Commercial Case Study: Meridian Tower

Property Profile

Meridian Tower is a premium 28-floor office building located in London's financial district. Constructed in 2012, the building offers approximately 42,000 square meters of Class A office space occupied by 24 tenant companies ranging from global financial institutions to technology startups. The property accommodates approximately 3,800 occupants daily and includes amenities such as a conference center, fitness facility, café, and underground parking.

The Challenge

Meridian Tower faced several significant challenges related to workplace hygiene and tenant satisfaction:

• Market competition: Increasing competition from newer buildings with advanced health and wellness features was affecting tenant retention and attraction
• Changing tenant expectations: Post-pandemic tenant priorities had shifted significantly toward health and hygiene considerations
• Occupancy concerns: Office utilization rates remained below pre-pandemic levels, impacting tenant renewal decisions
• Variable cleaning standards: Tenant feedback indicated inconsistent cleaning quality across different areas and times
• Sustainability requirements: Need to improve hygiene standards while meeting environmental commitments
• Budget constraints: Pressure to maintain service charges at competitive levels while enhancing services

Additionally, the property management team was preparing for recertification under BREEAM and WELL Building standards, both of which include substantial hygiene and indoor environmental quality components.

The Solution

Clean Workspaces UK conducted a comprehensive assessment of Meridian Tower's facilities and operations, then developed a tailored implementation program focusing on five key areas:

1. Hygiene Program Transparency Initiative

Recognizing that occupant confidence depended not just on cleaning effectiveness but also on perceived cleanliness, a comprehensive transparency initiative was implemented:

• Development of cleaning verification dashboard displayed in lobby and tenant areas
• QR code system allowing occupants to access real-time cleaning status of any area
• Visible day porters focusing on high-traffic areas during peak hours
• Monthly hygiene reports provided to all tenants with testing results and improvements
• Educational displays explaining hygiene measures throughout the property

This approach transformed cleaning from a behind-the-scenes service to a visible building feature, significantly enhancing occupant confidence in the safety of the environment. For more information on effective communication about cleaning protocols, see our link between office cleanliness and productivity article.

2. Comprehensive Surface Hygiene Program

A data-driven approach to surface cleaning was implemented based on occupancy patterns and touch frequency analysis:

• Building-wide mapping of all high-touch surfaces with risk categorization
• Implementation of cleaning frequencies based on usage data from access control and occupancy sensors
• Deployment of antimicrobial surface treatments for high-touch areas
• Selection of appropriate disinfectants meeting both efficacy and sustainability requirements
• Implementation of ATP monitoring to verify cleaning effectiveness

Particular attention was given to shared amenity spaces like the fitness center, café, and conference facilities where multiple tenants interact with the same surfaces. For detailed guidance on high-touch surface management, see our infection control best practices for high-traffic facilities.

3. Advanced Air Quality Management

Recognizing the importance of air quality in overall hygiene perception, the building's HVAC systems were optimized:

• Upgrade to MERV-13 filtration throughout the building
• Installation of UV-C systems in air handling units
• Implementation of real-time air quality monitoring with visible displays
• Development of demand-controlled ventilation based on occupancy patterns
• Enhanced monitoring and maintenance protocols for all HVAC components

These improvements not only enhanced actual air quality but also provided visible evidence of the property's commitment to occupant health. For more information on air quality improvements, see our ventilation and reduced sick days report.

4. Hygiene Amenity Enhancement

New hygiene-focused amenities were added throughout the building:

• Installation of touchless fixtures in all common area restrooms and amenity spaces
• Addition of 47 hand sanitizing stations at strategic locations throughout the building
• Development of dedicated package sanitization area in mail room
• Implementation of UV-C phone sanitizing stations in lobby and amenity areas
• Creation of "Hygiene Concierge" service providing personal hygiene supplies and information

These amenities provided both practical hygiene benefits and visible evidence of the building's commitment to occupant wellbeing. For guidance on selecting appropriate hygiene amenities, see our hand hygiene compliance practice note.

5. Tenant Engagement Program

Recognizing that tenant participation was essential for program success, a comprehensive engagement initiative was implemented:

• Quarterly "Healthy Building" educational seminars for tenant representatives
• Hygiene program onboarding for all new tenants
• Development of tenant toolkit with communication materials for their employees
• Implementation of feedback system for continuous program improvement
• Recognition program for tenants implementing complementary in-suite measures

This approach ensured that tenants became partners in maintaining building hygiene rather than merely recipients of cleaning services. For ideas on implementing similar programs, see our implementing hygiene guidelines resource.

Implementation Process

The implementation followed a structured approach designed to minimize disruption to building operations:

The phased approach allowed for infrastructure improvements to be implemented with minimal disruption to tenant operations, while the ongoing communication and optimization components ensured the program remained responsive to changing conditions and tenant needs.

Results

During the 10 months following full implementation, Meridian Tower documented significant improvements across multiple metrics:

Additional qualitative benefits included:

• Successful recertification under both BREEAM and WELL Building standards with improved scores
• Enhanced competitive position in the local market, with hygiene features prominently featured in leasing materials
• Increased broker recommendations for health-conscious prospective tenants
• Improved media coverage highlighting the building as a wellness-focused property
• Greater alignment with tenants' own corporate wellness and sustainability goals

Perhaps most significantly, two major tenants cited the enhanced hygiene program as a key factor in their lease renewal decisions, representing approximately 9,000 square meters of retained occupancy.

Key Lessons & Best Practices

The Meridian Tower implementation yielded valuable insights for other commercial properties:

1. Visibility matters: The perception of cleanliness is nearly as important as actual cleaning efficacy in driving occupant confidence
2. Data-driven approach: Using occupancy data to drive cleaning frequencies creates both operational efficiency and better outcomes
3. Tenant partnership: Engaging tenants as active participants rather than passive recipients significantly enhances program effectiveness
4. Holistic integration: Combining surface hygiene, air quality, and occupant education creates synergistic benefits beyond individual measures
5. Amenity positioning: Framing hygiene features as premium amenities rather than basic services enhances perceived value and competitive position

Meridian Tower's management team continues to refine the program, with current focus on further technology integration and expanded tenant engagement initiatives.

For commercial property managers looking to implement similar improvements, we recommend reviewing our psychological impact of clean workspaces article and creating an effective workplace hygiene policy guide.

Related Resources

Commercial Property Solutions

Clean Workspaces UK offers specialized services for commercial properties:

• Building Hygiene Assessments
• Protocol Development & Staff Training
• Tenant Engagement Programs
• Certification Support (WELL, BREEAM)

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