BGO: Press Release

BentallGreenOak receives Fitwel Viral Response Certifications for the most number of properties in Canada, leading efforts to mitigate the spread of infectious disease

Written by BGO | Sep 1, 2021 3:52:00 PM

Toronto (September 1, 2021) — BentallGreenOak (BGO) announced today that it has achieved Fitwel Viral Response Certification with distinction for 50 of its office and retail assets, representing the largest portfolio of commercial real estate properties in Canada to achieve the industry-leading certification. This record-setting achievement brings the Center for Active Design’s (CfAD) Fitwel Viral Response Module (VRM) standard to BGO’s managed portfolio across Canada, including the first buildings to achieve this standard in Montreal, QC., Winnipeg, MB., Mississauga, ON. and Gatineau, QC. Fitwel’s third party certification of BGO properties’ operations, policies and practices confirms their preparedness to mitigate the spread of infectious disease and safeguard occupant health and wellness.

“Across Canada, BentallGreenOak’s investment management and real estate management teams have mobilized to deliver the highest standard of best practices and policies to our properties and the tenants who rely on us to enable a safe and healthy return to the workplace,” said Keith Major, Managing Partner and Head of Canadian Real Estate Management for BentallGreenOak. “We are investing in upgrades and adapting to the best science-driven guidance available to us to earn the trust of our tenants and become an active, engaged and empathetic partner in their return to our BGO-managed properties.”

Fitwel's VRM was developed in coordination with leading public health experts and real estate companies to effectively address the unique challenges associated with COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious respiratory diseases. The VRM allows building owners, companies, and commercial tenants to demonstrate compliance with evidence-based, cost-effective strategies that mitigate viral transmission and build trust to create healthy and resilient environments for all occupants. BGO has been on the frontlines of driving property-level progress in confronting the challenges of COVID-19 through the firm’s involvement as an industry advisor and early adopter of these strategies.

“BGO’s continued progress in achieving VRM certification throughout its portfolio demonstrates an unwavering commitment to tenant health and well-being,” said Joanna Frank, President and CEO of the Center for Active Design. “We applaud BGO for understanding the important role property owners have in safeguarding occupant health and cultivating tenant trust. BGO is a leader in the healthy building movement and, as a Fitwel Champion, contributes to our shared commitment to building health for all.”

