The Air We Breathe: An Overlooked Driver of Workplace Performance WHAT THE OFFICE CAN LEARN FROM A 1958 SCHOOL Some of the most powerful influences on workplace performance are invisible. In Perkins Eastman’s workplace practice, we often find insights by looking beyond the office. One place we recently explored is UCLA Lab School, a mid-century campus that includes buildings designed by Richard Neutra and Robert Alexander. Here, we partnered with UCLA CONNECT to examine how learning interacts with indoor-outdoor settings and indoor environmental quality (IEQ). One straightforward insight from the study is that stepping outside periodically allows CO₂ levels to return to healthier levels, which helps maintain focus and mental clarity. This simple practice is directly applicable to offices, where indoor air quality can influence how employees feel, think, and perform.
IEQ Drives the Results Organizations Care About Cognitive performance Poor ventilation and elevated pollutants negatively affect response time and accuracy on cognitive tasks. Productivity Workplaces with better air quality and lower CO₂/VOC levels show higher performance and task effectiveness. Health & absenteeism Better IEQ is associated with fewer respiratory symptoms and lower absenteeism. Engagement & satisfaction Control over temperature, light, and ventilation improves comfort and occupant satisfaction. Well-being & retention Higher IEQ satisfaction correlates with broader well-being outcomes, which supports employee morale and long-term engagement.
At UCLA Lab School, teachers and students applied the study findings in their daily routines. Selected classrooms were equipped with IEQ sensors, providing real-time CO₂, temperature, humidity, and noise data. Making environmental conditions visible helped students see how their behavior affected air quality, leading to practical strategies like opening windows, adjusting room density and movement, and taking periodic fresh air breaks.