The Race to Wellness: Health is Core Business for Real Estate in 2025

From the CEOBest in Building HealthFeatured
Written By Janelle Decarreau

APAC Tower, Bangkok | Image courtesy of APAC Land Co., Ltd.

Southline Amenities, San Francisco | Image courtesy of Lightfiction

Republic Building, London | Image courtesy of Trilogy Real Estate LLP

Ratchayothin Hill, Bangkok | Image courtesy of Knight Frank Thailand

As we step into 2025, I am excited to share a monumental shift taking place in the real estate sector—a shift that is being driven by increasing consumer demand for healthier living and working environments. What began as a movement around healthy buildings has now evolved into a race to wellness. This transformation is reshaping the industry, with a clear correlation between properties that prioritize health, sustainability, and long-term value. Today, real estate is no longer defined solely by physical assets; success now requires an unwavering commitment to tenant satisfaction creating spaces that nurture healthy lives.

The landscape in 2025 reflects this fundamental shift. There is undeniable and growing demand for healthier homes and workplaces, spurred in part by the heightened awareness of the link between our environment and health—an awareness that was amplified during the pandemic. From the design of our homes to the way our workplaces are operated, the importance of our surroundings has never been clearer. Research consistently shows that the built environment significantly influences our health outcomes. Air quality, walkability, access to green spaces, and neighborhood safety are all factors that shape not just our physical well-being but also our overall life expectancy. As a result, buildings that integrate health-promoting features are seeing increased tenant retention, stronger leasing activity, and greater financial returns — demonstrating that wellness is a powerful value driver.

As tenants increasingly seek healthier workspaces and residents demand homes that promote a higher quality of life, we are seeing a strong "flight to wellness" in the market—one that will only accelerate in 2025. This growing preference for healthy spaces is not just a trend but a defining shift that is reshaping the future of real estate.

One of the key ways we celebrate and support this transformation is through the Best in Building Health (BiBH) Awards, which recognize global leaders who are setting the standard for people-centered, health-focused projects. These projects demonstrate the tremendous value of prioritizing well-being, showing the world that health is no longer a nice-to-have, but an essential component of successful real estate.

This year, we are taking bold steps to support this movement, including the introduction of the FSP - Fitwel’s Scale Certification, which directly links health outcomes with economic impact and is applicable to 100% of assets. We’ve also unveiled the updated Fitwel Version 3 Standard, which has cut submission paperwork by up to 50%, while expanding the standard to include climate resilience strategies. These innovations reflect our commitment to delivering the industry with efficient certification options that meet your demand for cost effective, third party certification for all properties.

Investing in people’s health is one of the most effective strategies for long-term risk mitigation and value creation within real estate today. Together, we can continue to lead the way in this race to wellness, transforming the places where we live, work, and thrive.

With gratitude,

Joanna Frank

Joanna Frank

President and CEO | Center for Active Design

President and CEO | Active Design Advisors, Inc. (Adai)

 

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Investing in People: The Real Estate Strategy for Long-Term Value