Wildfire smoke is making an often-overlooked part of office operations harder to ignore. When Canadian wildfire smoke spread across the U.S. in July, air quality reached unhealthy levels in New York and other major cities, prompting landlords to show tenants how their buildings were handling the conditions, according to BisNow.
The issue is gaining attention as building owners face more frequent smoke events and tenants place greater emphasis on workplace health.
Better Air Could Affect How People Work
Indoor air quality has also been linked to workplace performance. Research from Harvard’s Healthy Buildings Program found measurable improvements in cognitive performance as indoor air quality improved across offices in multiple countries.
Worker expectations are adding pressure. A Pollfish survey found that 61% of workers valued fresh air more than amenities such as gyms, while 83% said noticeable problems such as dust and odors affected their confidence in management.
Some Owners Are Making Air Quality Visible
The Durst Organization has installed sensors across much of its New York office portfolio to monitor seven air-quality measures, including carbon dioxide and particulate matter. Its teams can adjust HVAC settings and filtration based on conditions.
The company also communicated with tenants during July’s smoke event, explaining the filtration already in place.
That communication may become increasingly important. EPA guidance notes that wildfire smoke can enter buildings and recommends measures including filtration and creating cleaner indoor spaces during smoke events.
For landlords, air quality is becoming something tenants can experience, measure and ask questions about, rather than an invisible building function.
