Changing the Narrative of Wellbeing in Construction

MAGAZINE STORY - Read the full 2025 magazine HERE.

How Gardner Builders is redefining job site culture by putting people first.

Construction is a demanding industry where wellness may take a back seat in a fast-paced environment. With staggering statistics proving suicide rates among construction workers are the second highest in any industry, mental health continues to be a significant concern. While wellness resources are available, not only nationally but globally too, mental health stigma continues to be a barrier on job sites and beyond.

Gardner Builders, a signatory general contractor, recognizes the urgent need for mental health solutions that purposefully foster care, connection and humanity. To address this need head on, Gardner has invested in wellness spaces on project sites as a part of their initiative to promote the physical and emotional well-being of their employees and trade partners.

These wellness spaces are being installed at various construction sites to provide workers with a safe and private area to make a call, meditate, nurse, or simply decompress. Outfitted with a desk, chair, rug, and in some cases a mini fridge, the pods are designed with comfort, functionality, and intentional purpose in mind.

Wellness Trailer at Summit Orthopedics in Plymouth, MN.

The spaces are also adapted to fit different job site needs. Gardner offers wellness pods that can be installed in smaller spaces, or they will furnish a designated room on locations that has an area that can accommodate it. They also have a mobile trailer that can be moved from site to site.

Gardner’s culture is rooted in the belief that their employees and trade partners are at the center of the company’s success. They deliver the highest standards of construction and strive to have their job sites be a place where people feel valued, challenged, and love to work.

The idea for the wellness spaces stemmed from employee feedback, particularly from individuals historically seeking a quiet, private space to nurse. What began as a response to a specific need, evolved into a broader commitment to support all individuals working on Gardner job sites.

Wellness space at the Legacy Data Center in Minneapolis, MN.

“By introducing these wellness spaces, Gardner hopes to create 18 an environment better representative of the humanity on site,” said Derra Range, Field Safety Specialist at Gardner. “Whether it’s a few moments of quiet, a space to call home momentarily, or a place to reflect, these spaces are a small but powerful way to show employees that they are seen, heard, and of critical importance in the organization’s path forward.”

These wellness spaces have already been deployed at sites like the Star Tribune, Legacy Data Center, and Summit Orthopedics, and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. As Gardner continues to expand this initiative, the goal is to make construction job sites places where well-being is as foundational as the buildings they construct. Currently, Gardner offers wellness spaces at six job sites, with a short-term goal to offer them at 25 locations by the end of 2025 and a long-term goal to offer them at all Gardner job sites in the future.

Gardner is not just in the business of constructing spaces - it is in the business of building culture, trust, and community. These wellness spaces are yet another step in living out that purpose.