BPG|360, the commercial property management division of the Buccini/Pollin Group, is proud to announce that it has achieved Fitwel® Certification for the Brandywine, Nemours, and WSFS buildings in downtown Wilmington, Delaware.
Fitwel is the world's leading certification system for buildings and communities that optimize projects to support health. Administered by the Center for Active Design (CFAD), Fitwel assesses projects across 12 categories that improve occupant health and productivity.
The Brandywine, Nemours, and WSFS buildings all received scores above 90 points earning them a Star 1 rating (96.95, 93.60, and 94.02 respectively). The Brandywine, Nemours, and WSFS building are also the first Fitwel rated properties located in the state of Delaware.
The Fitwel Certification for these three buildings demonstrates BPG|360’s commitment to advancing tenant wellbeing. In consultation with Evolution Sustainability Group, BPG|360’s decision to pursue the Fitwel certification follows the great strides the organization made during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the health and safety our tenants as they returned to the workplace.
All three of these buildings incorporate a number of evidence-based design and operations strategies that support the physical, mental, and social health of occupants to earn the Fitwel Certification. Some examples include providing regular occupants access to a common break area, an outdoor amenity space, and publicly accessible uses on the ground floor like a restaurant or retail store, as well as implementing an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Policy, which identifies areas for improvement in air quality and provides benchmarks to ensure air quality remains high over time. These strategies relate to overall tenant health and wellbeing by increasing physical activity levels, pedestrian activity, social interaction, community engagement and exposure to daylight, which all contribute to enhanced physical and mental health.
This recognition comes at a time when BPG|360 is heavily concentrating on optimizing the tenant experience with several physical improvements across the portfolio as well as implementation of additional services.
BPG|360 recently completed a $2 million renovation to the ground floor of the Brandywine Building to introduce a state-of-the-art conferencing facility and stadium-style seating area with a 12’ display and grab-and-go market. The new amenity space has been widely used by tenants throughout the building as an extension of their office space for company-wide gatherings, external client meetings, viewing parties, and more. BPG|360 plans to unveil a similar 4,500 SF amenity space at the WSFS building in 2023 with a conferencing center, lounge, grab-and-go market, and fitness center.
Additionally, the company is implementing a new shuttle service in 2023 to provide tenants with easier access to and from the Wilmington Train Station and offering tenants a basic gym membership from CoreTen Fitness, Wilmington’s premier boutique fitness center, at no cost.
“BPG|360 has been focused on our tenant’s wellness long before the COVID-19 pandemic. The operational protocols, cleaning guidelines, and tenant programming we have implemented over the years have now been validated through the Fitwel Certification process, and our team couldn’t be more deserving of this recognition,” said Ralph Rossi, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations for BPG|360. “With that said, this does not mark the end of efforts. The Fitwel Star rating is a simply a baseline for us to continue to improve and make the office as welcoming and healthy as it has ever been.”
Click Here to view photos of the Brandywine, Nemours, and WSFS buildings as well as the Fitwel logo.
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About BPG|360
BPG|360 is a full-service real estate asset and property management company that complements the Buccini/Pollin Group’s (BPG) overall mission to transform the communities they serve, striving to exceed the expectations of every tenant and owner. The company actively manages more than six million square feet of commercial properties in the Maryland-Philadelphia office corridor, which includes properties both in BPG’s portfolio as well as those owned by third-party landlords.
BPG|360 is all about providing best in class customer service to the owners we represent, the tenants we serve, the vendor partnerships we cultivate and the fellow associates we work with every day. The team maximizes the value of its assets with a hands-on, progressive management approach, enhancing financial performance through increased operating efficiency, asset repositioning, and rehabilitation strategies.
About Fitwel and the Center for Active Design
In just three years, Fitwel has become the leading global health certification system, seeing a dramatic uptick in use, with 80% growth in certifications annually. Generated by expert analysis of over 5,600 academic research studies, Fitwel is implementing a vision for a healthier future where all buildings and communities are enhanced to strengthen health and well-being. Fitwel was created by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. General Services Administration. The Center for Active Design, a global not-for-profit organization, was selected as the licensed operator of Fitwel, charged with expanding Fitwel to the global market.
About Evolution Sustainability Group
Evolution Sustainability Group is an award winning, best-in-class energy and sustainability consultancy and design-build energy engineering firm providing the broadest suite of energy and sustainability solutions in the industry today. The Evolution Sustainability Group family of companies specializes in three distinct, yet complimentary offerings aligned to comprehensively meet its customers’ needs across the ever-changing national and global energy and sustainability landscape. These complimentary offerings most notably include:
Turnkey energy efficiency and renewable energy projects providing strong return on investment (ROI) and immediate net positive cash flow.
Customized energy and utility strategies including strategic energy purchasing, renewable energy credits, and carbon offset procurement.
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy development and sustainable building certification including Energy Star, Fitwell, BREEAM, etc.
