HOUSTON — (Realty News Report) – GreenStreet, a mixed-use development in downtown Houston, has been awarded the Fitwel certification, which recognizes a building’s health and wellness attributes.
GreenStreet covers four city blocks near the corner of Dallas and Fannin streets and the western edge of GreenStreet is adjacent to the METRO Rail Line on Main Street.
GreenStreet is one of only three properties in Houston that is currently Fitwel certified and the first commercial property certified in Texas. Achieving Fitwel Certification for GreenStreet demonstrates “the owners’ commitment to advancing the well-being of their employees and communities by implementing design and operational strategies that promote health and wellness.”
GreenStreet is owned by Lionstone Investments, a data-driven investment firm in a joint venture with institutional investors and Midway, a privately owned, real estate investment and development firm based in Houston.
Fitwel is a certification system committed to building health for all. Originally created by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. General Services Administration, Fitwel is a rigorous, third-party healthy building certification system operated by the Center for Active Design (CfAD) that sets the industry standard for evidence-based strategies to promote positive health outcomes for building occupants and communities.
“We are honored to receive a 1 Star Rating from Fitwel and the prestigious Center for Active Design,” said Chris Seckinger, Vice President, Investment & Development at Midway. “Our community’s wellness, health and sustainability are our top priorities, and we will continue to improve and integrate the best strategies possible to ensure GreenStreet remains an avenue for creativity and culture in Houston.”
As a 1 Star Rated property, GreenStreet scored strongly in the categories dedicated to proximity to area transit, connectivity to the outdoors, and food and beverage offerings for employees and the public. “We know that receiving this certification from the Center for Active Design and Fitwel will create an additional layer of confidence in the high standards for health and well-being associated with both Lionstone and Midway,” said Frank Ortiz, Head of Asset Management at Lionstone Investments:
GreenStreet’s building design includes:
- Selecting a site that is well suited for walkability and access to public transit, and promoting and enhancing those connections through design and operations;
- Enhancing signage and wayfinding guidelines to create a cohesive signage experience forvisitors and employees;
- Creation of “The Lawn”, an outdoor green space with year-round programming.
- Providing access to healthy food at retailers in buildings and at neighborhood restaurants and markets.
“Midway is a force in the healthy building movement, as indicated by the firm’s efforts to enrich the physical and mental well-being of GreenStreet’s occupants, leading it to become the first commercial property in Texas to achieve Fitwel certification,” said Joanna Frank, President and CEO of CfAD. “This achievement also reflects the increasing demand for healthy buildings and demonstrates how commercial property owners are utilizing Fitwel to optimize health and wellness throughout their properties.”
In addition to GreenStreet, historic The Jones on Main also received recognition from Fitwel as the first multi-tenant property in Houston to receive Fitwel’s 1 Star designation, and the second overall in Texas. The historic landmark building located in downtown Houston is a combination of modern workspaces and innovative retail.
The Jones on Main boasts dedicated lactation rooms for tenants, a green purchasing policy and is in process of creating an outdoor space for tenants with a rooftop patio and restorative garden.
April 25, 2021 Realty News Report Copyright 2021
Photo credit: Shannon O;’Hara
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File: GreenStreet Earns Fitwell Certification for Wellness