for the upcoming 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW-67), i.e. “Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls".

Aim of International Women’s Day:⁠
The goal of International Women’s Day is to celebrate women’s accomplishments and to advocate for gender equality. This day also aims to raise awareness about gender equality so that our society’s most vulnerable members have equal rights in all fields, promoting equal participation in social, economic, cultural, and political activities.

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Mar 6

Happy Monday everyone! ⁠
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We love helping clients to create exceptional spaces that support healthy habits, promote wellbeing, become more sustainable and more socially responsible. We know, through recent research, that there is a direct correlation between an individual's health outcomes, to where and how they spend their time and the quality, amenities, and design of that environment. According to FitWel, "spaces that filter and promote clean air, provide ample opportunities for drinking water, encourage moderate physical activity, situate users to views of nature and daylight, and foster a culture of healthy habits, are spaces that can deeply alter a person’s health trajectory." ⁠
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⁠Some specific Healthy Building Elements FitWel recommends when designing a space are:⁠
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🍃 Open and visible stairs with enhanced cleaning⁠
🍃 Water bottle refilling stations ⁠
🍃 Views of nature⁠
🍃 Tobacco-free rooftop or outdoor space⁠
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Contact us for more information on how to implement FitWel and other healthy elements into interior design.⁠
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matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Mar 1

Do you find yourself waiting until you’re too hungry to care what’s on the label? You may be setting yourself up for failure. How? Not looking at the label means that you may be consuming undesirable ingredients and an excessive number of calories that may be harmful to your health. Health labelling interventions may serve as important sources of nutritional information for consumers, resulting in healthier food choices and increased calorie information awareness. Providing nutritional information is a precondition of the WELL AP Standard.

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Feb 27

Many visible minorities face racial microaggressions on a daily basis. What is racial microaggression? These are common in the everyday lives of racialized people and often enacted by well-meaning and good people, who are nevertheless unaware of any transgressions enacted towards another. ⁠
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An example of a racial microaggression can be as seemingly innocent as asking a person of a different ethnicity where they come from, or telling a racialized person that they speak English well, or repeatedly mispronouncing a person’s name – which may seem like harmless questions or acts, but in actuality, reveal an inherent bias that people who don’t look like dominant society are foreign and other, and don’t belong. ⁠
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These “everyday slights” add up. In fact, studies show over time that repeated exposure to microaggressions can negatively impact a person’s health and well-being in addition to being a “constant reminder to people of color that they are second-class citizens."⁠
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What can be done? Everyone has their own preconceived notions and beliefs, based on their personal experiences. However, diversity and inclusion is about capturing the uniqueness of the individual; creating an environment that values and respects individuals for their talents, skills and abilities to the benefit of the collective.⁠
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By investing in building upgrades, enhancing amenities, and implementing new initiatives, Building developers and employers are working to cultivate a living and workplace environment that values and supports the health and well-being of its occupants.⁠
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Check out the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion for more information or contact us at info@matthewsdesigngroup.ca

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Feb 24

What are the best ways to increase community health, and increase health for everyone regardless of ethnicity, race or gender? Promote an equitable culture and promote diversity and inclusion.⁠
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Addressing diversity in the workplace is complex and touches upon all of an organization’s operations, including hiring practices, determination of salary and wages, workplace culture and organizational structure. Projects that promote diversity in the workplace and espouse fair, equitable and just treatment toward their workforce through measurable actions drive both profit and positive culture, by reducing employee stress and increasing employee satisfaction and loyalty. It is necessary to promote an equitable culture and promote diversity and inclusion to increase community health.⁠
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By investing in building upgrades, enhancing amenities, and implementing new initiatives, Building developers and employers are working to cultivate a living and workplace environment that values and supports the health and well-being of its occupants.

