HDR and Delos have signed a strategic alliance agreement to work on applied research and further development of wellness design tools.
Delos, the pioneer of the WELL Building Standard, and the architecture firm will collaborate to further develop a technology tool to assist real estate projects to incorporate wellness and sustainability solutions and strategies in design. HDR’s proprietary tool analyzes multiple health and wellness metrics established from research supported by Delos, including access to daylight, acoustical impact on staff, access to views, likelihood of collaboration, active design standards, and more.
“We’re excited to explore how our custom tools will introduce health and wellness outcomes into the design process as early as possible,” said Colin Rohlfing, Director of Sustainable Design & Energy Solutions for HDR. “This approach to design will integrate and elevate these elements in a robust way—allowing us to demonstrate meaningful design impacts within a 3D environment.”
“HDR, already deeply invested in research which seeks to codify the impacts of healthy building on occupant heath and performance, is an obvious and exciting partner for us,” said Paul Scialla, Founder and CEO of Delos. “We look forward to joining forces with their offices around the world to accelerate the adoption of healthy, well buildings.”
Related Stories
Warehouses | Sep 27, 2024
California bill would limit where distribution centers can be built
A bill that passed the California legislature would limit where distribution centers can be located and impose other rules aimed at reducing air pollution and traffic. Assembly Bill 98 would tighten building standards for new warehouses and ban heavy diesel truck traffic next to sensitive sites including homes, schools, parks and nursing homes.
MFPRO+ News | Sep 24, 2024
Major Massachusetts housing law aims to build or save 65,000 multifamily and single-family homes
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey recently signed far-reaching legislation to boost housing production and address the high cost of housing in the Bay State. The Affordable Homes Act aims to build or save 65,000 homes through $5.1 billion in spending and 49 policy initiatives.
MFPRO+ News | Sep 23, 2024
Minnesota bans cannabis smoking and vaping in multifamily housing units
Minnesota recently enacted a first-in-the-nation statewide ban on smoking and vaping cannabis in multifamily properties including in individual living units. The law has an exemption for those using marijuana for medical purposes.
Codes and Standards | Sep 19, 2024
Navigating the intricacies of code compliance and authorities having jurisdiction
The construction of a building entails navigating through a maze of regulations, permits, and codes. Architects are more than mere designers; we are stewards of safety and navigators of code compliance.
Government Buildings | Sep 17, 2024
OSHA’s proposed heat standard published in Federal Register
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published a proposed standard addressing heat illness in outdoor and indoor settings in the Federal Register. The proposed rule would require employers to evaluate workplaces and implement controls to mitigate exposure to heat through engineering and administrative controls, training, effective communication, and other measures.
Codes and Standards | Sep 17, 2024
New California building code encourages, but does not mandate heat pumps
New California homes are more likely to have all-electric appliances starting in 2026 after the state’s energy regulators approved new state building standards. The new building code will encourage installation of heat pumps without actually banning gas heating.
Codes and Standards | Sep 17, 2024
ASHRAE’s first group of certified decarbonization professionals announced
ASHRAE recently announced its inaugural cohort of Certified Decarbonization Professionals (CDPs). Individuals who earned this designation demonstrate competency to assess, analyze, and develop effective and sustainable strategies to reduce or eliminate the life-cycle carbon footprint of buildings.
Education Facilities | Sep 16, 2024
Hot classrooms, playgrounds spur K-12 school districts to go beyond AC for cooling
With hotter weather occurring during the school year, school districts are turning to cooling strategies to complement air conditioning. Reflective playgrounds and roads, cool roofs and window films, shade structures and conversion of asphalt surfaces to a natural state are all being tried in various regions of the country.
Adaptive Reuse | Sep 12, 2024
White paper on office-to-residential conversions released by IAPMO
IAPMO has published a new white paper titled “Adaptive Reuse: Converting Offices to Multi-Residential Family,” a comprehensive analysis of addressing housing shortages through the conversion of office spaces into residential units.
Legislation | Sep 9, 2024
Efforts to encourage more housing projects on California coast stall
A movement to encourage more housing projects along the California coast has stalled out in the California legislature. Earlier this year, lawmakers, with the backing of some housing activists, introduced a series of bills aimed at making it easier to build apartments and accessory dwelling units along California’s highly regulated coast.
