Working On Health

Tampa-based real estate development firm Strategic Property Partners, LLC (“SPP”) has recently announced that Thousand & One, Water Street Tampa’s trophy office building, has achieved WELL Core & Shell certification at the Gold level. The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) awarded the certification to Thousand & One for its successful implementation of wellness-focused design and policies, making it the first building in Tampa to receive WELL Gold certification. Thousand & One also claims the distinction of being the first in Tampa to achieve WELL Core & Shell certification at any level.

An innovative international guideline assessing health-conscious design decisions, WELL certification represents the highest standard for health and well-being in the built environment. According to a recent study, workers in WELL-certified buildings reported a 30% increase in overall satisfaction, a 26% increase in well-being and a 10-point increase in median productivity scores when compared to their experiences prior to certification. Thousand & One is not only leading the way in Tampa, but also is one of only 15 WELL Gold-certified projects under the v2 Pilot in the United States, including the first in Florida.

“We’re seeing an incredible ‘flight to quality’ across many industries, as employers seek out cutting-edge office spaces that put their employees’ well-being first,” said Dave Bevirt, Executive Vice President of Corporate Leasing and Strategy for SPP. “With Thousand & One, we’ve created the most effective tool for companies to attract and retain talent by allowing them to embrace healthier offices and improve productivity.”

As part of its focus to improve physical and mental health, well-being and productivity, Thousand & One scored highly in various categories measured by WELL, most notably achieving the maximum number of points for the movement category. This reflects the building’s location in a neighbourhood with a Walk Score of 89, proximity to transit and opportunities for physical activity, including the on-site employee fitness centre. The building’s location was also an important factor in the community category because of tenants’ access to regular programmings such as The Market at Water Street Tampa, live music and other curated public events.

Thousand & One was also commended for several design strategies, including its use of sustainably sourced materials, accessible outdoor spaces such as the building’s unique rooftop terrace and balconies, ample daylight, highest-possible water quality, indoor temperature monitoring and amenities that support new mothers. WELL also recognized the building’s use of MERV 13 air filters, which allow it to supply 40% more fresh outside air than traditional office buildings.

“Thousand & One was the ideal environment for our new office because it simultaneously supports our business goals and our employees’ well-being,” said Greg Farrell, Chief Financial Officer of ReliaQuest. “The intentional wellness-driven design was a key factor in our decision, and when paired with the thoughtful amenities and prime location in the centre of Water Street Tampa, Thousand & One becomes the ultimate office space for the future of work. There’s nothing else like this in Tampa.”

Overall, WELL Core & Shell certification evaluated Thousand & One on 10 concepts — air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind and community — that measure the building’s successful commitment to creating a workplace that prioritizes employees’ well-being. Setting itself apart from other wellness and sustainability rating systems, WELL certification requires meticulous onsite testing to verify a building’s compliance with the certification’s rigorous requirements.

With WELL-certified buildings and a forthcoming WELL Community certification, Water Street Tampa continues to set a global precedent for health-conscious and wellness-based design.

www.waterstreettampa.com.