Clark Construction Becomes First General Contractor to Adopt Fitwel

Bethesda, MD - Clark Construction Group, LLC today 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 have shown increasing interest in the nexus between building design and workforce performance,” 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 wellbeing.”

About Clark Construction

American owned and operated since 1906, Clark Construction Group, LLC, has grown from a small excavating company to one of the nation’s most experienced and respected providers of construction services. Ranked as one of the top green builders in the United States, Clark’s portfolio includes over 130 million square feet of green projects delivered or underway. Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Clark has offices strategically positioned throughout the United States to serve the needs of its clients.

About Fitwel and the Center for Active Design

Named one of Fast Company's 2017 Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Social Good, Fitwel is the premiere global health certification system for optimizing building design and operations. Generated by expert analysis of over 3,000 academic research studies, Fitwel is implementing a vision for a healthier future where all buildings and communities are enhanced to strengthen health and wellbeing. Fitwel was created as a joint initiative led by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention together with the General Services Administration. The Center for Active Design, an international non-profit that uses design to foster healthy and engaged communities, was awarded the exclusive operating license in 2016 with the mandate to expand Fitwel globally to the private sector. More information is available at www.fitwel.org.