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Transportation + Mobility MOVING PEOPLE AND GOODS
Stairs on the Rise
Monumental stairs can inspire greater interaction, reduce energy costs,
and improve employee health and fitness.
By Shantala Weiss
In the wake of COVID-19, workplaces
are presented with a unique opportu-
nity to shape the future of corporate
culture and to use physical space
to foster a sense of community and
innovation that can’t be offered when
working from home. Building elements
that align with the goals of active,
sustainable and universal design have
the potential to play a crucial role in
post-pandemic commercial real estate.
COVID-19 has challenged vertical
transportation strategies in buildings,
which have historically relied on eleva-
tors. Ongoing concerns about physical
distancing and touching surfaces mean
that people may be reluctant to use
elevators. A well-dimensioned featured
stair offers enough space for people to
both ascend and descend simultane- Photo by Kat Ambrose, courtesy of Lovett Commercial
ously, giving occupants more room to One of three monumental staircases in Lovett Commercial’s Post
move compared to a narrow fire escape Houston project. It’s designed to fit within a fairly small footprint.
or elevator.
“COVID-19 noticeably accelerated the Jim Admiraal, executive vice presi- has brought an even greater focus on
trend of monumental stairs in offices dent of sales and preconstruction at health and wellness at work, so we
and other commercial spaces,” said Synergi, a national stair design-led expect to see that trend continue.”
subcontractor. “We saw an immediate
Extending far beyond hygiene and
spike in design plans featuring stairs as
social distancing guidelines, the
Activity-friendly a primary vertical mode of transport for
COVID-19 crisis has illuminated a
buildings can be major projects all over the U.S.”
wider point about workplace wellness
created by integrating Beyond COVID-19 standards. Positive and engaging work
Pandemic-related concerns aren’t the cultures have a direct impact on perfor-
active design only reasons stairs are becoming a mance, and face-to-face interactions
philosophies into prominent consideration in buildings, are by far the most important activity
in an office, according to a recent Har-
a building’s circulation said Hansoo Kim, principal and design
vard Business Review article. Because
director at architecture firm Gensler.
systems — especially of that, companies should examine
“Architectural staircases have been a
its stairs and elevators. trend in projects going back several
whether the design of their workspaces
helps or hurts performance.
years, as companies aim to make
workplaces healthier and encourage “Accidental collisions” — impromptu
movement,” he said. “The pandemic conversations that lead to creative
58 DEVELOPMENT SUMMER | 2021
www.naiop.org
According to a study published by the
American Journal of Preventative Medicine,
seven minutes of stair climbing a day over
10 years halves the risk of a heart attack.
collaboration — are key to innova- “We’re acutely aware of the impor- between employees they see and
tion and play a crucial role in work- tance of good staircase design; we’re meet on the stairs.”
place satisfaction, according to Work working to make stairs more prominent
Design’s article “How to Create More in our building design to encourage A Way to Step Up
Collisions in Your Workplace.” These people to take advantage and reap Physical Activity
chance meetings encourage employ- the benefits,” said Brian Collins, who The role building elements play in
ees to connect in ways they might not leads Microsoft’s Real Estate and Fa- encouraging physical activity depends
otherwise and can have surprisingly cilities Change Management Program. largely on their design, according to
positive results. These unexpected “We know stairs offer the benefits of a recent NPR article, “One Step to
conversations create opportunities for being healthier and more mobile in the Combat Obesity: Make Stairs More
collaboration, and that kind of engage- workplace, but they are also a tool to Attractive.” The design of stairs
ment pays for itself. drive connections and conversations can either promote or deter activity
something’s different.
Our keen sense of vision and depth of knowledge create an
experience which allows our developer clients to focus on
securing deals with peace of mind.
Experience the Difference.
WILLMENG.COM | ROC #082904, Class B-01
SUMMER | 2021 DEVELOPMENT 59
Transportation + Mobility
Monumental Staircases in Action
through their availability, convenience,
Lovett Commercial is showcasing three monumental staircases in three
desirability, safety and comfort. Poorly
separate atriums in its Post Houston project, which is a redevelopment
placed stairs, non-ergonomic design
of the former Barbara Jordan Post Office in Houston. Despite featuring
and elevators are just a few of the fea-
40,000 square feet of available space in the building’s food hall, staircase
tures that not only discourage physical
design considerations for the atriums prioritized maximizing the allotted
activity but potentially neutralize other
ground level space for the roughly 30 food and retail vendor and kiosks
features designed to promote it.
anticipated to operate within it.
