Health and wellbeing
Healthy returns
The importance of health and wellbeing in buildings was clear before the pandemic, but the issue is under more public scrutiny than ever. Safety remains fundamental, along with a wider array of health and wellbeing goals which occupiers are calling for to meet their own obligations to staff, customers and other building users. The commercial risks to building occupiers and owners include reputational damage from sub-standard delivery, and asset obsolescence is a long-term possibility.
In this section
Key findings
A broader diagnosis
The safety of buildings has never been more high profile than following the Grenfell fire, and the government’s pledge to introduce “the biggest change in building safety for a generation”. But in addition to the fundamental safety of buildings, a wider view of health and wellbeing will be essential to a commercially valuable building.
The long-term trend for wellbeing has become more clearly defined through the pandemic: buildings must be demonstrably healthy for users. Moreover, benefits should be clear to visitors and inhabitants, especially for those returning after a period away from the workplace, retailer, leisure venue or another commercial space which will be looking to increase usage.
Wellbeing factors including air quality, thermal comfort, water quality, lighting and the use of healthy materials can all contribute to that outcome. However, these are not strictly superficial improvements, involving close thought and specialist input to the design and management of a space.
Early engagement of wellbeing specialists is important to set the right goals against best practice rather than building regulations or current market standards alone. Working with project teams and engineers, those high standards can be implemented, maintained and enhanced through a building’s life.
For project teams and building users alike, transparency is critical. Clear information such as material specifications and building services operation and maintenance plans will help teams hit the right objectives and to provide occupants with the right data too.
Expert insight
How we can help
Explore Redefining Building Performance
Find out more about the changing commercial property landscape, and how better building performance drives value and resilience in a changing world.
Click through to explore the themes in our report and read more insight on how TFT can help you meet the challenges ahead.
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