The Polish headquarters of Skanska office unit, located in the Spark C building in Warsaw, has been awarded the prestigious and demanding WELL Commercial Interior certificate for office space. Spark C is set to receive WELL Core & Shell certification for the whole building soon. All future Skanska’s office projects in Poland will be realized in accordance with WELL standards.
WELL is considered one of the most demanding certification systems in the world, focusing on the comfort of building users. A WELL certified building will provide employees with working conditions optimal for ensuring their health and well-being. The workspace is evaluated in seven categories: air quality, water quality, eating, lighting, physical activity space, physical comfort and psychological comfort. A total of more than 100 different metrics is taken under consideration during the certification process. The certificate is awarded by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI).
WELL Commercial Interior certification for Spark
In March, the fifth floor of Skanska’s Spark C building, which houses the headquarters of the developer’s office unit, was awarded the WELL certificate for office space. It’s the second time such a certificate has been awarded in Poland. Skanska has also applied for WELL certification of the whole Spark C building.
“Obtaining WELL certification is an important step in our sustainable development strategy. We have decided that all our future office projects will be realized in accordance with WELL. This way we hope to propagate this groundbreaking standard throughout all of CEE. Besides Spark we’re currently working on projects such as Generation Park, Wave or Centrum Południe, all of which will apply for WELL certificate,” says Arkadiusz Rudzki, Managing Director at Skanska office unit in Poland.
“We congratulate our friends at Skanska for achieving WELL Certified™ Gold for their new headquarter office in Warsaw,” said Rick Fedrizzi, IWBI Chairman and CEO. “Skanska has long been a global leader in driving sustainability. Now, with its Warsaw office Skanska has underscored its commitment to advancing people’s health and well-being and is inspiring others throughout the region to make people the priority,” added Rick Fedrizzi.
“For a long time now, in our office buildings, we have been implementing solutions which aim to improve the comfort of employees and have a positive impact on their health and well-being. Our Spark office shows how WELL certified work space can be comfortable, healthy and adjusted to the needs of different employees. We are glad that IWBI tests have shown that both the air quality and the water quality in our headquarters are very good,” says Adam Targowski, Sustainable Development Manager at Skanska’s commercial development unit in CEE.
Spark is equipped with a smart lighting system based on the idea of Human Centric Lighting which, by adjusting to the current time of day, harmonizes itself with our natural circadian rhythm. The system was created by lighting industry leader Signify. The building also boasts state-of-the art ventilation and filtration systems that provide 30% more fresh, clean air. Due to the use of low-emission materials employees working in Spark can enjoy high-quality air. On top of that, there are 850 living plants in the office. Beside producing oxygen, they help create a friendly atmosphere and satisfy people’s natural affinity for nature.
Access to potable water is another priority at Spark. For this reason, many drinking fountains have been installed throughout the building – as little as 1% dehydration can lead to a serious drop in productivity. There are also numerous display boards promoting a healthy lifestyle, including drinking fresh water at regular intervals. Each morning, Skanska employees can eat a wholesome breakfast, its ingredients and nutritional information listed on a notice board.
Art has a major impact on employees’ well-being, and that is precisely why Spark has been decorated with murals designed by Olka Osadzińska and designer interior graphics created by the Kolektyf group.
At Spark, employees can also make use of Connected by Skanska, an innovative operating system for overall building management which, among other things, allows you to regulate temperature and lighting using your smartphone or move freely around the building without the need for a traditional keycard.