Project of the Week: Why CBRE’s new office is very WELL done
Ergonomic desks, healthy eating choices, activity-based working and promotion of diversity are among the characteristics of CBRE’s 363 George Street HQ that recently snagged it WELL Gold certification.
CBRE is the first real estate services firm in Australia to be awarded Gold certification from the International WELL Building Institute.
IWBI’s WELL Building Standard is based on the seven key categories of building performance: air, water, light, nourishment, fitness, comfort and mind.
Eleven projects in Australia now boast WELL silver, gold or platinum ratings.
363 George Street achieved Gold certification through features including ergonomic sit-to-stand desks, toxin-free furniture and fittings that optimise air quality, low glare lighting to ensure productivity, catering guidelines that promote healthy eating choices, and the promotion of a diverse and inclusive workplace.
“When we undertook the refurbishment our office space at 363 George Street wellness was at the forefront of every decision,” says CBRE Pacific director of sustainability, Emma McMahon.
The building already had great baseline to start from, and McMahon says CBRE was “fortunate” to occupy a space, “with ISPT as landlord and our own CBRE team as managing agents, where air quality is of high importance and monitored closely”.
The building boasts a 5 star NABERS Indoor Environment rating, and is “one of only 30 commercial office buildings in Australia with a rating of either 5 stars or above,” McMahon adds.
“Air quality was supported through the careful selection of low-VOC furniture, paints and other materials during the refurbishment.”
What lessons did CBRE learn? Retrofitting an existing building to meet WELL requirements can be a challenge. “But, it can be done,” McMahon says.
“Given this was a refurbishment project, we were limited in some of the design decisions due to cost of the retrofit and we faced particular challenges in complying with the noise regulations and acoustic requirements.
“A collective understanding of the WELL requirements and individual responsibilities as early as possible in the design of the project is crucial to its success”.
A collaborative approach with the design, building management and contracting teams delivered “effective solutions with minimal financial incursions”, McMahon explains.
What do staff think about CBRE’s new space?
McMahon says her colleagues love the sit-to-stand desks. “These were new to our space and 30 per cent of our workstations are now sit-to-stand – they are the first to be taken every morning.
“The activity-based workplace design means new collaboration spaces, quiet zones and additional meeting rooms have been added to the office, all of which have been very well received and enhance the overall experience of our employees’ work day.”
The project is the fifth CBRE office to secure WELL Certification globally, with CBRE’s Los Angeles, Vancouver, Toronto and Madrid headquarters all achieving this distinction.
According to Rick Fedrizzi, chairman and CEO of IWBI, CBRE’s WELL certification in Sydney demonstrates “outstanding leadership” and “continuous commitment to putting people at the centre of design and workplace decisions”.