SAN DIEGO & BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IQHQ, Inc., a leading and sustainable life sciences real estate development company, today announced the launch of its inaugural ESG Annual Report, a comprehensive overview of the carbon mitigation goals for the company’s nearly 10 million square foot development portfolio. The report also outlines IQHQ’s vision for vibrant, innovative, and healthy workspaces for the company’s future partners and growing team, along with strategies to deliver diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The report provides a blueprint of action on ESG priorities for the company: advancing a healthy, climate-resilient future; and social responsibility within the company to support their philanthropic pillars and surrounding communities.
“We are proud to deliver our first ESG report – a framework of all that we have accomplished in the environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and ethical governance realm this year. In addition, this will serve as a blueprint of the critical responsibilities we will execute in the years ahead as a growing and thriving company and true leader when it comes to sustainable innovation ecosystems,” said Tracy Murphy, President and co-founder of IQHQ. “Bold ESG targets were non-negotiable when building our company – they are core to our mission – but they are also non-negotiable for our employees, partners, future collaborators, and host communities who demand best-in-class healthy, climate-resilient, equitable spaces, which is exactly what we’ll deliver.”
IQHQ’s 2021 ESG Annual Report provides details in the following areas:
Environmental Sustainability and Stewardship –
As a commercial real estate developer, IQHQ has an absolute responsibility to provide a positive environmental impact and carbon neutral portfolio. This report highlights stringent environmental corporate policies along with sustainable design and construction guidelines with green building certification requirements to ensure that all buildings achieve certifications such as LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Gold Certification, in addition to pursuing healthy building certifications such as Fitwel and WELL Building Certification. To mitigate tenant exposure of COVID-19 or other viruses, IQHQ pursued the Fitwel Viral Response Module entity certification to set policies and procedures that mitigate viral transmission in buildings. The company incorporates sustainable design and construction guidelines into tenant lease agreements to address sustainability and efficiency for all tenant spaces. For all new development or re-development sites, the company pursues an environmental assessment and performs environmental remediation where necessary. IQHQ is a Biden Administration Real Estate Partner for Climate Commitments.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Shaping a diverse, inclusive, and equitable culture for employees and partners is paramount as IQHQ grows and thrives. It is for that reason that IQHQ is fully committed to a non-discriminatory and inclusive culture by providing equal opportunity for employment and advancement in all departments, programs, and worksites. IQHQ pledges to model diversity and inclusion for the company and its partners and to maintain an inclusive and equitable environment. IQHQ is building a different type of culture, one where all employees – whatever their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education, or disability – feel valued, respected, and heard. The company’s DEI goals and metrics are fully aligned with the JUST label requirements, administered by the International Living Future Institute.
Corporate Social Responsibility & Governance
IQHQ seeks to empower the communities that the company serves to be equitable and inclusive centers of innovation through their impact-driven philanthropic initiatives. As part of the Corporate Social Responsibility platform, the company has developed IQHQ Impact, a program which allows them to curate and define philanthropic priorities and invigorate company culture. IQHQ encourages its employees to donate their time through volunteer efforts and to engage in activities outside work that are rewarding and benefit their communities by providing paid volunteer time off and employee match contributions for volunteering with non-profit organizations. The company believes strong governance is the key to implementing robust policies and programs that ensure accountability and fiscal responsibility. The IQHQ corporate governance policies combined with committees and oversight are at the forefront of its business practices to bolster transparency and ensure accountability to its Board and stakeholders at large.
“At IQHQ, we have a vested interest in making a positive long-term impact on our properties and the communities in which we are located,” said Jenny Whitson, Director of Sustainability & ESG for IQHQ. “The public rollout of this report makes a clear commitment and plan to achieve our ESG goals and mission to sustainably develop premier life science districts for our stakeholders, building occupants, and visitors. This report is just the beginning for IQHQ – we strive to consistently push the boundaries of sustainable innovation and ESG initiatives that support our mission to achieve transformational development in each project we undertake.”
Click the link to view the full IQHQ 2021 ESG Annual Report.
About IQHQ
IQHQ is giving progress a home, empowering the life science community to thrive and succeed by creating and developing districts that inspire innovation and drive progress and growth. IQHQ’s focus is to acquire, develop, and operate sustainable life science districts in the innovation hubs of San Francisco, San Diego, and Boston in the United States, and the Golden Triangle in the United Kingdom. IQHQ has offices in San Diego and Boston. To learn more, visit iqhqreit.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram.
IQHQ’s Sustainability and CSR Commitments
As pioneers in developing innovative life science districts, IQHQ is partnering with the life science community to develop purpose-driven real estate solutions that inspire continuous progress. IQHQ is raising the bar in the commercial real estate and life sciences industries through continuous improvement and innovation, which integrates seamlessly with the tenets of sustainability, energy efficiency, and ESG excellence. In the company’s inaugural and industry-leading Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report, IQHQ highlights the company’s commitment to implement ESG initiatives in all aspects of development, asset management, corporate leadership, hiring practices, and investments.
IQHQ is committed to promoting sustainable development and high-performance operational practices. The company’s social initiatives are focused on creating a healthy, inclusive, and diverse culture. IQHQ’s governance initiatives hold the company to high standards to create accountability and prioritize fiscal responsibility. To find out more about IQHQ’s ESG commitments, visit iqhqreit.com/esg.
