----------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
Volume 10, Issue 1 (Semi-Annual 2025)                   CIAUJ 2025, 10(1): 115-131 | Back to browse issues page


XML Persian Abstract Print


Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:

Fathi M, Sajjadzadeh H. Evaluating the Role of Physical and Spatial Factors of Architectural and Urban Planning Educational and Research Centers in Employee Productivity. CIAUJ 2025; 10 (1) :115-131
URL: http://ciauj-tabriziau.ir/article-1-557-en.html
1- Department of Architecture, Borujerd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Borujerd, Iran
2- Department of Urbanism, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran , sajadzadeh@basu.ac.ir
Abstract:   (357 Views)
The primary goal of designing office spaces is to create an environment where employees can perform their tasks optimally. Among the factors that affect employee productivity, environmental and physical factors play a significant role, and this role is particularly important in research centers where knowledge creation and research activities are conducted. This is because the productivity of the workforce plays a more prominent role in these work patterns. Considering the role of environmental factors and the importance of research centers among office spaces, the aim of this paper is to elucidate a conceptual model of the relationship between environmental variables that affect employee productivity in research centers. The research is developmental in terms of its purpose and descriptive in terms of its method. After a review of the literature, 31 initial variables were extracted and reduced to 16 variables based on expert opinions using the Delphi method. The variables were classified into three levels according to Whisler's model. The data collection tool was a questionnaire, and the study population included 4 architecture and urban research centers in Tehran. In the inferential analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and partial least squares (PLS) path analysis were used to test the hypotheses using the LISREL.10.2 software. The findings of the research showed that the physical, functional, and psychological dimensions of the work environment have a significant impact on the productivity of employees in Tehran's architecture and urban research centers. Among these, the most important physical factors are, in order: temperature and ventilation, noise and acoustics, lighting and ergonomics. The most important functional factors are, in order: office layout, dimensions and proportions, spatial organization, naturalism and transparency. The most important psychological factors are, in order: privacy, security, interactions, and ownership. The work pattern also has the strongest relationship with psychological factors and no significant relationship with physical factors.
Full-Text [PDF 1221 kb]   (38 Downloads)    
Type of Study: Original Article | Subject: the comparative studies of Architecture and Urbanism in the realm of Cultural Iran
Received: 2024/05/5 | Accepted: 2025/04/20 | ePublished: 2025/06/30

