The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) has released a pilot version of WELL v2, an update to its signature WELL Building Standard. The the health and wellness rating system has nearly 1,000 projects registered since it was introduced in 2014. Its revamp is intended to expand the reach of WELL further, as well as consolidate the latest knowledge, leading research, new technology, and advanced building practice, according to Rachel Gutter, IWBI’s president.
Major changes in the new pilot include moving away from a stringent scorecard to allow project teams to focus on the outcomes and results most important to their organizations and their communities. It also allows IWBI to add new strategies on the fly, rather than having to reintroduce the rating system each time.
The July issue of Building Operating Management includes an article by Lorax Partnerships that looks at healthy workplace design, the WELL and Fitwell standards, and the way facility managers can justify costs in health and wellness strategies.
“There is an obvious shift in the commercial real estate market occurring as health and wellness in the built environment plays a more prominent role in the design, construction, function, and maintenance of buildings,” write the authors. “WELL and Fitwel are supporting this shift by providing a clear, concise, measurable, and marketable framework that will have an impact on all industry professionals.”
This Quick Read was submitted by Greg Zimmerman, executive editor, Building Operating Management. Read his story about the new LEED v4.1 rating system.
