The ethereal transparent cube that forms the ground floor lobby at 200 West Madison in Chicago is a positive introduction to the structure for visitors, is a great space for people waiting for appointments in the building to spend time, and enhances positive experiences for people who work in the building.
The lobby is flooded with natural light, which, as reported regularly in Research Design Connections, has a positive influence on humans’ mental and physical wellbeing. The psychological goodwill generated by that daylight generally compensates for the tension induced by the sharp shapes in Louise Nevelson’s Dawn Shadows, the major sculpture in the space.
The area has a variety of places for visitors to sit. Some can choose seats quite near Nevelson’s sculpture on benches, while others can sit near the green wall towards the back of the space – and research continues to show that green walls improve our mental performance, as they freshen our air.
That green wall, titled “Spring,” was created by artists Dan Cheetham and Michelle Tarsney. So was “Soar” which hangs overhead and is composed of kite-like panels. “Soar” adds gentle motion to the space, which is a tenet of biophilic design. People are more comfortable in spaces incorporating biophilic design elements, as discussed often in Research Design Connections.
The reception desk is toward the back of the space. People are drawn to it because it is located in an area with a lower, solid (non-transparent glass) ceiling and opaque walls on several sides—being near it gives people a view out over the entire lobby from a spot that seems secure—which in biophilic design terms is known as providing “prospect and refuge.”
Next time you’re in Chicago, drop by 200 West Madison to see positive applications of environment-behavior research.