WorkStation Awarded Prestigious WELL Core & Shell Certification

(COURBEVOIE, FRANCE) – Hines, the international real estate firm, announced today that it has been awarded WELL Core & Shell Certification at the Gold level for WorkStation by the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™). The prestigious distinction was awarded through IWBI’s WELL Building Standard™ (WELL), which is the premier building standard to focus on enhancing people’s health and wellness through the buildings where we live, work and play.

Hines, in partnership with design and architecture firm Franklin Azzi, redeveloped the 16-story WorkStation building in Courbevoie on behalf of a separate account partnership between Hines and a key institutional investor. The ambitious project totals 442,203 square feet and includes a rich scope of services for the well-being of tenants. The Franklin Azzi Architecture agency revealed the potential of the building, rethinking the exteriors, the infrastructure spaces, the base of the tower, the dining areas and office floors with terraces. By focusing on the landscape quality of the site, the project redefines the relationship between the building and the banks of the Seine and redraws the border between private and public space. The interior of the building was also redesigned to become a completely open, visible and flexible space.

“Hines is committed to enhancing the health and well-being of our tenants, residents, guests and employees. Many of these opportunities are new or complex, and we are collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders to think creatively to achieve this. We will continue to find solutions and promote wellness at work and home, develop new buildings, and adapt existing buildings with wellness in mind,” said Hines President and CEO Jeff Hines.

Created through seven years of rigorous research and development working with leading physicians, scientists, and industry professionals, WELL is a performance-based certification system that marries best practices in design and construction with evidence-based scientific research. Workstation earned the distinction based on seven categories of building performance—Air, Water, Light, Nourishment, Fitness, Comfort and Mind—and achieved a Gold level rating.

Project features that helped Workstation achieve its WELL Core & Shell Certification rating include:

  • An enhanced water treatment system was installed at the property
  • A higher air quality level due to new equipment
  • LED lighting and intensity control system installed to offer visual comfort to the tenants and low-energy consumption
  • Large trendy fitness and wellness area created, as well as a 15,000-square-meter garden on the bank of the river Seine
  • Wide range of catering services cooked on site and offers only fresh food

WELL is grounded in a body of evidence-based research that explores the connection between the buildings where we spend approximately 90 percent of our time, and the health and wellness impacts on us as occupants of these buildings. To be awarded WELL Core & Shell Certification by IWBI, [project name] underwent rigorous testing and a final evaluation carried out by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), which is the third-party certification body for WELL, to ensure it met all WELL Core & Shell Certification performance requirements.

For more information, please visit www.workstation-ladefense.fr

Hines is a privately owned global real estate investment firm founded in 1957 with a presence in 219 cities in 23 countries. Hines has approximately $124.3 billion of assets under management, including $63.8 billion for which Hines provides fiduciary investment management services, and $60.5 billion for which Hines provides third-party property-level services. The firm has 148 developments currently underway around the world. Historically, Hines has developed, redeveloped or acquired 1,362 properties, totaling over 449 million square feet. The firm’s current property and asset management portfolio includes 514 properties, representing over 222 million square feet. With extensive experience in investments across the risk spectrum and all property types, and a pioneering commitment to sustainability, Hines is one of the largest and most-respected real estate organizations in the world. Visit www.hines.com for more information.