IWBI Headquarters

Warning!

Are your sure you would like to delete this favorited item from your dashboard?

The International Well Building Institute (IWBI) is leading a global movement to transform health and well-being with its people first approach to buildings, organization and communities.

The Challenge: Achieving WELL Platinum Certification in a heritage building

The International Well Building Institute (IWBI) is leading a global movement to transform health and well-being with its people first approach to buildings, organization and communities. They do this by using its WELL Building Standard (WELL) as a road map for creating and certifying spaces that advance human health and well-being. So, when it came time to renovate their global headquarters in New York City, it was, as IWBI President & CEO Rachel Hodgdon explains, “the perfect opportunity to put our own standards to the test and apply for WELL Platinum certification".

Located on the eighth floor of a neo-Gothic tower between Broadway and Fifth Avenue, the open office floorplan features plenty of wood, exposed brick, original flooring and operable windows to let fresh air in. To balance the openness, areas of refuge are designed into the space for collaboration and respite as well as a communal kitchen where fresh foods from local suppliers are made available. In addition, circadian lighting to promote better focus during the day and a better night’s sleep, along with access to supremely clean drinking water and great acoustics support the health and happiness of the occupants.

 

The Solution: Shared values = shared solutions

When it came to select the furnishings for the space it was very important to work with a manufacturer who shares the same values as IWBI. Says Liz Miles, IWBI VP Stakeholder Relations, “Teknion was a wonderful partner not only because of the products they provided us with, but also because they embrace the concept of health and wellness for their own staff, by leading by example and certifying their showrooms to WELL.” Tracy Backus, Director Sustainable Programs at Teknion expands, “This new space is really a living testament to what wellness should look and feel like.” The furniture features natural materials, wood finishes and textiles that are certified Red List Free through Declare for the best air quality and low toxicity. Expansion Cityline height-adjustable desks with felt-wrapped, sliding table screens are used throughout the space, supporting movement and employee satisfaction by ensuring that everyone benefits from the flexibility to work where and how they want.

On the importance of raising the bar for workplace culture and spaces Hodgdon concludes, “We believe we can open more hearts by having a conversation about healthy, high performing people than healthy high performing buildings, because that is the way to live more sustainably in harmony between people and the planet."

null

Expansion Cityline height-adjustable desks with felt-wrapped, sliding table screens are used throughout the space, supporting movement and employee satisfaction by ensuring that everyone benefits from the flexibility to work where and how they want.  

null

The furniture features natural materials, wood finishes and textiles that are certified Red List Free through Declare for the best air quality and low toxicity.

SHOW FILE PROPERTIES
file name

description

size

created

modified