WELL Building Standard Overview: Health-Focused Design for the Built Environment
The WELL Building Standard is an evidence-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring building features that impact human health and well-being.
Developed by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), WELL focuses on how buildings affect the people who occupy them, including factors such as air quality, lighting, acoustics, materials, and overall comfort.
Unlike traditional green building systems that focus primarily on environmental performance, WELL emphasizes human health outcomes inside buildings.
WELL is often used alongside LEED and other sustainability frameworks to create spaces that support both environmental responsibility and occupant well-being.
What Is the WELL Building Standard?
The WELL Building Standard is a certification system that measures how building design, operations, and policies impact human health.
It is based on medical research, public health data, and building science, and translates that research into practical strategies that can be applied in real buildings.
WELL is administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), a public benefit corporation focused on improving human health through the built environment.
Explore WELL Certification and Standard Details
WELL Building Standard Concepts
WELL is structured around ten core concepts that define human health in the built environment:
- Air
- Water
- Nourishment
- Light
- Movement
- Thermal Comfort
- Sound
- Materials
- Mind
- Community
These concepts work together to create a holistic approach to healthier buildings and improved occupant well-being.
WELL and LEED: How They Work Together
WELL and LEED are complementary systems.
- LEED focuses on environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and resource conservation
- WELL focuses on human health, wellness, and occupant experience
Many projects pursue both certifications to achieve a balance between environmental performance and human-centered design.
Why the WELL Building Standard Matters
People spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, meaning that building environments have a direct impact on daily health and productivity. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air quality can significantly affect human health, with pollutant levels often higher indoors than outdoors due to sources such as building materials, cleaning products, and ventilation limitations.
The WELL Building Standard helps organizations improve:
- Indoor air and water quality
- Occupant comfort and satisfaction
- Workplace productivity and engagement
- Employee well-being and retention
- Alignment with ESG and sustainability goals
As a result, WELL has become increasingly common in corporate real estate, healthcare, education, and high-performance building projects.
How WELL Certification Works
WELL Certification applies to buildings, interiors, and spaces that meet the requirements of the WELL Building Standard.
Projects are evaluated based on implementation of WELL features, which include required baseline conditions and optional enhancement strategies.
WELL Certification is available for a variety of project types, including:
- New and existing buildings
- New and existing interiors
- Core and shell developments
Projects must complete documentation and performance verification through IWBI to achieve certification.
WELL Certification Levels
WELL Certification is awarded based on the level of features achieved:
- WELL Certified
- WELL Silver
- WELL Gold
- WELL Platinum
Higher levels reflect deeper implementation of health and wellness strategies across the project.
WELL Certification vs WELL AP Credential
It is important to understand the difference between WELL Certification and the WELL AP credential:
- WELL Certification applies to buildings and projects
- WELL AP is a professional credential for individuals working on WELL projects
Learn more about the credential here:
WELL AP Credential Overview
Who Uses the WELL Building Standard?
WELL is used globally across many industries, including:
- Corporate offices
- Commercial real estate portfolios
- Healthcare facilities
- Educational institutions
- Hospitality and residential developments
- Government and institutional buildings
Organizations often adopt WELL to demonstrate leadership in health, wellness, and human-centered design.
The Science Behind WELL
The WELL Building Standard is grounded in research from public health experts, medical professionals, architects, engineers, and building scientists.
It translates scientific evidence into practical design and operational strategies that improve real-world building performance for human health.
WELL continues to evolve through ongoing research and collaboration with global industry leaders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the WELL Building Standard in simple terms?
It is a system for designing and certifying buildings that improve human health and well-being.
Is WELL the same as LEED?
No. LEED focuses on environmental sustainability, while WELL focuses on human health and wellness.
Who created the WELL Building Standard?
The WELL Building Standard was developed by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI).
What types of projects can use WELL?
WELL can be applied to offices, residential buildings, schools, healthcare facilities, and more.
Why is WELL important?
Because people spend most of their time indoors, WELL helps improve the environments where they live and work, supporting better health and productivity.
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