The Co-operators aims to build Canada's first WELL-certified insurance and financial services building

The Co-operators announces new headquarters location in Guelph

GUELPH, ON, Jan. 24, 2019 /CNW/ - Today, The Co-operators announced completion of a land deal for the company's new head office to be located at 101 Cooper Drive in the south end of Guelph. The multi-line insurance and financial services organization also announced its intent to pursue WELL Certification for the building through the International WELL Building Institute™, making The Co‑operators the first insurance and financial services company to target this certification for a new building in Canada. The project will also pursue LEED® Gold Certification from Canada Green Building Council for leadership in energy and environmental design.

"We're thrilled to unveil our new location as we get ready to put down some new roots in the same community we have proudly been a part of for more than 50 years," said Rob Wesseling, CEO of The Co‑operators.  "Pursuing both the WELL and LEED-Gold certifications aligns with our co-operative values and commitment to fostering the health and wellbeing of both our employees and the environment on which we depend."

The WELL Building Standard is the world's first building standard to focus exclusively on the health and wellness of the people in buildings. It's a performance-based system for measuring and certifying features of the built environment that impact human health and wellbeing.

In its efforts to achieve the certification, The Co-operators will prioritize natural light throughout the building, and will feature in-house athletic facilities, healthy food services, and outdoor nature trails and activity areas. 

LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building, home or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmental health: location and transportation, sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

Construction is slated to begin in the spring of 2021 with the anticipated move-in to occur in 2023. The new location will allow the organization to bring together nearly 1,200 employees from three city locations under one roof.

About The Co-operators:
The Co-operators Group Limited is a Canadian co-operative with more than $42.5 billion in assets under administration. Through its group of companies, it offers home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm insurance, as well as investment products. The Co-operators is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to sustainability. The Co-operators is listed among the Best Employers in Canada by Aon Hewitt and Corporate Knights' Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada. For more information, visit www.cooperators.ca.

SOURCE The Co-operators