Colorado Real Estate Journal - September 16, 2015
A positive sense of well-being is a key component of a healthy, productive employee. In support of total worker health, commercial buildings are adding fitness centers to their existing amenities. A fitness facility is an outward statement of a building owner’s commitment to its tenants. It offers an activity-based space that promotes engagement and a sense of community. It increases worker performance through stress relief and improved concentration. In fact, companies have found that in addition to being a hiring point, exercise areas reduce employee absenteeism and strengthen retention rates. In addition to providing several unique advantages for health promotion, worksite fitness centers are convenient, can be used as a vital tool with wellness programs (which may also lower healthcare costs), and can be an asset that sets your building apart from others. Convenience of On-Site Fitness Centers Healthy tenants are happy tenants. An on-site fitness facility greatly improves the likelihood of employees exercising. Regular exercise promotes the release of mood-elevating endorphins. Exercise also helps you sleep better, giving you more energy throughout the day. This in turn creates a positive and energetic workforce. Studies have shown that roughly more than half of the employees will use a company fitness center one or more times a month. Without a facility on site, only about 20 percent will use a health club on their own accord. Convenient access to a gym means tenants don’t have to drive to a distant site to work out. Tenants will appreciate the ability to use their free time productively. Being able to exercise during a lunch break, for example, helps time-strapped employees fit everything into their busy schedules. Also, the prospect of saving money on a gym membership acts as a financial incentive. Wellness Programs Successful companies understand the correlation between healthy employees and productivity. Fitness and wellness are now critical issues in corporations everywhere. Wellness plans are beginning to include fitness incentives in benefits packages. Often these wellness programs require employees to track their gym usage for points. Once the employees accumulate a specific number of points, they are able to receive a discount on their healthcare cost. Corporate fitness centers easily answer the need for a convenient workout option. Building Asset So what does this fitness center look like? How do we build a space that tenants will utilize? We first start with natural lighting. It is well known that natural lighting has a positive effect on the human body. Natural lighting also improves performance. Sunlight has a direct affect on the levels of serotonin and the hormone melatonin in the body, resulting in feelings of calmness, alertness and reduces tendencies for depression. Also, people are more drawn to facilities with natural light so it’s important to locate the facility along the perimeter of the building with windows. In addition, you need to activate the space. Variety is critical in whether or not people will utilize the space. Consider offering group exercise classes. It not only ties in the social aspect of exercise, but it also encourages activity at specific times of the day. You also don’t have to purchase the most current state-of-the-art equipment. There are many fitness sources that offer quality equipment on a leasing plan. This allows the landlord to rotate in new equipment as well as have a maintenance plan in place. Building owners often opt to buy the equipment outright because it is less expensive, but when the equipment breaks it sits for a long period of time with no maintenance. People are increasingly becoming more and more health conscious; corporations are too. So much so that they’ve partnered with wellness programs not only to save money, but also to ensure positive results. Having an on-site fitness center is a convenient time saver for the busy executive and an amenity that lets your building stand tall above the rest