Growing its focus on the importance of healthy workplace environments, Tishman Speyer today announced a partnership with the Center for Active Design’s (CfAD) building certification system Fitwel. Fitwel is the leading global health certification system, providing effective design and operational strategies to improve building occupant health and productivity. It was created as a joint initiative by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the General Services Administration, and it is operated by CfAD.
In addition to certifying its buildings in the United States, Tishman Speyer will introduce Fitwel to new markets in China, Brazil, India, Germany and France. The goal is to complete the certification process of the vast majority of Tishman Speyer buildings by the end of 2019.
Fitwel certification follows Tishman Speyer’s introduction earlier this year of Zo, its comprehensive workplace amenity and services package focused on enhancing work-life balance, which was piloted at New York City’s Rockefeller Center and is now being rolled out across Tishman Speyer’s portfolio.
“We are prioritizing the health and wellness of our tenants throughout our portfolio, and Fitwel provides a new building certification that can be used as a strategic resource to create healthier work environments,” said Jonathan Flaherty, Senior Director of Sustainability and Utilities, Tishman Speyer. “With its solid foundation in scientific research conducted or reviewed by the CDC, Fitwel provides us with a clear, verifiable benchmark of how our buildings currently provide healthy work environments for the people who spend most of their days there, and a roadmap for how to make the most beneficial health-focused building improvements.”
“We are proud to partner with Tishman Speyer as Fitwel’s first Global Strategic Partner to adopt health promoting strategies within their buildings and campuses and to further signal to the market that the built environment matters for health. Tishman Speyer has long been recognized as a market leader in providing building services with a sustainable focus. We are thrilled that they are also concentrating on impacting health within their global portfolio, and advising Fitwel on its development in the coming years,” said Joanna Frank, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Active Design.
With over 250,000 people working in its buildings, Tishman Speyer is uniquely positioned to apply Fitwel to all its properties around the world. CfAD will be able to take advantage of Tishman Speyer’s wide geographical reach to introduce Fitwel certification in China, Brazil, India, Germany, France, and the U.K., while further developing and customizing the certification to those markets. Tishman Speyer will also serve as a founding member of Fitwel’s Leadership Advisory Board.
Fitwel provides 63 cost effective design and operational strategies for enhancing building environments to improve occupant health and productivity, such as dedicated lactation rooms, accessible stairways, and pest management plans.
Each Fitwel strategy is linked to one of seven health impact categories: (1) community health impact; (2) absenteeism reduction; (3) wellbeing promotion; (4) healthy food options; (5) increased physical activity; (6) occupant safety; and (7) social equity for vulnerable populations.