Bristals earn healthy building recognition

The Bristal at Garden City and The Bristal at Sayville are the first senior living communities to receive the Fitwel healthy building certification.

The Fitwel healthy building certification system is operated by The Center for Active Design and highlights how a building’s design and operations can positively impact its occupiers.

The program was created as a joint initiative with leadership, research and evaluation being done through partnerships with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the General Services Administration. It provides design and operational strategies by addressing the most common challenges of living in a high-need communal setting.

“Both of The Bristal communities received two-star status based on a three-star rating system. Only 22 percent of properties that apply, achieve two-star status and The Bristal is currently the only senior living property in the world to receive such certification,” Maryellen McKeon, senior vice president of operations at Ultimate Care Management. “Garden City and Sayville are the first communities of The Bristal to be enrolled in the certification process as a part of their prototype program to standardize their process and rating criteria for senior living residences. Within the coming year, we are hoping to receive certification for an additional ten of our communities, and hopefully other Engel Burman projects as well.”