The Role of Buildings and Sites in Promoting Physical Activity

Craig Zimring, PhD College of ArchitectureGeorgia Institute of Technology

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2001

Source: Mokdad A H, et al. J Am Med Assoc 1999;282:16, 2001;286:10.

Prevalence (%) of overweight among children and adolescents

ages 6-19 years

Source: 1999-2000 NHANES

Why Do People Do Physical Activity?

Intentional Incidental Hybrid

Physical Activities In or Near Buildings

• Walking• Biking• Stair climbing• Running • Use of indoor exercise

facilities on/off site• Use of outdoor facilities

on/off site • Occupational/

household activities

Strategies for Encouraging Physical Activity

Pull: Make PA attractive

Push: Make sedentary alternatives less appealing

Environmental Factors at Different Scales

Personal Factors

Environmental FactorsAesthetics Comfort Safety Availability Convenience Legibility

Physical Activity

Organizational Factors

URBANSITEBUILDINGELEMENT

Harvard Alumni Health Study

In a study of more than 11,000 men, climbing at least 20 floors per week was associated with a 20% lower risk of stroke or death from all causes

Source: Lee & Paffenbarger, 1998; Lee, personal communication

Designing Activity-Friendly Buildings and Adding Steps for Better Health

If people spent only one more minute per day going upstairs, they would burn an extra 2900 kcal per year, or .8 pounds. For only 2 minutes per day, that’s more than 1.5 pounds per year. This would eliminate all weight gain among US adults. Heavier people will get more benefit.

Source: Kerr, Nicole Angelique MPH, Centers for Disease Control Stairwell Project slide set

Source: Jim Sallis Ph.D., San Diego State University

BEFORE

AFTER

Paint, art, music, signs and music increased persistent stair use by 14% for $16,000 Source: Kerr et al, 2004

Stair Use Statistics

Motivational Signage

Kerr J., Eves F., & Carroll D. (2001)

Motivational Signage

Anderson R. E., Franckowski S., et al (1998)

Motivational Signage and Aesthetic Upgrades

Boutelle, K., Jeffrey, R. W., Murray D. M., & Schmitz K. (2001)

Percentage stair use

Sta

ir P

rom

oti

on

Stu

die

s

0% 5% 10% 15% 20%

Intervention Values

Baseline Values

DOWNUP

UP

5 A

5 B

B E le v a to r

A x ia l L in e re p re s e n tin g M o s t In te g ra te d P a th

B o rd e r o f S ta ir E f fe c t i v e A r e a s

I s o v is t s

B u ild in g E n tra n c e

S ta ir 5 A E f fe c t iv e A r e a

4 9 .2 % O c c u p a n t L o a d

3 6 .0 % S ta ir U s e

2 7 .0 %

S ta ir 5 B E f fe c t iv e A r e a

5 0 .8 % O c c u p a n t L o a d

6 4 .0 % S ta ir U s e

1 2 .8 %

E le v a to r E le v a t o r U s e

6 0 .2 %

1 s t F lo o r P la n

Low Stair Use: 39.8%

Must pass elevator to get to stairs

Stairs out of direct sight

Must turn to get to stairs

Source: Nicoll 2006

2 n d F lo o r P la n

A x ia l L in e r e p re s e n t in g M o s t In te g ra te d P a th

B o rd e r o f S ta i r E f f e c t i v e A r e a s

3 A

3 B

3 C

I s o v i s t s

B u i ld in g E n tr a n c e

S ta ir 3 B E f fe c t i v e A r e a

3 5 .7 % O c c u p a n t L o a d

2 5 .2 % S t a ir U s e

5 .0 %

S ta ir 3 A E f fe c t i v e A r e a

3 4 .7 % O c c u p a n t L o a d

4 6 .9 % S t a ir U s e

7 7 .6 %

S ta ir 3 C E f fe c t i v e A r e a

3 2 .5 % O c c u p a n t L o a d

2 7 .9 % S t a ir U s e

2 .5 %

E le v a to r E le v a t o r U s e

1 4 .8 %

High Stair Use: 85.1%

Stairs in direct view

No turns to stairs

Elevator out of direct sight

www.activelivingresearch.org

Active Living Research is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Caltrans District 7 HeadquartersCaltrans District 7 HeadquartersMorphosis Design 2004Morphosis Design 2004

750,000 square foot 1,700 state employees from the

California Department of Transportation

Investigators:Dr. Craig ZimringDr. Gayle NicollKeith JundanianSelen OkcuDr. Sheila BoschDr. William H. KohlCheryl Fuller Figure 3: Typical office plan of

the Caltrans District 7 Headquarters Building

Figure 2: Photos of the Caltrans District 7 Headquarters Building

Photo Credit: Gayle Nicoll

www.activelivingresearch.org

Active Living Research is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Stair use in skip-stop core

• 245 flights/day per stair • Used by 72%

Fire stair use traditional core

• 7.5 flights/day per stair

www.activelivingresearch.org

Active Living Research is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

CASE STUDY: STAIR DESIGN AND CASE STUDY: STAIR DESIGN AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITYPHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Office workers became more satisfied with skip stop elevators

0

10

20

30

40

50

Satisfied Dissatisfied

Initally

Currently

Site: Site Design

“Pull” factors for walking

• Good aesthetics• Visible sidewalks• Pedestrian amenities

“Push” factors away from walking

• Fear of crime• Weather• Not seeing others• Barriers• Distances over ¼ mile

A N J A L I J O S E P H

Anjali Joseph Dissertation Research

WHERE OLDER ADULTS WALK

Research Question:

What aspects of indoor and outdoor paths influence where people walk?

A N J A L I J O S E P H

Preference for looped outdoor routes:

Small contained loops

• Long smooth segments

• Short distance traveled

• Reasons – safety, views

Loops through nature

• Many turns

• Many short segments

• Reasons – variations in scenery

Perimeter loops

• Long, smooth segments

• Long distance

• Most Challenging

• Reasons – exercise, distance traveled, views

A N J A L I J O S E P H

DESIGN IMPLICATIONS

Considerations for designers: Race tracks or loops Routes of different lengths and

challenge Integrate nature trails Eliminate barriers to

transition from buildings Access to community physical activity

resources Carefully design indoor corridors Provide connections between campus

buildings Balance distance and convenience

To Do

Capitalize on stairs

• Accessible• Visible • Pleasant• Point-of-decision prompts

Take advantage of sites

• Provide access to rec facilities• Add pull for walking:

connections, amenities, aesthetics, visiblity

• Reduce barriers: dim lighting, poor connections to buildings

It’s all downhill from here