WELL Building Standard

Building certifications have existed for decades. WELL is taking the idea to a new level. In just four years, this young building standard has become one of the most influential and impactful in the Architecture & Design industry. In short, the WELL Building Standard aims to ensure that the built environment is optimized for human wellness. That concept has resonated with designers across the globe, and at the time of this article there are 928 WELL Certified projects.

There are many reasons to aim for WELL Certification. Here are some of the top reasons why the world’s best designers are proponents of creating innovative WELL Certified buildings.

WELL Is Fundamentally About People

From Architectural Record: WELL Certification is all about making healthier spaces for people

One of the reasons the WELL Building Standard is so groundbreaking is its emphasis on human health. It was created by Delos to “improve human health and well-being through the built environment.” While standards like LEED and Passive House promote sustainability, the WELL Standard is the first certification program to focus primarily on occupant health. Delos founder and CEO Paul Scialla stated in an interview that “with the categorical elements of air, water, light, nourishment, fitness, comfort and mind, about 85% of WELL involves entirely new protocols in and around human health.”

At its core, WELL is a biophilic standard: that is, a standard that champions the optimization of conditions for human beings. It recognizes that all humans need balanced environments that connect them to nature. This was, as Scialla said, purposive: “The nice thing about WELL and the WELL standard itself is that the human condition is universal.  It doesn’t matter if you live in Denver, Colorado or Guangzhou, China, what is optimal for the human condition is the same – our biology is the same.” Thus WELL appeals to underlying biological needs and works to ensure those needs are met in the built environment.

From Arup: Arup’s office received WELL Gold Certification

While certification programs like LEED have led to healthier environments, it’s traditionally been a secondary effect rather than a primary objective. For example, LEED’s goal is to achieve complete sustainability as a “globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement.” Therefore, LEED places the environment at the forefront. WELL is different in that it encourages buildings that inherently enhance the health of their occupants.

WELL also maintains specific objectives for human health. Randy Fiser, CEO of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), points out that “WELL fosters a holistic formula for better health and wellness outcomes, leading to improvements in things like employee productivity, engagement and retention.” A look at WELL’s documentation reveals that the standard scores projects based on a variety of preconditions and optimizations that define the constituents of a healthy building. From the ground up, WELL is committed to raising the bar for human well-being in the built environment.

WELL Partners With Existing Green Building Standards

From Perkins+Will: The ASID HQ was the first building to earn certifications from both WELL and LEED

Even though WELL Certification is a thorough and beneficial program, it doesn’t have to stand on its own. Rather, it can work harmoniously with many other building standards. Since there is much overlap between biophilia and sustainability, WELL’s tenets interwave seamlessly with the principles of sustainable building standards.

LEED in particular is a standard that has found a counterpart in WELL. Scialla notes that using both can lead to the creation of completely sustainable and healthy buildings: “LEED and WELL are very complementary and not competitive at all. We feel like green and WELL buildings, together, encompass the holistic picture of sustainability as opposed to only looking at one side of the coin.” As such, Delos and WELL have taken many steps to strengthen the connection between LEED and WELL. First, the International Well Building Institute (IWBI), which administers the WELL Standard, is third party certified by Green Building Certification Inc. (GBCI), the same organization that administers LEED Certification. In addition, in 2017 the IWBI announced further alignments between WELL and LEED that help projects more easily achieve dual certification.

From Building Design & Construction: ASID’s dual certified office has raised the bar for commercial architecture

WELL Certified offices are outstandingly beautiful and forward-thinking, and the ASID headquarters is no exception. As one of the few buildings with dual WELL and LEED Certifications, the ASID HQ provides a glimpse into the future of the built environment. The project was awarded Platinum Certification (the highest level possible) for both standards. An efficient, human-centric space, the ASID HQ represents the crossroads of biophilia and sustainability and serves as a source of inspiration and innovation. Pre- and post-occupancy research has proven that the ASID office is a healthier working environment with key performance indicators well above the benchmark data. It’s clear that the ecologically minded LEED and the humanistic WELL are even more powerful when joined together.

