IMMUNE Building Standard™ marks a new major expansion milestone: The world’s first certified residential building unveiled
The IMMUNE Building Standard™, launched last year at the initiative of Romanian-based company Genesis Property with the purpose of combating the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, expands beyond offices and industrial spaces to also cover residential buildings. This move reflects strong commitment in creating a healthier built environment for the future, as well as the versatility and adaptability of the standard.
Healthy by Design Building Institute (HDBI) has certified the world’s first residential property with the IMMUNE Building Standard™. One Palace Place, a luxury residential building located in London, UK, and managed by Navana Property Group, was awarded the IMMUNE™ - Strong label, marking the first residential property to receive the distinction. Located in the prestigious 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, as well as a restaurant and bar open to the wider public.
The achievement of the IMMUNE™ certification for the Navana Property Group residential building follows the successful implementation of a large majority of measures included in the IMMUNE™ Assessment Scoring Index, an evaluation tool developed by Genesis Property, a leading member of the European Property Federation and a renowned Class A office developer.
Access and egress routes at One Palace Place were either re-configured or some additions were made, like touchless systems. At the same time, the building now benefits from enhanced sanitation of high touch and footfall areas such as the main entrance, lifts, stairwells and all door touch plates and handles, while automatic hand sanitizers were installed in the main entrance and lift lobbies on each floor.
The onsite team and dedicated IMMUNE™ steward benefited from additional training, PPE equipment for protection and intensified cleaning protocols in the staff welfare areas. Navana Property Group also aligned operational policies to the IMMUNE™ standard both at corporate level, as well as for residents, visitors and contractors, especially in areas like business continuity, recovery and wellbeing.
“This is another major step in our journey that started in April 2020, shortly after the outbreak of the pandemic, when we researched and developed the IMMUNE Building Standard™ as a blueprint for healthy buildings of the future. 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. Our track record with this innovative standard and Navana’s visionary approach led to the first IMMUNE™ certified residential building in the world, paving the way for our post-pandemic homes”, said Liviu Tudor, founder of Genesis Property and president of the European Property Federation.
IMMUNE™ is based on a practical investment in a Healthy by Design System (HbDS), which incorporates a network of specialized sensors that measure the 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, providing occupants with the space and confidence for a healthy living experience. Every IMMUNE™ certified building incorporates advanced technologies, specialized equipment, and dedicated personnel, an IMMUNE™ Steward, to manage the building’s operations and health parameters, as recommended in the standard.
Build Green, an independent authorised building assessor and a contributor to the development of the IMMUNE Building Standard™, performs the evaluation and recommends a property to become IMMUNE™ - certified with one of the three labels: Strong (3 stars), Powerful (4 stars) or Resilient (5 stars).
“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”, said Mark Fitzgerald, managing director of Navana Property Group.
