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Fitwel in the News
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theMART Building Achieves Fitwel Certification, Supporting Public Health for Thousands
theMART, located in the River North District of Chicago, has achieved a Fitwel 2 Star Rating, recognizing the property’s ability to support the physical, mental, and social health of its occupants. theMART, owned and managed by Vornado Realty Trust, is the largest privately held commercial building in the United States. The property is over 4 million square feet, spans two city blocks, rises 25 stories, and is visited by an average of 30,000 people each business day. The largest building to date to receive Fitwel Certification, theMART also represents the first certification achieved under Fitwel’s Multi-Tenant Whole Building Scorecard for workplaces. The iconic and historic building now includes strengthened operational and design features that support a healthy environment for its hundreds of tenants.
theMART has a long history as an iconic business hub for the City of Chicago. Our recent renovation continues to transform the building to meet the modern needs of companies and the people they employ. We are very pleased that the Center for Active Design and the Fitwel Certification have recognized our innovation and prioritization of health and wellness for our property’s tenants and visitors,” said Myron Maurer, COO of theMART.
AvalonBay Communities Achieves First Fitwel Certification in Washington D.C.
AvalonBay Communities, Inc., an equity REIT with a long-term track record of developing, redeveloping, acquiring and managing apartment homes in the U.S., has been awarded a Fitwel 1 Star Rating from the Center for Active Design, for AVA NoMA, an apartment complex located in the NoMa neighborhood of Washington D.C.
We are extremely pleased to have achieved our first Fitwel certification and the first in Washington, D.C., says Mark Delisi, AvalonBay Communities’ vice president of corporate responsibility. “We know our residents care about living in a healthy environment, and providing this at AVA NoMa shows our purpose of creating a better way to live encompasses healthy living, too.
Clark Construction Becomes First General Contractor to Adopt Fitwel
Clark Construction Group, LLC today announced that it has become a Fitwel Champion, further solidifying its commitment to the health and wellbeing of its employees and to building sustainable communities.
At Clark, we have always valued our people’s talent and safety on the job,” said Fernando Arias, director of sustainability at Clark Construction. “And now as Fitwel Champions, we are excited to partner with CfAD to demonstrate our commitment to their health and wellbeing by offering them best-in-class workplaces to work and thrive in their careers.
“Our clients are have shown increasing interest in the nexus between building design and workforce performance,” said Chip Hastie, senior vice president of operations at Clark Construction. “We are excited to leverage the Fitwel platform to provide a healthier workplace environment for our employees while also serving as a knowledgeable advisor to our clients based on firsthand experience with the certification program
AMLI Ponce Park Becomes First Multifamily Development in Atlanta to Receive Fitwel Certification
AMLI Residential, a leading developer of sustainable, multifamily rental properties, today announced its AMLI Ponce Park community has achieved Fitwel Certification under the Multifamily Residential Scorecard, the first accreditation of its kind in Atlanta and any of the Southern states.
The Fitwel Certification complements AMLI Ponce Park’s design achievement as a LEED Platinum building,” said Erin Hatcher, AMLI’s Vice President of Sustainability. “We strive to be on the forefront of providing our residents with homes that are not only better for the environment, but better for them, too. The Fitwel Certification demonstrates our overall commitment to health, wellness and sustainability.
Recently Published Real-World Research Reinforces the Benefits of Sit-Stand Desks in the Workplace
The Center for Active Design collaborated with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Perkins+Will, and Steelcase to study the health impacts of adjustable workstations (also known as “sit-stand” desks). We are proud to report that the Stand Up to Work study was recently published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management, and also covered by Fast Company.
This year-long study, funded by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Foundation, evaluated sedentary behavior changes in office workers who were randomly selected to receive adjustable workstations, and compared their behavior to that of workers who continued using traditional desks. The study concluded that sit-stand desks are linked to increased productivity, better mental concentration, and improved overall health within the workplace. Some employees even reported that sit-stand desks had a positive impact on their health outside of the workplace.