The attention on the condition of our living and working environment is at its highest point. With an increasing number of people putting emphasis on their physical and mental wellness, there’s no avoiding that companies across all industries are more committed to making strides towards a healthier future. The real estate and hospitality industries are no stranger to this rising initiative. Developers of both office, residential, and hospitality spaces have an increasing sense of urgency to provide and make improvements towards a more wellness-focused environment. In a recent article on the intersection of wellness and real estate, Mansion Global notes that “one way to achieve optimum wellness … is by choosing a home that is designed for it.” To invest in overall well-being, developers are providing a diverse array of amenities that can challenge home owners, renters and employees physically, calm them mentally, and keep them centered, with a more mindful approach.
To meet the rising demand for wellness-focused amenity spaces, the developer behind 49 Chambers Street incorporated a yoga studio, sauna room and hammam to create the ultimate relaxation experience for residents. 111 Murray Street’s abundant, David Rockwell-designed amenities were created with wellness in mind, also including a hammam in addition to spa treatment rooms, the first-ever residents only Drybar, and a separate movement studio perfect for meditation and yoga. Additionally, the team has partnered with wellness brands J Train Fitness Studio and celebrity skincare line Tracie Martyn, and will also open the second Oscar Blandi salon in the city in its retail space, to further elevate resident wellness. Lauren Witkoff, execute vice president of Witkoff, co-developer of the building, has stated: “We are giving residents access to holistic wellness programs and the most coveted self-care practices in their own building because, at the end of the day, time and convenience are the ultimate amenity.” Within the hospitality market, luxury hotel group H8 Collections has incorporated a number of amenities across their portfolio, including a Spa by L’Occitane, a hamman by Clarins, and even a private consultation with a wellness coach during your stay.
The importance of wellness isn’t just restricted to the home; with the average person spending about one third of their life in an office, wellness in the workplace is also a priority. According to The New York Times, an office space’s environment can have a large positive effect on the workers’ health and healthy workers tend to be more productive. Scott Spector, principal of Spector Group Architects, has stated that as a result of the public’s increasing focus on health and wellness, his design firm is “seeing an increased demand to incorporate wellness into design from all areas of stakeholders, from the clients and employees who spend an increasing amount of time in the offices, to the building owners and landlords who want them to be happy when doing so.” Recently, Spector Group renovated the nation’s largest female-owned marketing agency, Rauxa, to encompass their tagline, “Head, Heart, and Hustle.” Noted in Interior Design magazine, a “lively and energetic atmosphere centered on the firm’s [Rauxa] unique company culture” flows through their new office space, with open studio work spaces, an abundance of meeting and teaming rooms, and lively greenery sprinkled throughout. The goal was to encourage employees to reduce their desk time and increase social interaction with colleagues.
On the West Coast, urban innovation campus Alexandria Real Estate Equities continues to showcase its leaders through its award-winning sustainability program and extensive wellness amenities offered to tenants. Alexandria’s corporate responsibility to make a “positive impact on the world through sustainability, philanthropy, and volunteerism” drives their longstanding focus on continuing to evolve their innovate approaches to developing sustainable campus environments with healthy workplaces. As people increasingly seek a more holistic lifestyle, the importance for the real estate market to take notice and fully shift is now at an all-time high. No longer a trend, but rather a necessity, we are excited to see what the future of wellness in real estate holds.
