Center for Active Design

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Overview

Fitwel is the world's leading platform for certifying healthy buildings through objective third-party assessments. Fitwel's evidence-based standard is maintained by the non-profit organization, the Center for Active Design (CfAD), which applies multidisciplinary expertise to empower decision makers with research and technical assistance that lead to measurable outcomes. 

Since launching in 2017, Fitwel has developed unique scorecards to fit a variety of projects including commercial, retail, multifamily residental, senior and student housing, and industrial and community sites. 

Our latest report, A Better Box: Optimizing Industrial Spaces for Employee Health and Wellness, features practical recommendations for promoting employee health within the industrial sector. The Fitwel Commercial and Industrial Site scorecard quantifies these guidelines and provides precise requirements for achieving certification.

Learn more by visiting fitwel.org or contact us at info@fitwel.org.

Join a growing community of Fitwel Ambassadors who are leading the healthy building movement.

  Press Releases

• ​New Report from the Center for Active Design & QuadReal Outlines Evidence-Based Design Guidelines to Optimize Industrial Spaces for Employee Health & Wellness (Apr 12, 2022)

  NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 ecommerce, 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 sectorspecific 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 longterm 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.

  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 bestin-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 SOURCE Center for Active Design; Fitwel

• Fitwel Unveils 2022 Best in Building Health Awards Honoring Program's Highest Achievers (Apr 13, 2022)

  NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Center for Active Design (CfAD) today announced the 2022 winners of the Fitwel Best in Building Health® leadership awards, its flagship recognition program that identifies people and companies enhancing human health via Fitwel®, the leading certification system committed to building health for all. This year's winners were recognized based on project submissions in 2021 to the Fitwel portal.

  Created in partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and operated by CfAD, Fitwel is a rigorous, third-party healthy building certification system that sets the industry standard for evidence-based strategies to promote health and wellness through the built environment.

  "The 2022 award winners demonstrate not only an increased demand for Fitwel and healthy building certification, but significantly, an increased emphasis around the globe on prioritizing occupants' health and wellness," said Joanna Frank, President and CEO of CfAD. "With the growing focus on prioritizing human health, real estate owners and investors are meeting the demand for health-focused buildings with key strategies and programs to prioritize occupant health."

  The Best in Building Health awards honor those who meet and exceed Fitwel standards, but also recognize exceptional leadership and progress in the industry. This year's special recognition awards feature companies that are leading the charge in driving market transformation through their buildings for health and wellness, sustainability, and social equity.

  • Social Equity Leadership: Harrison Street has been awarded the Social Equity Leadership Award for implementing strategies that ensure their facilities provide residents and occupants with access to health-promoting strategies focusing on public transportation, amenities, and universal accessibility across their DLC and Brightview portfolios.     
  • Thought Leadership: QuadReal Property Group has been awarded the Industry Thought Leadership award for their commitment to driving research on the impact of buildings on human health and wellness.

  "At QuadReal, our ongoing work with the Center for Active Design is an important part of our commitment to create places that support the health and wellbeing of our tenants and residents. The partnership began with a focus on certifying our office properties through Fitwel and has since extended to encompass education and research. We look forward to broadening our benchmarking efforts to ensure we consistently maintain safer and healthier environments across the entire Canadian portfolio we manage and are developing," said Sarah Clarke, Senior Vice President, Office, Operational Excellence at QuadReal Property Group.

  For the first time, Best in Building Health is recognizing Fitwel Ambassadors for their commitment to serving as leaders and active participants in Fitwel's healthy building movement. The Ambassadors with the Highest Scoring Project are two Ambassadors from Corgan, an architecture and design firm, who were a part of the Peloton HQ NYC certification effort. Rachel Schiftan of Cushman & Wakefield has been named the Ambassador with the Most Certified Projects of all-time, at 60 projects.

  "Cushman & Wakefield assists clients in transforming properties across their portfolios to create distinctive, healthy places where people can thrive in all aspects of their lives," said Rachel Schiftan, Associate Director, Energy & Sustainability Services at Cushman & Wakefield and Fitwel Ambassador. "We are honored to be recognized in several categories for our dedication to the healthy building movement as this not only aligns with our clients' goals, but our goals for our own workforce. We look forward to supporting the Center for Active Design's efforts to further evidence-based design and operations, now and into the future."

  Additional awards that highlight the adoption and implementation of health-forward strategies include:

  • Fitwel Excellence Award: Most Certification of All Time: Kilroy Realty Corporation
  • Fitwel Promise Award: Most Benchmarked Projects of All-Time: QuadReal Property Group
  • Fitwel Impact Award: All-Time Highest Scoring Project: Peloton/Corgan, Peloton HQ, New York, NY 

  "While the pandemic has introduced uncertainty into many aspects of life, one thing that has become more clear is the importance of healthy spaces that support community and collaboration. We are proud that our longstanding commitment to designing and operating healthy buildings has once again earned us the Best in Building Health Award for Most Certifications of All Time," said Sarah King, Senior Vice President, Sustainability, Kilroy.

