DTLA Landmark Tower Achieves UL Healthy Building Verification

LOS ANGELES – The landmark downtown Los Angeles office tower, FourFortyFour South Flower has become the first building to achieve the UL Verified Healthy Buildings verification for indoor air and water.

The verification, granted by the global safety science leader, UL, tests to verify excellent indoor air and water quality. UL’s Verified Healthy Building program was developed over the past year and is backed by science and data. The program aims to address and prevent COVID-19 transmission within buildings.

The 48-story, 915,000-square-foot office tower, owned by Coretrust Capital Partners, recently underwent an extensive process to earn the UL Healthy Buildings mark. In order to achieve the verification, Coretrust Capital Partners hosted on-site visits and participated in a desktop audit, which included visual inspections, performance testing and recommendations for improved management of all building systems.

In order to maintain the verification at FourFortyFour South Flower, UL will continue surveillance at the property, twice a year to ensure it continues to have exceptional indoor air and water quality performance.

Through the verification, Coretrust is assessing and preparing for the gradual return of tenants’ in-person workforce. The company worked to achieve the mark throughout the pandemic, while implementing new practices to enhance safety and minimize risk for tenants, visitors and staff, such as installing Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation in-duct air purification lamps, upgraded MERV-14 rated air filters, frequent fresh air purges, elevator air purification, as well as touchless elevator systems, parking entry and restrooms.

FourFortyFour South Flower currently occupied by tenants, such as Haworth, Industrious, Morgan Stanley and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

“By being the first ever to earn the UL Verified Healthy Building mark for indoor air and water quality, Coretrust has taken a significant step in advancing indoor environment health,” states Sean McCrady, UL’s director of asset and sustainability, real estate and properties. “This is a critically important effort as FourFortyFour South Flower stakeholders — from tenants and staff to visitors — have placed a heightened importance of building health and wellness as a key factor in the gradual return to in-person work. Coretrust’s bold action demonstrates a commitment to putting the health and well-being of building occupants and their guests first. We thank them for putting their trust in UL to deliver on that promise.”

UL’s Verified Healthy Building program is aligned with third-party industry organizations, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the World Health Organization, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and others.

“The health of our building community has always been our top priority, and it is now top-of-mind with tenants as they make plans for returning to work,” says Thomas Ricci, Coretrust Capital Partners managing principal. “To demonstrate our commitment to our occupants, we recently underwent an extensive verification process to earn the UL Verified Healthy Building for Indoor Air and Water Mark. One of the most respected names in safety, security and sustainability in buildings, UL’s program demonstrates FourFortyFour South Flower has excellent indoor air quality as well as water quality for both human consumption and prevention of waterborne pathogens.”