From pause spaces to recovery areas: how neuroinclusive design improves wellbeing

Find out why designing flexible, tailored and multifaceted workspaces with neurodiversity in mind allows teams to thrive at work.

According to recent research by Deloitte, between 10% and 20% of the global population is neurodivergent — with conditions that include autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and ADHD. With other research suggesting that teams with neurodivergent workers can be 30% more productive, designing a workplace where neurodivergent people can feel comfortable, in control and able to work at their best is a no-brainer. This is why, as part of their commitment to social and cultural diversity, Fora and the King’s Cross Estate are exploring neuroinclusive design practices at their latest building: The Jellicoe.

Bringing in the right team

With The Jellicoe marking a first step in designing workspaces with neuroinclusivity in mind, it was crucial to have experts advise on the project. This involved working with architecture and interior design firm, Universal Design Studio. Neurodiversity specialists were also brought on to explore how the building could accommodate the needs of neurodiverse workers. These specialists included Joan Love, a senior interior architecture lecturer at Leeds Beckett University, who specialises in neurodiversity in the built environment, and Jason Slocombe, architect and consultant at inclusive design agency, Motionspot.

“One of the things we talked about from the outset was giving people agency,” says Paul Gulati, director of Universal Design Studio. “That’s a fundamental part of designing contemporary, flexible workspaces. We all have different needs. By providing a range of possibilities for people, you’re also supporting, by proxy, neurodivergent people — giving them the feeling that they can change their environment.”

Gentle transitions

“Neurodivergent people often need longer to transition between different environmental states, from light to dark or from noisy to quiet,” says Slocombe. A large workspace, with lots of different areas, could prove stressful for a neurodivergent worker to navigate.

As a spatial transitioning specialist, Love recommended the avoidance of high-contrasting colour and light, plus subtle shifts in materiality between spaces. Another solution was to include pause spaces: small nooks between areas where people can sit and take a minute to recalibrate and reorientate before moving into a possibly overwhelming space. These are small, but impactful, design decisions.

To help workers enter more comfortably, the building also features alternative entrances to the main reception: one in the café, which is less formal, and one at the back, which is more discreet. People who want to avoid crowds and noise can use the latter, which also features sofas shaped specifically to allow people to pause once they enter.

Neurodivergent people often need longer to transition between different environmental states, from light to dark or from noisy to quiet.

Spaces to reset

“As inclusive designers, we acknowledge the inherent diversity in all populations and that design can impact some people more than others,” says Slocombe. “How are people’s energy affected — their sense of safety and comfort?”

For him, places where people can rest and recover are essential to workplace design. A key area in The Jellicoe is Floor 2, which features an indoor garden and a wellness suite — comprised of a parents’ room with a day bed, prayer room and meditation room. All of these are spaces where people can step away from their work to find some quiet and to ground themselves.

A neuroinclusive future

Although the possibilities of neuroinclusive design have begun to be explored within The Jellicoe, it’s only the beginning of Fora’s goal towards creating workspaces that cater for everyone. “The reality is that it’s very rare for people to achieve a fully, 100% inclusive space,” says Slocombe. “We’re all understanding a bit more about how differently people work and what their needs are. Any space is a good space where there’s consideration for other people in the design.” Love agrees: “The client wanted to listen to us, learn and take ideas on board. It’s really heartening and very promising for the future.”