How Biophilic Design Can Increase Property Value and Rental Income

Buildings that boast biophilic design elements have the capacity to increase their property value and charge more for rent per square foot. But, how? Here are some of the ways plants can help you become more profitable.

As a direct result of the 2020 pandemic, and other economic factors, the commercial property market has never faced more severe strain than it’s facing today. Not only is the market a volatile space, but the rise in remote work culture is forcing the industry to seriously reevaluate their operating and marketing strategies.
 
However, this might not be such a bad thing! As specialists in biophilic design, Natura has noticed more and more office managers turning to professional interior landscaping services to help improve the value of their space.

This choice is in line with ongoing research that has proven time and time again that integrating live office plants into your space does more than just enhance a building’s aesthetics. Bringing the outside in through biophilic design does wonders for employee productivity. Plants can also improve air quality, reduce stress levels, and create a generally healthier environment, improving employee wellbeing.

In today’s economy, plants are a key part of creating profitable multi-tenant properties. Live plants secure higher occupancy rates, lower vacancies, and give managers the ability to increase their property value and rental income.

But how does biophilic design enhancing employees’ well-being also offer employers a return on their investment? And, how do office managers and property owners prove this ROI to their potential tenants? There are countless benefits in professionally installed and maintained office interior landscapes.

Plants Elevate Tenant Satisfaction

To positively impact productivity, avoid burnout, and enhance employee health and well-being, modern workplaces are starting to prioritize the wellness of their staff. Biophilic design is about more than just sleek and sophisticated plantscapes. It’s about connecting people with nature and exposing them to the outdoors for reduced stress and a positive change in mental health during the work day.

Abundant natural light is an essential mood booster, with a recent study from Texas A&M University proving that access to daylight improves work performance by up to 20%. And, beyond just natural light, exposing employees to natural elements, like living walls and live indoor plants, increases focus and helps improve creativity in the workspace. 

Thanks to studies like these, It's become increasingly clear why biophilic design is a crucial part of any business’ corporate wellness strategy. Nature’s ability to reduce stress, improve mental wellbeing, and increase productivity is reason enough, beyond just a neat, elegant, and professional aesthetic. If you’re a property owner or office manager, including interior landscaping and biophilic design as a standard feature in your space is a no-brainer.

The Financial Benefit of Biophilic Design

Today’s corporate space has a deeper understanding of health and wellness. Because of this, businesses are aware of how they stand to benefit from the positive impacts of people-centered design. Properties that apply the basic tenets of biophilic design will often see a boost in interested tenants, proving that businesses are willing to pay a premium for the increased value associated with plants. 

This is part of the reason why there’s been a global push for companies to embrace interior landscaping and urban redesign. Commercial real estate investors and property tenants are willing to pay more for a visually appealing environment that centers around people and focuses on employee health. 

They’re also willing to pay more for a high-quality rental space with sustainable features, like green rooftops or gardens, and natural elements that are incorporated into a building’s architecture and design.

Not only does clever plant and landscaping design give you leverage to increase your rental rates, it also keeps tenants happy and satisfied, which translates to a lower turnover rate. 

Incorporating biophilic design into your business strategy shows potential tenants that you prioritize the wellbeing of individual occupants. This is the kind of thinking that many corporate businesses will resonate with.

The Pull of Sustainable Design

Beyond its contribution to employee wellbeing, biophilic design embraces sustainability, which is a powerful selling point for property managers and a priority for potential office tenants.

In a bid to recognize global environmental concerns, biophilic design embraces the use of eco-friendly materials, natural décor, energy-efficient lighting, and eco-conscious amenities. Not only does this reduce your building’s environmental footprint, but it also attracts high-quality tenants.

With sustainability in mind, commercial and office tenants are becoming increasingly aware of global benchmarks, like the International WELL Building Institute’s WELL Building Standard, which pushes for the sustainable transformation and optimization of the built environment.

As a Works with WELL partner, Natura advises clients on how plant life can impact the mental wellness of building tenants. Our work can assist with the achievement of the M02, M07, and M09 features. All of which focus on mental health.

As experts in curating restorative spaces, our strength is in the seamless and strategic integration of greenery and other natural elements in the workplace. But, as dedicated proponents of sustainability, we believe in the power of sustainable design and will happily collaborate with the rest of your biophilic design team.

The ROI of Biophilic Design

The benefits of biophilic design are well documented, but we understand how crucial it is for office managers to gauge their potential financial returns.

This is why we developed our Natura ROI calculator, an essential tool for any business wanting to estimate the financial benefits of integrating live plants, living walls, and natural elements into their office space.

With many property managers needing to justify any additional costs in the current economic climate, it’s especially helpful to have access to the cost-benefit ratio of biophilic design. Natura’s ROI calculator is a tool you can use to make your own informed investment decisions, but it’s equally useful to justify your property’s value and rent per square foot

You can use this tool to input specific data about your monthly plant investment. This includes how much you’re able to spend, how many employees work out of your office space, and what your median annual office salary is. From that, you’ll receive a breakdown of potential returns for you and your tenants, including the ROI and the percentage of workplace productivity improvement. 

Minimal Investment, Maximum Return

Choosing to invest in biophilic design will give you leverage to increase your rental income, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. Small steps can go a long way in improving your property’s value.

• Start by upgrading your common areasIf you can’t yet afford a complete redesign of your office space, start by integrating live plants into high-traffic areas, like your reception area, lounges, lobbies, and meeting rooms. Green central spaces cultivate positive and healthy work environments. They also encourage employees to talk, share ideas, and collaborate with one another. When it comes to biophilic design, this is a great starting point. 

•     Introduce Green Living Walls: Optically, vertical gardens pack a punch and are both space- and cost-efficient. Install these on prominent walls or use green walls as natural dividers in large open-plan offices. Not only do these work as a striking focal point, they also cut down costs, improve air quality, and absorb noise for better acoustics. 

•  Be Strategic with Indoor Plant Placement: The beauty of biophilic design is how multifaceted it is. Incorporating biophilic design can mean a complete overhaul and redesign of your office space, which would require the help of an architect. Or, it can mean small changes, clever landscaping, and strategic indoor plant design. At Natura, we consider high-traffic areas, maintenance requirements, brand imagery, the unique layout of your office space and, of course, your budget.

With decades of expertise, passionate horticulturalists, and award-winning designers on our team, we make sure that any plant installation; whether small-scale, large-scale, or a complete overhaul; will be both practical and financially rewarding.
 
The change that Natura provides can be gradual or grandiose, but it will always give you a significant return on your investment, and that’s our brand’s promise to you.

Explore our ROI calculator for scientifically backed evidence  of what plants can do for your tenants.