WELL Is Moving the Architecture & Design Industry Forward

From the IWBI: The WELL Platinum Certified Delos Headquarters represent the future of commercial A&D

From its inception, WELL has been truly ahead of its time. Architects are beginning to realize that occupant health is critical and as such are giving it the attention it deserves. Scialla is a fervent proponent of human-first design and its connection to sustainability: “I do think the next chapter of sustainability and the built environment is a focus on biological components and the human condition.” It’s fitting that his company’s headquarters has received WELL Platinum Certification and is pursuing LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge Petal Certification. Pictured above, the Delos offices are filled with natural light, plants, and organic building materials like reclaimed wood.

From WELL Online: Stryker’s biophilic Texas office received WELL Silver Certification

With support from starchitect firms like Perkins+Will, WELL is helping to move Architecture & Design into a new era. WELL isn’t just about creating better buildings; it’s about improving the core principles of A&D as a whole. That’s why WELL is working with other IWBI initiatives, namely the WELL Community Standard that “focuses on ten concepts to support the development of health-focused, integrated and supported communities.” This scope underscores the fact that WELL is a holistic design philosophy that is meant to be applied across all built environments and even the communities to which they belong.

Today, WELL represents progress and innovation, but Scialla believes that biophilic and sustainable design will soon be the universal norm. “In a decade, I don’t think we will be talking about “green buildings” anymore,” he said. “It will just be the right way to build.” Dekker/Perich/Sabatini Principal Max Parrill is another architect who thinks WELL ought to be universal: “There are things within the WELL Building Standard that should be applied to every project, even if you aren’t seeking certification.” Commercial architecture has already embraced the use of green building materials and adherence to sustainable practices, so it’s only a matter of time before WELL becomes a virtual necessity for all projects.

Conclusion

WELL is much more than just a building standard. It’s a philosophy of building greener, healthier buildings that is rapidly becoming mainstream. Designers across the world are encouraging WELL Certification to join the movement and change architecture for the better. It’s exciting to consider what the future has in store for WELL, especially as more projects pursue multiple certifications. No matter the path ahead, one thing is for certain––the WELL Building Standard is changing the world, one built environment at a time.

It’s not often that we consider the health of a building or the built environment. And yet, most humans spend the majority of their time indoors. Whether that be at home or at the office, everyone is inside for most of the day.

The International WELL Building Institute or IWBI decided to measure the health of buildings and to award those healthy buildings with the WELL certification. A WELL certification assesses the health of a building in seven different categories: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind.

Each category assesses not only the health of the building, but how the building affects its occupants and their health.

So, what’s it like to work in a building with a WELL certification?

Air

We assume that indoor air is clean and healthy to breathe, but according to the EPA, air pollutant levels can be 2-5 times higher indoors than outdoors. High levels of pollutants and Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs in the air can reduce worker productivity as well as health. Air pollution contributes to 50,000 deaths annually in the United States.

From WELL Online: Structure Tone NYC’s HQ offers employees sit-stand desks, fitness membership discounts, clean water, and a high-quality HVAC system to maintain comfort.

The IWBI sets standards for how clean the air must be inside their certified buildings.

Air quality not only benefits the health of workers, but also their productivity. When workers breathe clean air, the higher levels of oxygen help to improve cognitive function and job performance — by up to 60%, found one study by Harvard University. Air purifiers and plants can both be used to improve indoor air quality.

Water

From WELL Online: Symantec’s Mountain View C4 offers employees views of nature as well as natural elements indoors to improve happiness.

Being just 2% dehydrated has been shown to impair cognitive function. Access to clean water is an assumed luxury to most Americans, but it’s not the case everywhere in the world. Even in the U.S., water can become contaminated with heavy metals, cancer-causing toxins, pharmaceutical drugs, and personal care products.

WELL building certification not only encourages clean drinking water, but to sustainably use water. Instead of establishing one standard for all water, thresholds are set based on how the water will be used (drinking, flushing toilets, cooling towers, etc) so as to preserve water while ensuring quality.

