Within Japan's growth strategy, a keyword is quietly but steadily gaining traction: "neurodiversity." The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) clearly states that differences in brain and neurological characteristics, such as ADHD and learning disabilities, should be viewed not as deficiencies but as diversity, and leveraging this diversity can lead to enhanced corporate competitiveness and productivity. [1]
Globally, there is also steady progress in building the foundation to protect "brain capital"—the economic benefits brought about by brain health—and to support "brain economy"—the economic growth generated by the collective of brain capital. [2]
As policies and corporate human resource strategies shift to focus on the human brain, how will the value of real estate be redefined?
Economic Risks Arising from Brain Fatigue
Globally, brain-related health issues, including depression and anxiety disorders, are estimated to generate an annual economic loss of approximately $5 trillion. Furthermore, it is projected that this figure could reach $16 trillion by 2030. These figures include not only medical expenses but also "invisible losses" such as decreased productivity, absenteeism, and employee turnover. [3]
Many factors contributing to economic losses from brain fatigue are also attributable to the accumulation of burdens placed on the brain by "the workplace," specifically through environmental factors where spatial design and work styles interact, such as decreased work efficiency due to physical environments that hinder concentration, overwork, and chronic stress.
Well-being is Not a Cost, but a Management Infrastructure
On the other hand, the returns generated by environments that prioritize brain health are gradually becoming quantifiable. The World Economic Forum indicates that improving employee well-being globally could create economic value equivalent to up to $11.7 trillion. [4]
Investing in health is no longer a fringe benefit but a management infrastructure that underpins corporate competitiveness, and the role of real estate as the receptacle for this is decisively changing.
WELL Certification Demonstrates "People-Centric" Real Estate Value
The WELL Building Standard is an international certification that comprehensively evaluates the environmental performance of buildings from the perspective of "human health and well-being." It assesses not only energy efficiency and facility performance but also how people feel, work, and recover in that space, across multiple categories.
Key evaluation items that can be improved using equipment include "movement," "nutrition," and access to "water," which have a clear relationship with physical and mental health. Additionally, "light" (how natural light is incorporated and lighting plans), which affects sleep quality and daytime performance, and "air" (ventilation performance and management of airborne pollutants), which influences concentration, cognitive function, and fatigue, are also considered, along with "thermal environment," "acoustic environment," and "materials."
Other evaluations include "mind" (stress management, consideration for mental health, availability of refreshing spaces, etc.) which supports psychological resilience, and "community," which assesses the organization, space, and operational aspects for diversity and equity, including consideration for neurodiversity.
The WELL Building Standard comprehensively addresses these elements to evaluate whether a space is an "environment where people can perform at their best." Global real estate research reports that office buildings with health and environmental certifications achieve an average rent premium of 6.3% compared to uncertified properties under the same conditions. Specifically, certifications that include health elements tend to have lower vacancy rates and longer tenant retention periods. [5]
Toward Real Estate in the Brain Economy Era
An environment where the human brain can perform at its best not only boosts corporate productivity but also provides a crucial competitive advantage in an era of severe labor shortages, from the perspective of talent acquisition. Furthermore, as the concept of neurodiversity becomes widely accepted, the ideal workspace for each company will become increasingly diverse.
As a result, companies' reasons for choosing an office are shifting from traditional conditions like location and rent to not just whether environmental and health-conscious elements "exist," but rather "to what extent" these elements align with their own environmental and health philosophies and policies.
EaSyGo Value Driver is a tool that assists such companies by organizing and visualizing the scattered information regarding a building's environmental and health specifications, and by helping them match with the optimal building for their needs.
For real estate owners, it supports the proposal of tenants that are a good fit for the building's characteristics, as well as the creation of leasing materials that highlight health and sustainability features, contributing to more strategic tenant attraction and asset value enhancement.
The trial version is available here
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[1] Promotion of Neurodiversity, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
[2,4] Thriving Workplaces: How Employers can Improve Productivity and Change Lives
INSIGHT REPORT JANUARY 2025, World Economic Forum
[3] Planetary Health and Mental Health Nexus: Benefit of Environmental Management,Annals of Global Health Boston College