Be Well

EED certification is soooo 2012. WELL certification, says one real estate developer, is what’s next, as employers aim to bring as much good energy to your health as they bring to your building.

Just before Thanksgiving last month, developer Delos and global commercial real estate services and investment firm CBRE Group announced the world’s first commercial office space to be certified under Delos’ WELL™ Building Standard pilot program at CBRE’s new Global Corporate Headquarters in Downtown Los Angeles.

“A result of six years of research, development and collaboration with a board of researchers and doctors from Columbia University Medical School, as well as with architects, engineers and contractors, Delos’ WELL Building Standard, which is currently in pilot, is the first building standard focused exclusively on enhancing people’s health and well-being through the built environment,” said their news release. WELL certification will be available through the International WELL Building Institute following the pilot phase.”

CBRE’s new headquarters, shown in the photos provided by the company, incorporates Delos’ state-of-the-art designs and innovative wellness features, such as smart lighting systems, energy absorbing flooring, advanced air purification, water filtration systems and anti-microbial coatings on all surfaces. The project marks the first time Delos has ventured into commercial space.

“The wellness aspect of our new office adds a critical element to our work environment by creating a place where people feel energized and want to be every day, and where they are able to be focused and productive,” said Lewis C. Horne, executive managing director of greater Los Angeles and Orange County for CBRE. “We are very proud to be breaking new ground with Delos by modeling a healthier way of working for our employees, as well as for our clients who may be considering WELL Certification for their own offices.”

In addition to its wellness features, CBRE’s new office is a 100-percent free-address environment across two floors, with no permanently assigned offices or workstations and more than 15 different types of spaces for both individual and collaborative work. The new office is one of CBRE’s first “Workplace360” offices in the United States. Workplace360 is CBRE’s Alternate Workplace Strategy initiative, which maximizes employee collaboration and productivity through technology, space utilization, sustainability, mobility and enhanced flexibility. 

“As a professional services and investment firm, our most important asset is our people, so providing a workplace environment that improves the way we work today, while enhancing our overall health and well-being, is a top priority,” said Laura O’Brien, CBRE’s global head of human resources and workplace strategy. “By incorporating these features into our workplace, we are sending a message to our employees that we value the role health and wellness plays in a happy and successful work life.”

O’Brien oversees CBRE’s worldwide human resources operations encompassing approximately 37,000 employees. Her areas of responsibility include employee relations, staffing and recruitment, talent management, and compensation and benefits. She also has responsibility for Global Facilities, overseeing the planning and execution of lease transactions for company offices, and managing facilities capital spend, on a global level.

“The office is a place where people spend a lot of their time, and investing in employees — and especially in their health and well-being — is one of the most important things a company can do,” said Paul Scialla, founder of Delos, who on Nov. 7 along with celebrated health and wellness expert Dr. Deepak Chopra presented the first WELL Certified seal to CBRE at its grand opening. The celebrity power doesn’t stop there: Delos recently announced Leonardo DiCaprio as a board member and an early investor in the company. Other board members include leaders from Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic.

Here’s Your Checklist

The WELL Certified and LEED Gold Certified office features more than 50 groundbreaking health and wellness features, including:

• WELLShield™: photo-catalytic coating on all surfaces breaks down bacteria, viruses and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on bacteria-susceptible surfaces to prevent the spreading of germs and bacteria within the office.
• UV Air Sanitizer: designed to disinfect the air with the application of ultraviolet light within the ventilation system to sterilize airborne bacteria, viruses, dust mites, and mold spores that may have escaped filtration.
• VOC Reduction: all interior furniture and finishes are manufactured to eliminate VOC's to assist in maintaining high indoor air quality.Advanced Air Filtration: the most advanced air purification system reduces allergens, toxins and pathogens, creating better air quality and breathing.
• Advanced Water Purification: reduces disinfectant byproducts, chlorine, pesticides and some pharmaceutical and personal care products for the cleanest, most purified tap and sink water.
• Advanced Lighting: helps to minimize disruption of the body’s circadian system, enhance worker productivity and provide appropriate visual acuity to employees through an advanced lighting system that contains controllable and dimmable LED lighting fixtures, along with light and occupancy sensors.
• Non-Porous Countertops: prevents the collection of food particles that encourage bacteria growth.
• Dietary and Nutrition Info on Display: provides nutrition awareness and promotes healthy eating habits.
• Cleaning Protocol: specialized chemical-free cleaning supplies and techniques for cleaning protocols, including vacuuming, mopping, dusting and ventilation cleaning.
• EMF Shielding: protects against electrical equipment and wiring that emanates disruptive EMFs.
• Hydration Stations: stations placed every 100 feet with highly filtered, cold water to help encourage hydration for employees.
• Wellness Concierge: provides health and wellness guidance for employees.
• Wellness Library: an electronic library which offers current information, periodicals and key health research for employees.
• Exercise/Stretching Zones: a stretching and relaxation area for employees on each floor.
• Cardiovascular Equipment: improves cardiovascular health and encourages employees to be less sedentary through the use of equipment like Treadmill Desks.
• Inviting Stairways: encourages employees to use the stairways through unique and enticing artwork, as well as through enhanced lighting, design and biophilic elements, which make stairways inviting and pleasant to use.
• Cleveland Clinic WELL Tip of the Day: disseminated via office technology and email distribution channels, the tips will help to educate employees on healthy living.
• Biophilic Air Treatment: assists in cleaning the air through certain plants which filter harmful VOCs and CO2 from the air, while providing a source of fresh oxygen.
• Juice Station: extracts and blends juice from fruits and vegetables adding to nutritive health.
• Non-toxic Paint and Low LRV Surfaces (walls, ceilings, furniture panels): paints that use water as a carrier instead of petrochemical solvents have very low levels of VOCs in their pigments/additives compared to all other types of paints and therefore tend to have a lower level of toxic chemicals.
• Ergonomic Furniture: provides comfort and posture support for users with varying physical backgrounds to help reduce stress and to provide varying and adjustable work environments.
• Healthy HVAC: a fully controllable and zonable heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system that drives internal air circulation.

Until now, Delos has worked in the residential and hospitality sectors, completing its first commissioned loft space in Manhattan in 2011 and introducing 42 Stay Well™ hotel rooms at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in 2012. By the end of 2013, Delos will complete both the world’s first residences and the world’s first restaurant to be certified under the WELL Building Standard pilot program. The residences will be located in New York City’s Greenwich Village at 66 East 11th Street, and the restaurant will be located in Tarzana, Calif., at LYFE Kitchen’s third location.