Our research team at the Center for Active Design has been undertaking a years-long process to examine two critical questions facing the real estate industry: what is the quantifiable value of health? and how can climate change and quality of life coexist? In our second issue of Building Health, we delve deeper into these topics, spotlighting the value of investing in Social to meet the demands of today and tomorrow.

Climate and health are inextricably linked. In a monumental step forward, this message was echoed in many of the publications and conversations surrounding COP28. Building on this consensus, our team compiled five key takeaways from this landmark conference, highlighting how built environment interventions can combat climate change while also prioritizing health for all.

Palisades, a four-building project owned by Atlanta Property Group in Atlanta's Central Perimeter submarket, takes pride in being one of the most employee-centric office properties in the Southeast of the United States. Together with the support of Sustainable Investment Group, these healthy buildings earned Best in Building Health recognition.

This year, 73 East, designed by M&R Development, managed by RMK Management Corp., and owned in partnership with UBS Realty Investment, received the Best in Building Health Highest Scoring Multifamily Residential award. This 322 unit luxury apartment complex in the heart of Chicago is recognized for its health-promoting Fitwel Standard strategies that make this apartment building an ideal place to call home.

In this month’s Center for Active Design Insights, we took a look back at the three research themes and trends we’ve noticed throughout the year, and what we’ve learned as we turn toward 2024.

Learn about The Stock Exchange of Thailand, the pioneering Fitwel Certified project that became the first to achieve the highest 3-Star Rating in Asia in 2020. This year, they’ve earned Best in Building Health recognition for the Highest Scoring Viral Response Module.

Houston’s first healthy building to receive Fitwel Certification has been named Best in Building Health by Fitwel, thanks to the efforts of Cushman & Wakefield and Beacon Capital Partners. The project team leaders share about their motivations and achievements.

We're highlighting Fitwel Champion BXP as one of the companies that had the Greatest Impact on Building Health this year, continuing a multi-year winning streak of Best in Building Health accolades. In addition to having the Most Square Footage of Fitwel-certified buildings, the healthy building leader was recognized for their contribution to achieving the Highest Scoring Design Project on Marriott International Headquarters.

ESG or Environmental, Social, and Governance investing and reporting is an effort to integrate non-financial risk and value factors into financial decision-making processes. Learn how Fitwel’s Certified Metrics tool can help support your ESG goals.

Sara Neff, Head of Sustainability for Lendlease Americas, was recognized as part of this year’s Best in Building Health awards for committing to leading the industry in understanding and quantifying the value of health when it comes to ESG. She shares how a personal health scare sparked a professional passion and what it means to be Best in Building Health in real estate. Read a preview of her story and insights taken from Fitwel’s inaugural digital publication series, Building Health.

StraubJunqueira, a top sustainability and healthy building consulting firm in Brazil, has been recognized for being Best in Building Health for three commercial spaces in São Paulo, one of the world’s most populous global cities. We sat down with co-founder and Top Fitwel Ambassador, Eduardo Straub, to learn about the company’s achievements and future ambitions.

iCity in Hengqin, Zhuhai, China is an award-winning cultural and creative hub that received a Best in Building Health award for earning the Highest Scoring Design Project this year. Hear directly from Shenzhen LVDA Technology Co., Ltd.’s CEO and Top Fitwel Ambassador to learn more about their innovative, health-promoting design features.