Why Demand For Healthier Spaces Will Define Future Building Standards

The epidemic has raised a lot of questions about building upgrades that can make our indoor environment healthier. A recent article published on Harvard Business School’s news blog, highlights the importance of healthy building technology for our future offices. The article thoroughly argues that there are no longer any excuses for upgrading a property into a healthy building and that the benefits more than justify the cost. Stating that it is actually a “cheap” way to make people healthier and more productive.

In the article, John Macomber co-author of the new book titled  “Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Drive Performance and Productivity”outlines the nine foundations of a healthy building. His book is centered on the principle that creating a healthier indoor environment doesn’t just keep people from getting sick but also enhances cognitive performance and productivity. 

The main focus of the article, however, is to highlight the economic benefit of healthy building upgrades. Alongside an increase in productivity, the main economic benefit of a healthy building is its competitive advantage. A healthy building can be leveraged to attract tenants or for companies to attract talent as people will be more inclined to work in a healthier environment, especially after living through the pandemic. Predicting a drop in demand for real estate following the epidemic, the article argues that upgrading your building will be one of the best ways to attract new tenants and increase or maintain the value of your property.

 Macomber expects that the healthy building movement will gain momentum with the rising health concerns of individuals. The emphasis will be centered around  improving ventilation, air quality, water, moisture, and security, “because the cost [for these types of upgrades] is not relatively very high, and the benefit is extremely high.” 

As the public gains more awareness and interest around this topic, healthy building upgrades will become a global standard. Informed tenants will be more selective about the spaces they occupy, not just for the space they call home, but airplanes, communal spaces and offices.

Read the original article here: https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/why-covid-19-raises-the-stakes-for-building-health

Techmenity joins design-build teams as the Technology General Contractor and Master Planner to plan, execute, and manage all aspects of the project's tech needs, from concept through day-2 operations. We work with building owners, developers, architects and designers to help develop healthy, efficient, Future-Ready buildings that will define the future of real estate. We are partnered with some of the leading wellness technology brands to integrate proven solutions for healthier indoor living. Contact us to learn more about our vision for future healthy buildings.