Water Street Tampa – a 56-acre community currently taking shape in Tampa, Florida – has become the first neighbourhood in the world to receive the WELL Design & Operations designation under the WELL Community Standard.

Designed by landscape firm Reed Hilderbrand and Elkus Manfredi Architects, the estimated US$3bn (€2.6bn, £2.3bn) mixed-use development will feature a flurry of wellbeing-orientated facilities, including a community wellness centre with a built-in kitchen, green spaces with noise-monitoring systems, and public plazas with bottle-refilling stations.

The innovative neighbourhood is being financed by Strategic Property Partners (SPP), which is a joint venture between Jeff Vinik and Cascade Investment, a company owned by Bill Gates.

Speaking on the project, Rick Fedrizzi, CEO of the International Well Building Institute (IWBI), said: "Across the globe, our communities are more than just where we live. They represent our culture, connect us with each other and help keep us safe.

"With this leading achievement, Water Street Tampa is at the cutting edge of this critical movement for communities by enhancing health and quality of life at scale."

Launched in 2017, the WELL Community Standard identifies and honours communities that use design and policy initiatives to improve the lives of their residents.

The Water Street Tampa project was recently covered in CLADmag Q4 2018.