A trio of skyscrapers in the heart of Barangaroo are the first in the world to be granted the WELL Building Standard’s highest level of accreditation. Lendlease’s International Towers Sydney are paving the way, awarded platinum level from this new certification that focuses on health and well-being.
Launched in 2014, The WELL Building Standard assesses a building’s impact on occupants across seven core concepts of health and wellness; air and water quality, nourishment, light, fitness, mind and comfort. It explores how design, operations and behaviours within places of occupation, residence and recreation can be optimized to advance human health and well-being.
Lendlease achieved platinum level not only for their residential precinct, but their corporate office too.
"There's been a big focus on sustainability and having sustainable buildings and sustainable precincts," Lendlease's Chief Executive for property, Kylie Rampa, told The Australian Financial Review.
"The workplace is increasingly important to corporates. They're spending a lot more time thinking and designing the work environment to improve productivity… These precincts arguably should drive stronger performance outcomes for the investors."
The new accreditation is gaining recognition throughout the property development sector, with the Green Building Council of Australia announcing their partnership in mid-2017. This is part of a strategy to enhance both certifications and make it easier for the growing number of Australian developers to achieve both too.
Two properties in Victoria received Gold certification last year, with many properties in New South Wales and Queensland receiving similar awards too.
With wellness growing as a topic of consideration in the minds of residents and companies, we expect accreditations such as WELL’s to become more sought after and valuable to the equity of many development projects.
