The modern workplace with mass screen usage, and long periods of sitting, is now widely regarded as not conducive to the general well-being of employees. And whilst there is a plethora of ideas about how to improve workplace wellness, the impact of poorly built workplaces is rarely discussed. But these can easily be solved through better architectural design. For that, there is the WELL Building Standard.

In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about this standard and how you can benefit from it.

What Is the WELL Building Standard?

The WELL Building Standard was developed in 2007 by Delos Living LLC, an American-based company dedicated to global wellness. Their mission is to “build a better world”, and they strive to do so with this standard.

Traditionally, buildings were designed to be as economical and as multi-purpose as possible. But this organisation is trying to change that. Instead, they want a focus on the health and well-being of the people inside, and for projects to be designed around that.

Out of this desire, the WELL Building Standard was born in 2014. In those 7 years, lots of research was poured into this standard, including evidence-based medical and scientific research. Delos worked with people like architects, doctors, and scientists to develop this standard.

How Can Your Space Become WELL Certified?

The WELL Building Standard is administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). The standard is currently mainly for commercial and institutional office buildings, but they do also have pilot programs. These include projects in education, retail, multi-family residential, commercial kitchen, and restaurant.

There are 7 categories your space must receive satisfactory scores in to become WELL certified. They are air, water, light, nourishment, fitness, mind, comfort. If you believe your project is suitable for certification, you can submit your project documentation and get an on-site audit. The IWBI will call you to learn more about your project and schedule an initial evaluation. You’ll be pleased to know that the IWBI will help you throughout the pilot certification process. They’ll ensure your project gets the certification it deserves.

At the evaluation, the WELL assessor does spot checks, performance tests, and measurements. All these determine your scoring in each category. If your project passes, you can get a Silver, Gold, or Platinum standard for your property. What’s great about this certification is all sorts of buildings can go through it. The 3 typologies for certification include new and existing buildings, new and existing interiors, and core and shell.

Have Your Property Certified Through the WELL Building Standard

As you can see, the WELL Building Standard can set your building project apart from others. By designing to this standard, you can provide users with an indoor environment that boosts their productivity.

A WELL certification allows your clients to prove to their industry that they are proactive about employee wellness. As a result, it enable them to attract the right talent for their company.

Furthermore, working with suppliers who take as much care after they have completed a project as they do before and during the process means that you also have access to the right support when applying for the WELL certification. If you need the expertise of an architectural ironmonger? Then please get in touch with us today to discuss your needs.