How the HERE Building Goes Above and Beyond in Health-Promoting Workplace Design

Best in Building HealthHealthy Building ProfilesStrategies & SolutionsFitwel Ambassadors
Written By Marcos Reynaga

HERE Building, Thames Valley Park, Reading, UK. Photo Credit: Jack Hobhouse.

The workplace of the future is HERE! We’re excited to celebrate the HERE Building in Reading, UK for achieving two Best in Building Health awards for their people-centric design.

AT A GLANCE

2023 Best in Building Health
Highest Scoring Project (Built)
Project: HERE Building, Reading, UK

2023 Best in Building Health
Highest Scoring Project Multi-Tenant Base Building v2.1 (Design)
Project: HERE Building, Reading, UK

2022 Best in Building Health
Highest Scoring Project Multi-Tenant Base Building v2.1 (Design)
Project: 217 Bath Road, Slough, UK

Developed by V7 Asset Management in partnership with sustainability consultancy Element Four, the HERE Building, which used to be part of Microsoft’s campus, is part of a major renovation project of Buildings 4 & 5 (“Here” & “Now”) located in Thames Valley Park. Together, the development partners reimagined the property with the goal of creating a future-proof healthy and sustainable workplace destination.

The building encompasses innovative workspaces adjacent to an 80-acre nature reserve, promoting healthy lifestyles, connection with nature, and a sense of well-being and community. In addition to achieving the Fitwel Best in Building Health Highest Scoring Project recognition for two years in a row, it will also become the world's first commercial development to receive a Fitwel 3-Star Rating, BREEAM Outstanding, and RESET Air certifications simultaneously.

We congratulate the Element Four and V7 Asset Management teams for their leadership in this aspirational development and dedication to Building Health for All!

Image: Chris Hunt, Co-Founder, V7 Asset Management.

"The Best in Building Health [award] means a great deal to us, as the business plan for this project has health and well-being at its core. The mission was to transform two tired office buildings into a highly sustainable campus focused entirely on ESG and wellness. As part of this, we wanted to create the healthiest, greenest building in the Thames Valley, and we believe we have achieved it."

Chris Hunt
Co-Founder, V7 Asset Management

Image: Luca Carboni, Senior Sustainability & Wellbeing Consultant and Fitwel Ambassador, Element Four

“We are thrilled to be recognised as leaders in the healthy building movement! Element Four will continue to work with design and operations teams to create facilities aligned with Fitwel standards that improve the health of your employees, visitors, residents, and the surrounding community.”

Luca Carboni
Senior Sustainability & Wellbeing Consultant and Fitwel Ambassador, Element Four

 

We asked Luca Carboni with Element Four to share a few more insights with us about this distinguished project:

Which Fitwel strategies were key to the building’s design?
A number of our ABOVE + BEYOND [facilities and amenities] initiatives are designed to encourage tenant health and well-being, including the light-filled atria, a 3,000 sq. ft indoor gym with showers and lockers, an outdoor gym, communal areas, and convenient access to an 80-acre natural reserve. We also have innovative features specific to bikes to encourage active transportation to and from the building. These include secure storage, a maintenance area, and EV charging stations. Enhanced indoor air quality is also a key focus so we’ve installed an advanced air filtration system that meets RESET’s air quality monitoring standard.

How does Fitwel’s provide value for the property and the surrounding community?
Fitwel promotes wellness from the moment tenants enter the HERE Building until they leave. The tenants are all forward-thinking, fast-growing companies that believe Fitwel aligns with their ambitious values, making the Best in Building Health recognition even more meaningful.

See the future-proofed healthy building amenities for yourself, right “here”!

About V7
V7 is the most creative and forward-thinking asset and development management company you could choose to work with. We are passionate about transforming mismanaged office and industrial buildings or sites into dynamic, highly sustainable, service led workplaces. Our core aim is to add value to buildings by repositioning them in line with the very latest workplace trends and ESG credentials. We work with partners including institutional funds, family offices, private equity and individual investors. We also work with owners looking to drive value through intensive asset and development management of their existing assets. Learn more here: v7am.com

About Element Four UK
Element Four are award-winning sustainability strategists, working to make places healthier, happier and more environmentally-sustainable. With 25 years’ experience in the construction and property sector, they are passionate about humanising the built environment, helping clients to create exceptional spaces that support healthy habits, promote wellbeing and strengthen communities. Element Four works to deliver meaningful and lasting change for organisations that want to become more sustainable, more socially responsible. Previous projects include Woking Borough Council’s Civic Centre; RO Real Estate’s 1 Suffolk Way in Sevenoaks, GNR8 in Watford and Waterside Place in Southampton; and Epic Investments’ 217 Bath Road in Slough. Current projects include RO Real Estate’s Admiral House in Windsor and Silbury House in Milton Keynes, Boultbee Brooks’ 2630 Aztec West in Bristol, and Grosvenor’s Grosvenor Street in Mayfair. Learn more here: element4.co.uk

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Marcos Reynaga
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