Alvéole leverages bees on your commercial building to help you boost tenant engagement and achieve your sustainability goals.
Bring nature-based solutions to your building
The Alvéole bees have been buzzing in Seattle since 2021. With some of the best summer weather in the country, Seattle is a growing hub for passionate beekeepers. The country’s 8th designated Bee City also counts on a buzzing urban agriculture scene, where urban beekeeping is a natural part of city life.
Use your property to make a lasting impact on your community and city.
Nature-focused amenities
Foster a sense of attachment to the building with bee habitats and branded jars of honey from your own property.
Environmental workshops
From beekeeping 101 to bottling your own honey, you’ll have everything you need to make your building events unforgettable.
Sustainability initiatives
Earn green building certifications, foster environmental awareness, and support nature in the city.
Nature and biodiversity monitoring
Enhance your ESG report and make informed decisions to support biodiversity.
Buildings
Partners
Bee Habitats
Nuveen is one of the world’s largest asset managers, serving clients in more than 30 countries. Through their partnership with Alvéole, they’ve brought nature-based bee programs to over 25 buildings across the U.S.
Through beekeeper visits and educational events, the bee program keeps tenants engaged year round.
The initiative aligns perfectly with Nuveen’s sustainability goals and has helped spread greater environmental awareness among tenants.
From interactive events to unique gifts of local honey, the program has set Nuveen’s buildings apart from the competition.
The Seattle Green Factor is a score-based landscaping code requirement for all new developments in neighborhood business districts with one of the following:
- More than four dwelling units
- More than 4,000 square feet of commercial uses
- More than 20 new parking spaces
It is intended to increase the quantity and quality of urban landscaping in dense urban areas while allowing increased flexibility for developers and designers to efficiently use their properties.
Why choose Alvéole?
Tenant subscriptions & event booking
Tenants subscribe to updates and book workshops directly. Your subscriber list stays current automatically.
Engagement & participation tracking
See attendance rates, repeat participation, and engagement trends by property, ready before renewal conversations.
Content library & templates
Pre-built email templates, event content, and photos, ready to use without building anything from scratch.
Biodiversity & hive data
Nature monitoring data structured for sustainability reports, GRESB submissions, and investor disclosures.
Frequently asked questions
Urban beekeeping in Seattle is regulated by the City of Seattle’s Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI). Beekeepers must follow guidelines regarding hive placement. Professional Alvéole beekeepers ensure compliance with all local requirements.
Urban beekeeping is safe and we have many successful bee programs throughout Seattle. At Alvéole, we work with a special breed of Italian honey bees selected for their docility. Honey bees are gentle creatures who (almost) never sting without reason. Unless they feel threatened, bees have no motivation to sting – in fact, once they sting, they lose their stinger along with a part of their abdomen, and die.Wild bees are as peaceful as honey bees. They technically can sting, but they don’t. Docile and nonterritorial, they’re extremely gentle. Unless they’re being touched, they simply go about their business.
A bee program aligns with Seattle’s sustainability goals, including those outlined in the Seattle Climate Action Plan. It promotes green spaces, supports sustainable landscaping practices, and fosters environmental education around biodiversity and pollinator health. These programs contribute to Seattle’s broader efforts to enhance urban ecology and green infrastructure.