The latest 2018 EMEA Occupier Survey from CBRE reports a significant increase in demand for healthy workplaces. The Survey highlights three major focuses on user experience improvement: technology, wellness and flexible space.
Increasing investment in technology
According to the survey, 62{e3829ec1db02d54faaf9fa2de0d48db26af01d7a7944a63c3b26976124791cab} of the companies interviewed have plans to increase investment in technology in real estate in the next few years, in order to improve user experience and workforce productivity. The focus on technology has shifted from mainly operational management such as energy consumption and water consumption management towards human wellbeing and health improvements. The shift will lead to an increase in demand for real time monitoring system such as QLEAR platform that captures air quality, temperature, humidity, and other data in real time that impact human health and comfort.
Growing awareness of wellness
Companies have also started to recognize the importance of addressing wellness in the workplace, adding it to their corporate real estate (CRE) strategy. Eighty percent of companies have, or plan to introduce, wellness programmes (up from 9{e3829ec1db02d54faaf9fa2de0d48db26af01d7a7944a63c3b26976124791cab} in 2017). The programmes are a mix of exercise, nutrition and mental health sessions such as mindfulness and relaxation practices. The survey also reports that 92{e3829ec1db02d54faaf9fa2de0d48db26af01d7a7944a63c3b26976124791cab} of occupants have a preference for working in ‘wellness enabled’ buildings.
The most globally recognized standard for healthy buildings, WELL, takes a holistic approach to health in the built environment addressing behaviour, operations and design, and provides scientific based benchmarks and guidelines on supporting the healthy buildings. WELL is a performance-based certification system for measuring, certifying and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and wellbeing, through air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind. It believes that buildings should be developed with people’s health and wellness at the centre of design.
More flexible space
Companies and occupants alike report valuing flexible space more than ever, mirroring the growth of co-working spaces. Co-working space is also the most popular type of flexible space.
BEE Solutions
BEE has been a leader in the sustainable built environment. Our real time monitoring system QLEAR captures air quality, temperature, humidity, and other data in real time and improves human health and comfort. In addition, our WELL Building Standard certification service, provides professional consultancy on the increasing demand for workplace wellness and health.