Ensuring WELL buildings continue working

The wellbeing and wellness movement has a lot to be proud of when it comes to raising the importance of one nascent area – how good building design can itself, and in its own right raise people’s moods, and make for happier, more productive employees.

This is a message The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) – with is WELL Certification standard – has been promoting for years. But it is only in the recent past that evidence and research pointing to the benefits of better office design has entered into the HR mainstream.

Emily Warburton-Adams

Co-founder & Head of Sustainability, Pow Food

WELL-standard buildings are those that meet strict deign standards for the way they promote a host of wellness-boosting elements – be it the presence of more natural light, they way it improves air flow (avoiding pockets of ‘dead zone’, low quality air accumulating); the way they better regulate temperature, and have a sense of openness and space that creates a better overall sense of contentment by those who occupy them. Buildings that promote better light are now known to have anti-depressant properties, reduce headaches, and create higher in-building satisfaction. Overall, WELL-accredited buildings – which meet more than 100 essential attributes – have been found to be dramatically improve people’s sense of wellness and have demonstrated productivity gains of 10-15%. Not only this, they reportedly see reductions in employee fatigue and symptoms associated with “sick building syndrome.”

One oft-quoted study looking at those moving from non-WELL buildings to WELL buildings, found average overall satisfaction rates across parameters improved from 42% pre-occupancy to 70% post-occupancy. Improvements in perceived mental health went from score of 37 (pre WELL Building occupancy), to 46 once staff were in their WELL-accredited buildings

With results like this, not surprisingly, growth in interest in the initiative has been nothing short of extraordinary. In 2021 there were just 950 WELL projects globally. By 2024 there were 47,870 WELL projects worldwide with 13,059 of these certified.

Certification expanding WELL building supply chains

With WELL Building status now much more recognised, the IWBI has been keen to spread its messaging, and most recently, has introduced a completely new standard – involving supplier organisations that make WELL Buildings ‘WELL’ to begin with: it’s ‘Works With Well’ designation.