Light

The biophilia hypothesis says that bringing nature inside and surrounding ourselves with natural elements can improve health and happiness. This might include incorporating plants or decorating with natural materials such as reclaimed wood, but bringing in natural light has multi-physiological impact..

From TerraMai: Natural light and reclaimed wood make the Priceline offices more comfortable.

Humans function on a 24-hour sleep and wakefulness cycle. The hormones and brain chemicals that control this cycle are managed by light. Insufficient light indoors, whether natural or not, can cause workers to get insufficient sleep, which ultimately affects their work performance.

Chronic sleep or wakefulness is associated with a number of health issues. Access to natural light can improve well-being, sleep, and worker efficiency.

Comfort

From WELL Online: Stryker’s offices bring in natural elements such as light, plants, and wood to improve employee comfort.

Creating a comfortable environment requires the maintenance of many subsections, including olfactory, thermal, acoustic, and ergonomic. Workers are more efficient when working in an environment that doesn’t smell bad, has the right level of noise, isn’t too humid, is kept at a soothing temperature, and provides comfortable work space. If all of these conditions are met, workers will be more productive and efficient at work.

Nourishment, Fitness, and Mind

With over half of the world’s population being obese and poor nutrition being a major contributor to preventable diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, nourishment, fitness, and mental health are all important areas that WELL assesses. Our physical and mental health are inextricably connected. WELL standards strive to create an atmosphere for physical health and a healthy state of mind.

From TerraMai: Station 101 combines reclaimed wood with a green wall to bring nature indoors to their employees.

It’s not obvious to most people how a building can play a role in human health, but where people spend their time affects how they feel. Research has shown that healthier built environments that bring people closer to nature makes them happier, healthier, and more productive.

So, what’s it like to work in a WELL certified building? Simple. It feels happier, healthier, and more productive.

If you’ve been following the news in green architecture and design, you may have heard of the WELL Building Standard. It first drew attention back in 2013, when The New York Times ran a story on this new certification. In the years since, the WELL Building Standard has come into its own as a new and exciting development.

An Overview of the WELL Building Standard

The standard was created by Delos, a real estate company with a focus on health and wellness, and the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), which was launched by Delos. The goal behind WELL was to create a certification based on improving human health and well-being while integrating existing green building standards like LEED and Living Building Challenge.

From Mallory Phillips: The 7 areas that WELL certification considers

WELL considers seven aspects of a space: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind. For a building to be WELL certified, it must receive passing scores in every concept, indicating that each feature meets the standard’s requirements for human well-being. Finally, a building may receive Silver, Gold, or Platinum certification.

From WELL Certified: The Mirvac headquarters building was the first Australian project to receive WELL Gold certification

WELL is third-party certified by Green Business Certification Inc., the same company that administers LEED certifications. A WELL certification is valid for three years, a timeline that encourages a vigilant commitment to the standard. In addition, each WELL certified building is required to submit annual performance data for “select features that require more frequent reporting.” Other ongoing requirements may apply; for example, a WELL certified building may need to furnish proof of maintenance or continual parameter measurements.

From Guardian Service Industries: The 5-step WELL Building Standard certification process

The New Era of Building Certifications

The WELL Building Standard is part of a larger movement in architecture to create buildings that are better for the environment and better for the humans that occupy them. Delos and the IWBI have been actively promoting the WELL Building Standard. In 2016, the IWBI partnered with the American Institute of Architects to “advance the AIA’s design and health initiative.” The IWBI has also launched the WELL Community Standard to expand WELL’s scope and bring the same exacting specifications to communities.

From Lux Review: The office of London engineering company Cundall was the first European building to achieve WELL certification

The WELL Building Standard quickly gained global favor, and by 2017 there was already more than 100 million square feet of WELL certified buildings. While it hasn’t replaced Energy Star or LEED, WELL offers a fresh perspective on certification that has been welcomed with open arms in the biophilic design community.

