In 2013, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) performed a cross-disciplinary study focusing on healthy communities, including:
• Raising awareness of the connections between health and the built environment with the intention of making sure that health would become a mainstream consideration.
• Developing tools to advance approaches to designing healthy buildings, projects, and communities.
• Identifying the value in building and operating facilities in health-promoting ways.
In the ULI study, developers reported that healthy buildings resulted in greater marketability, faster leasing and sales velocity, and higher rents than pro forma projections. The costs attributable to the wellness features were minimal compared to the overall development budget.
Helen J. Kessler (hjkessler@hjkesslerassociates.com), FAIA, LEED Fellow, WELL AP, is president of HJKessler Associates, a green building and sustainability consulting firm in Chicago. She is also a principal of Regenerative Design Collaborative, a consulting practice focusing on regenerative development.
How the Physical Environment Affects Health and Wellness
Health and Wellness: New Standards Address Age-Old Concerns
Financial Benefits of Health and Wellness
How Healthy Buildings Create Healthy Communities
