A New Era for “Green” Building – The Industry-Changing Merger We’ve Got Our Eye On

Change is inevitable; improvement is a choice. Boxman Studios’ guiding principle of betterment drives us to improve everything we do, every day. We strive to take a proactive approach to changes in our industry and to ensure that we use them to our — and more importantly, our customers’ — advantage. Recently, the International WELL Building Institute(IWBI) and the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) announced a new partnership that makes health and wellness a priority in green building.

As usual, we’re on it.

Wellness, LEED, and Boxman Studios

According to data, people spend about 90 percent of their time inside. The IWBI is committed to ensuring that the buildings in which we work, live, shop, and attend school are not only safe, but actually facilitate better health and wellness. WELL certification indicates that a building has met the IWBI’s standards in seven categories: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind.

The GBCI is the recognized global authority of green building. They provide third-party certifications and professional credentials for the industry. When you hear that a building is LEED-certified, for instance, that means that it has met the standards laid out by the GBCI in its LEED certification program.

So, what does a merger between these two entities mean?

GBCI CEO Rick Fedrizzi says: “IWBI and the WELL rating system will bring a better understanding of what it means to be healthy—and the ability to achieve wellness through technology and design—to the front burner.”

It’s simmering away on our front burner as well. Boxman Studios is in the initial stages of WELL certification. We have designed, developed, and deployed a LEED gold-certified building, and adding this certification only underscores our belief in betterment—in our products, our methods, and our environment.

What Does This Mean for Our Customers?

It means the same great quality and service with an enhanced emphasis on health and wellness. In short, it means good things.

Some steps we will take, or already are taking, include:

• Using nontoxic glues and paints containing no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) so fumes do not reduce the quality of the air for our customers and their end-users.
• Incorporating environmentally sound materials throughout our containers, such as flooring and finishing elements.

Paul Scialla, founder of the IWBI, says: “At the end of the day, people care about their own health and well-being, and we’re seeing more and more awareness. Regardless of demographic, everyone seems to be more in tune with precautionary and preventative steps to (foster wellness).”

From baby boomers who want to continue living life to the fullest, to socially-conscious millennials, today’s audiences want their spaces to embody health and wellness. Having WELL-certified structures conveys your brand’s commitment to both your customers’ well-being and to the environment.

Boxman Studios is taking a proactive stance by seeking WELL certification; this will allow us to offer the same level of exceptional experiences while actively promoting health and wellness. Improvement is a choice we make every day, and through our structures, it’s a choice our customers can make as well.