Activity-friendly buildings can be
The resulting “O” staircase is optimized to fit within a relatively small
created by integrating active design
footprint, and its double-helix design lands double the impact in terms
philosophies into a building’s circula-
of vertical mobility for occupants — just in time for its unveiling to the
tion systems — especially its stairs
public in a post-pandemic world.
and elevators. Because stairs are al-
ready present in almost every building A spokesperson for Lovett Commercial shares some cost and design con-
and readily used without presenting siderations for building Post Houston’s monumental staircases:
any major lifestyle changes, they have
• Renovation vs. new construction. “Lovett’s decision to retain and
potential for accessible, effective and
redevelop the historic building differed from other interested parties
economical impacts on health. Accord-
who would have demolished the building and built something new.
ing to a study published by the Ameri-
Embracing the history of the building resulted in a unique design un-
can Journal of Preventative Medicine,
like anything else in the city.”
seven minutes of stair climbing a day
over 10 years halves the risk of a heart • Attachment to an execptionally strong superstructure. “The structure
attack. The same study also found that of the existing building is remarkably robust. Built to federal building
just two minutes of stair climbing a standards in the 1960s, it even includes two nuclear bomb shelters.
day was enough to offset the average The over-engineered concrete structure allowed us to build additional
American’s middle-age weight gain of structures on the roof, including restaurant pavilions and landscap-
one pound a year. ing.”
Building users are looking to be more • Taking advantage of incentives. “The building is listed on the Na-
active at work, with many owners now tional Register of Historic Places, and we are taking advantage of the
obtaining Fitwel and WELL accredita- Historic Tax Credit program to offset development costs. Additional
tion for their buildings. Prominently support is coming from the Downtown TIRZ (Tax Increment Reinvest-
featuring and giving people access ment Zone) to offset costs of improvements that benefit the public
to stairs is a key aspect of WELL; it like landscaping, streetscape improvements, and a rooftop farm and
encourages occupants to move about, park.”
socialize and stay fit. WELL Fitness • Directing occupants to amenities using design. “The 40,000-square-
Feature 64, for example, recognizes foot food hall, which features a dramatic double-helix stair, connects
designs that encourage workers to be the dining area to office space above, and ultimately leads to the
active indoors with “accessible, safe, most prominent amenity feature, a 5.5-acre rooftop farm and park.
and visually appealing stairs, entry- The park is open to the public and includes restaurants and bars with
ways, and corridors.” dramatic skyline views.” n
Design strategies that improve health
(active design) also tend to benefit the
environment. For example, elevators Because not everyone can easily the primary means of vertical circula-
and other conveying systems can navigate stairs — consider wheel- tion unless there is an emergency.
account for up to 10% of a building’s chairs, strollers and heavy packages, Most building codes regulate stairs
energy consumption; decreasing their for example — monumental stairs may as the primary means of emergency
use creates significant energy savings. seem counterintuitive to accessibility. egress while discouraging elevator use
Further energy is conserved when open Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for emergency evacuations.
stairs double as a lightwell, illuminating guidelines and universal design strate- continued on page 62
spaces that would otherwise be dark. gies generally focus on elevator use as
60 DEVELOPMENT SUMMER | 2021
Transportation + Mobility
continued from page 60
Buildings that
Accessibility Considerations feature stairs as a primary vertical
However, an integrated vertical circula- pathway means occupants will be feature stairs as
tion system incorporating stairs and more familiar with and likely to use a primary vertical
elevators can enhance accessibility stairs in the event of an emergency.
for both ambulatory and mobility- That will leave more elevators available pathway mean
challenged occupants. Buildings that for those who rely on them. occupants will be
more familiar with
and likely to use stairs
in the event of an
emergency. That will
leave more elevators
available for those
The Gramercy Residences Northgate Distribution Center
who rely on them.
“In a post-pandemic world, staircases
also provide an alternative to small
elevator cars, which may have reduced
capacity or be prioritized for those who
cannot use stairs,” Kim said.
Wyndham Desert Blue Resort Ainsworth North American Headquarters The stairs themselves can be designed
to improve usability for all those who
make use of them.
“We want to ensure our stair design is
accessible, so we’re including tactile
surfaces at each stair landing with
high-contrast stair nosing to aid people
navigating our workplaces who may be
Elysian at Hughes Center Luxury Apartments PACCAR Parts Distribution Facility blind or have low vision,” said Collins.
“We’re also using continuously
graspable stairway handrailing to help
users navigate stairs more safely with
handrails on both sides of the stairs
for bidirectional travel.”
While the recent “rediscovery” of
interconnecting stairs as a design
Auric Symphony Park Amazon LAS Fulfillment Center feature was catalyzed by COVID-19’s
social distancing guidelines, stairs are
Over 45 years, Martin-Harris has become the a building tool that meet the goals
contractor of choice helping owners and
of many prominent design trends.
developers discover excellence -- and it shows!
Increases in stair use can have positive
We are proud to be the 2021 NAIOP Southern
Nevada General Contracting Firm of the Year and health and lifestyle effects, create a
the 2020 ENR Southwest Contractor of the Year. more sustainable future, and improve
accessibility for all building occupants
Learn more at www.martinharris.com.
when integrated with elevators. n
Shantala Weiss is the senior marketing manager
with Synergi.
62 DEVELOPMENT SUMMER | 2021
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