The Springs at Greer Gardens in Eugene, Ore., was awarded Fitwel certification using the newly created senior housing scorecard—a first for the certification system, which outlines guidelines for supporting better health and wellness outcomes for buildings and sites, including commercial, multitenant, retail, multifamily residential, and senior housing.
Brenda Connelly, president of The Springs Living (McMinnville, Ore.), which operates nearly 20 senior living communities in the Northwest, says the organization began looking at the program in 2020 at the invitation of one of its primary capital partners and the Center for Active Design, which operates the certification program.
“It was an innovative approach to being able to take credit for a lot of what we’ve already been striving to do, both operationally and design-wise, to create these living spaces,” she says.
Fitwel certification is based on criteria that includes operational policies for indoor air quality, cleaning practices, design strategies, access to green spaces, and amenities such as fitness centers and walking trails, with more than 70 evidence-based design and operational strategies evaluated in the senior housing scorecard.
Connelly says the organization chose to start with its Greer Gardens community because it was one of its newer communities (it opened in 2018) and already seemed to fit many of the strategies identified in the scorecard, such as walking paths to impact health, common areas designed to support socialization, and an on-site herb garden that enhances access to healthy foods.
The senior living organization then identified some Fitwel goals that would require modification to its community design or operations, such as adding hydration stations and improved wayfinding on walking trails throughout the campus, says Chris Shelby, director of design at The Spring Living.
Additionally, because Fitwel focuses on both staff and resident wellness and health, the organization repurposed existing spaces to increase staff support areas, including adding separate staff lockers in the fitness center and a lactation.
Connelly notes that the certification not only supports the organization’s goal to provide healthy communities, but also provides a marketing benefit. “That commitment to health and wellness really shines through when we walk through those advantages with a prospective resident or staff member,” she says.
Moving forward, The Springs Living plans to seek Fitwel certification for several existing communities as well as implement strategies during planning and design on new projects, including The Springs at Happy Valley in Happy Valley, Ore., which is under construction.
“We began with the end in mind on that one and really focused some of our design criteria on meeting the Fitwel strategy,” Shelby says.
Anne DiNardo is executive editor of Environments for Aging magazine. She can be reached at [email protected].