In the newly renovated headquarters for RiverRock Real Estate Group, in Orange County, California, the floor plan has the ability to shift and change to reflect the needs of employees. The design employs zoning, which features a mix of private, semiprivate and open zones that cater to the evolving needs of their employees. “Providing a variety of spaces allows people, especially neurodivergent individuals, to regulate their desired level of interaction and privacy,” Nasland says. “Often, with too much open space, occupants are stripped of the opportunity to decide whether, when and how long they want to engage with others, which can be very overwhelming. Research has shown that the inability to control interactions intuitively discourages occupants from using the space.” “In the scientific environment, lab spaces tend to be stark white, noisy and brightly lit, which can be difficult for sensitive individuals,” Mandujano says. Providing quiet restorative spaces for respite from sensory overload; focus rooms with different lighting, noise and color choices; and furniture and technological tools that allows movement and adaptability can “accommodate personal preferences and alternate processes,” she says. Simple wayfinding, such as signage and other mechanisms situated at eye level, customarily play a key role in helping individuals comfortably navigate a space. But some neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with ASD and heightened sensitivity levels, are uncomfortable making eye contact, and consequently struggle to travel through a space with traditional eye-level signage. Additionally, people with neurodiversity are likely to process spatial mapping differently, and often rely on additional senses than just sight, requiring alternative methods to assist in wayfinding. By limiting wayfinding strategies, the sense of feeling lost can cause heightened anxiety levels for neurodiverse people. “When someone walks into a space, design nuances typically catch the eye, and neurodiverse people are often more sensitive to these nuances,” Sonaly says. Ideally, simple floor plans and intuitive layouts can be accessible to all ages and abilities. But the balanced solution lies in utilizing floors, walls and even ceilings for a greater variety of wayfinding strategies that also appeal to more senses, like tactile and auditory cues. This can take the form of diversifying patterns, shapes and textures along floors and landscapes. It can also be achieved with biophilic design and other creative elements; the RiverRock design included accent gabion walls and a sensory-minded art collection throughout its office, helping to create different touchpoints for defining the space. “We want all users to connect with a variety of wayfinding implements that are both active and subtle,” Sonaly says. “Why limit our creativity to only signage? Colors, textures and patterns can all play an important role as part of the wayfinding.” A Larger Focus on Universal Design In some ways, the discussion of neurodiversity and design is too limiting. In many ways, all the elements that support neurodiverse individuals also promote comfort and achievement in neurotypical individuals. “As one size doesn’t fit all neural processes, our focus is on universal experiential design to ensure the space accommodates all individuals,” Sonaly says. The common understanding of universal design takes into account the spectrum of physical abilities. However, to truly embody universal design, the conversation should also consider the spectrum of human thinking. Designing spaces to be more inclusive and accommodating for all is a critical step toward supporting individuals with neurodiversity. “We can start by making room for a wider variety of people at the table, asking the right questions and listening with empathy,” Nasland says. “When we design for the neurodiverse population, the environments become more inviting, easier to navigate and more responsive to emotional and cognitive needs, which enhances the experience for everyone.” KEY TERMS Neurodiverse: referring to the group of people with a variety of neurological conditions Neurodivergent: individuals who think and process information in a different way than the norms of a particular culture Neurotypical: individuals who think and process information in ways that are typical to their culture Hypersensitive: individuals who can easily experience sensory overload or overstimulation Hyposensitive: individuals who have decreased ability to experience sensory stimulation In school environments, light, acoustics and materials can play an important role in making students feel safe and comfortable. 23
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