The Office of the Future… Underground?

by Jon Scaccia March 13, 2025

Picture this: You step into an elevator, press a button, and descend—not up to a flashy high-rise office, but down into the earth. Welcome to the underground office workspace (UOW), a concept gaining traction in cities that are running out of space and looking for more sustainable building solutions.

But here’s the twist: Some people love the idea, while others feel their skin crawl at the thought of working below ground. What gives? It turns out, your reaction might have more to do with your personality than the office itself. Scientists have uncovered a psychological mechanism that determines whether you’d embrace or avoid a subterranean workspace. And it all comes down to locus of control—the way you perceive your ability to shape your environment.

Let’s dig in. (Pun absolutely intended.)

Why Go Underground Anyway?

Before we get into the psychology, let’s talk about why underground offices are a thing.

• Space Saver: Cities are growing, but land is limited. Going underground frees up valuable surface space for parks, homes, and businesses.
• Climate Control: Underground spaces are naturally insulated, making them more energy-efficient for heating and cooling.
• Disaster Resilience: In extreme weather conditions—think hurricanes, heatwaves, or pollution spikes—underground offices provide a safe, stable environment.
• Sustainability Goals: Urban sprawl leads to deforestation and increased carbon emissions. Underground spaces help curb these effects.

Sounds like a win-win, right? Not so fast. While engineers have figured out how to make these spaces livable, how we feel about working underground is another story.

The Psychology of Going Subterranean

When researchers surveyed over a thousand people, they found a clear divide: Some were totally fine with working underground, while others were viscerally opposed. Why?

The answer lies in locus of control, a psychological trait that determines whether you feel like you’re in charge of your life—or at the mercy of external forces.

• Internal Locus of Control: You believe you shape your destiny. You see challenges as obstacles you can overcome and tend to adapt easily to new environments.
• External Locus of Control: You feel that outside forces—luck, fate, or circumstances—dictate your life. Unfamiliar environments can feel overwhelming and stressful.

The study found that people with a high external locus of control were far more likely to hate the idea of underground offices. Why? They viewed underground spaces as confining, limiting, and anxiety-inducing—essentially, a place where they had less control over their surroundings.

The Real-World Test: Who Actually Works Underground?

To see if this theory held up in practice, researchers looked at real underground workers and compared them to their above-ground counterparts. And guess what? The people who had chosen to work in underground offices scored significantly higher on internal locus of control than those who worked in traditional buildings.

Translation? The people who already feel in control of their environment are the ones who willingly go underground. Meanwhile, those who feel like external forces dominate their lives are more likely to avoid these spaces altogether.

Can We Make Underground Workplaces More Appealing?

The good news? Even if you have an external locus of control, that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to hate underground offices forever. Here’s how designers can make these spaces feel less like a bunker and more like a dream workspace:

• More Windows (Even Fake Ones!): Strategic lighting and digital windows can simulate natural daylight, reducing feelings of isolation.
• Personal Control Features: Adjustable lighting, temperature, and workspace layouts can help employees feel more in charge of their environment.
• Wayfinding & Open Layouts: Avoiding maze-like corridors and incorporating open spaces can reduce the sense of confinement.
• Green Spaces: Indoor gardens or living walls can bring nature inside, making underground spaces feel more connected to the surface world.
• Rebranding the Concept: Instead of calling it a “basement” or “underground office,” how about “subterranean innovation hub”? Perception matters!

What This Means for the Future

Underground offices aren’t just some sci-fi fantasy—they’re already being built in cities worldwide. And as urban centers continue to grow, they may become more common than we think.

The key takeaway? Whether you’d love or hate working underground might not be about the space itself—but about how much control you feel you have over your surroundings. And with smart design and thoughtful planning, these workspaces could become more appealing to everyone, regardless of their psychological makeup.

Let’s Explore Together!

So, what do you think? Would you work in an underground office? Or does the idea make you claustrophobic? Let’s chat in the comments!

• Would you be comfortable working in an underground office? Why or why not?
• What’s one thing designers could add to make subterranean workspaces more appealing?
• What’s the most unusual workspace you’ve ever worked in?

Share your thoughts below, and don’t forget to pass this along to your most adventurous (or most skeptical) friends!

Fight for Science:

The stakes for science have never been higher. In today’s turbulent political climate, staying informed is critical. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get the latest discoveries, major breakthroughs, and stories that matter most. Designed for teachers and science enthusiasts, this free resource enhances your teaching and understanding of science in real time. Subscribe today to ensure science stays at the forefront of public conversation! If you liked this blog, please share it—your referrals help This Week in Science reach more people when it’s needed most.