Episode 228 - WELL Building Standard & Certification

Hi and welcome to the Part 3 with me podcast. The show designed to help Part 3 students kickstart their careers as qualified architects while offering valuable refresher episodes for practicing professionals. If you like to support the podcast and help us keep creating great content, check out the link in the episode notes to subscribe. We also provide one-to-one mentoring to help you prepare for your submissions, exams and interview and you can visit our website to learn more, connect with us on LinkedIn by the Part 3 with me page or you can find us on Instagram @part3 with me or email @[email protected]. I am your host Maria Skudari and this week we will be talking about the well-building standard and well certification. This episode will give you a balanced view of the well framework itself, the certification process and some of the design and compliance implications you need to understand. Today's episode meets PC2 of the Part 3 criteria. So well is one of those topics that many of us have heard of often in the same level as lead, brieham or other sustainability rating systems. You might know it has something to do with occupant health and well-being. Maybe you have seen it mentioned in a client brief or a brochure but do you really understand how the standard is structured, what certification involves and how it intersects with the way you design and deliver projects day to day. That is what today's episode is all about. So let's start at the very beginning. What exactly is the well-building standard? So well is a building and organizational rating system developed by the International Well Building Institute that focuses especially on human health and well-being in the built environment where many traditional sustainability certifications concentrate on energy, carbon, materials and resource use. Well is explicitly framed around how buildings and workplaces affect the people who occupy them on a physical, mental and social level. Now the current version, well version 2, is described by the International Well Building Institute as their most rigorously tested and vetted version to date. Consultating previous versions and pilots into a single framework that can be applied to virtually all project types and sectors. It is performance based which means projects are assessed against measurable outcomes and verified data rather than just designing tent on paper. So at its core well is organized around 10 key concepts or subject areas which include air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind and community. Now across these concepts the standard sets out a series of features some of which are preconditions that every project must meet and others that are optimizations which contribute to a points-based score and ultimately the certification level achieved. A useful way to think about well is this that it's not a purely environmental sustainability standard and it's not just a workplace well-being checklist. It is a structured evidence-based framework that links building design, building operation and organizational policies to specific health-related outcomes for occupants. Now let's briefly walk through the 10 concepts we just mentioned so you have a clear mental map of what well is trying to address. So I'm going to focus on how they relate to decisions, architects and design teams make every day. So starting with air, air covers indoor air quality, ventilation design, filtration and policies around smoking and pollution sources. At a design level this touches everything from fresh air rates and ducting routing to where you locate intakes relative to traffic or plant through to how easily systems can be monitored and maintained in operation. They're moving on to water. Water looks at potable water quality, testing regimes, contaminant limits and sometimes user-facing issues like taste and accessibility of drinking water. So for architects this bridges technical coordination of incoming water, filtration equipment and plant space with the very practical questions like where drinking water points are located and how visible and convenient they are to users. Now next is nourishment, sondin nourishment. This is about access to healthy food, nutritional transparency and food environment policies. This is less about fabric and more about how spaces such as cafes, canteens and breakout areas are organized and what is promoted or discouraged within them, although layout and adjacencies can support healthier choices. Then we have light. Light addresses visual comfort, circadian lighting, daylighting, glare control and user control over lighting conditions. This links directly to facade design, to window proportions, shading devices, internal finishes and the way artificial lighting is specified and zoned, particularly for work spaces where concentration and alertness matter. Next we have movement. Movement encourages physical activity and reduced sedentary behaviors through active circulation routes, stairs, walking connections, supportive workplace layouts and policies. Design decisions about state visibility, lift prominence, internal wayfinding and integration of active travel facilities such as showers and changing rooms all play a role in this section of movement. Then we have thermal comfort so thermal comfort looks at temperature control, stratification, humidity and local control options for occupants. So this connects directly to HVAC zoning, sensor placement, glazing ratios, fabric performance and detailing and how much autonomy users have over their immediate environment. Next we have sound, so sound covers acoustic comfort, noise control and sound masking. For architects this aligns closely with acoustic designs such as partition performance, floor build ups, ceiling systems, as well as spatial planning to separate noisy and quiet uses and the treatment of building service noise. Next is materials, so materials focus on restricting and disclosing chemicals of concern and promoting healthier material choices and transparency. This is directly connected to the specification of floor finishes for example coatings, sealants, furniture and fit out products and how much information you demand from suppliers on VOC emissions, content and third party declarations. Then we have mind, so mind relates to mental health, stress reduction, access to nature and organizational culture around wellbeing. Architects influence this through biophilic design, daylight, views, access to green space and the way spaces support focus, respite and social interaction. And lastly the last key concept under well is community. So community addresses social equity, engagement, inclusivity and broader social wellbeing outcomes which are connected to buildings and organisations. At a project level this overlaps with how you design inclusive spaces, support diverse users and embed consultation and engagement into project briefs and outcomes. So across these concepts well seeks to translate public health research and building science into practical measures that project teams can implement and that organisations can maintain. Now that we've outlined what well is trying to achieve let's look at the certification framework itself. So well certification is effectively a road map for