Water Street Tampa Pioneers WELL Certification, a First for North American Communities

Tampa’s Strategic Property Partners (SPP) and the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) have unveiled groundbreaking news: Water Street Tampa, our cherished downtown lifestyle hub, has been awarded the esteemed WELL Community Certification at the Gold level.

This remarkable milestone stands as a pioneering achievement in North America, highlighting Water Street Tampa’s commitment to integrating conscientious design and policies aimed at enhancing wellness throughout the neighborhood.

“From the very beginning, we conceived of Water Street Tampa as a place that would honor and promote the well-being of all our residents and visitors in unique and thoughtful ways,” said Josh Taube, Chief Executive Officer for SPP. “

The WELL Community Certification illustrates our ongoing commitment to creating spaces where people want to spend their time. We’re proud to set a new national precedent for urban design and community-wide wellness efforts at a time when the design of our environment plays a critical role in our daily lives and is a key factor in people’s decisions for where to live and work.”

Water Street Tampa sets a new WELL standard in Florida

IWBI, a global authority on health and well-being, introduced the pioneering WELL Community Standard to acknowledge communities like Water Street Tampa that prioritize the health and well-being of their residents in all aspects of community life.

This scientific methodology assesses various factors including air quality, water, nutrition, lighting, physical activity, and more, all aimed at enhancing the daily experiences of both residents and visitors.

Similar to the impact of the WELL Building Standard on architectural design, the WELL Community Standard establishes a fresh standard for neighborhood development, emphasizing the profound influence of the physical environment on daily health, well-being, and productivity. It represents a comprehensive approach that shapes a healthier and happier future.

“We are so excited to congratulate Water Street Tampa for its trailblazing leadership in community health as the first neighborhood in the country and across North America to earn WELL Community Certification,” said Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO, IWBI. “By deploying WELL’s comprehensive and interdisciplinary roadmap to support human health and well-being at the community level, Water Street Tampa has secured its place as a true pioneer, serving as an inspiration for other neighborhood projects around the world.”

Thousand & One is a gold standard building in Tampa

Water Street Tampa, not only North America’s inaugural WELL Certified Community, but it also boasts individual buildings dedicated to enhancing wellness.

Among these is the prestigious office tower, Thousand & One, which stands as Tampa’s first building to attain WELL Core Certification and is the first in the region to achieve this recognition at the Gold level.

Earlier this year, Thousand & One earned this distinction for its commitment to integrating design and operational strategies that directly benefit the well-being of its occupants. These strategies encompass accessible outdoor spaces, abundant natural light, top-tier water quality, indoor temperature regulation, amenities supporting new mothers, and the use of MERV 15 air filters.