Opportunity
Prologis strives to be an exemplary corporate citizen, minimizing environmental impacts, caring for our employees and maximizing beneficial outcomes for all our stakeholders. Focusing on the well-being of employees inside warehouses aligns with our sustainability and business objectives, because attracting labor is a decisive factor in property selection. In partnership with the International WELL Building Institute, Prologis Benelux launched, as one of the first logistics real estate developers in the world, a pilot to develop a standard for the health and well-being of warehouse employees. The pilot fits within the ambition of Prologis Benelux to continuously raise the standard for buildings for its customers.
Challenge
The Prologis pilot uses the WELL Building Standard™, which focuses on seven categories of building performance: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind. Pioneered by Delos, WELL is grounded in evidence-based medical research that demonstrates the connection between buildings and their occupants’ health and wellness. The WELL Building Standard™ is administered by IWBI and third-party certified by Green Business Certification Inc.
Modern logistics are often characterized by scale, efficient use of storage space and labor-intensive processes. Historically, efficiency and safe storage were primary criteria in design and construction. Demands are changing, however, and quality of the warehouse interior and other building features that impact employee well-being and sustainability are gaining importance.
Solution
Prologis Park Tilburg is located in Southern Netherlands. The Tilburg region is one of the fastest-growing logistics markets in the Netherlands due to its proximity to key logistics hubs in Antwerp and Rotterdam. The park is located at industrial park Vossenberg West 11 and comprises approximately 365,000 square meters. E-commerce player Coolblue and Korean logistics provider Pantos Logistics lease facilities at the park.
At DC5 in Prologis Park Tilburg where Pantos Logistics leases a 23,000 square meter warehouse, Prologis created the pilot project. Prologis collaborated with Dutch software start-up hello energy to invest in a state-of-the-art system that monitors the climate in real time, reducing energy costs and allowing more accurate control than a centralized system. Several data sensors were installed in the warehouse to make the building ‘smart’. It provides more insights into the use and the efficiency of the building. In addition, the warehouse façade features large glass surfaces, even on the mezzanine level, and special light systems to maximize daylight and comfort in the warehouse. With cutting-edge design studio Doepelstrijkers the interior of the warehouse was designed in which several green areas were applied creating a pleasant workplace environment. An advanced ventilation system was fitted which optimizes a better indoor climate. Several Join the Pipe tap installations were installed in the building giving people working in the logistics distribution centers access to drinking water which is also one of the WELL-criteria. Besides, specific materials were used to optimize the acoustics within the distribution facility.
Lesson
“The investments in obtaining the WELL Building Standard™ are not only sensible for the well-being of warehouse staff but improves also energy savings,“ says Arthur van Kooij, Head of Project Management Prologis Northern Europe.
Designing warehouse facilities according to WELL Building Standard™ equipped Prologis with a new field of expertise. Prologis is eager to use this knowledge in new developments, and we approach every situation with an eye to for unique solutions.
Read more about Prologis’ Benelux approach to sustainable development.