Healthy Building Profile: PGIM Real Estate’s 301 Congress Commits to Multi-Tenant Health & Well-Being

Best in Building HealthHealthy Building ProfilesStrategies & SolutionsFitwel Champions
Written By Marcos Reynaga
Exterior and patio view of 301 Congress. Image courtesy of PGIM Real Estate.

Building: 301 Congress, Austin, Texas

PGIM Real Estate

Certification Lead:
Madison Dorman, Associate Director of Certifications, Fitwel Ambassador, WELL AP, LEED AP O+M, ActiveScore AP, Verdani Partners

Certification Type: v2.1 Multi-Tenant Base Building Scorecard

Fitwel Rating: 2-Star

301 Congress, located in Austin, Texas, was awarded a 2-Star rating under Fitwel’s Multi-Tenant Base Building Scorecard. With an impressive Walk Score of 99, 301 Congress is a 477,839-square-foot, 22-story Class-A office building located within walking distance of several parks, walking trails, natural water features, transit stops, shops, dining spaces, hotels, public services, gyms, and more. The building is managed by HPI Real Estate and owned by Fitwel Champion PGIM Real Estate. Both companies support the health and wellness of more than 1,400 building occupants and 10 building staff.

This achievement demonstrates the team’s leadership in sustainability and commitment to prioritizing employees’ health and wellness within the workplace. While undergoing the Fitwel Certification and Fitwel Viral Response Module processes, HPI Real Estate, in coordination with PGIM Real Estate, invested in various health-promoting strategies to enhance workspaces, shared spaces, building-level policies, and outdoor spaces. 

Madison Dorman, Associate Director of Certifications, Verdani Partners

Madison Dorman
Associate Director of Certifications, Verdani Partners

Why did you choose to pursue Fitwel Certification?
Applying the Fitwel Standard has enabled PGIM Real Estate to enhance and protect the value of the property. In addition, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, healthy and safe spaces have become increasingly important to the firm’s tenants and investors. 

Distribution of Goal Achievement by Asset Type analysis chart. Imagery and graphics are illustrative only and are subject to change.

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Exterior view of 301 Congress. Image courtesy of PGIM Real Estate.

301 Congress (Austin, TX) | Image Courtesy of PGIM Real Estate

What strategies did you implement to help achieve Fitwel Certification?
Fitwel Viral Response Module and v2.1 Workplace certification were awarded based on PGIM Real Estate’s commitment to building health and to making efforts to mitigate contagious-disease transmission and safeguard occupant health and well-being.

301 Congress executed a variety of health and wellness measures throughout the eight-month process, including:

  • Establishing an on-site fitness center, secure and covered bicycle storage, and showers and lockers for all building occupants to use 

  • Ensuring optimal Walkability, earning a Walk Score of 99 

  • Implementing ANSI/ASHRAE Standard Water Management Plan through Underwriters Laboratories 

  • Conducting Indoor Air Quality testing through Underwriters Laboratories and implementing a policy accordingly

  • Introducing several corporate policies and plans, including a paid-time off policy and an emergency and contagious-disease outbreak preparedness plan

  • Adding signage throughout the property, including motivational stair signage and healthy-snacking benefits signage 

  • Implementing a lactation room and quiet room for building staff 

  • Conducting CPR, first-aid, and mental health trainings

  • Administering transportation and occupant satisfaction survey

Healthy buildings have an effective rent of 4.4–7.7% more per square foot than their non-certified peers.

Source: MIT Real Estate Innovation Lab, The Financial Impact of Healthy Buildings

Certify Your Building Today! To register, benchmark, and submit a single project or an entire real estate portfolio for Healthy Building Certification, create your free account on the Fitwel Platform. Already have an account? Log in here.

About PGIM Real Estate
Social value rose up the agenda during the pandemic and PGIM Real Estate is pleased to report that health and well-being influences their building design and operation strategies, as evidenced by Fitwel Certifications implemented at properties in New York, Seattle, Austin, Houston, Portland, Costa Mesa and Irvine, California.

Becoming a Fitwel Champion reinforces PGIM Real Estate’s commitment to provide environments that are safe and contribute to the well-being of its employees, tenants, and customers. Fitwel’s Champion designation shows that PGIM Real Estate is committed to the health and well-being of occupants and guests through a portfolio-wide Fitwel certification strategy. pgim.com/real-estate

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Marcos Reynaga
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