Healthy Building Spotlight: Adera’s Approach to The Future of Healthy Apartment Living in Canada

Strategies & SolutionsHealthy Building Profiles
Written By Kenneth Einhorn

At Adera Development Corporation, creating spaces that prioritize wellness and sustainability is a driving passion. We caught up with Sarah Bingham, VP of Development & Sustainability to chat about their team’s latest award-winning Fitwel-certified projects, Pura Adera Projects Ltd. which are meeting the demand for the next generation of healthy apartment living.

AT A GLANCE

Sarah Bingham
 VP of Development & Sustainability

Project Name: Pura Adera Projects Ltd.

Location: Surrey/BC/Canada 

Property Type: Apartment 

Certification Type (Scorecard): Multi-Family Residential 

Fitwel Rating: 1-Star

Certification Team Leads: Shijie Wang; Project Manager; Light House Sustainability Society, Joanne Sawatzky, Light House; Managing Director of Regenerative Built Environment

What Fitwel strategies were most important to you to achieve your healthy building goals?
SB: We focused on several strategies, including ensuring there was ample natural light and greenery, as well as integrated health-promoting design features, sustainable building materials, physical activity promotions, and access to outdoor nature.

How does Fitwel align with the mission or values of your company?
SB: Adera’s 2025 Vision highlights our dedication to sustainability through operational excellence, technology, and innovation. Our use of mass timber demonstrates our commitment to sustainable building materials, and the implementation of the Energy Step Code in 2018 has provided a path to enhanced energy efficiency. We turned to Fitwel to address the health and well-being of our building occupants, which wasn’t covered by other sustainability efforts. "Building Health at Adera" reflects our commitment to creating and maintaining spaces that support the physical, mental, and social well-being of our occupants.

What Fitwel strategies were most important to you in achieving your healthy building goals?
SB: Our approach was all about enhancing the everyday experience for our residents. We emphasized natural light and green spaces, making sure our buildings felt connected to nature. Using sustainable materials and promoting physical activity were also key. It’s not just about the structures themselves but creating an environment where people can truly thrive.

What does Building Health mean to you, and how does Fitwel align with the mission or values of your company?
SB: For us, Building Health is about nurturing well-being on all fronts—physical, mental, and social. Our 2025 Vision highlights sustainability through innovative practices and responsible use of resources like mass timber. The Energy Step Code has guided us toward greater energy efficiency since 2018. Fitwel perfectly aligns with our mission by focusing on the health aspect, something we felt was crucial but not always addressed in other sustainability frameworks.

Courtyard at Pura Adera Projects Ltd. | Image Courtesy of Adera Development Corporation

Fitwel Ambassador Course
 

Take the Next Step: Become a Fitwel Ambassador
Ambassadors are meeting the demand for healthy buildings and taking their careers to the next level. Learn more and enroll today at fitwel.org/amabassadors.

Do you have a plan to use Fitwel for future properties?
SB: Definitely! We’re already working on certifying additional projects, including a condo and rental building in Coquitlam that recently earned a one-star Fitwel rating, and a rental building in North Vancouver that is currently in the process of certification. It’s exciting to see our vision for healthier living spaces come to life and extend to future developments.

About Pura Adera
With over 50 years of experience, Adera Development has built a world-class, award-winning portfolio, including more than 4-million square feet of commercial space and over 11,600 homes, condos, and townhomes. It has emerged as one of the leading multi-disciplinary real estate development organizations and mass timber leaders in British Columbia. Adera remains dedicated to delivering value through a commitment to the communities it builds, its customers, the environment, and the pursuit of agile innovation in developments, such as its SmartWood® and QuietHome™ technologies. To learn more about Adera, visit adera.com.

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Kenneth Einhorn
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