Wellness Amenities Designed to Attract Tenants & Differentiate Office Complex
Milwaukee, June 18, 2012 – Viewing health and wellness offerings as important amenities that attract and retain tenants, employees and visitors downtown and further differentiate the office complex from other properties, Schlitz Park announced today several major wellness initiatives.
On tap, a one-mile outdoor vita course for tenants and the public scheduled for construction in 2013, the hiring of highly-respected corporate wellness provider Salus, Inc. whose services will include on-site support, and the recent opening of two new free tenant fitness centers that feature the latest in health club equipment. The news comes a week before the riverfront office complex hosts the country’s top cyclists at the Schlitz Park Criterium and local runners and walkers at the Schlitz Park Miler, both next Tuesday, June 26th.
“Time, convenience and ease matter to our tenants and contribute to a successful wellness routine,” said Schlitz Park developer Gary Gruanu. “As such, we’re investing in creating the spaces, and providing the experts and equipment directly to our tenants where they spend most of their day so they can pursue the healthy lifestyle that research shows they desire.”
A focus on health and wellness is among the Top 10 Global Trends Affecting Downtowns and demographics according to Progressive Urban Management Associates. Taking a closer look at Schlitz Park, a Salus, Inc. survey found tenants want to learn more about exercise, healthy eating, weight management and stress management. Tenants showed great interest in one-on-one personal training, small group training, larger classes and weekly coaching. Additionally, on-line incentive-based wellness plans also piqued interest.
Salus will use those results to develop a variety of free services including classes, testing and on-line programs. They’ll also offer a selection of fee-based services including coaching and more advanced testing, as well as help design the complex’s planned vita course.
“Schlitz Park’s timing couldn’t be better as June is National Employee Wellness Month,” said Briana Boehmer, Director of Wellness for Salus. “While a growing number of organizations are turning to prevention-based programs to improve workforce health and reduce healthcare costs, research shows employees struggle to understand the variety of health and wellness programs available and how they can participate.”
“That’s why we’ve engaged Salus,” explained Grunau. “They tailor their programming to what interests our tenants most, they’ll be here to personally support our tenants and they provide their innovative 411Fit online technology and other tools proven to help achieve wellness goals. For our tenants’ employers, that means a healthier, more productive and engaged employee.”
Schlitz Park’s recently-opened tenant fitness centers are located in the RiverCenter and Bottlehouse buildings and are part of the office park’s $32 million renovation. Both centers have private shower areas. The RiverCenter includes three treadmills, two elliptical machines, a rowing machine, stair stepper, and recumbent and upright bikes. In the Bottlehouse, there are two treadmills, an elliptical, a rowing machine, and recumbent and upright bikes. Several machines in both centers are equipped with personal TVs and each center has a full complement of resistance equipment and weights, and functional fitness and stretching gear.
Also scheduled to open this summer is the Schlitz Park Café: Creative Dining and Catering by Davíans which will bring tenants a wholesome, healthy menu of foods freshly made to order, ready to grab and go, or catered at offices or meetings. Last month, Schlitz Park began a free tenant bike rental share program as part of ongoing enhancements to its Bicycle Friendly Schlitz Park program.
More than 4,300 employees work in Schlitz Park (www.schlitzpark.com), home to major Milwaukee businesses including ManpowerGroup and Time Warner, and other companies and organizations providing financial services, health care, employment, education, technical and other important services. Schlitz Park is owned and managed by The Brewery Works, Inc., the organization formed by the families that purchased the Schlitz Park property in 1983.
