Fitwel At Scale: Champion Spotlight on UL Solutions (US, Asia)

Fitwel ChampionsFitwel Ambassadors
Written By Marcos Reynaga

Park Place, Irvine, CA. Fitwel Certified with UL’s client, LBA Properties. Photo courtesy of LBA Realty.

We’re thrilled to welcome UL Solutions as the latest Fitwel Champion! We sat down with Bryan Astheimer, Operations Manager, Sustainability at UL Solutions (and a certified Fitwel Ambassador) to learn why UL pursued Fitwel Certification at scale and to better understand how Fitwel has provided value to their portfolio.

Building Locations: Various US states, China, Taiwan

Certification Lead
Bryan Astheimer, Operations Manager, Sustainability,  Fitwel Ambassador

Tell us about UL Solutions and your experience with Fitwel.
UL Solutions collaborates with building design, facilities, and operations teams to help incorporate innovative health and wellness initiatives and provide operational sustainability recommendations to a building’s facilities team. This often includes the application of the Fitwel rating system and framework to drive value through health and wellness initiatives.

More than ever, property professionals need to demonstrate a commitment to indoor environmental health to secure and retain high-value tenants. We’re seeing real estate leaders across the world taking strides to improve indoor environments, facilitate occupant comfort, health, and wellness, secure more advantageous rental premiums, and reduce tenant turnover. UL Solutions works as an extension of our clients’ internal teams from project inception through certification, offering our expertise at every step. With a proven track record of success, our advisory team employs an integrated approach that focuses on cost-effectiveness, reliability, and the triple bottom line (people, profit, and planet).

Why did you choose to become a Fitwel Champion? 
UL Solutions is a proud Fitwel Champion because we see firsthand the value that Fitwel offers in benchmarking, promoting, and driving health and wellness initiatives in each asset. To date, UL Solutions' sustainability advisory team has supported our clients in applying the Fitwel rating system and framework on hundreds of unique property assets.

How has becoming a Fitwel Ambassador impacted your life and/or career? 
Becoming a Fitwel Ambassador has strengthened my understanding of the wide array of variables that impact the wellness of building occupants and methods for verifying healthy buildings. Fitwel has served as a tool for creating connections with real estate portfolio holders and engaging with clients who are keen to protect building user wellness and asset value.

What are some Fitwel project highlights and achievements?

In 2020, UL collaborated with CBRE and Brookfield Properties (both Fitwel Champions) to certify One East, a 115,000 m2 Grade A, mixed-use commercial building in the center of Shanghai that became the first building to achieve a 3-Star Fitwel Rating in Greater China. Later that year, Lenovo DCG Taipei Design Center became Taiwan's first office to earn the 2-Star Fitwel Rating through a unified effort by UL, Green Matrix Consulting Co., and Lenovo Corporate Real Estate. Most recently, UL led the certification of their client, Shenzhen LVDA Technology Co., to certify iCity in Zhuhai, China.

Last year, we were honored to be recognized as a part of project teams that won Best in Building Health Awards for the following categories and projects:

  • Single-Tenant v2.1 (Design): Sun Chlorella Corporation / Green Matrix Consulting Company, UL | Hotel Sun Chlorella, Kyoto, Japan

  • Retail v2.1 (Built): TaiMall Shopping Center / Green Matrix Consulting Company, UL | TaiMall Shopping Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan

  • Multifamily Residential v2.1 (Design): Herzu Develop Co., Herjing Construction Co. / Green Matrix Consulting Company, UL | Herjing Gulf Villa Multifamily, New Taipei City, Taiwan

To learn more about Fitwel-certified projects and partners across Asia read our latest feature ”Creating Real Estate’s New Blueprint: Fitwel in Asia for PERE’s 2023 Summit”.

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Marcos Reynaga
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