References
1. Akhtar N, Ali S, Salman M, Ijaz A. (2014) "Interior Design And Its Impact On Of Employeesproductivity In Telecom Sector", Pakistan. Journal Of Asian Business Strategy;4(6):74-82.
2. AlHorr, Y., Arif, M., Kaushik, A., Mazroei, A., Katafygiotou, M., & Elsarrag, E. (2016). Occupant Productivity And Office Indoor Environment Quality: A Review Of The Literature. Building And Environment, 105: 369-389. [DOI:10.1016/j.buildenv.2016.06.001]
3. Aries, M. B., Veitch, J. A., & Newsham, G. R. (2010). Windows, view, and office characteristics predict physical and psychological discomfort. Journal of environmental psychology, 30(4): 533-541. [DOI:10.1016/j.jenvp.2009.12.004]
4. Azizi, H., & Tazikeh Lemski, I. (2020). The Effect of Environmental Factors on Staff Productivity in Office Space; Case Study: Information Technology Companies of Iran. Armanshahr Architecture & Urban Development, 12(29): 113-124. [In Persian]
5. Barbadilla-Martín, E., Lissen, Jms., Guadix Martín, Jg., Aparicio-Ruiz, P., & Brotas, L. (2017). Field Study On Adaptive Thermal Comfort In Mixed Mode Office Buildings In Southwestern Area Of Spain. Building And Environment, 123, 163-175. [DOI:10.1016/j.buildenv.2017.06.042]
6. Bisadi, M., Mozafar, F., Hosseini, B. (2013). Spatial Aspects of Public Areas Affecting the Researchers Creativity and Innovation in an Architecture and Urban Design Research Center Print', Technology of Education Journal (TEJ), 7(2), 137-147. [In Persian]
7. Choi, J. H., & Moon, J. (2017). Impacts Of Human And Spatial Factors On User Satisfaction In Office Environments. Building And Environment, 114: 23-35. [DOI:10.1016/j.buildenv.2016.12.003]
8. Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly, And Keith Sawyer. )2014(. Shifting The Focus From Individual To Organizational Creativity. In The Systems Model Of Creativity: The Collected Works Of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Edited By Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: 67-71. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands. [DOI:10.1007/978-94-017-9085-7_6]
9. Davis, M. C., Leach, D. J., & Clegg, C. W. (2011). The physical environment of the office: Contemporary and emerging issues. [DOI:10.1002/9781119992592.ch6]
10. Dykes, C. & Baird, G. (2013). A Review Of Questionnaire-Based Methods Used For Assessing And Benchmarking Indoor Environmental Quality. Intelligent Buildings International, 5: 135-149. [DOI:10.1080/17508975.2013.783457]
11. Ekwe, M. C. (2013). Effect of Intellectual Capitals On Employee Productivity Of Banks In Developing Economies: The Nigeria Experience. Research Journal of Finance And Accounting. 11: 139-149.
12. Fathi M, Sajjadzadeh H, Moini S. (2023). Effect of Physical and Spatial Factors of High-Rise Official Buildings in Karaj City, Iran, on Employee Productivity. GeoRes; 38 (1) :55-64. [in Persian]
13. Ghanbaran A, Ebrahimpour R, Payedar Ardakani P, Tohidi Moghadam M. (2018) The Role of Lighting, Window Views and Indoor Plants on Stress Reduction of Offices' Staffs by Psychophysics method. ioh; 14 (6) :135-147. [In Persian]
14. Giri, Vijai N, Kumar B, (2013) Pavan.Assessing The Impact Of Organizational Communication On Job Satisfaction And Job Performance, Psychological Studies: 55(2):137-143. [DOI:10.1007/s12646-010-0013-6]
15. Golmohammadi R, Pirmoradi Z, Motamedzade M, faradmal J. (2020) Assessing lighting and color Temperature In The Office Workplaces And Relationship To Visual Comfort. ioh; 17 (1) :1-10. [In Persian]
16. Gray, T. & Birrell, C. (2014). Are Biophilic-Designed Site Office Buildings Linked To Health Benefits And High Performing Occupants? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 11: 12204-12222. [DOI:10.3390/ijerph111212204]
17. Hadadzadegan, H., Zomorodian, Z. S., Tahsildoost, M., & Jamy, S. (2021). Evaluating the effective environmental factors on the satisfaction of patients and companions with the patient's rooms in Tehran hospitals. Journal of Iranian Architecture & Urbanism(JIAU), 12(1): 251-264. [In Persian]
18. Haynes, B.P. (2008). Impact of Workplace Connectivity on Office Productivity. Journal Of Corporate Real Estate, 10(4): 286-30. [DOI:10.1108/14630010810925145]
19. Haynes, B.P. (2009). Research Design For The Measurement Of Perceived Office Productivity. Intelligent Buildings International, 1(3): 169-183. [DOI:10.3763/inbi.2009.0014]
20. Haynes, B.P., Suckley, L., & Nunnington, N. (2017). Workplace Productivity and Office Type: An Evaluation Of Office Occupier Differences Based On Age And Gender. Journal of Corporate Real Estate, 19 (2): 111-138. [DOI:10.1108/JCRE-11-2016-0037]
21. Higgins, Elaine Hall, Kate Wall, Pam Woolner, Caroline Mccaughey.(2005). The Impact Of School Environments: A Literature Review Produced For The Design Council.
22. Hoff, E. V., & Öberg, N. K. (2015). The Role Of The Physical Work Environment For Creative Employees-A Case Study Of Digital Artists. The International Journal Of Human Resource Management, 26(14): 1889-1906. [DOI:10.1080/09585192.2014.971842]