List of BentallGreenOak properties to achieve Fitwel Viral Response Approval
Building Name   Address   Province   Asset Class
Commerce South Office Park - Bldg. A   8615 - 51 Avenue   Alberta   Office
Commerce South Office Park - Bldg. B   8657 - 51 Avenue   Alberta   Office
Commerce South Office Park - Bldg. C   5008 - 86 Street   Alberta   Office
Commerce South Office Park - Bldg. D   4811 - 87 Street   Alberta   Office
Commerce South Office Park - Bldg. E   4803 - 87 Street   Alberta   Office
Commerce South Industrial Park 2   8560 Roper Road   Alberta   Office
Hopewell Corporate Centre   2618 Hopewell Place NE   Alberta   Office
640 -5th Avenue   640 5 Avenue SW   Alberta   Office
1050 West Pender Street   1050 West Pender Street   British Columbia   Office
Sun Life Plaza   1100 Melville Street   British Columbia   Office
1130 West Pender Street   1130 West Pender Street   British Columbia   Office
1140 West Pender Street   1140 West Pender Street   British Columbia   Office
Bentall 5   550 Burrard Street   British Columbia   Office
Hillside Centre   1644 Hillside Avenue   British Columbia   Retail
10 Dundas East   10 Dundas Street East   Ontario   Retail
100 Murray Street   100 Murray Street   Ontario   Office
Scotia Plaza - 100 Yonge Street   100 Yonge Street   Ontario   Office
Scotia Plaza - 104 Yonge Street   104 Yonge Street   Ontario   Office
1730 St. Laurent Blvd   1730 St. Laurent Blvd   Ontario   Office
TD Creekside Corporate Centre (1855)   1855 Buckhorn Gate   Ontario   Office
TD Creekside Corporate Centre (1875)   1875 Buckhorn Gate   Ontario   Office
395 Terminal Avenue   395 Terminal Avenue   Ontario   Office
Scotia Plaza - 40 King Street   40 King Street West   Ontario   Office
Scotia Plaza - 44 King Street   44 King Street West   Ontario   Office
55 University   55 University Avenue   Ontario   Office
100 Simcoe (Office)   100 Simcoe Street   Ontario   Office
150 King West   150 King Street West   Ontario   Office
10 King Street East   10 King Street East   Ontario   Office
18 King Street East   18 King Street East   Ontario   Office
8 King Street East   8 King Street East   Ontario   Office
83 Yonge Street   83 Yonge Street   Ontario   Office
White Oaks Mall   1105 Wellington Road   Ontario   Retail
50 Bay Street   50 Bay Street   Ontario   Office
1235 Bay Street   1235 Bay Street   Ontario   Office
1255 Bay Street   1255 Bay Street   Ontario   Office
130 Bloor Street West   130 Bloor Street West   Ontario   Office
KS 700 Bay St. Inc. (Office/Retail)   700 Bay Street (Office/Retail)   Ontario   Office
Sun Life Financial Centre   50 O'Connor & 99 Bank Street (2 BUILDINGS)   Ontario   Office
121 King West   121 King Street West   Ontario   Office
105 Hotel de Ville   105 Hotel de Ville Road   Quebec   Office
1250 Boulevard René-Lévesque   1250 Boul. Rene-Levesque West   Quebec   Office
L'Avenue   1275 Canadiens-de-Montreal   Quebec   Office
Le Windsor   1170 Rue Peel   Quebec   Office
1600 Rene-Levesque/980 Guy LP   1600-1616 Rene-Levesque Blvd. West/980 Guy Street   Quebec   Office
7250 Rue Mile End   7250 Rue Mile End   Quebec   Office
Edifice Sun Life   1155 Rue Metcalfe   Quebec   Office
Richardson Centre   1 Lombard Avenue   Manitoba   Office
161 Portage   161 Portage Avenue East   Manitoba   Office
True North Square - Tower 1   242 Hargrave Street   Manitoba   Office

About BentallGreenOak

BentallGreenOak is a leading, global real estate investment management advisor and a globally-recognized provider of real estate services. BentallGreenOak serves the interests of more than 750 institutional clients with approximately $69 billion USD of assets under management (as of June 30, 2021) and expertise in the asset management of office, industrial, multi-residential, retail and hospitality property across the globe. BentallGreenOak has offices in 24 cities across twelve countries with deep, local knowledge, experience, and extensive networks in the regions where we invest in and manage real estate assets on behalf of our clients in primary, secondary and co-investment markets.

BentallGreenOak is a part of SLC Management, which is the alternatives asset management business of Sun Life.

The assets under management shown above includes real estate equity and mortgage investments managed by the BentallGreenOak group of companies and their affiliates, and as of 1Q21, includes certain uncalled capital commitments for discretionary capital until they are legally expired and excludes certain uncalled capital commitments where the investor has complete discretion over investment.

For more information, please visit www.bentallgreenoak.com.


About Fitwel and the Center for Active Design

Fitwel is the world’s leading certification system committed to building health for all®. Generated by expert analysis of 5,600+ academic research studies, Fitwel is implementing a vision for a healthier future where all buildings and communities are enhanced to strengthen health and well-being. Fitwel was originally created by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and U.S. General Services Administration. The CDC remains the research and evaluation partner for Fitwel. The Center for Active Design (CfAD), a global not-for-profit organization, maintains the Fitwel standard and conducts objective third-party assessments that lead to certified projects. CfAD’s new business unit, Adai (pronounced “a-DAY”), is charged with expanding Fitwel to the global market, administering the program while providing best-in-class customer service and technical support. To learn more about Fitwel, please visit: www.fitwel.org.


Media Contact

Rahim Ladha
Global Head of Communications
media@bentallgreenoak.com