Manulife Investment Management achieves Fitwel® Viral Response Module certification with distinction for North American real estate portfolio
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BOSTON and TORONTO, September 20, 2021 / PRNewswire / – Manulife Investment Management announced today that it has received Company-Level Certification of the Fitwel Viral Response Module (VRM) with distinction to its tenants, employees and partners.
Fitwel is the world’s leading certification system dedicated to “Building Health for All®”. Originally developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. General Services Administration, Fitwel is a rigorous, independent healthy building certification that sets the industry standard for evidence-based strategies to promote positive health outcomes for building occupants Municipalities. Fitwel’s VRM was developed in consultation with leading public health and real estate professionals to effectively address the unique challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious respiratory diseases. The VRM enables building owners, businesses and commercial tenants to demonstrate adherence to evidence-based, cost-effective strategies that contain virus transmission and build trust to create healthy and resilient environments for all residents.
“We are guided by our values and our commitment to supporting the health and wellbeing of employees, customers and communities,” said Regan Smith, Head of Real Estate Sustainability at Manulife Investment Management. “In addressing the challenges posed by COVID-19, we recognize the important role real estate managers can play in providing safer and healthier spaces in our buildings.”
Company-level certification confirms the consistent wellness, design, development and operations policies of Manulife Investment Management across its North American portfolio. These rigorously reviewed policies and procedures for safe and healthy infrastructure continue to be implemented across the company’s 58.5 million square foot North American real estate portfolio.
Two of Manulife Investment Management’s signature properties – Manulife Place in Edmonton, Alberta and The Michelson in Irvine, California – have already received certification with Fitwel Building Scorecards. This certification includes the assessment of more than 55 evidence-based design and operational strategies that improve projects by addressing a wide range of health behaviors and risks across seven health impact categories. It encompasses a wide variety of functions, including but not limited to indoor air quality, fitness facilities, access to green spaces, accessibility, and alternative modes of transport.
Joanna Frank, President and CEO of the Center for Active Design, which establishes and maintains the Fitwel standard, added: “We are grateful for the commitment of global partners like Manulife Investment Management who have taken on the challenge of improving the health of building occupants the COVID-19 pandemic. Setting a global standard is more important than ever, and Manulife’s rapid adoption of Fitwel VRM underscores its leadership in aligning practical guidelines with evidence-based best practices to promote health. “
Manulife Investment Management develops and manages commercial real estate for thousands of clients around the world as part of its extensive private markets capabilities. As of June 30, 2021, the property portfolio includes over 62 million square feet of office, industrial and retail space strategically located in markets across the country Canada, The United States, and Asia. The group uses its global platform and local know-how to offer its tenants market-leading solutions and deliver results to their partners.
About Manulife Investment Management
Manulife Investment Management is the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial responsibility and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions and pension plan members worldwide. Headquarters in Toronto, our leadership skills in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment presence in 18 regions. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of independent asset managers from around the world. We strive to invest responsibly in all of our businesses. We develop innovative global sustainable investing environments, work with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of management where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our company pension plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our experience managing and investing retirement plans to help their employees plan, save, and live for a better retirement.
away June 30, 2021, the assets under management and management of Manulife Investment Management, including those under management for the other Manulife segments, amounted to CAD 1.0 trillion ($ 834 billion). Not all offers are available in all jurisdictions. Visit manulifeim.com for more information.
About Fitwel
Fitwel was originally developed by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and the US General Services Administration and is the world’s leading certification system dedicated to building health for all. Based on expert analysis of over 5,600 academic research studies, Fitwel is implementing a vision for a healthier future where all buildings and communities are improved to improve health and wellbeing. The CDC remains Fitwel’s research and evaluation partner. The Center for Active Design (CfAD), a global not-for-profit organization, upholds the Fitwel standard and conducts objective third-party assessments that lead to certified projects. CfAD’s new business unit, Adai (pronounced “a-DAY”), is tasked with expanding Fitwel into the global marketplace, administering the program, while providing world-class customer service and technical support. To learn more about Fitwel, please visit fitwel.org.
SOURCE Manulife Investment Management
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