i+D - September/October 2019 - 41

A Moving Target - By Diana Mosher

WELL Builds on LEED's Success
The year-long pilot and recent launch of IWBI's WELL
Portfolio program enables organizations to enroll multiple
assets. Interest by multifamily investors is taking off.
"And, just wait until you see the first WELL-certified sports
stadium, airport, or shopping mall, whose owners are eager
to celebrate their WELL achievements with everyone
who passes through," says Gutter.

Launched in 2014 and administered in 55 countries (and counting) by the
International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the WELL Building Standard
is the first rating system to focus exclusively on the impact of buildings
on human health and wellness. "WELL gets to stand on the shoulders
of the green building movement and the wild success of LEED and other
green building rating systems," explains Rachel Gutter, president of IWBI.
"It's kind of astonishing that just last year our team was celebrating
the milestone of 150 million square feet and, today, we're edging up on
half a billion square feet of registered and certified projects," she adds.
But, not all consumers are on board.

IWBI recently released WELL v2, which was developed,
according to Gutter, in less than a year during a grueling and
rewarding process that included nine global roundtables,
a "deep scrub" for all the latest research across IWBI's
10 concept areas, and thousands of conversations with real
estate leaders, architects, interior designers, sustainability
consultants, academic researchers, healthcare practitioners,
and human resource professionals.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tells us that where
you sit and who you sit next to has a greater impact on your state of health
than access to healthcare, lifestyle, and behaviors-and even genetics.
"But, when most people [in the United States] hear that stat, it kind
of blows their mind," says Gutter. In fact, IWBI sees the highest levels of
consumer demand in other parts of the world, where clean air is in danger
of becoming a luxury and good or drinkable water is hard to come by.

Under WELL v2, projects can build a custom scorecard for
their particular region and population. "We're really excited
about the first beta features we've released that address
new concepts like housing equity and sound transmission,"
says Gutter. Any well-intentioned project, from a tenant space
to an existing building, could achieve certification without
the need for major capital improvements. Going forward, the
rapid improvements in sensor technologies will increasingly
enable everyone to be in real-time dialogue with their
buildings and homes.

Citi Tower at One Bay
East achieved the first
WELL Certification
in Hong Kong.
(Image: Ulso
Hin Sing Tsang)

"It's important that designers and
architects be able to explain the benefits
and role LEED plays in helping clients
reach their goal. From cost savings
to sale and rental premiums, green
buildings can support every market
and every community."
-MELISSA BAKER, U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL

i+D - September/October 2019

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i+D - September/October 2019

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