From SlideShare: The 3 levels of WELL certification

To learn more about the WELL Building Standard, you can visit its official website. For more in-depth knowledge, the U.S. Green Building Council offers a course that explains the basics of WELL certification. Finally, WELL maintains a blog that publishes articles on all aspects of the standard and its implementations in the world. As the worlds of architecture and design continue to seek paths that enhance human wellness, there’s no doubt the WELL Building Standard will become an important part of the solution.

The WELL Building Standard is relatively new, but it’s already made a huge impact. Namely, it has raised the bar for eco-friendly building certifications that benefit both human occupants and the larger environment. It prioritizes biophilic design that optimizes human wellness, and as such it’s helping architects and designers shift their mindsets to create more natural, people-friendly buildings.

What might that future look like? Many of the WELL Certified buildings are giving the world a glimpse at the next generation of architecture. Here are a few outstanding examples.

TD Bank’s Toronto Office Helped Pioneer WELL Certification

From HOK: TD’s renovated office space achieved WELL Gold Certification

Canadian bank TD set an important milestone by being the world’s first project to receive the v1 WELL Building Standard. The company redesigned its TD Centre in downtown Toronto in collaboration with HOK, one of the world’s top design firms known for its people-first design. The result was a renovated office space that was awarded WELL Certification at the Gold level. More than 60 WELL features were implemented, including enhanced water filtration and lighting systems.

The WELL Certified Structure Tone HQ is Trailblazing in NYC

From Structure Tone: The construction company’s office was the first WELL Certified project in NYC

New York City is well known for setting trends, and it’s no exception here. In March of 2017, Structure Tone’s HQ became the first WELL Certified project in the Big Apple. The new space features ample lighting, enhanced HVAC systems, and green building materials with no or low volatile organic compounds. The implementation of WELL was a must-have for Structure Tone’s new vision of a better workspace. “We have already seen our clients incorporating wellness into their built environments and firmly believe WELL will play a strong role in the workplaces of the future,” said James Donaghy, chairman of the board at Structure Tone.

ASID’s Double Certification Shows What Innovation Looks Like

From Stone World: The ASID office gained Platinum certifications from both WELL and LEED

WELL is certainly an excellent certification program, but many organizations are realizing the benefit of acquiring multiple certifications. The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) is one such organization. Its Washington, D.C. office recently gained both WELL and LEED Platinum Certification, and the building is the first in the world to do so. The space hosts a plethora of biophilic features, including a circadian lighting system and a wellness room to provide mental breaks from work. With a devoted focus on sustainability and human health, ASID has certainly set an example for other workplaces to follow.

Studio 111 Puts the WELL Building Standard Into Practice

From First Line Magazine: The sustainable, expertly designed Studio 111 is a WELL Gold Certified space

Studio 111, a design studio located in Long Beach, CA, is one of the most unique WELL Certified buildings. Even though it’s surrounded by retail, the space is abundant with natural light, which is one of the seven concepts WELL certification considers. In addition, a sound masking system improves the building acoustics. Studio 111 has also implemented WELL concepts such as fitness and nutrition beyond the structure and design, offering a variety of fitness programs and healthy food options.

For Studio 111, WELL is more than just a building standard. “WELL has allowed us to more positively impact the office environment for our employees from productivity, to health and wellness and talent retention,” said sustainability director Sara Hickman.

The Fortune 500 company McKesson takes sustainable and wellness design to heart

From Fortune: McKesson’s Richmond office displays biophilic design in action

Health care giant McKesson took a huge step forward in 2016 by redesigning its Richmond, VA office, which was over two decades old and not at all optimized for workers or the environment. Like ASID, McKesson’s office was awarded both WELL and LEED certifications. The new space is a marvel of WELL-inspired design, with plenty of natural light and copious amounts of green and organic building materials such as reclaimed wood. McKesson is also currently pursuing WELL certifications for its other office locations.

Conclusion

Sustainable design should look and feel great. WELL Certification prizes how humans feel in a space, making it one of the best and most innovative building standards in existence today.