In many of South Africa's corporate nodes, such as Sandton, Rosebank or Umhlanga, going for a walk, eating out or walking to work isn't a realistic option because of safety concerns and car-oriented urban design. The result is a fully sedentary workday inside the building. Add a high burden of chronic disease and a labor market where skilled talent is scarce and increasingly heading abroad. Fitwel, created by the U.S. CDC and GSA, certifies that the building itself makes up for those gaps: inviting stairs, secure outdoor spaces within the perimeter, drinking water, healthy food, break areas and emergency plans. It is also one of the few standards with an explicit social equity category, which carries particular weight in South Africa. For JSE-listed funds that already report to GRESB and hold GBCSA-certified buildings, Fitwel adds the human dimension of the portfolio.
Assessment: we evaluate the building against the applicable Fitwel scorecard, including access points, outdoor spaces and amenities, and adapt them to the site's security reality.
Registration and strategy: we register the project with Fitwel and set the target level, from one to three stars, together with the owner and building management.
Implementation: we coordinate upgrades such as stairs, accessible terraces and courtyards, water stations and break areas, and draft policies on healthy food, smoke-free spaces, lactation and emergencies, including power outages.
Certification: we manage the review, secure the seal valid for three years and prepare the recertification plan.
Fitwel charges a registration fee and a per-building certification fee, with special terms for portfolios, which matters for REITs with dozens of assets. Since it doesn't require on-site performance testing, the total cost is well below WELL's. Physical investment usually focuses on upgrading terraces and courtyards, water stations, bike parking, stair signage and break areas. The process takes 4 to 8 months for existing buildings, and certification is valid for three years.
Yes. Green Star assesses the building's environmental performance, as LEED or EDGE do. Fitwel focuses on occupant health. They complement each other, and several strategies, like transit access or cyclist facilities, overlap.
Fitwel has an occupant safety category covering lighting, safe routes, emergency plans and first-aid equipment. In South Africa we apply that logic so that spaces for physical activity and rest sit within controlled areas, without exposing people to risks from the surrounding environment.
For an existing building, 4 to 8 months on average. For new construction, the best approach is to build the strategies in from design and certify once construction is complete.
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