organisations that want to demonstrate in a very fireable way that a specific building or asset supports occupant health and wellbeing. It can be applied to new and existing buildings, interiors and shell and core projects with slightly different emphasis depending on where control sets and how much influence the project has over operations and policies. Projects pursuing well version 2 accrue points across the 10 concepts we ran through with a maximum of 110 points available. So certain features are designated as preconditions, which must be achieved for any level of certification, while optional optimizations allow projects to customize their strategies and build up points in areas most relevant to their context and goals. Certification levels under well run from bronze through silver, gold and platinum, each defined by threshold scores. So bronze certification starts at a minimum of around 40 points, silver at 50, gold at 60 and platinum at 80 points, with high levels typically requiring more ambitious optimization measures and the deeper integration of well strategies across the building and organisation. Now an important characteristic of well certification is that it relies on performance verification. So that means that rather than simply submitting design documentation, projects undergo onsite testing and review by an authorised party to confirm that air quality, water quality, thermal comfort acoustics and other measurable factors actually meet the required thresholds in practice. So this performance layer is what differentiates well from purely designed stage ratings and actually forces design teams to think about commissioning, monitoring and ongoing management, not just drawings and specifications. So certification is not a one-off event, like other rating systems, where requires recertification at defined intervals. So typically this is done every three years to ensure that performance and policies have been maintained and that any changes to the building or the way it's used have not undermined the health and wellbeing outcomes originally achieved. Now for part three candidates, it's useful to think of well certification as another example of how performance space regimes are increasingly shaping client expectations, contractual deliverables, and the way buildings are operated over time. Now you may be wondering why would a client invest time and money in well certification rather than or in addition to more familiar sustainability ratings. So there are several reoccurring themes in the way organisations talk about well. The first is that there is employee and occupant well-being narrative. So organisations see well as a way to structure and evidence improvements to their workplace that supports physical health, mental wellbeing, productivity and retention. So rather than just commissioning at hawk wellness initiatives, they can point to a recognized standard and a third party certification that backs up claims about the quality of their environment. Secondly, well can be part of a wider ESG and corporate responsibility strategy. So for investors, tenants and prospective employees, a well certified building, can signal that an organisation is serious about the social dimension of sustainability, not just environmental metrics. This can be particularly important in competitive office markets where landlords are trying to differentiate new or refurbished assets. And thirdly, well often sits alongside other rating systems such as lead or BRIAM and can be integrated into a holistic approach to design and operation. So many of the measures required by well, like better air quality, access to daylight, healthy materials and so on, complement environmental objectives and can be coordinated with other certification requirements to avoid duplication. For architects, this climate motivation translates into briefs that explicitly reference occupant well-being, requests for well-ready designs, even where certification is not yet confirmed, and sometimes the appointment of well accredited professionals to guide projects through the process. So let's have a look in practical terms at the process a project team would follow to achieve well certification and how that intersects with the RAB stages. The process typically starts with project registration with the International Well Building Institute or via the well online platform, establishing basic information about the assets, project type, target certification level and applicable features. From there, the team undertakes a gap analysis against well version 2, identifying which preconditions are already likely to be met and where additional design or operational measures will be required. Design and technical coordination then proceed with the well as a specific overlay. For example, ventilation design will be checked not only against local building regulations and CI/BSE guidance, but also against well air quality and ventilation features. Lighting design will consider circadian effects, glare control and daylight penetration rather than just meeting minimum illuminance levels. Then during construction and commissioning, the focus shifts to implementing and verifying the measures specified. So materials must be procured in line with restrictions and transparency requirements, water and air systems commissioned to achieve target performance, and policies around cleaning, smoking, nourishment and movement ready for operation. Now performance verification then takes place usually through an on-site visit where measurements are taken for air quality, water quality, thermal comfort and acoustics. And where visual inspections confirm aspects such as lighting, stair design, signage and provisions of active travel facilities. Then documentation evidence such as policies, procedures, training plans are also reviewed to confirm mind and community features. Then once verification is complete and the project is deemed to meet the necessary preconditions and point thresholds, certification is awarded at the appropriate level. And the project can use the well mark in its communications and leasing material. Then re-certification requirements are then scheduled for future years to ensure performance is maintained. Now from a part three perspective, what matters here is the interaction between the architects design role, the wider project team and the organization's operational commitments. Well is not something architects can deliver in isolation. It requires coordination with building services, facilities, management, HR and leadership teams. Now a useful real world example of well working well is the Sandy Spring Friends School in the United States, which became the first school in the country to achieve well gold. So this is a strong case study because it shows well being applied not just in a corporate office environment, but in an educational setting where well being, comfort and concentration all matter every day. So the project was designed around the idea that the building itself should actively support the people using it. So the school's approach included flexible learning spaces, gending neutral bathrooms, community area for gathering, abundant daylight, views to nature, LED lighting, acoustic comfort and geothermal heating and cooling. So in other words, the building was not