Wellness

Latest News

The Shifting Dynamic Between Engagement and Well-Being

May 6, 2021 | By John Salustri

Occupant engagement and well-being used to be closely connected, but like many other aspects of commercial real estate, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed that. Gallup research reveals that occupant engagement rose through the depths of the pandemic, while its former partner, well-being, suffered. Stress, worry and isolation began contributing to a decline in a sense of well-being early in 2020, as an estimated 40 to 60 percent of the U.S. workforce worked from home. Now, with Mental Health Awareness Month kicking off and occupant re-entry beginning in markets across the country, employers and property professionals have an opportunity to double down on their efforts to prioritize health and well-being in the workplace.

Health and the Productivity Factor in a Post-Pandemic World

April 15, 2021 | By Brenna Walraven, BOMA Fellow, CPM, RPA, and Simon Turner

The pandemic has reinforced the role that modern buildings can play in contributing to the overall wellbeing of occupants in the workplace. Post-pandemic best practices are likely to favor higher ventilation rates, outdoor spaces, better lighting and more walkable spaces. Not only will these changes provide office workers with a healthier environment, but they could also have a positive impact on business productivity—talk about two birds with one stone!

Workplace Amenities Reimagined

October 13, 2020 | By Liz Wolf

It’s been an amenities arms race for office building owners to provide wow-worthy spaces to prospective tenants. These once sought-after amenities, however, are perceived very differently during the COVID-19 pandemic. Property management teams are now stepping up to reimagine amenities spaces and also create new virtual experiences as health and safety take center stage.

Welcome to the New Age of Corporate Fitness

January 23, 2020 | By John Salustri

Now that the holidays are over and fitness resolutions are in place, it’s time to reexamine the corporate fitness center. Leading-edge properties are now offering a range of amenities to help tenant accomplish their health goals, bringing about a wider understanding of what “wellness” might include.

Buildings and the Brain

February 28, 2019 | By Jessica Bates

The evolution of technology has allowed us greater control over the workplace than ever before. As these possibilities open up, property professionals and their tenants have the opportunity to think more critically about the spaces they are creating. The growing wellness movement is focused on finding workplace solutions that create happier, healthier work environments that entice workers. Many of these proposed solutions come with claims of how they positively impact the human brain. But, what do we actually know about the built environment and brain science?

Healthy Buildings in the Age of COVID-19

February 17, 2021 | By John Salustri

If you think a healthy environment is defined in this age of COVID-19 as plexiglass dividers and hand sanitizers, your assumptions fall short of the mark. An overarching health and safety protocol transcends the accumulation of product to encompass a holistic approach to both mind and body—and not just before a vaccine is widely available, but well beyond.

How Healthy Buildings can Help in the Fight Against COVID-19

July 20, 2020 | By Liz Wolf

Many workplaces have begun allowing employees who wish to return to the office to come in as long as social-distancing procedures can be followed. While the office is not going away, until a vaccine is found, workspaces are being forced to change if employees are to return en masse safely.

From Workplace to People Place

January 1, 2020 | By Scott O. Jones

In case you haven’t heard, the answer to most things in life is this: Find a balance. Whether you’re tackling a new health goal, striving for work-life equilibrium or even negotiating with a client—the sweet spot lies somewhere in the middle. People seek balance, and guess what? They look for it in their physical surroundings, too.

Today's Tenants Are Expecting Healthier Workplaces

June 8, 2018 | By Liz Wolf

Americans spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, and that includes racking up an average of 50 hours a week in the office. Long hours, stress and the lack of physical activity of many office jobs can take a toll on people’s health.

But, what if office buildings could actually help people become healthier? What if they could promote a healthy lifestyle and "engage" employees to make healthy choices in their workspace? This concept is relatively new, but it’s one that the commercial real estate industry is taking seriously.

WELL Ahead of The Curve

June 2, 2016 | By Jessica Bates

"I’m the canary in the coal mine,” says Barbara Ciesla, senior vice president at JLL in Toronto. For years, Ciesla has worked to promote sustainability in commercial real estate, but whenever she participated in discussions on energy management or green building materials, she always felt something was overlooked: the impact on the building’s occupants. “I’ve had rheumatoid arthritis since I was two years old, and it’s made me acutely aware of how my environment affects my well-being,” she explains. Everything from what she eats to changes in barometric pressure can trigger inflammation and pain for Ciesla, which has helped her immediately understand the benefits of the newest big trend in commercial real estate: occupant wellness.

Building Owners and Managers Association International