CREJ - Office Properties Quarterly - March 2017
It’s no secret that mixed-use developments are on the rise. Americans prefer walkable communities more than ever, a recent survey by the National Association of Realtors found. Walkable, mixed-use communities promote a more health-and-wellness-focused lifestyle, and today’s office facility owners are taking notice. The movement toward more inclusive, diverse and walkable developments also mixes into the office environment itself. Modern office designs are a far cry from yesterday’s cubicle farms. To better focus on their employees and attract the best talent, office designs are incorporating a number of elements that cater specifically to the physical and mental wellness of their tenants. From rooftop access, increased natural lighting, fitness facilities and even on-site health care screening space, the workplace is becoming more than just a place of work. With the health-and-wellness industry reaching $3.4 trillion worldwide in 2013, according to the Global Wellness Summit, and the increased frequency and severity of illnesses and allergies on the rise, it’s no wonder that wellness-infused buildings have become the next big thing. Occupant-First Design Located between downtown Denver and the Denver Tech Center, Colorado Center is a transit-oriented development. The community promotes its mixed-use profile, sporting office space as well as retail, residential, fitness and culture. Its proximity to public transportation further adds to its appeal as a “live, work, play” destination. The latest addition to this community, known as Tower III, is in the final stages of construction and will be a Class A office building featuring a 15-story tower topped with a rooftop terrace. The terrace was designed with half of its space on the interior of the building and the other half as an outdoor patio, with connecting full-height glass accordion curtainwall doors that open to enjoy the beautiful Denver weather. The space is available for use by all tenants and available to be rented out on occasion for events and functions. Also featured within Tower III is an on-site fitness center, shared conference rooms and meeting spaces. Recently completed projects like the Rocky Mountain Institute Innovation Center in Basalt and the NREL Energy Systems Integration Facility in Golden both tout LEED Platinum features that double as occupantcentric features. Both buildings contain office space designed around the maximization of natural light, reducing the energy needs for artificial lighting while simultaneously keeping occupants more connected with the landscape around them. In downtown Denver, the recently constructed Polsinelli office put its employees first when it came time to build out its new space. The LEED Silver facility features a large outdoor terrace on the 23rd floor spanning the entire west elevation, providing a breath of fresh air and relaxed gathering space. Allowing employees quick and easy access to important services, an on-site nurse’s office and wellness suite was incorporated into the design. Additionally, an employee café delivers a more casual meeting setting and access to a variety of light dining and beverage choices, all under one roof. •Transit-oriented development. A side effect of this trend is the changing concept of the commute. Commuters increasingly are looking for alternative methods of transportation when it comes to getting to and from the office. Developers are taking note and incorporating this trend in new, transit-oriented developments. As the name suggests, TODs are planned and designed around the concept of providing efficient access to a variety of transportation methods. Whether that’s fast access to rail transit, multiple locations for bike sharing, better storage and upkeep for personal cycling, upgraded bus systems and more, TODs complement mixed-use development by planning around people rather than cars.access to a variety of transportation methods. Whether that’s fast access to rail transit, multiple locations for bike sharing, better storage and upkeep for personal cycling, upgraded bus systems and more, TODs complement mixed-use development by planning around people rather than cars. •WELL Building Standard. A new design standard is rising to accompany LEED certification. Focused on occupant sustainability as opposed to building sustainability (although the two share similarities), the WELL Building Standard is a system of certifications designed to add structure to the concept of wellness-oriented facility planning. WELL buildings are graded based on their attention to occupant health and wellness. Conceived by Paul Scialla, founder of the International WELL Building Institute and the wellness real estate company Delos, the building standard is the first of its kind that is solely devoted to the health and wellness of the occupants. The standard is administered by the International WELL Building Institute and is third-party certified through Green Business Certification Inc., the same organization that administers the LEED certification program. Where LEED measures how a building is designed, constructed, maintained and operated to certify its environmental sustainability, WELL measures how a building affects our health – both the negative and positive impact on our respiratory health, cardiovascular health, metabolism, comfort and state of mind. The WELL Building Standard represents a new building standard needed in the marketplace to address our own workplace sanity. With the average American spending 90 percent of his time indoors and chronic disease on the rise, perhaps the time has come that we judge our buildings on how they protect and support our health and wellbeing.