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Feb 22

Did you know?⁠
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Architectural design can be a tool to improve the well-being of all communities. Many architects are exploring how architectural design can respond to the major challenges of our times, including social and economic inequality. They recognize that inequities based on wealth, race, gender, and physical ability are reinforced by patterns of land use and ownership.⁠
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Projects that improve social equity through architectural design include cohousing with shared common spaces, schools in low-income neighborhoods that incorporate healthcare services, barrier-free facilities for veterans with disabilities, neighborhoods where vacant ground-floor retail spaces are repurposed for community services, and solar energy cooperatives.⁠
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By investing in building upgrades, enhancing amenities, and implementing new initiatives, Building developers and employers are working to cultivate a living and workplace environment that values and supports the health and well-being of its occupants.⁠
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Want to explore your options for creating a healthy space? Call us or contact us at info@matthewsdesigngroup.ca

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Feb 20

According to the 2022 Canadian Diversity Disclosure Report by Osler, Women now hold 26% of board seats among all TSX-listed companies disclosing the number of women directors on their boards. Wow! When it comes to representation of women at publicly-traded corporations, Canadian companies have made a significant amount of progress in the last eight years!⁠
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By investing in building upgrades, enhancing amenities, and implementing new initiatives, Building developers and employers are working to cultivate a living and workplace environment that values and supports the health and well-being of its occupants.⁠
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Check out this article for more information: https://www.osler.com/en/resources/governance/2022/report-2022-diversity-disclosure-practices-diversity-and-leadership-at-canadian-public-companies?gclid=Cj0KCQiAtvSdBhD0ARIsAPf8oNmv65iRW2cV94EW34oqdutA-N1HV5dDnwBuctwN9vQ6KygI3jHV0FYaAmatEALw_wcB

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Feb 17

Congratulations to our client Vendure Retirement Communities on achieving WELL Precertification for the Waterview development located in Nelson, BC. The Waterview development, located in this quaint little Canadian city, is demonstrating global leadership in building health.⁠
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By implementing evidence-based strategies that prioritize the health and well-being of our grandparents, parents, and loved ones, as well as those who work in this space to care for them, Vendure is creating environments that are hospitality oriented, reduce employee stress and burnout, foster employee engagement and retention, and ensure the well-being of residents and families.⁠
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#WELLBuildingStandard #WeAreWELL #investingforhealth #wellbeing #wellness #workplacewellbeing #employeehealth #workplacehealth #healthybuildings #sustainabledesigns #wellbuildinginstitute #fitwel #kelownainteriordesign #health #interiordesign #westkelownainteriordesign #kelowna #okanagan #kelownanow #canada #kelownaliving #kelownabc #okanaganlife #okanaganlifestyle #ylw #westkelowna #britishcolumbia #okanaganliving #explorekelowna #okanaganvalley

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Feb 15

Did you know? ⁠
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Research has found that social inequality causes a wide range of health and social problems, from reduced life expectancy and higher infant mortality to poor educational attainment, lower social mobility, and increased levels of violence and mental illness.⁠
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Providing flexible & accessible community spaces within the community, such as support groups can positively impact the social and public lives of community members. Social cohesion has been positively associated with self-rated health, as well as objective outcomes including stroke and stroke mortality. ⁠
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By investing in building upgrades, enhancing amenities, and implementing new initiatives, Building developers and employers are working to cultivate a living and workplace environment that values and supports the health and well-being of its occupants.⁠
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Improving community design is one way to combat these health inequities. The WELL Community Standard focuses on ten concepts to support the development of health-focused, integrated, and supported communities. Call us or contact us at info@matthewsdesigngroup.ca

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Feb 13

Are you aware of the 50-30 Challenge? ⁠
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In December 2020, the Federal Government announced its 50 – 30 Challenge which asks Canadian organizations to aspire to gender parity on boards and senior management as well as 30% representation on boards and senior management of other underrepresented groups, including Aboriginal peoples, racialized persons, people living with disabilities (including invisible and episodic disabilities) and members of the LGBTQ2 community.⁠
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The Publicly Available Specification (https://whatworkstoolkit.elementor.cloud/) is available for download to any organization and interested participants can also sign up for the 50-30 challenge.⁠
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By investing in building upgrades, enhancing amenities, and implementing new initiatives, Building developers and employers are working to cultivate a living and workplace environment that values and supports the health and well-being of its occupants.

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Feb 8

Did you know?⁠
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Projects that do not consult stakeholders during planning and development processes often do not serve stakeholder needs and may even negatively impact the health and well-being of certain populations. In particular, studies show that low-income and minority populations are most often excluded from planning discussions and decision-making, leading to developments that do not address their needs and may even increase their exposure to a disproportionate burden of poor health conditions, displacement, pollution, crime and lack of access to opportunities and services.⁠
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Engaging diverse stakeholders from the project onset creates the opportunity for collaborative dialogue between key decision-makers, planners, and individuals who will be impacted by the project. Collecting stakeholder input can help a project identify and address its essential goals for health promotion and incorporate a design that best celebrates the project’s unique identity, culture, and place, creating a space that meets the needs of all stakeholders and enriches the well-being of both occupants and visitors.⁠
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By investing in building upgrades, enhancing amenities, and implementing new initiatives, Building developers and employers are working to cultivate a living and workplace environment that values and supports the health and well-being of its occupants.

