KBS, one of the largest investors in commercial real estate in the U.S., announced today that the company has committed to the verification of 16,011,533 square feet of Class A office space in its client portfolio to achieve the UL Verified Healthy Building Mark for Indoor Air.
The UL Verified Healthy Building Mark for Indoor Air, granted by UL, the global safety science leader, indicates a commitment to the health and well-being of the building’s occupants and communicates that a building has excellent indoor air quality. Plans are in place for continual advancement of indoor air quality, according to David Jenkins, SVP, Capital Project Management for KBS.
“The UL Verified Healthy Buildings Mark demonstrates KBS’ ongoing dedication to delivering a top-tier work environment for our tenants, property management staff and visitors,” says Jenkins. “The last year-plus has highlighted the need to address health and wellness in the workplace like never before. By meeting the criteria for this verification, we know we are providing the best indoor air quality possible at our properties.”
The first buildings in KBS’ client portfolio to achieve the UL Verified Healthy Building Mark for Indoor Air include seven Class A office properties located in Bloomington, Minnesota; Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; and Austin, San Antonio and Houston, Texas. These assets are:
- Northland Center, a 492,514 square-foot property in Bloomington, Minnesota
- Carillon, a 486,994 square-foot property in Charlotte, North Carolina
- 201 17th Street, a 355,870 square-foot property in Atlanta, Georgia
- 515 Congress, a 263,058 square-foot property in Austin, Texas
- City View, a 221,373 square-foot property in San Antonio, Texas
- Fountainhead Tower, a 179,932 square-foot property in San Antonio, Texas
- 1800 Bering, a 171,510 square-foot property in Houston, Texas
“Because we value the health and wellness of our occupants, the company has taken the bold move of making a substantial investment towards indoor air quality,” notes Jenkins. “To earn the UL Verified Healthy Building Mark for Indoor Air, we participated in a desktop audit, in addition to undergoing on-site visits, which include visual inspections and performance testing. To maintain our verification, surveillance will continue twice a year to continue to have excellent indoor air quality performance. We are proud to achieve this milestone toward supporting healthier indoor spaces for our occupants.”
Jenkins adds that the firm is committed to achieving UL Verified Healthy Building Mark for Indoor Air at roughly half of the properties in its $7.7 billion portfolio.
In addition to healthy air quality, KBS strives to achieve excellence at its properties in other ways, including sustainability through LEED certification and internet connectivity through WiredScore status.