As we spend 90% of our time indoors (work or home), good indoor air quality plays a significant role in occupant productivity and well-being. As all buildings increasingly become airtight, it is important to maintain good indoor air quality. The mechanical design in Mathilda Commons addresses these concerns in the following ways:

‍Particulate control: The building has employed MERV 8 pre-filters and MERV 15 final filters to minimize the exposure to particulates indoors. MERV 8 prefilters have an efficiency of 70% to 85% and removes the larger particles such as dust and spores. MERV 13 filters have an efficiency over 85% and removes large amounts of bacteria and droplet nuclei (sneeze). 

‍Outdoor air rate: The outdoor air rate complies with Title 24 2016 requirements and minimizes the concentration of indoor air pollutants.

‍Isolation of chemical pollutants: Janitors closets are maintained at a negative pressure by exhausting the air with no recirculation. Moreover, the space is provided with self-closing doors and full height partitions.

‍Pathogen control: The base building HVAC systems are designed to allow for installation of bi-polar ionization in the future. 

Bipolar ionization creates millions of ions. The ions attach themselves to viruses, bacteria and mold, and breakdown these particles. Bipolar ionization is effective as these pathogens are too small to be caught in filters.

Sedentary lifestyle is linked to increased risk of osteoporosis, loss of flexibility, lower metabolism, dementia, depression, and anxiety. The key to be less sedentary during work hours is an active workstation. Active workstations include sit-stand desks, bicycle desks and treadmill desks, i.e. any workstation that gets you on your feet.
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A research published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, which is a peer reviewed journal, indicates that bicycle desks and treadmill desks can provide greater short-term physiological changes than standing workstations that could potentially lead to better health. There is growing evidence that active workstations also result in greater short-term productivity.
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At Mathilda Commons, Jay Paul is providing a bicycle desk for the exclusive use of the tenants.

At Mathilda Commons we have incorporated measures to limit exposure to pathogens responsible for communicable diseases.

The measures include touch free faucets in restrooms, sensor-controlled water closets and urinals, touch free soap dispensers in restrooms and automatic hand dryers. The restroom partitions are 7 feet high to limit germ transmission. Additionally, we have automatic door operators in exterior doors.

The base building HVAC systems are designed to allow future installation of bi-polar ionization to deactivate airborne viruses and bacteria.