  Best in Building Health recognizes projects worldwide, from Kyoto, Japan, and Taoyuan, Taiwan to Moscow, Russia, and Tel Aviv, Israel. The growing number of geographically diverse projects underscores how the healthy building movement is not limited to one country or region, but the global real estate industry.

  Below is the complete list of Fitwel Best in Building Health 2022 Winners. Best in Building Health winners will be honored at a virtual event on March 24 that will showcase data and trends in the healthy building movement and feature key speakers from winning companies focused on the increasing role of health and wellness in real estate investment, design, and operations. Register to attend at this link.

  Fitwel Best in Building Health® 2022
  Recognition Categories and Award Winners

  Special Recognition for Leadership
  Social Equity Leadership: Harrison Street
  Thought Leadership: QuadReal Property Group

  All-Time Achievements

  Fitwel Excellence Award
  Most Certifications of All Time: Kilroy Realty Corporation

  Fitwel Promise Award
  Most Benchmarked Projects of All Time: QuadReal Property Group

  Fitwel Impact Award
  Highest Scoring Project of All Time: Peloton/Corgan, Peloton HQ, New York, NY

  2021 Distinctions

  Greatest Number of Certifications
  Consultant: Cushman & Wakefield
  Building Owner: Barings Real Estate
  Tenant: Meta (formerly Facebook)

  Greatest Number of Benchmarked Projects
  Building Owner: Harrison Street

  Greatest Impact on Building Health
  Most People Impacted across Building Scorecards: Cushman & Wakefield
  Most People Impacted across Site Scorecards: Beam Living / Steven Winter Associates
  Highest Square Footage: Cushman & Wakefield
  Highest Acreage: Fidelity Investments

  Greatest Impact on Viral Response
  Highest Scoring Module (tie): The Stock Exchange of Thailand | The Stock Exchange of Thailand / SCG Building and Living Care Consulting
  Highest Scoring Module (tie): The Meridian Group Portfolio | The Meridian Group / Paladino & Company
  Most Approved Assets: Boston Properties

  2021 Highest Scoring Projects

  Commercial Interior Space v2.0
  M. Moser Associates | City Tower One Bay East, Hong Kong

  Commercial Interior Space v2.1
  Built: Takeda Pharmaceuticals | Takeda, Sao Paulo, Brazil
  Design: Peloton / Corgan | Peloton HQ, New York, NY

  Single-Tenant Building v2.0
  Microsoft / Alfa Sustainable Projects | Microsoft Campus Herzliya, Israel

  Single-Tenant Building v2.1
  Built: Cushman & Wakefield | Alfabank Technopark, Moscow, Russia
  Design: UL | Hotel Sun Chlorella, Kyoto, Japan

  Multi-Tenant Base Building v2.0
  LaSalle | 60 London Wall, London, United Kingdom

  Multi-Tenant Base Building v2.1
  Built: SBA Urban / Vesta Consulting | BLC2, Kaunas, Lithuania
  Design: Element Four | 217 Bath Road, Slough, United Kingdom

  Multi-Tenant Whole Building v2.0
  Projekt Wadowicka Sp. z o.o. / Sweco Polska sp. z o.o. | Wadowicka 3A, Kraków, Poland

  Multi-Tenant Whole Building v2.1
  Built: Principal Real Estate Investors | Broadway Tower, Portland, Oregon

  Multifamily Residential v2.0
  UL | YuanXiJiaYuan, Beijing, China

  Multifamily Residential v2.1
  Built: Newcastle Limited / SCB | State & Chestnut, Chicago, Illinois
  Design: UL | Herjing Gulf Villa Multifamily, New Taipei City, Taiwan

  Retail v2.1
  Built: UL | TaiMall Shopping Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan
  Design: CBRE | Angel Central, London, United Kingdom

  Community v2.1
  Built: Beam Living / Steven Winter Associates | Peter Cooper Village & Stuyvesant Town, New York, NY
  Design: Harrison Street | Cortland Cassiobury, Watford, United Kingdom

  Commercial v2.1
  Built: QuadReal Property Group | Southcore Financial Centre, Toronto, Canada
  Design: QuadReal Property Group | World Exchange Plaza, Ottawa, Canada

  Ambassador Awards

  Company with the Most Ambassadors (All-Time)
  Perkins & Will

  Ambassador with the Highest Scoring Project
  Caroline Compton / Corgan | Peloton HQ, New York, NY
  Emily Frazer-Smith / Corgan | Peloton HQ, New York, NY

  Ambassador Associated with the Most Certified Projects (All-Time)
  Rachel Schiftan / Cushman & Wakefield

  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.