Provide regular occupants access to an outdoor restorative garden

Rationale: Access to a nearby outdoor garden that features natural elements and seating and is shielded from nearby activity provides opportunities for occupants to rest and connect with nature, contributing to diminished risk of anxiety, stress, and depressive symptoms.

For the most accurate strategy and documentation requirements, please refer to the digital scorecard made available on the Fitwel Platform.

Requirements

Demonstrate compliance with the below:

Accessible Restorative Garden (Full Credit):

Demonstrate compliance with all the following requirements:

Multi-Tenant Whole Building (no on-site management), Multi-Tenant Whole Building (with on-site management)

1. Provide access to a minimum of one restorative garden that is free of charge to all building occupants.

2. Ensure that the garden includes natural restorative elements (such as vegetation, water features, or water bodies).
3. Ensure that the garden includes a minimum of one of the following amenities:

• seating
•  water feature (such as a fountain, artificial waterfall, pond, or natural water surface)
•  shelter from the elements (such as a gazebo or pergola)
•  walking path or trail.

4. Shield the garden from congested roadways, pedestrian corridors, and surrounding development through dense landscaping elements (such as hedges, tall trees, tall grasses, water bodies, or stone walls).

5. Locate the garden within a ½-mile or 800-meter walking route of a main building entrance.

Single-Tenant, Commercial Interior

1. Provide access to a minimum of one restorative garden that is free of charge to all full- and part-time employees and staff within tenant spaces.

2. Ensure that the garden includes natural restorative elements (such as vegetation, water features, or water bodies).
3. Ensure that the garden includes a minimum of one of the following amenities:

• seating
• water feature (such as a fountain, artificial waterfall, pond, or natural water surface)
• shelter from the elements (such as a gazebo or pergola)
• walking path or trail.

4. Shield the garden from congested roadways, pedestrian corridors, and surrounding development through dense landscaping elements (such as hedges, tall trees, tall grasses, water bodies, or stone walls).

5. Locate the garden within a ½-mile or 800-meter walking route of a main building entrance.

Compliance Documentation

Design Pathway 

• Requirement 1
  • Checkbox to certify that the restorative garden will be free of charge to all relevant occupants
• Requirement 2
  • Upload annotated design drawings or a photograph(s) of the garden showing the natural restorative elements that will be included
• Requirement 3
  • Upload annotated design drawings or a photograph(s) of the garden showing the amenities that will be included
• Requirement 4
  • Upload annotated design drawings or a photograph(s) of the garden showing the landscaping elements that will be included
• Requirement 5
  • Upload an annotated map identifying the distance between the planned garden and a main building entrance

Built Pathway

• Requirement 1
  • Checkbox to certify that the restorative garden is free of charge to all relevant occupants
• Requirement 2
  • Upload annotated photograph(s) of the garden showing the natural restorative elements
• Requirement 3
  • Upload annotated photograph(s) of the garden showing the amenities
• Requirement 4
  • Upload annotated photograph(s) of the garden showing the landscaping elements
• Requirement 5

  • Upload an annotated map identifying the distance between the garden and a main building entrance