Unlocking Value Worldwide: UL Solutions Named Best in Building Health for Third Consecutive Year

Best in Building HealthStrategies & Solutions
Written By Marcos Reynaga
Park Place, California | Image Courtesy of LBA Realty

The Park
Park Place, Irvine, California | Image Courtesy of LBA Realty

AT A GLANCE

+ Distinctions, Greatest Number of Certifications — Consultant

+ Highest Scoring Project
Central Park Beijing, China
Community v2.1 (Built)

Fitwel Champion UL Solutions has been named Best in Building Health for the third year in a row, this time for having the Most Certifications as a Consultant, and for achieving the Highest-Scoring Built Community Project (v2.1) for Central Park in Beijing, China. UL Solutions' trusted industry advisory teams have a track record of successfully guiding clients through the Fitwel Certification process, consistently setting award-winning records worldwide.

In 2020, UL Solutions collaborated with fellow Fitwel Champions CBRE and Brookfield Properties to certify One East, a mixed-use commercial building in Shanghai, making it the first in Greater China to receive a 3-Star Fitwel Rating. Lenovo DCG Taipei Design Centre also received Taiwan's first 2-Star Fitwel Rating, thanks to contributions from UL Solutions, Green Matrix Consulting Co., and Lenovo Corporate Real Estate. Other notable projects include CIM Group's City National 2Cal in Los Angeles and LBA Realty Park Place in Irvine, further highlighting UL Solutions’ commitment to promoting health and wellness within the built environment.

Bryan Astheimer, National Operations Manager, Sustainable Buildings, and Christopher Tacy, Senior Project Manager, who was also named one of Fitwel’s Top 20 Ambassadors in 2023, share some exclusive insights into their journey to success. 

Bryan Astheimer, UL Solutions

Bryan Astheimer
National Operations Manager, Sustainable Buildings, UL Solutions

Why did UL Solutions pursue Fitwel Certification expertise for clients?
BA: UL Solutions supports our clients in applying for and navigating the Fitwel Certification process across different asset types. Our goals are to educate the client, make the process as least cumbersome as possible, and to not only enhance the health and well-being of occupants but to drive asset value in a sustainable way, and Fitwel helps us do that.

Christopher Tacy, UL Solutions

Christopher Tacy
Senior Project Manager, UL Solutions

What advice would you give to project teams starting Fitwel Certification for the first time?
CT: I would recommend that project teams focus on understanding both the why of pursuing Fitwel Certification, as well as the how, meaning the path to get there. It is critical for both the team and stakeholders to understand the motivations driving their pursuit and the strategies for achieving their objectives. This clarity ensures that efforts are focused on the needs of occupants and the surrounding community, maximizing the benefits of certification. It is up to the project team to identify a pathway to achieve the project's goals and to incorporate strategies that align with why they are pursuing the certification.

Park Place, California | Image Courtesy of LBA Realty

Public Cafe
Park Place, Irvine, California | Image Courtesy of LBA Realty

How are you leveraging Fitwel to advance your ESG strategies, specifically, when it comes to the ‘S’ pillar?
CT: Fitwel helps enhance the ‘S’ by providing a positive feedback loop between asset management, ownership and the occupants of their buildings. Fitwel helps building managers and owners benchmark their portfolio to identify their areas of strength and opportunity to provide the best environment for people living, playing, or working within the asset on a regular basis. Fitwel Strategies help management implement policies and procedures that can trickle down to result in positive impacts on the health of building occupants (i.e. IAQ policy, Tobacco Free policy, etc.) – which in turn, encourages occupants to stay, driving NPS and retention.

To learn more about this year’s Best in Building Health winners, visit fitwel.org/bibh and reserve your copy of Building Health Vol. 2.

About UL Solutions
UL Solutions collaborates with building design, facilities, and operations teams to help them incorporate innovative health and wellness initiatives and provide operational sustainability recommendations to a building’s facilities team. This collaboration often includes the application of the Fitwel rating system and framework to leverage to drive health and wellness initiatives. More than ever, property professionals need to demonstrate a commitment to indoor environmental health to secure and retain high-value tenants. Real estate leaders are taking strides to improve indoor environments, facilitate occupant comfort, health and wellness, secure more advantageous rental premiums, and reduce tenant turnover. UL Solutions works as an extension of their clients’ internal teams from project inception through certification, offering expertise at every step. With a proven track record of success, their advisory team employs an integrated approach that focuses on cost-effectiveness, reliability, and the triple bottom line (people, profit, and planet). UL Solutions has supported clients in applying the Fitwel rating system and framework on hundreds of unique property assets. UL Solutions is a proud Fitwel Champion because they see firsthand the value that Fitwel offers. To learn more about UL Solutions, visit www.ul.com.

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Marcos Reynaga
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