Business Garden Rīga becomes the first real estate project in the Baltics to receive the prestigious WELL Health-Safety rating

The buildings at Malduguņu iela 2 and 4 of the Business Garden Rīga office campus developed by Vastint Latvia became the first real estate projects in operation in the Baltic States to be awarded the international WELL Health-Safety rating.

The WELL Health-Safety rating is an evidence-based real estate rating system that prioritises the health, safety and well-being of building users. The framework was developed by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and is based on the WELL Building Standard and the expertise of more than 600 scientists and practitioners.

The assessment is a proof of excellence in health and safety achieved by developers and building managers in the post-pandemic context, focusing on aspects such as building cleaning and disinfection procedures, emergency action plans, access to healthcare, air and water quality management, stakeholder engagement and training, as well as innovation in health and safety.

“The health and safety of building users has always been a priority for Vastint. Impeccable air quality, the use of eco-friendly materials, clean environment and concern for healthy living are an integral part of the Vastint construction standard. Therefore, it is only natural that the project we have developed is the first in the Baltics to be awarded the international quality seal – WELL Health-Safety rating,” comments Romāns Astahovs, Managing Director of Vastint Latvia. “There is no doubt that the number of WELL-rated buildings in Latvia will grow, as we’re putting people’s well-being first in all future Vastint projects.”

The evaluation highlighted the air quality system; the promotion of a healthy lifestyle by restricting smoking to designated areas; the contactless office door opening system; specially designed cleaning and housekeeping plans and guidelines for different epidemiological conditions; and the promotion of hand washing as significant advantages of Business Garden Rīga.

The WELL Health-Safety rating was awarded to Business Garden Rīga upon successful completion of a third-party review by the US organization Green Business Certification Inc., confirming that the project meets the objectives and requirements of the assessment.

The WELL Health-Safety rating is not the first time that Business Garden Rīga has raised the quality bar in the Latvian real estate market by gaining international recognition – in 2020, the office campus became the first project in the country to receive LEED Platinum certification, confirming the high quality, sustainability and energy efficiency of the office buildings that create a comfortable and healthy environment for office tenants, while significantly reducing building maintenance costs.