simply compliant on paper, it was shaped around the lived experience of students and staff. So that is exactly where well becomes interesting from an architectural perspective. It translates ideas like daylight, sound control, thermal comfort and social well being into practical design decisions and it gives teams of framework for testing, whether those decisions are actually working. So in this case, the result was a school environment that was reported to support both physical and mental well being, which is really the core promise of well. So for architects, the lesson is that well is most effective when it is embedded from the outset rather than treated as an add on at the end of design. The school case study shows how the standard can influence spatial planning, services coordination, material selection and user experience in a way that feels holistic rather than tokenistic. So what does all of this actually mean for architects in practice? Let's break it down into some reoccurring themes. So firstly, well reinforces the importance of designing for the people who use the building, not just for compliance and cost. Features around air, light, movement and sound align closely with best practice in architectural design. But well turns them into explicit commitments that must be evidenced and maintained. This pushes architects to think more deeply about things like stare, prominent for start design, internal layouts, and material selection, and about how those choices will be experienced today today. Well also requires you to engage with performance outcomes. It's not just enough to assume that a design which looks good on paper will deliver excellent air quality or acoustic comfort. You have to work with engineers to specify systems that can achieve measurable targets, and you have to allow for commissioning, monitoring, and potential refinement. Well also blurs the line between design and organizational policy. So many features rely on HR, facilities, and leadership decisions. For example, how food provision is managed, how mental health support is offered, or how community engagement is carried out. While architects are not responsible for those policies, you need to understand how your design either supports or undermines them. Esteeh buried at the back of the building behind security barriers will not support movement features, no matter how enthusiastic the HR team is. Well also invites a more integrated approach to teamwork. So projects pursuing certification often appoint a well AP, typically from a building services sustainability or consultancy background, and they will expect the design team to cooperate closely, document decisions and evidence compliance with features. This has implications for information management, specification detail, and your own competence narrative as a professional. Finally, well can influence commercial and contractual dynamics. Reversification is a client target. It may be embedded into employees requirements, scope definitions, and performance obligations. So that can affect risk allocation, professional indemnity discussions, and how you record decisions, particularly if value engineering pressures threaten to undermine well related measures. So lastly let's finish with a UK practice angle, and how well fits into it. As for many listeners, the key question will be how does well sit alongside the frameworks we already work with, and what does that mean for day-to-day practice. So in the UK, the primary statutory drivers remain the building regulations, planning policy, CDM, and for high risk buildings, the Building Safety Act regime. Well doesn't replace any of these. Instead it overlays them with an additional voluntary layer of performance aimed at occupant well-being. As a result, any well driven project has to be designed to meet both statutory requirements and well features, with careful coordination to avoid conflict or duplication. So for example, air and ventilation strategies must satisfy approved document F, par L, and relevant C, I, B, S, E guidance, while simultaneously meeting well air quality thresholds and filtration requirements. Fissade design must deal with par L, par O, and par B, while also supporting well light and thermal comfort features. Noise control must comply with local planning conditions and British standards while aligning with well sound expectations. On a specification point of view, well materials concept can push UK projects towards more transparent low emission products than you might otherwise select by default. So that may have cost and procurement implications, and you need to be ready to explain those trade offs to the client and contractors. Now operationally, many well features rely on facilities management and organisational behaviour. In the UK context, that means architects must work closely with clients, facilities, management teams, HR, and leadership to ensure the design genuinely supports well-aligned policies. And that documentation handed over a completion, equips them to maintain performance. Well is also a useful case study in how global standards intersect with UK regulation and insurance environments. If you are working on international portfolios or UK projects for global clients, you may find that well-certification is requested alongside Brian, SKA, or LED, and you will need to understand how those overlays affect your role, your scope, and your professional judgement. So to bring it back to your own practice, you should understand the language, the key concepts, and the way well interacts with design, specification, and operation. So that when it does appear in a brief, you can speak about it with confidence and clarity. So that covers what I wanted to discuss today relating to the well-certification and process. Let's just quickly sum up what we ran through. So the well-building standard is administered by the International Well Building Institute. It is a performance-based rating system focused on occupant health and well-being in the built environment. Well version 2 is organised around 10 concepts, air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind, and community. Each containing preconditions and optimisations that projects can pursue. Well-certification uses a points-based system with levels from bronze through silver, gold and platinum and relies on on site performance verification and periodic recertification to ensure outcomes are maintained. For architects, well-influences design decisions about ventilation, daylight, acoustics, materials, circulation and access to nature and requires close coordination with building services, facilities management and organisational policy. In UK practice, well sits alongside statutory regimes such as the Building Regulations and the Building Safety Act, aiding a voluntary but increasingly sought after layer of occupant well-being performance that can affect briefs, specifications, contracts and risk allocation. So that's all for now. Thanks for tuning in and we'll catch you in the next episode. If you would like to get in contact with me, please feel free to email me on the address provided in the show notes. Thank you for listening. This is an educational show aimed at supporting the future generation of architects. 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