World Trade Center Almeda Park: A Hub For Health, Creativity and Collaboration

Best in Building HealthHealthy Building ProfilesStrategies & Solutions
Written By Kenneth Einhorn
WTC Barcelona Almeda Park Phase 1 | Image Courtesy of Cushman & Wakefield

WTC Barcelona Almeda Park Phase 1 | Image Courtesy of Cushman & Wakefield

AT A GLANCE

Award: Multi-Tenant Whole Building v2.1 (Design)

Project: World Trade Center Almeda Park Phase 1 Building #3

Location: Barcelona, Spain

Certification Teams: UBS Asset Management - Euroinvest, Cushman & Wakefield, EVORA Global

Jordi Vidal
Property Manager,
Cushman & Wakefield
Sarah Coughlan
Director, Head of Social Wellbeing,
EVORA Global
Manuel Hidalgo
Asset Manager,
UBS

As part of our ongoing series highlighting Best in Building Health winners, we celebrate Barcelona’s premier hub for innovation and collaboration: World Trade Center Almeda Park.

The World Trade Center Almeda Park in Barcelona is much more than a conventional office complex; it’s a vibrant community where individuals from diverse nationalities and cultures converge from 50 different companies to drive international business growth, sustainability, and innovation. Spearheaded by UBS Asset Management, property manager Cushman & Wakefield, and guided by expert consultant EVORA Global, this award-winning project exemplifies sustainable, health-focused construction by integrating ecological, economic, and social elements throughout its design phases. Strategically located near the city center of Barcelona’s bustling business district, it provides tenants with easy access to public transportation, parks, and an array of amenities, spaces, and services that promote health, wellbeing, productivity, and collaboration.

Dive into the project teams’ motivations to pursue Fitwel and their insights into navigating the evolving ESG landscape below.

What motivated the project team(s) to pursue Fitwel for WTC Almeda Park?
JV: Manuel Hidalgo from UBS was interested in the certification of the buildings in order to ensure working conditions of the building occupiers. It is a good way to make sure best practices are implemented in the buildings; also a good way to reach easy improvements.

SC: Almeda Park is an important location with a diverse range of tenants. Certifying this location through Fitwel highlights the dedication to maximising tenant experiences and focusing on the social pillar by promoting health, wellbeing, and a positive community environment within the building. Fitwel certification is a powerful tool to enhance efforts related to the Social aspects of ESG, and these enhancements directly contribute to a better daily experience for all the tenants operating in the building.

Why are your clients pursuing Fitwel more broadly? 
SC: There is clear value associated with Health and Wellbeing Certifications, as certified buildings often experience an appreciation in property value. Tenants increasingly seek out spaces that prioritize their employees' health, making certified buildings more attractive. This can result in higher occupancy rates, longer lease terms, and the ability to command premium rents. Pursuing this certification also contributes valuable points to a GRESB assessment, providing a competitive edge in sustainable building practices. All in all, it’s an important action to maintain a position as market leaders and respond to the increasing demand for healthier, more sustainable buildings.

WTC Barcelona Almeda Park Phase 1 | Image Courtesy of Cushman & Wakefield

WTC Barcelona Almeda Park Phase 1 | Image Courtesy of Cushman & Wakefield

WTC Barcelona Almeda Park Phase 1 | Image Courtesy of Cushman & Wakefield

WTC Barcelona Almeda Park Phase 1 | Image Courtesy of Cushman & Wakefield

What are you seeing as the greatest challenge and opportunity in today’s ESG landscape? 
SC: More than ever, our clients are looking for a competitive edge through their ESG activities. They recognize that strong ESG performance can differentiate them in the marketplace, and market-leading solutions like Fitwel Certification are very appealing. With the market slow and few transactions happening, value-add activities are expected to pick up quickly. Clients are more concerned about the ROI on their ESG investments, seeking clear, quantifiable outcomes. Social Performance by Fitwel delivers data insights that provide a clear framework to communicate how health and wellbeing interventions deliver both financial returns and social value, making the business case for ESG investments compelling and transparent for all stakeholders.

What advice would you give to project teams pursuing certification? 
SC: Before you do anything else, start with a gap analysis to understand your current standings and identify areas needing improvement. Fitwel is a robust standard, and you need a realistic idea of your baseline and a clear understanding of your building’s current performance levels before you can set goals and create an effective roadmap to certification. Once your project is underway, remember that this needs to be a collaborative effort – Consultants, Property Managers, and Asset Managers should be working together. Success in achieving a Fitwel certification often depends on strong collaboration, ensuring that all aspects of the building’s operations are aligned with the certification criteria.

How does Fitwel impact your ESG strategy? 
MH: UBS is constantly improving their assets according to their ESG goals, in order to reach better tenant satisfaction, better performance and value improvement, and Fitwel helps us do just that.

Who made this year’s Best in Building Health list? Visit fitwel.org/bibh and reserve your copy of our popular spin-off series, Building Health Issue #4.

About EVORA Global
EVORA Global is a premier sustainability advisor, providing comprehensive, industry-leading climate solutions for real asset investors. With over a decade of experience, EVORA is dedicated to addressing the climate challenge posed by the real asset industry, focusing on the needs of investors in the built environment. Its clients include many of the biggest names in global real estate, including Invesco Real Estate, Hines and M&G. Founded in 2011, the company now has over 200 staff and 250 clients.  

About Cushman & Wakefield 
Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global commercial real estate services firm for property owners and occupiers with approximately 52,000 employees in nearly 400 offices and 60 countries. In 2023, the firm reported revenue of $9.5 billion across its core services of property, facilities and project management, leasing, capital markets, and valuation and other services. It also receives numerous industry and business accolades for its award-winning culture and commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), sustainability and more. For additional information, visit www.cushmanwakefield.com.

About UBS Asset Management
UBS Asset Management is a large-scale investment manager with a presence in 23 markets. We offer investment capabilities and investment styles across all major traditional and alternative asset classes, from active to passive including a comprehensive sustainable investing offering to institutions, wholesale intermediaries, and wealth management clients.

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Kenneth Einhorn
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