23. Howard, M. C. (2016). A review of exploratory factor analysis decisions and overview of current practices: What we are doing and how can we improve?. International journal of human-computer interaction, 32(1): 51-62. [DOI:10.1080/10447318.2015.1087664]
24. Knight, C., & Haslam, S. A. (2010). The Relative Merits of Lean, Enriched, and Empowered Offices: An Experimental Examination Of The Impact Of Workspace Management Strategies On Well-Being And Productivity. Journal Of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 16(2): 158-172. [DOI:10.1037/a0019292]
25. Laing. A, Duffy. F, Jaunzens. D, Willis. S, (1998). New Environments for Working: The Re-Design of Offices and Environmental Systems For New Ways Of Working, London, Construction Research Communications Ltd.
26. Leaman, A. Bordass, W. (2005), Productivity In Buildings: The Killer Variables. Publication: The Usable Buildings Trust.
27. Rahmani A, Vaziri Nezhad R, Ahmadi Nia H, Rezaeian M. (2020). Methodological Principles and Applications of the Delphi Method: A Narrative Review. JRUMS 2020; 19 (5): 515-538 [In Persian]. [DOI:10.29252/jrums.19.5.515]
28. Samani, S. A., & Rasid, S. Z. B. A. (2014). A workplace to support creativity. Industrial Engineering and Management Systems, 13(4): 414-420. [DOI:10.7232/iems.2014.13.4.414]
29. Seddigh, A., Stenfors, C., Berntsson, E., Bååth, R., Sikström, S., & Westerlund, H. (2015). The Association between Office Design and Performance on Demanding Cognitive Tasks. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 42: 172-181. [DOI:10.1016/j.jenvp.2015.05.001]
30. Shahcheraghi, A. Bandarabad. A (2014). Surrounded by the environment, application of environmental psychology in architecture and urban planning. 1st edition, Tehran: Jihad Academic Publications. [In Persian]
31. Shahzad, S., Brennan, J., Theodossopoulos, D., Hughes, B., & Calautit, J. K. (2017). Energy and Comfort in Contemporary Open Plan and Traditional Personal Offices. Applied Energy, 185, 1542-1555. [DOI:10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.02.100]
32. Shams Esfandabad, H. (2014). Environmental Psychology. first edition, Tehran: Samit Publications [In Persian].
33. Singh, M.K., Ooka, R., Rijal, H., & Takasu, M., (2017). Adaptive Thermal Comfort in the Offices Of North-East India In Autumn Season. Building and Environment, 124: 14-30. [DOI:10.1016/j.buildenv.2017.07.037]
34. Sun, Y., Hou, J., Cheng, R., Sheng, Y., Zhang, X., & Sundell, J. (2019). Indoor air quality, ventilation and their associations with sick building syndrome in Chinese homes. Energy and Buildings, 197: 112-119. [DOI:10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.05.046]
35. Tabe-Afshar S, Toofan S, Saghafi-Asl A. (2022) Studying the Role of Workplaces Layout on Employees Health: Sick Building Syndrome. Iran J Ergon 2022; 9 (4):199-210. [DOI:10.18502/iehfs.v9i4.14299]
36. Thach, T. Q., Mahirah, D., Dunleavy, G., Nazeha, N., Zhang, Y., Tan, C. E. H & Car, J. (2019). Prevalence Of Sick Building Syndrome And Its Association With Perceived Indoor Environmental Quality In An Asian Multi-Ethnic Working Population. Building and Environment, 166, 106420. [DOI:10.1016/j.buildenv.2019.106420]
37. Thatcher, A., Adamson, K., Bloch, L., & Kalantzis, A. (2020). Do Indoor Plants Improve Performance And Well-Being In Offices? Divergent Results from Laboratory and Field Studies. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 71, 101487. [DOI:10.1016/j.jenvp.2020.101487]
38. Vakilnejad, R, Shaeri, J. (2020). Evaluation of Thermal Comfort Zone in Naturally Ventilated Offices in Bushehr, .Hoviatshahr. 14(4): 61-72 [In Persian].
39. Veitch Jennifer A, Galasiu, Anca D (2012). The Physiological and Psychological Effects of Windows, Daylight, and View At Home: Review and Research Agenda. National Research Council Canada, Pp 2-28. [DOI:10.1037/e554552013-001]
40. Veitch. J. A., Charles. K. E, Farley Kelly. M.J., Newsham. G. R. (2007). A Model of Satisfaction with Open-Plan Office Conditions: Cope Field Findings, Journal of Environmental Psychology 27: Pp. 177-189. [DOI:10.1016/j.jenvp.2007.04.002]
41. Vischer, J. C. (2007). The Concept of Workplace Performance and Its Value to Managers. California Management Review, 49(2): 62-79. [DOI:10.2307/41166383]
42. Vischer, J. C., & Wifi, M. (2017). The effect of workplace design on quality of life at work. In Handbook of environmental psychology and quality of life research (pp. 387-400). Springer, Cham. [DOI:10.1007/978-3-319-31416-7_21]
43. Vischer, J.C. (2008). Towards An Environmental Psychology Of Workspace: How People Are Affected By Environments For Work. Architectural Science Review,volume 51.2: 97-108. [DOI:10.3763/asre.2008.5114]
44. World Green Building Council (2014). Health, Wellbeing & Productivity in Offices. World Green
45. Zebardast, E. (2017). Exploratory Factor Analysis in Urban and Regional Planning. Journal of Fine Arts: Architecture & Urban Planning, 22(2): 5-18. [In Persian]

Send email to the article author


Rights and permissions
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

© 2025 CC BY-NC 4.0 | Culture of Islamic Architecture and Urbanism Journal

Designed & Developed by : Yektaweb