If you are like most people, when you think of prisons, you think of the prisoners and the importance of keeping them inside to prevent further hurt or disruption to society.
While the quality of the built environment plays a big role in achieving this, it is the correctional staff, the people who come into prison every day to carry out their job successfully, that make the biggest difference in running an efficient and effective correctional facility.
It will come as no surprise that correctional work can take a big toll on staff, with many experiencing daily physical and mental stress. The effects of these pressures can also have a significant impact on staff morale, performance and turnover. Staff in a secure environment don’t have the luxury of stepping outside the workplace for their lunch break or picking up their mobile phone to speak to someone for a few minutes to clear their head either, as many of us do.
For this reason, the environment and facilities provided for staff are even more important than in a regular workplace. So how, as designers, can we ensure prison designs consider not only the security and rehabilitation of prisoners but also the wellbeing and performance of staff?
To tackle this question, I spoke with a medical practitioner who recently completed some seasonal work in a prison, to see how the design and build environment had impacted her day-to-day at work.
Connection to nature
According to the medical practitioner, it can be hard to forget you are in a correctional environment.
““While some meeting rooms can feel like you are in a regular office building, it can be hard to escape the environment that surrounds you. The staff tearoom and other staff areas still feel like you are in a prison due to the views of walled courtyards, staff in uniform and codes being called over the PA.” ”
When asked what would help with the mental and physical strain of the job? It was a connection to nature.
In his book, Building for Life: Designing and Understanding the Human-Nature Connection, Stephen Kellert states, that work settings with attributes such as natural lighting and natural ventilation can improve worker satisfaction, enhance performance and reduce stress.
The ability for workers to see the sun, sky and trees can provide mental space through the day and the energy and connection that is often be lacking in these spaces.
Window placement and fence design
Another challenge revealed in the interview was the placement of windows. While they can provide a connection to daylight spaces and the outside environment, if they aren't placed well, they won't be utilised.
““Where I worked, the window placement allowed prisoners to see into our office space if we had the blinds up. This was uncomfortable for both parties – them watching us and us watching them. As a result, we often kept the blinds down.””
To avoid the situation from happening, it is essential for designers to carefully consider the positioning of staff areas in buildings and the relationship to prisoner areas. If possible, landscaping should be used to create visual barriers between staff and prisoners. Trees and planting outside windows can revitalise and inspire staff, especially in break areas.
It is also good to push the boundaries with fencing. Designers need to think beyond the standard brick or blockwork fence and find materials that are robust, safe and secure, but don’t have the institutional feel.
Materials that contrast the grey of blockwork and concrete
The overall design of the prison can also have an impact on staff. Prisons are getting bigger and, in many ways, becoming mini-cities with different building types and functions being carried out. Choosing materials that contrast the grey of blockwork and concrete can create a visual difference that eases the eye as they navigate different areas.
Abigail Wild, an undergraduate student of neuroscience, with a PhD/MPhil Criminology from Cambridge, states that "The material does not have to be of the natural kind but can be a representation." Due to the limiting material choices in a secure environment, using biophilic design principles to help improve health and wellbeing of users can be opened up by the idea of materials providing a representation of the natural world to provide contrast against the grey concrete.
To create spaces that consider the wellbeing of correctional staff, designers must continue to push the boundaries and acknowledge the trends and changes in traditional office design to see what can be utilised in a secure environment.
Not only will this have a positive effect on staff wellbeing and performance, but it will also have a positive impact on prison operations.
About the Author
Alexandra Kennedy is a registered architect and a valued member of our correctional design team. With over ten years’ experience in architectural design, documentation and contract administration, Alexandra has managed projects of varying scales, across multiple sectors in both Queensland and Victoria. She brings a creative yet methodical approach to design and enjoys the challenge of managing complex projects and collaborating with multiple consultants.