i+D - September/October 2019 - 43

A Moving Target - By Diana Mosher

Fitwel Drives Market
Transformation

The Practitioner
Viewpoint

Already boasting a presence in 35 countries since its debut in 2017, the
Fitwel Certification System was created by the CDC for implementation in
the properties of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). Fitwel
is an evidence-based standard that draws from CDC's analysis of the impact
that the design and operation of buildings has on human health. Fitwel is
operated by the Center for Active Design (CfAD), the nonprofit organization
launched by businessman and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2012 to
transform New York City's groundbreaking Active Design program into an
international movement.

Most design clients aren't interested in tackling more
than two certification programs at a time, especially if
they're trying to achieve the more rigorous upper levels of
certification. "Our conversations with clients typically start
around LEED, because that's what most are familiar with,
and then it moves into educating them about WELL and
Fitwel and deciding which rating system is better suited for
them and their project goals. Then, it's a conversation about
how does this layer in with LEED," says David Cordell, an
associate principal/senior technical coordinator/sustainability
leader at Perkins+Will, who also is an accredited professional
for both LEED and WELL and is a Fitwel ambassador as well.

"Over the last five years, [the Center for Active Design's] work has gone
global, reaching over 180 countries and informing the design of buildings
and public infrastructure projects," states Joanna Frank, president and CEO
of CfAD. "Our mission is actually market transformation. Fitwel is a really
efficient way to share this incredible evidence base that has come from
public health with those who are making the decisions around buildings."
Fitwel Ambassadors, who are leaders and active participants in Fitwel's
healthy building movement, also help spread the understanding of how health
is impacted by the built environment. No prior expertise in health or building
systems is required for the Fitwel Ambassador Course and Exam, which,
at press time, were based on the Fitwel v2 Scorecard and Reference Guides.
"Fitwel is different from LEED," explains Frank. "We don't look at a building
and say, 'Do you think this mechanical system impacts health?' We look at
the CDC research and say, 'What is the research around air quality and human
health? Is there a way that a building impacts that particular health outcome?'"
Now, there are more than 5,000 peer-reviewed public health research studies
supporting the strategies in Fitwel. "We just went through a revision of the
standard to reflect the growing evidence base," adds Frank. The Ambassador
Course is scheduled to be updated to align with the Fitwel v2.1 content in
fall 2019.
An expanded standard was launched in June for international projects. Fitwel
is appropriate for an array of property types, from retail to office and from
affordable to market-rate housing. It is applicable for existing buildings, as
well as new construction. "We are seeing a tremendous growth period,"
says Frank. "The South and the Midwest are very quickly catching up with
coastal areas as far as the number of projects. I think that the South
[might] overtake the Northeast this year."

There's plenty of research on how natural materials
improve cognitive abilities or lower blood pressure. But,
if you're designing for true wellbeing, then it's a more
holistic goal that goes beyond physiology. And, as Cordell
points out, that's harder to analyze. "LEED was able
to get a foothold because there was data to measure and
understand," he explains. However, anecdotal data is what
largely tells the story of the human side of things, which
is the whole point of design for wellbeing. In Cordell's view,
WELL and Fitwel are trying to achieve much the same thing,
but they go about it a little differently.
The designer notes that accreditations that are additive
to getting licensed in a core profession, such as design or
architecture, are the clearest way to convey passion about
a topic, as well as expertise. Cordell, who originally planned
to study psychology, decided he could influence people's
wellbeing via design instead: "There's the idea that design
should create a sense of wonder or joy and hope." He finds
that the standards absolutely help this objective by including
biophilia and art elements that impact a building occupant's
mental, spiritual, and emotional wellbeing.
In the past decade, the marketplace has experienced an
amazing shift. Design clients increasingly are aware that
where they live and work impacts wellbeing. There's never
been a better time for designers to become the experts
who can help their clients achieve these goals.

DIANA MOSHER, Allied ASID,
is a New York-based interior designer and
media consultant. She also is the 2017-2019
communications director for the ASID
New York Metro chapter.

i+D - September/October 2019

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i+D - September/October 2019

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