Leased & Co-working Spaces Case Study

ASID
Washington, DC, USA

Founded in 1975, the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) is the oldest, largest and only multi-disciplinary professional organization for interior designers and interior design students, as well as the manufacturers and suppliers who support the profession.

When the organization was planning to move to new corporate headquarters in downtown Washington, DC, they were determined to create a space that reflects their strongly-held belief in the power of design to positively impact people’s lives.

Accordingly, the organization pursued WELL™ and LEED® certification as part of their 11-year lease arrangement with the building’s owner, Carr Properties, and with the help of architecture and design firm Perkins+Will and Savills Studly. ASID covered many of the upgrade costs, knowing it would pay off in terms of energy savings, employee productivity and retention.

One of the WELL standard’s key criterion involves implementation of an acoustical strategy that reduces exterior noise intrusion and controls indoor noise levels. To achieve a soothing, distraction-free environment in their 8,5000 ft2 (790 m2) space, ASID used barriers, absorption and LogiSon sound masking.

The space became the first in the world to achieve Platinum Level Certification for both WELL (under WELL v1) and LEED (under LEED ID+C)—the highest recognition awarded by the USGBC and IWBI—and now serves as a showcase for design’s impact on human experience. Staff retention is well above historical standards and ASID has observed a direct and significant influence on employee productivity, efficiency and creativity. A Cornell University study found that ASID employees’ satisfaction with environmental variables such as noise reduction and speech privacy also increased their sense of ownership and pride in their workplace (i.e. place attachment).