Clark Construction Group, LLC announced that it has become a Fitwel Champion, further solidifying its commitment to the health and wellbeing of its employees and to building sustainable communities.

Fitwel, an evidence-based healthy building certification, aims to support healthier workplace environments and improve occupant health and productivity. Fitwel was created as a joint initiative between the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the General Services Administration (GSA) and is operated by the Center for Active Design (CfAD).

As the first general contractor to become a Fitwel Champion, Clark has targeted Fitwel certifications for seven of its offices:

• Baltimore, MD
• Bethesda, MD
• Chicago, IL
• Irvine, CA
• San Diego, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• Seattle, WA

“At Clark, we have always valued our people’s talent and safety on the job,” said Fernando Arias, director of sustainability at Clark Construction. “And now as Fitwel Champions, we are excited to partner with CfAD to demonstrate our commitment to their health and wellbeing by offering them best-in-class workplaces to work and thrive in their careers.”

In addition to certifying its own offices, Clark will continue to advise its clients on the benefits of healthy buildings to both owners and tenants. Studies show that owners investing in healthy buildings see reduced operating costs, lower vacancy rates, and higher tenant retention while occupiers of green and healthy office buildings report improved productivity due to lower staff turnover, fewer employee sick days, and a decrease in employee absenteeism.

“Our clients seek the best and most trusted advice to inform their portfolio investments,” said Chip Hastie, senior vice president of operations at Clark Construction. “We are excited to leverage the Fitwel platform to provide a healthier workplace environment for our employees while also serving as a knowledgeable advisor to our clients based on firsthand experience with the certification program.”

As a Fitwel Champion, Clark will have ten Fitwel Ambassadors on its staff. Fitwel Ambassadors are leaders in the healthy building movement who are well versed on the evidence-based connection between building design, operations, and health, and have a clear understanding of how to integrate Fitwel strategies within buildings and workplaces.

 “We are excited to collaborate with Clark Construction to set a high standard for health within the construction industry,” said Joanna Frank, president & CEO at the Center for Active Design. “Clark’s leadership and commitment to providing workplaces that are optimized to promote health will have a long-standing impact on their employees’ health and well-being.”