Episode 334: Healthy Building Environments Seen as “Table Stakes” for Tenants & Investors

Healthy building environments have become an essential requirement for attracting and retaining tenants, and also for ensuring that real estate assets avoid becoming stranded for failing to meet baseline requirements, says Joanna Frank, president and CEO of the Center for Active Design (CfAD), operator of the Fitwel healthy building certification system.

Speaking on the REIT Report, Frank noted that “health is seen as essential. It is seen as table stakes. If you want to attract and retain tenants, you really need to be able to answer that question of ‘how is this a health-promoting environment?’”

For investors, Frank pointed to “a distinct possibility of having stranded assets, of actually seeing your asset become less valuable, if you aren't meeting that baseline for being a healthy building because your peers and your competitors are able to articulate that.”