Strang’s staff enjoys its WELL-certified space in downtown Madison.
If you haven’t already heard, we at Strang are settling into our new, healthy office in downtown Madison.
That’s correct – healthy. Strang is slated to be one of the first office spaces in Wisconsin to obtain the WELL Building Standard Certification. From the air we breathe to the food we eat and the water we drink, Strang’s new space – in both design and practice – is a healthy place to work.
The standards, set by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) are set in seven categories: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind. Within each category, points toward WELL certification are accumulated by meeting and maintaining the program’s criteria.
It’s very similar to the well-known LEED certification program, but it’s based on human health instead of environmental health. Here, we have blended both (our space is also on track to be LEED-certified). A quick walk around our office highlights some of the initiatives toward WELL certification. In the kitchen, Strang offers fresh fruits, and sets out snacks for purchase containing no more than 30 grams of sugar.
The lighting control system is capable of boosting light during morning hours and tapering off later in the day, aligning with our natural circadian rhythms. Adjustable desks allow staff members to sit or stand throughout the day at their workstations.
We even bring in 30 percent more fresh air than mandated by code. Besides the use of non-toxic, hypoallergenic cleaning products, our air ventilation system distributes air from a low side wall, so contaminants are brought upwards out of the breathing zone as the air is heated.
Certainly, there’s a financial consideration in the process of WELL certification. But our people are worth the investment. We spend most our waking hours with each other, working together and sometimes playing together. We’re colleagues and friends. What could be more important than making sure we are all comfortable, happy and healthy?
That’s correct – healthy. Strang is slated to be one of the first office spaces in Wisconsin to obtain the WELL Building Standard Certification. From the air we breathe to the food we eat and the water we drink, Strang’s new space – in both design and practice – is a healthy place to work.
The standards, set by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) are set in seven categories: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind. Within each category, points toward WELL certification are accumulated by meeting and maintaining the program’s criteria.
It’s very similar to the well-known LEED certification program, but it’s based on human health instead of environmental health. Here, we have blended both (our space is also on track to be LEED-certified). A quick walk around our office highlights some of the initiatives toward WELL certification. In the kitchen, Strang offers fresh fruits, and sets out snacks for purchase containing no more than 30 grams of sugar.
The lighting control system is capable of boosting light during morning hours and tapering off later in the day, aligning with our natural circadian rhythms. Adjustable desks allow staff members to sit or stand throughout the day at their workstations.
We even bring in 30 percent more fresh air than mandated by code. Besides the use of non-toxic, hypoallergenic cleaning products, our air ventilation system distributes air from a low side wall, so contaminants are brought upwards out of the breathing zone as the air is heated.
Certainly, there’s a financial consideration in the process of WELL certification. But our people are worth the investment. We spend most our waking hours with each other, working together and sometimes playing together. We’re colleagues and friends. What could be more important than making sure we are all comfortable, happy and healthy?
