New Report Highlights the Importance of Optimizing Industrial Workspaces

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Written By Marcos Reynaga

The Center for Active Design is proud to announce the publication of A Better Box: Optimizing Industrial Spaces for Employee Health and Wellness. Authored by the Center for Active Design (CfAD) and QuadReal, the report illustrates what strategies work best for the industrial sector when it comes to promoting the health and wellness of occupants.

The report contains three overarching recommendations — maximize location and site accessibility, design functional and supportive interiors, and create spaces that promote productivity and preparedness — as well as a holistic set of strategies to meet each of these guidelines, and an explanation for the long-term returns that can be anticipated with adoption.

The outcomes of optimization are designed to meet this moment: enhance the bottom line, strengthen the global infrastructure and supply chain, and increase asset attractiveness to investors.

“Companies adopting the smart, doable recommendations contained in this report will not only differentiate themselves, they will join a vanguard helping to drive transformation of the built environment.”

— Joanna Frank, President and CEO, Center for Active Design

Key Findings At-A-Glance

"When our buildings have invested in green or health-promoting initiatives, we’ve seen higher lease rates and overall property valuations. So, we know it adds value. We also find that tenants in healthy buildings tend to be more engaged and more apt to renew, staying with us for longer periods."

— Carl Lam, General Manager, QuadReal

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

New Report from the Center for Active Design & QuadReal Outlines Evidence-Based Design Guidelines to Optimize Industrial Spaces for Employee Health & Wellness

CfAD launches updated Commercial and Industrial Site scorecard to assess, benchmark, and certify a single project or an entire real estate portfolio for Fitwel certification and demonstrate the report findings.

NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2022 — The Center for Active Design (CfAD), preeminent global organization working at the intersection of health and the built environment and the sole licensed operator of Fitwel®, the healthy building certification system, and QuadReal Property Group (QuadReal), a global real estate investment, operating and development company, today announced the release of "A Better Box," a new report outlining a series of evidence-based guidelines for supporting better health and wellness outcomes at industrial sites. In conjunction with the report, CfAD also unveiled their Commercial and Industrial Site scorecard to provide Fitwel certifications to industrial buildings.

The North American warehouse sector's annual growth in warehouse and storage workforce is projected at 2.7% through 2026, with a valuation of more than $87 billion. And within this enormous and growing industrial sector, in 2020 alone, the turnover rate grew to 60%. With research showing 87% of employees consider health and wellness when choosing an employer, there is a significant disparity between what is expected in terms of quality of experience and what is being provided.

"The need to optimize industrial workspaces has always been there — but the incentive and demand has not," said Joanna Frank, President and CEO, Center for Active Design. "With industrial property vacancies at an all-time low, paired with subsequent challenges around the labor market and employee retention, growing supply chain demands, and the expansion of e-commerce, the tactics recommended in this report offer an approachable starting point, giving owners, facility managers, and tenants a range of practical, validated ideas to consider."

Surveying the latest scientific literature, interviewing industry leaders, incorporating sector-specific best practices and drawing upon results from real estate projects that have successfully achieved Fitwel certification, "A Better Box" outlines three overarching recommendations — maximize location and site accessibility, design functional and supportive interiors, and create spaces that promote productivity and preparedness — along with a holistic set of strategies necessary to meet each of these guidelines, as well as an explanation for the long-term returns that can be anticipated with adoption.

By following approachable recommendations – including everything from prioritizing access to nature, access to essential facilities, safe use of spaces, emergency preparedness, transparency in communication, and more, owners, facility managers, and tenants will be able to better retain top talent, reduce injury and absenteeism, lower stress levels, mitigate the risk of contagious disease transmission, decrease risk of chronic illness, increase overall job satisfaction, and ultimately improve individual and organizational productivity.

"Companies adopting the smart, doable recommendations contained in this report will not only differentiate themselves, but they will also join a vanguard helping to drive transformation of the built environment," says Joanna Frank.

"Health and wellness has always been a top priority for QuadReal. Through our ongoing partnership with CfAD and Fitwel, we are committed to creating working environments that enhance the lives of the people and communities we serve. Our teams are pleased to have collaborated on this report, which will significantly promote and support healthier environments for industrial building occupants everywhere," said Jamie Gray-Donald, Senior Vice President, Sustainability & EHS, QuadReal.

Link to download report

Building on its legacy of global thought leadership following its 2012 launch under New York City's Bloomberg administration, CfAD's latest report demonstrates its dedication to translating the global public health findings into practical and implementable design and development solutions for the industrial sector. Fitwel scorecards include over 55 evidence-based design and operational strategies that enhance buildings by addressing a broad range of health behaviors and risks. Each strategy is associated with unique point allocations, based on the strength of associated evidence and the demonstrated impact on occupant health.

About Fitwel
Fitwel is the world's leading certification system committed to building health for all. Generated by expert analysis of 5,600+ academic research studies, Fitwel is implementing a vision for a healthier future where all buildings and communities are enhanced to strengthen health and well-being. Fitwel was originally created by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and U.S. General Services Administration. The CDC remains the research and evaluation partner for Fitwel. The Center for Active Design (CfAD), a global not-for-profit organization, maintains the Fitwel standard and conducts objective third-party assessments that lead to certified projects. CfAD's new business unit, Adai (pronounced "a-DAY"), is charged with expanding Fitwel to the global market, administering the program while providing best-in-class customer service and technical support. To learn more about Fitwel, please visit: www.fitwel.org.

About QuadReal
QuadReal Property Group is a global real estate investment, operating and development company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. Its assets under management total $61.2 billion. From its foundation in Canada as a full-service real estate operating company, QuadReal has expanded its capabilities to invest in equity and debt in both the public and private markets. QuadReal invests directly, via programmatic partnerships and through operating companies in which it holds an ownership interest.

QuadReal seeks to deliver strong investment returns while creating sustainable environments that bring value to the people and communities it serves. Now and for generations to come.

QuadReal: Excellence lives here. www.quadreal.com

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Media Inquiries:
communicatons@centerforactivedesign.org

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Marcos Reynaga
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