MAPEI recently announced that it has been recognized as the first manufacturing company in the building products industry to become Fitwel certified. MAPEI reports that it is also the first project to be certified in Florida under the Single-Tenant Building Scorecard. Created by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), together with the General Services Administration (GSA), and operated by the Center for Active Design (CfAD), Fitwel rates workplaces that promote positive health outcomes for occupants.

MAPEI successfully achieved the Fitwel designation by incorporating evidence-based design and policy strategies that support the physical, mental, and social health of the occupants in its corporate offices in Deerfield Beach, Fla. Fitwel measures the following aspects when determining certification: Impacts Community Health, Reduces Morbidity and Absenteeism, Supports Social Equity for Vulnerable Populations, Instills Feelings of Well-Being, Increases Physical Activity, Promotes Occupant Safety, and Provides Healthy Food Options.

Notable features of MAPEI’s headquarters reportedly contributing to the certification include the main staircase, visible from the main entryway and accessible to all occupants. In addition, the headquarters features an outdoor walking trail that provides occupants with increased exposure to the outdoors, encourages physical activity, and promotes social interaction. Both of these features contribute to enhanced physical and mental strength. MAPEI has also established policies to create healthy indoor and outdoor environments for building occupants, including policies on indoor air quality and green purchasing.

“This certification shows that we care about our employees just as much as we care about our customers and our products,” said Luigi Di Geso, president and CEO. “We’re just getting started: We’ve created a baseline using Fitwel’s strategies, and by the time recertification comes around in three years we will have implemented more of the strategies. We look forward to sharing our journey and helping to encourage health and wellness among our supply chain and customer community.”

For more information, visit www.mapei.com and www.fitwel.org.