WELL-certified 40-acre “UnCommons” mixed-use development redefines the workplace with healthy alternative spaces

Matter Real Estate Group recently announced that UnCommons, the company’s 40-acre campus in southwest Las Vegas, has been awarded Nevada’s first WELL Certifications by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). The highly coveted certifications, which have been designated to UnCommons’ first two office buildings, recognize Matter’s commitment to the premier building standard to focus on enhancing people’s health and wellness through the buildings where we live, work and play. 

The emergence of Covid-19 established a new priority for safety within the buildings we inhabit and the air we breathe. We hadn’t yet started construction, so we had the opportunity to reexamine workplace safety with respect to health and wellness at UnCommons. In doing so, we believe we have unlocked the formula for employee safety that will shape the future of workplace design. The recognition from the esteemed IWBI and receiving this certification further validates our commitment to the well-being of the people within our buildings.

Jim Stuart, partner of Matter Real Estate Group

The $850-million, 40-acre project, designed to fulfill the modern workforce’s desire for a workplace that enhances their lives through rich amenities, open space and connectivity, offers next generation of office, residential and lifestyle space built for an ever-changing world. 

The prestigious distinction was awarded through IWBI’s WELL v2 pilot, the next version of the WELL Building Standard. Created through seven years of rigorous research and development working with leading physicians, scientists and industry professionals, WELL is a performance-based certification system that marries best practices in design and construction with evidence-based scientific research. UnCommons’ two office buildings earned the distinction based on 10 categories of building performance – air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind and community – and achieved a v2 Core level rating. 

In response to the onset of the pandemic in 2020, Matter re-engaged the expertise of Gensler, the globally renowned architecture and design firm behind UnCommons, to integrate health and safety features aligning with the WELL Building Standard. The redesigned buildings now feature near hospital-quality HVAC systems, operable windows and patios, touch-free access, abundant natural daylight, and interior finishes engineered with materials that minimize the spread of bacteria. 

With an increased focus on health and well-being following the pandemic, UnCommons is leading the market through design elements measured by the WELL Building system. Its featured central stairs, seamless connections to the outdoors, and communal exterior spaces are redefining the workplace, providing healthy alternative spaces that encourage productivity and innovation.

Darrel Fullbright, principal and design director of Gensler

Kevin Burke, partner at Matter Real Estate Group and CEO of Burke Construction Group, elaborated on the project’s significance, saying,

At UnCommons, we embraced the profound responsibility of creating an integrated mixed-use community that not only champions sustainable construction, but also fosters an environment that assures the well-being of its occupants. As a builder, engineer, and a 30-year resident of Las Vegas, I am immensely proud to have fulfilled this promise, as underscored by this certification.

UnCommons, a first-of-its kind mixed-use development in Southwest Las Vegas at the 215 Beltway and Durango Dr., has begun to open its office and retail spaces comprising Phase I, with Phase II currently under construction. The $850 million, 40-acre project is designed to fulfill the modern workforce’s desire for a workplace that enhances their lives through rich amenities, open space and connectivity.

The stylized urban campus will be comprised of more than 500,000 square feet of modern office space with market-leading design and technology, more than 830 residential units, an entertainment venue, trendsetting restaurants and cafes that follow the good food movement, health and fitness studios, a multi-purpose conference center, a pedestrian trail, public art and a food hall showcasing the best of the local food scene.

The development, designed by globally renowned architecture firm, Gensler, is the first of its kind in Nevada to be built by the standards for WELL Certification, which are the highest third-party endorsement of a building’s performance and protection of employee health. UnCommons has achieved certification from Green Globes, a nationally recognized green rating assessment, guidance and certification program.