25% office occupancy improved all wellbeing and cognitive outcomes; full occupancy worsened all
Exact: 25% occupancy rate had positive effect on all responses; 100% had negative effect
A low occupancy rate (25%) improved all expected psychological and cognitive responses, while full occupancy (100%) had a negative effect on all
The MMNL model demonstrated that occupancy rate was the second most important attribute after plants. A 25% occupancy rate (relative to the 70% baseline) produced significant positive utilities for all five psychological and cognitive responses. Conversely, 100% occupancy yielded significant negative utilities for all responses, confirming that crowded open-plan offices are expected to harm both cognitive performance and psychological well-being.
Last, an occupancy rate of 25% rather than 70% (base) has a positive effect on the perception of all psychological and cognitive responses, while a rate of 100% has a negative effect.
Related findings
82.0%
high perceived impact of environmental design on children's behavioral and academic outcomes
Inclusive architectural design is perceived to strongly support behavioral and academic outcomes for children with neurodevelopmental disorders
Heba M. Abdou et al., 2026, Architecture
84.8%
high perceived impact of environmental design on children's sensory–emotional responses
Architectural design elements are perceived to have a high impact on sensory–emotional responses in children with neurodevelopmental disorders
Heba M. Abdou et al., 2026, Architecture
90%
people spend most of their lives indoors
People spend nearly 90% of their time indoors
Hessa Humaid Aljarwan Alshamsi et al., 2026, Indoor and Built Environment
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