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
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
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
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
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
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.