"The Intelligent Workplace is the only living laboratory that looks at innovations in all of the various building system areas, from structure and enclosure to lighting, mechanical, networking, and interior systems," says CMU architecture head Vivian Loftness.

Among the numerous recommendations to come from the project's research: Separate ventilation and air conditioning—something unusual in the United States, where the same ducts typically carry air for breathing and cooling. This saves energy, improves health, and increases productivity. "The average vacancy rate for offices is about 30 percent, because people are away on business or on vacation or sick," says Loftness. Thus, turning off heat in empty offices without affecting air circulation saves money. Loftness also cites research showing a 2 percent to 15 percent savings on health costs, the result of decreased respiratory problems.