JLL’s North West office achieves WELL Platinum certification

JLL’s North West office, situated in Landmark in central Manchester, has been awarded Platinum WELL certification by the International Well Building Institute, a globally-recognised tool for advancing health and well-being in real estate.

It marks the first WELL Platinum office in the UK outside of London and is JLL’s first office in EMEA to have this certification. In addition, it is the first UK office to simultaneously achieve WELL Platinum, BREEAM Excellent and SKA Gold in one fit out.

JLL’s cost management, project management and sustainability teams worked closely with Tétris – JLL’s design and build company – to deliver the workplace. This utilised Landmark’s first-class base build infrastructure and services, which were brought forward by building owner Barings. Insight and guidance from WELL assessors situated within the JLL business was incorporated to achieve the certification and low carbon fitout.   

A circular design approach was adopted, prioritising reuse and refurbishment to drive down embodied carbon in fitout, aligned to JLL UK’s Net Zero Carbon commitment. The resulting fit-out has created a blueprint for delivering a low carbon and inclusive workplace that embeds circular economy principles and wellbeing into the building’s design and operation. Through these actions coupled with a strong focus on all elements of workplace and workforce wellbeing, the WELL Platinum certification was secured.

Stephen Hogg, Head of North West and Residential UK Regions, JLL, said: “It is a great accomplishment for everyone involved in this project to see global recognition for our Manchester office. With COP26 taking place next month, all eyes will be on the UK to take action on climate change. This achievement has set the bar for low-carbon workplaces that support the wellbeing and productivity of the people who use them.”

Ian Mayhew, Managing Director at Barings, added: “JLL’s innovative fit-out has set a new benchmark, being just the fifth such office in the UK to be awarded WELL Platinum rating and the first outside of London.  As a forward thinking investor developer, we are delighted to have played our part in assisting JLL achieve their aspirations – you can only do so much with the fit-out if you don’t have the right base product within a highly sustainable amenity rich building with a huge amount of natural light, such as Landmark.”

JLL’s carbon reduction and sustainability business provides a full range of services from corporate and portfolio advice on targets, reporting and policies, through to the design, management and operation of sustainable buildings. JLL has committed to net zero emissions from its own buildings by 2030, and to achieve net zero by 2040 across all areas of its operations, including the client sites it manages.