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Feb 6

An interesting article by Osler did a deep dive into creating a comprehensive report on diversity disclosure practices in Canada, specifically focused on TSX-listed companies and CBCA corporations. ⁠
The 2022 report provides detailed disclosure on the representation of women in senior leadership positions at TSX-listed companies as well as the representation of women, members of visible minorities, Aboriginal peoples and persons with disabilities at publicly-traded corporations governed by the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA). ⁠
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The lack of representation of visible minorities, Indigenous peoples or persons with a disability among executive officers is often overlooked. However, much to our surprise in 2022 there was some progress. ⁠
- 8.3% of CBCA public company board seats were held by visible minorities⁠
- The number of CBCA public company board positions held by Indigenous peoples in is 17 ⁠
⁠- The number of CBCA public company board positions held by persons with disabilities is 10⁠
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These are celebratory achievements! Hopefully diversity, equity and inclusion continue to be encouraged in future years.⁠
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For more information on best practices to improve diversity and inclusion check out the full article here: https://www.osler.com/en/resources/governance/2021/report-2021-diversity-disclosure-practices-diversity-and-leadership-at-canadian-public-companies?gclid=Cj0KCQiAtvSdBhD0ARIsAPf8oNlvXXthLv29BLlusyQsSFrYMvJAHocW04f3KswSPIsOmFFab4EwcMEaAmKVEALw_wcB⁠
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By investing in building upgrades, enhancing amenities, and implementing new initiatives, Building developers and employers are working to cultivate a living and workplace environment that values and supports the health and well-being of its occupants.⁠
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WELL feature C12 requires projects to implement and report on internal policies and programs that promote diversity and inclusion, such as anti-discrimination and wage equity policies, anti-bias training and employee resources groups. Contact us at info@matthewsdesigngroup.ca

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Feb 1

Did you know?⁠
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More than 1 billion people, (about 15% of the global population), live with some type of disability. Among this population, nearly 200 million individuals experience difficulties in functioning within the built environment. By 2050, the global population of individuals aged 60 years and older is expected to total two billion, while children between the ages of 10-19 years currently make up 16% of the world’s population.⁠
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Buildings host a wide array of individuals from these diverse communities, yet despite the profound impact design can have on who is able to access, use and interact with a space, many environments are not designed with consideration of diverse⁠
individual needs or abilities. Universal design seeks to enhance the opportunity for all individuals to exist independently and comfortably in that space.⁠
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What should be done? Integrating universal design principles is the first step. When you accommodate diverse needs, you create a fully inclusive environment. Spaces and places that are truly inclusive are not limited to compliance with local code. Rather, they invite⁠
diverse individuals to use the space. Universal Design addresses multiple aspects of a built space, including infrastructure, signage, and technologies, and seeks to enhance the opportunity for all individuals to exist independently and comfortably in that space.⁠
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By investing in building upgrades, enhancing amenities, and implementing new initiatives, Building developers and employers are working to cultivate a living and workplace environment that values and supports the health and well-being of its occupants.⁠
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to cultivate a living and workplace environment that values and supports the health and well-being of its occupants.⁠
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Accessibility & Universal Design is an optimization found within the WELL Building. For more information on this topic contact us at info@matthewsdesigngroup.ca

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Jan 30

As a result of recent world events, our homes have become more than just a home for many of us. We now use this space for work, learning, exercise, and maybe even meditation.⁠
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According to recent green building standards, elements that contribute to Healthy Building Interior Design include:⁠
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☀️ Increase access to natural light to improve sleep, mood and more.⁠
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🌿 Bring in natural elements into the space to decrease levels of depression and anxiety.⁠
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☁️ Implement proper air ventilation to improve symptoms of respiratory illness and improve cognitive health.⁠
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Matthews Design Group is proud to be part of the global movement to transform our buildings and communities in ways that help people thrive. For more information on Healthy Building Certifications visit our website - link is in our bio! 🤍⁠
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