The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) has recognised Stockland as the first Australian property group to acquire a WELL Health-Safety Rating in the retail sector, with eight of its centres receiving a rating.
The IWBI’s WELL Health-Safety Rating was attained by implementing a variety of methods that enhance the health and wellbeing of customers, retailer personnel, and other visitors to shopping centres.
“Stockland wanted to adopt a world leading approach to wellness so that customers visiting our centres and people working within them knew they were occupying an environment that promotes their health and wellbeing,” Stockland Executive General Manager Town Centres, Michelle Abbey said.
“There is a community expectation that our centres comply with high safety and environmental standards, particularly in the wake of COVID and significant weather events.
“Some of the strategies we have implemented are visible – like keeping spaces clean and sanitised – while others less so, like having best practice emergency procedures in place and ensuring we have high quality clean air and water supplied within our buildings,” Ms Abbey said.
Stockland has received the WELL Health-Safety Rating for its town centres in Queensland (Hervey Bay, Birtinya, and Baringa); New South Wales (Forster, Balgowlah, and Nowra); Victoria (Wendouree); and Western Australia (Baldivis).
Stockland collaborated with a team of contractors, consultants, facilities managers, and retailers at each centre to help them implement best-in-class strategies in order to achieve the rating.
“The certification of our centres with the WELL Health-Safety Rating is a testament to our belief that space has the power to help people thrive, and aligns with our core values and purpose, ‘we believe there is a better way to live’,” Ms Abbey said.
Stockland previously received a WELL Health-Safety Rating for its offices and tenancies at Stockland Piccadilly in NSW, Durack Centre in WA, and its Stockland Melbourne and Brisbane Head Offices.