Fisher Brothers achieves WELL Health Safety rating across 5.5 million s/f NYC commercial portfolio

New York, NY Fisher Brothers, a fourth-generation real estate company that owns, manages and professionally operates unique spaces across the country, was recognized for achieving WELL Health Safety Rating certification from the International WELL Building Institute across their 5.5 million s/f NYC commercial portfolio. To merit this certification, Fisher Brothers assessed and maintained air treatment systems and ventilation, developed a new Enhanced Cleaning Practices Policy, installed MERV 14 rated filters across the portfolio, conducted detailed studies and comprehensive planning to ensure safe, and implemented effective re-entry strategies across all properties.

“Long before the pandemic, we made a commitment to continuously enhance our portfolio and to explore new building innovations to keep our tenants and their visitors safe, healthy and happy,” said Ken Fisher, partner at Fisher Brothers. “Achieving the WELL Health-Safety Rating certification is one of the many commitments we’ve made to ensure a safe and comfortable work environment and to let our tenants know that we are ready in the short-term when they return to the office and will remain diligent in maintaining the highest level of service for our tenants.”

The International WELL Building Institute, which oversees the world’s premier framework for advancing health in buildings, launched the WELL Health-Safety Rating to guide property managers in preparing their spaces for re-entry in a post-COVID-19 environment, instilling confidence in occupants and the broader community. The rating, which consists of a subset of relevant features from the WELL Building Standard adapted for facility operations and management, has applications beyond the COVID-19 pandemic for supporting the long-term health and safety needs of people in each space.

Fisher Brothers’ commercial portfolio in New York City includes the iconic towers Park Avenue Plaza, 299 Park Avenue, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, and 605 Third Avenue in Manhattan. Previously, Fisher Brothers developed a custom online communications platform that relays real time updates to tenants and employees on building protocols and touch-free innovations that allow for a safer return to the office.

With a hands-on approach to the implementation of COVID-19 safety protocols, Fisher Brothers undertook extraordinary infrastructure upgrades in its commercial portfolio, which include hospital-grade air filtration systems that utilize UV light technology and real-time indoor air quality monitoring, Bluetooth technology for a contact-free experience when entering office buildings, thermal scanning for body temperatures, and more. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fisher Brothers entered into a partnership with Kastle Systems, America’s largest managed security services provider, to implement KastleSafeSpaces, an integrated, building-wide plan to help protect the health and safety of building tenants.  This partnership included retrofitting the portfolio with touchless access technology and more.

Fisher Brothers continues to explore innovative ways to improve the functionality of their portfolio to anticipate future tenant needs. Recognizing the need for a hybrid office model as a solution to present and future workplace challenges, Fisher Brothers grew internally and developed a hospitality platform, Ease Hospitality, to serve the needs of their tenants both physically and virtually. The brand’s inaugural property within 1345 Avenue of the Americas, @Ease1345, is now open. Across all of its business verticals, Fisher Brothers is committed to entrepreneurship, innovation, integrity and philanthropy while delivering an exceptional customer experience. Earning the WELL Health-Safety Rating Certification is an achievement that demonstrates Fisher Brothers’ dedication to the well-being of their tenants and to a forward-thinking response to property management challenges in the wake of the pandemic.