By Jane Margolies
For decades, many developers and architects worked to ensure that their buildings were kind to the planet. Now, their focus is on the effect that buildings have on the people who work in them.
Studies show that healthy workers tend to be more productive, a concept that is behind a growing trend in real estate to create offices with measurable wellness benefits. One frequently cited Harvard study showed that improving air quality caused mental cognition to soar.
New certification programs have sprung up to guide the way, including the Well Building Standard, introduced in 2014 by Delos, a real estate and technology firm. The Well system is based on medical research that shows how our surroundings affect our health.
