RNIB Building Visit - The UKs first PAS6463 Building

NAN visits RNIB’s Grimaldi Building - The first Building to adopt the PAS 6463: Design for the Mind. Neurodiversity and the Built Environment.

Key features discussed during the visit to the Grimaldi Building and the experience of being Neurodivergent in that environment.

The new building for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), the Grimaldi Building, is the first Building to adopt the standards of the PAS 6463: 2022 Design for the Mind. Neurodiversity and the Built Environment. 

Neurodiversity Architecture Network (NAN) neurodivergent founder Luisa Pires paid a fantastic visit to the building last month, and reports back with some of the key features.

What worked, for me

Time

Time affects a lot of neurodivergent events. We have an insane need to plan ahead of time out of need to familiarize ourselves with unfamiliar places. The fantastic thing about visiting the RNIB Grimaldi Building was that the Bus actually tells you which stop to get out at for RNIB. Its location is between two beautiful gardens where you can wait if you have made your trip too early on. This has been one of the most majestic features from the perspective of someone anxious : the access to green spaces where you can retreat to and walk around. Now I talk here about pacing myself , having breaks, digesting the flux of stimulus from a day to day office job. Pacing yourself in this world is an important skill to have and access to greenspaces allows you to slow down and reconnect with yourself. This is why the site choice for this building is for me one of the most interesting aspects of this project.

Entrance to the building from the side of pedestrian access with the garden on the side creating a buffer for noise. This green space is accessible to the building users and gives a space for recollection and to walk around during breaks.

Sound

The soundscape was quiet and gentle inside the building which was contrasting with the sounds of the cars on the main road outside. There is a walkable entrance and pedestrian access clearly identified by a sign. This helps identify a route to access the building. The safety of being directed via a safe route to the building allows you to take control over the transition between road and entrance. Now it is the time to turn off the music and take out the headphones. 

The small pockets inside the building of silence are fantastic thanks to the sound absorbing qualities of the materials in the walls and the soundproofing glass. We are going upstairs to a full floor meeting space for a presentation about RNIB and the Building led by the project manager for this fantastic project. The floor is fully proofed with noise canceling glass. This creates the perfect experience for neurodivergent : not only is the building surrounded by green spaces on three sides that act as buffers for roads, its internal strategy utilizes sound-proofing glass and materials. The temperature inside the building was also fantastic : neither too hot nor too cold.

Lighting

Lighting was crucial for this built environment allowing people to choose between four different types of lighting from cold to warmer tones both of which work well for different people and have intensity controls as well. All windows had semi-transparent darkened blinds and full black out blinds for natural lighting control purposes. It is a formidable achievement to have this type of control over lighting in an office environment.

Playful textures

Varying textures could be found in various furnitures and even in the railings in stairs. This not only allowed to communicate the steps but also to provide a light stimulus as the hand strolls down the railing. The tables also had different textures which allowed for light stimulation when sitting down and taking a break in the main areas next to the kitchens. There is, in addition to this, a variety of seating options available.

What could be improved, for me:

Smell

I couldn’t experience a change in smell at the time, except for the basement which had a dedicated floor for eating. The kitchens on all floors were completely open plan which need to be well ventilated if we don’t want to populate office spaces with food smells. These can be exceptionally disturbing for neurodivergent. 

Serenity Space

The Serenity Space is an individual space for recollection and reconnection. I wasn’t too sure about how I felt about being seen in that space from the outside so we suggested adding a curtain which is both sensory and provides a means to communicate that the room is being occupied. Other things for this room could be including weighted blankets and fidgeters for stimming. 

Control

Feeling like you have control over your environment can create a sense of security. Hot desking does not allow for that long-term control over your space. Having desks that can be specifically assigned can be quite helpful and spots for permanent storage too. At university I always enjoyed having a stack of books next to me and plants and knitting/crocheting crafts - ultimately objects I can interact with - if I need a break from the screen in my immediate space. 

Biophilia

The building was quite absent of biophilic elements which is normal for a new building but perhaps with time and occupancy the internal disposition and addition of plants to the interior spaces will be available. The benefits of Biophilia are great however there is a need for maintenance of these elements. Our shared sense of community and capacity can naturally allow for those to be maintained over time. If there is an assigned seating plan perhaps people will bring those in themselves and take ownership over their maintenance.

Conclusions

The application of the PAS 6463: 2022 is clearly demonstrated in this ever-evolving building. What is most exciting is the active participatory practice and engagement in the evolution of these spaces. The project leads were open to comments regarding the spaces and how they can be improved for neurodivergent occupants. This is ultimately the attitude that we need to see more in industry - empathy and active listening. It is without a doubt that there is an enormous breadth of research gone into the PAS 6463 and to see a building that integrates it has been a tremendously rewarding experience.