Where we work and live affect our well-being. The Global Wellness Economy Monitor 2018 report showed that the average annual grow rate of wellness real estate was 6.4 percent from 2015-2017. Wellness real estate means incorporating wellness elements into design, materials and building amenities.
We spend half our waking hours out of the house, so the environment you design at your property should support work-life balance and improve well-being.
Below are 10 wellness amenities you should consider for your property.
1. Living Walls
Bring the outdoors inside and plant a “living wall.” Also known as vertical gardens, they’re beneficial for employee health and your property.
Plants filter up to 87 percent of airborne toxins, according to NASA, and that results in cleaner air. As for your building’s energy costs, plants improve insulation.
These facts are an added incentive if your building is located in an urban concrete jungle.
2. On-Site Dining All Day
They say the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, but we’d argue that’s the case for anyone. Whether your property is serving tenants as live/work/play, or just work, go the extra mile and offer dining options for any meal.
An on-site cafeteria with breakfast, lunch and dinner choices means less time leaving the property, and more time on-site experiencing your other great amenities.
3. Common Spaces
While tenants are enjoying a meal or spending time off the clock, make sure they have the space to do it. Create a sense of community and spice up open spaces by turning them into courtyards - inside or outside - with picnic tables, fountains, and even casual games such as ping pong and cornhole. Add in art exhibits from local artists to add pops of color on the walls.
4. A Rooftop
Gone are the days where the rooftop holds A/C units. Now properties are taking advantage of the open air and sweeping views.
(Photo credit: Fitspot Wellness)
How can you make your rooftop stand out? Turn it into a basketball or tennis court; a lounge with deck chairs, tables and a bar; or even a swimming pool.
[Related: Create a productive outdoor space]
5. Rooms for Mindfulness
These facilities go beyond a typical gym. Nap pods, meditation rooms or technology-free reflection spaces give employees a much-needed break from the daily grind to unwind in any way they choose.
6. Resources for Parents
80 percent of new mothers attempt to breastfeed, and often will do so for up to one year after birth, so providing them with a private lactation room will show that you have their best interest in mind. These rooms should be complete with refrigerators to store milk, sanitization equipment to wash bottles and any other pumping equipment.
For parents with children too young for school, an on-site childcare facility takes one less stress away when they can drop off their children in the same place they work.
7. Floor to Ceiling Windows
According to data from a 2018 Leesman report, 72.8 percent state that natural light is important to them, yet only 57.8 percent are satisfied with the offering in their workplace.
Add in floor-to-ceiling windows as a way to make tenants feel closer to nature. Research from Human Spaces associates a 15 percent increase in improved well-being and creativity, and 6 percent higher productivity.
8. Full-Service Gym and Spa
Sure, every property claims to have a gym, but does a four-walled, lifeless room with three cardio machines and a rack of weights count?
[More ideas: 5 Trending Tenant Amenity Ideas for Your Facility]
These days, the modern workforce (that means millennials) are looking for boutique services. Distinguish your gym from a gym to a fitness club by adding on a spa, complete with a sauna, hot tub and lap pool.
9. Transportation Concierge
Getting to and from work can be a problem. In the U.S., 77 percent of Americans drive to work. But if your property is located in a big city, chances are at least some of your tenants are using public transportation to get to work.
Feature a virtual transportation kiosk that features train and bus times, and show a map that highlights nearby rideshares. If your city has a bike share, find out how you can get a bike station at your property.
Buildings Podcast: Express Listen
Wellness Activities for Commercial Buildings10. Valet Service
Wouldn’t it be great if your tenants could check off a few items on their to-do list while at your property? Grocery shopping, done. Dry cleaning, done. A valet service alleviates some of these mundane tasks.
Jonathan Cohn is an entrepreneur and nationally certified National Council on Strength & Fitness personal trainer. He started as an investment banker in New York before starting a personal training service in Los Angeles. A lightbulb moment led him to start Fitspot Wellness. Fitspot provides a fully managed, customizable wellness solution to companies and properties.
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