The ULI Building Healthy Places Initiative has the exciting opportunity to work with two ULI Product Councils to craft white papers or other communications exploring topics that intersect with Product Council interests, human health, and real estate performance.

ULI is grateful to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for its support of this activity.

Who will do what?

The Building Healthy Places Initiative will provide resources to conduct research, focus findings, find images, and design and print the report or other product.

Product Councils will develop and propose topics, identify point people, review drafts and final content, discuss findings at ULI meetings, and help to disseminate findings. This work will be shared widely with Product Council networks, ULI members, and partner organizations via virtual and in person events, mailings, email, and other means.

What types of research topics should we consider?

This work should explore the connections between human health, wellness, wellbeing, the built environment, and the business of real estate. Potential topics could include, for example – addressing regulatory barriers to building healthier buildings; exploring how to expand investment by REITs in healthy buildings and places; reforming parking policies to promote sustainability and health and reduce costs; exploring strategies to sustain inter-generational living; solving last mile challenges; bringing international best practices on transit or active transport to the United States; etc.

Building Healthy Places is flexible about what topics are explored for these papers—we are most interested in topics that will spark and sustain the interest of Product Council members and ULI members writ large. We prefer topics that encompass issues of social and economic equity, and that intersect with considerations of long term real estate value.

We are also flexible about format. Formats other than a traditional white paper – including toolboxes, multimedia presentations, and websites – are welcome.

How should Product Councils engage?

This should be an effort of the entire Product Council. However, we ask that you identify one lead Product Council member to be the primary point of contact, and two additional members as liaisons to support the lead. These members should have the interest, passion, and time to devote to this project. Product Councils should also expect to discuss project progress and findings at their meetings, and to share the findings and output with other ULI members.

What is the timeline?

The project timeline is as follows:

• April 2017 – Statements of Interest forms available
• June 2, 2017 – Statements of Interest due from Product Councils
• July 2017 – Selection of two white paper topics/Product Councils
• Fall 2017 – White paper outline draft, initial scoping
• Winter 2017/18 – Research, interviews, writing
• Spring 2018 – Draft complete, Product Council review, possible discussion at Spring Meeting, revisions
• Summer/Early Fall 2018 – Final draft, editing and design, communications strategy developed
• Fall 2018 – Release, discussion at Fall Meeting Council meeting, distribution, communications

I’m interested! What’s next?

Please work with other Product Council members and leadership before or during Spring Meeting in Seattle to think through the following:

• What topics would be interesting and relevant to your Product Council membership, and also to the ULI membership more generally? Are there research areas that you have discussed in the past that we have an opportunity to make progress on?
• Who from your Council will serve as leads and liaisons on this project? Two or three Council members should serve as point people. These members will serve as reviewers of outlines and drafts, and will help to identify experts and research resources, tap other Council members for tasks as needed, and serve as connections to the Council as a whole. They should have a passion for the subject and time to devote to the project.
• How will your Product Council use the results of the research effort and white paper? How will your Council members share it with other ULI members and organizations? What potential does this work have to influence practice and policy and how will Council members expand this circle of influence?

Please be in touch at [email protected] with any questions or comments.

Thank you for your interest in this program and the Building Healthy Places Initiative looks forward to working with you.