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Commercial Real Estate IAQ

Prioritizing Indoor Air Quality in Commercial Real Estate

One Vanderbilt, a 1,401-foot skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, houses headquarters for leading global firms including MSD Partners, TD Securities, and Mamoura Holdings.

Exterior view of One Vanderbilt skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.

The commercial real estate (CRE) landscape has shifted dramatically, with indoor air quality (IAQ) prioritization moving to the forefront. Once viewed as an optional amenity, high-quality indoor air is now a baseline operational requirement for organizations managing return-to-office strategies alongside evolving viral variants.

To establish national standards, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge. This initiative provides practical guidance for building owners and operators to improve ventilation and air cleaning, mirroring sustainability frameworks like LEED, Fitwel, and WELL.

Facility managers who invest in advanced air cleaning infrastructure position their properties for stronger performance, higher tenant attraction, and long-term lease retention.

Research underscores the financial return on these investments. A landmark study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimated that optimizing office IAQ could add up to $20 billion annually to the U.S. economy by boosting employee productivity and reducing sick leave.

Case Study: One Vanderbilt Avenue

Commercial real estate leaders are taking a rigorous, science-based approach to air purification. A primary example is One Vanderbilt Avenue, a landmark tower in East Midtown Manhattan.

Property owner and developer SL Green announced the deployment of WellAir Plasma Air technology across its office floors, tenant amenities, public spaces, transit hall, SUMMIT observation deck, and dining venues such as Le Pavillon.

A key criteria for One Vanderbilt was independently verified performance. In accredited third-party laboratory testing, WellAir Plasma Air HVAC solutions reduced active SARS-CoV-2 concentrations by 99.99% within 90 minutes.

3 Key Considerations for Facility Managers

For building owners and facility operators evaluating air cleaning technologies, three strategic principles should guide implementation:

  • Verify third-party efficacy data: Avoid relying solely on manufacturer marketing claims. Prioritize solutions with rigorous, independent laboratory testing that validates pathogen reduction under realistic conditions.
  • Deploy layered protection strategies: Integrate HVAC-integrated purification systems to clean recirculated air at the mechanical level, alongside standalone portable air disinfection units to treat high-occupancy zones directly. Targeted surface disinfection offers additional protection for high-touch shared areas.
  • Treat IAQ as long-term infrastructure: Poor air quality, airborne pathogens, and environmental pollutants remain permanent operational challenges. Select durable, commercial-grade technology built for continuous, multi-year operation.

The Future of Healthy Buildings

In the near term, certified indoor air quality serves as a key market differentiator for attracting premium tenants. Over time, continuous air cleaning will become a standard building operational requirement, much like energy efficiency standards and recycling programs.

Facility managers who implement validated air cleaning solutions today safeguard tenant health while establishing a competitive advantage for future portfolio performance.

Read the original article on Facility Executive.

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