We've come a long way in understanding the connection between architecture, design and communication. As a coach and facilitator, I've always been fascinated with how one's environment can affect the success of interactions so that the best insights occur and the best decisions are made. 

In the book Innovations in Mass Timber: Sequestering Carbon with Style in Commercial Buildings by Boyce Thompson, the author notes that mass timber (composite wood bound together) in an interior can actually decrease blood pressure and change physiology. Imagine the implifications for a mediation or heated meeting. There are many ways in which health and perspective can be improved by paying attention to the environment. 

In Creating Biophilic Buildings by Amanda Sturgeon, FAIA, architecture is integrated with systems of nature, paying attention to light, heat, energy and the social networks of the community in which a structure is developed. With my focus on networking, I have a particular interest in how our social interactions might be enriched by design of meeting spaces. 

For a coach / facilitator to optimize the effects of the environment, I suggest: 

1)   Finding a space which is uplifting to the spirit - green, natural, orderly. 

2)  Moving around and creating a positive energy within the space, as needed. 

3)  Ensuring that light is abundant and sound appropriate to the gathering.  

Now that I'm semi-retired, I have more time to reflect on how my environment has affected my work over the years. I've always paid attention to my office. In my office in my most recent leadership role, I had an extra large picture of Bryant Park in New York City on the wall, and I had plants and books through the office. When I was at a public mulltilateral institution working in leadership and teamwork, I always designed my walls to set a a tone of beauty and natural design. 

In this phase, I can really pay more attention to beautiful design principles that I observe in structures, and think about how they affect the individuals involved. We live in VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) times, and good architecture can play a role in setting a more serene tone for the interactions of daily business and professional life.