(ATLANTA, GA – May 8, 2018) – EGI joins the ranks of fellow industry pioneers as Fitwel Champion, leading the healthy building movement by employing Fitwel’s transformative approach to health and well-being in the built environment.
Fitwel is a global benchmarking and certification system that assesses building and workplace features against a baseline of criteria that create a health-promoting environment. Created by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the General Services Administration (GSA), Fitwel is based on science and measures health within twelve major sections that impact the design and operations of a site and building interior.
“Health and well-being are at the forefront of the sustainability movement, and at Epsten Group, we pride ourselves on being able to affect positive change to the design and construction of the built environment,” said Lauren Wallace, Principal and Director of Certifications and Consulting at EGI. “Many of our employees spend a majority of their day in our office and it is very important to us that we lead by example and provide a space that encourages healthy behavior, promotes productivity, and educates our employees on the changes we would like to see made in all spaces where we live, work, learn and play.”
Fitwel provides a tool to evaluate the design of buildings through evidence-based criteria as well as effective design and operational strategies that improve building occupant health and productivity. With four Fitwel Ambassadors on staff, EGI is committed to integrating this strategic resource to create healthier work environments, in their offices and in client projects, that attain certification, regardless of budget, size, year built, or location.
“As a Fitwel Champion, Epsten Group solidifies their leadership role in the healthy building movement,” said Reena Agarwal, COO at the Center for Active Design. “We are thrilled that EGI is growing Fitwel’s global impact by prioritizing health within their design and development projects.”
About Epsten Group
Established in Atlanta in 1991, Epsten Group is a global leader in sustainable design, consulting, commissioning, and certification. Services include architecture, interior design, LEED consulting, energy modeling, commissioning and retro-commissioning, building envelope consulting and commissioning, roofing and waterproofing consulting, and building and product certification and reviews. The firm designs and consults on projects in commercial, institutional, government and residential markets. For more information, please visit www.epstengroup.com.
About Center for Active Design and Fitwel
The Center for Active Design, an international non-profit that uses design to foster healthy and engaged communities, was awarded the exclusive operating license in 2016 with the mandate to expand Fitwel globally to the private sector. Fitwel is the world’s leading certification system that optimizes buildings to support health. Generated by expert analysis of over 3,000 academic research studies, Fitwel is implementing a vision for a healthier future where all buildings and communities are enhanced to strengthen health and wellbeing. Fitwel was created as a joint initiative led by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention together with the General Services Administration. Twitter: @active_design + @fitwel
