The world’s first residential property to be certified with the Immune Building Standard has been unveiled in London, UK: One Palace Place. The award, created by Genesis Property, recognises properties that successfully implement recommended measures that facilitate healthier environments. Managed by Navana Property Group, One Palace Place was awarded the ‘Immune – Strong’ label by the Healthy by Design Building Institute (HDBI).
Located in the borough of Westminster, One Palace Place incorporates 35 private apartments with a 24/7 concierge for residents, alongside a 312-seat theatre, a 120-seat studio, and a restaurant and bar. The Immune Assessment Scoring Index measures that the building met in order to be awarded the certificate include:
● increased cleaning of high touch and footfall areas, such as access and exit routes, the entrance, lifts, stairwells, doors and handles, as well as displaying supporting signage;
● providing on-site training and a dedicated Immune Steward;
● enhancing sanitation regimes within the building for staff, residents, visitors and contractors;
● providing PPE equipment; and
● installing eight automatic hand sanitisers in the main entrance and lift lobbies on each floor of the building.
The Immune Building Standard was developed in 2020 to combat effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and to design healthy indoor spaces. By covering residential buildings, the standard has now marked a new milestone, which its architects say boosts the standard’s contribution to the resilience of a wide range of built environments against the health threats of today and beyond.
The Immune Building Standard incorporates a network of specialised sensors that measure indoor environment parameters such as air, humidity, temperature, or CO2 levels. Data on the building’s performance is collected in real time, empowering the building operator to verify and adjust the condition of the building to a healthy performance level to provide occupants with the space and confidence for a healthy living experience. Every Immune certified building incorporates advanced technologies, specialised equipment and dedicated personnel, an Immune Steward, to manage the building’s operations and health parameters, as recommended in the standard.
“This is another major step in our journey that started in April 2020, shortly after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, when we researched and developed the Immune Building Standard as a blueprint for healthy buildings of the future,” said Liviu Tudor, Founder of Genesis Property and President of the European Property Federation. “We’ve come a long way since, and we have leveraged relevant expertise in creating healthier built environments where people spend most of their time indoors be it at home or at work.”
Mark Fitzgerald, managing director of Navana Property Group, added: “Last year people probably spent more time at home than ever before. But while we’ve seen changes in the way offices, transport hubs and shops are managed to keep people safe, there’s been little discussion about what should happen in a multi-residential setting.
“People want reassurance, particularly as we learn to live with Covid-19 and prepare for possible future outbreaks. This is not about creating sterile spaces but about making sensible design and management changes. Immune certification shows our commitment as a professional property and asset manager to do everything we can to keep our customers healthy and well.”
