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Design court workplaces to boost health and performance, expert says
Summary
Dr. Esther Sternberg told the Federal Judicial Center podcast that intentional workspace design — improved ventilation, daylight, access to nature, more active layouts and quiet recharge spaces — can lower stress, improve cognition and produce a measurable return on investment for court staff and jurors.
Dr. Esther Sternberg, a professor at the University of Arizona and author of Well at Work, Creating Well‑being in Any Workspace, told the Federal Judicial Center podcast In Session: Leading the Judiciary that intentionally designed workplaces can improve employees’ health and productivity.
"If we begin to design our office spaces and operate them intentionally, we will have a better, healthier, happier, committed workforce, and the bottom line will be better," Sternberg said.
Why it matters: The legal profession is highly stressful, and court operations involve tasks where attention and judgement matter — including jury deliberations and courtroom proceedings. Sternberg said environmental factors such as ventilation, light and layout can materially affect cognitive performance and stress, and that modest design changes can yield measurable benefits.
Key findings and recommendations
Movement and layout: Citing studies done with the General Services Administration, Sternberg said open or "active" office designs increase daily…
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