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LET'S CELEBRATE

WELL v2 has graduated

WELL v2 has proven to be our most verified, tested and reviewed rating system to date, and its purpose is now more important than ever.

Meet the IWBI Governance Council

The IWBI Governance Council is a group of key global thought leaders, doctors, public health professionals and business executives who are responsible for helping IWBI uphold the integrity of the WELL Building Standard development process and accelerate market transformation at a global scale.
Get to know the council

Previous members

How did we get here?

The graduation of WELL v2 from pilot is a reflection of years of co-creation that will ripple throughout buildings, communities and organizations around the world.

WELL v2 pilot launch

In May 2018, our team released the WELL v2 pilot: a leap forward for our standard that was co-created with our community.

Market adoption & testing

The pilot was rigorously tested and market vetted by more than 3,300 projects from a wide range of typologies, representing more than 413 million square feet and 54 countries.

Community feedback

We've spent the past two years listening and capturing insights from leading voices in the WELL community, including over 150 concept and sector advisors, select stakeholders and more than 600 members of the Task Force on COVID-19. We also opened the pilot to a six-month public comment period, garnering hundreds of comments from all corners of the community. Explore feedback and how comments influenced WELL v2 here.

WELL v2 graduation

In June 2020, we hosted a final vote with the IWBI Governance Council, leading to the unanimous and formal graduation of WELL v2 from pilot.

  • WELL v2 pilot launch: Launched the WELL v2 pilot - a leap forward for our standard that was co-created with our community, and done so with aspirations of accelerating our efforts to improve lives around the world.
  • Public comment: Solicited feedback from the broader WELL community during a six-month public comment period.
  • WELL advisory feedback: Captured insights from more than 150 WELL concept and sector advisors.
  • Select stakeholder review: Received revisions and comments from a select group of stakeholders and industry practitioners.
  • Task Force on COVID-19: Crowdsourced hundreds of comments during a 40-day sprint with the IWBI Task Force on COVID-19 to assess how WELL v2 can better support prevention and preparedness, resiliency and recovery.
  • IWBI Governance Council vote: Hosted a final vote with the IWBI Governance Council, leading to the formal graduation of WELL v2 from pilot.
  • WELL v2 graduation: It’s official, WELL v2 has graduated from pilot stage. This moment marks the culmination of years of co-creation that will ripple throughout buildings, communities and organizations around the world.

  • “Buildings - the places where each of us spends roughly 90 percent of our lives - must be at the heart of the solution to foster wellness and deliver positive health outcomes at scale. I’m honored to serve in a position that I see as crucial to not only helping steer the future of WELL but also achieving the shared vision of advancing health and well-being in all buildings all around the globe.”

    Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the United States

  • “Along with my fellow Council members, I’m excited to be part of this historic vote that will usher in WELL v2 to the world. It’s essential that we have the right tool to help deliver better buildings for all as we strive to achieve a culture of health and ensure everyone has the chance to attain their full health potential.”

    Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., MBA, former president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and distinguished professor of population health and health equity at the University of Pennsylvania

  • “In the past two decades, we have seen such significant change in how communities have made buildings the hallmark of a sustainable future. With WELL v2, we can do the same for human health and accelerate this movement to make the places we live, work, learn and play healthier for all.”

    Stephen Huddart, President & CEO, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation

  • “This is a pivotal moment for the future of how we think about buildings and the critical role they play to enhance and improve - not to mention protect - human health. I’m proud to be part of IWBI’s inaugural Governance Council and join this illustrious group entrusted with ensuring WELL v2 is as strong as it can be and positioned to lead the global movement to transform our built environment.”

    Nancy Roman, President and CEO, Partnership for a Healthier America

  • “I’m honored to be part of the Council and be part of this important and collaborative work - all designed to help make our communities healthier, stronger and more vibrant. And that’s what is so exciting about the launch of WELL v2 — that we now have the opportunity to further that mission and inspire the next generation of what health leadership means in buildings around the world.”

    Amit Bouri, Co-Founder and CEO, Global Impact Investing Network

  • “Tools and frameworks are always vital because they set the bar for design excellence, but in times of crisis they become doubly important, inspiring and informing designers as they push for new frontiers. By helping to empower the global architecture and design community, WELL v2 is poised to be a catalyzing force to drive incredible change at a time when we couldn’t need it more.”

    Avinash Rajagopal, Editor in Chief,
    Metropolis

  • “The IWBI Task Force on COVID-19 allowed us to give WELL v2 one more solid review in light of the current pandemic and fortify it with solutions-oriented interventions and actionable and research-backed strategies before voting on bringing it out of pilot. Because of this decision, we feel that WELL v2 is the most well-positioned certification system on the market to address today’s most pressing health concerns."

    Rachel Gutter, President, The International WELL Building Institute

  • “We have united around this ambitious vision of advancing health and well-being in our buildings, but it must be accompanied by action. As a member of IWBI’s Governance Council, I know that WELL v2 provides us all with a powerful tool to take action and continue to implement our vision of bringing health to the forefront through better buildings.”

    Raymond Yau, General Manager, Technical Services & Sustainable Development, Swire Properties

  • “Buildings - the places where each of us spends roughly 90 percent of our lives - must be at the heart of the solution to foster wellness and deliver positive health outcomes at scale. I’m honored to serve in a position that I see as crucial to not only helping steer the future of WELL but also achieving the shared vision of advancing health and well-being in all buildings all around the globe.”

    Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the United States

  • “In the past two decades, we have seen such significant change in how communities have made buildings the hallmark of a sustainable future. With WELL v2, we can do the same for human health and accelerate this movement to make the places we live, work, learn and play healthier for all.”

    Stephen Huddart, President & CEO, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation

  • “This is a pivotal moment for the future of how we think about buildings and the critical role they play to enhance and improve - not to mention protect - human health. I’m proud to be part of IWBI’s inaugural Governance Council and join this illustrious group entrusted with ensuring WELL v2 is as strong as it can be and positioned to lead the global movement to transform our built environment.”

    Nancy Roman, President and CEO, Partnership for a Healthier America

  • “I’m honored to be part of the Council and be part of this important and collaborative work - all designed to help make our communities healthier, stronger and more vibrant. And that’s what is so exciting about the launch of WELL v2 — that we now have the opportunity to further that mission and inspire the next generation of what health leadership means in buildings around the world.”

    Amit Bouri, Co-Founder and CEO, Global Impact Investing Network

  • “Tools and frameworks are always vital because they set the bar for design excellence, but in times of crisis they become doubly important, inspiring and informing designers as they push for new frontiers. By helping to empower the global architecture and design community, WELL v2 is poised to be a catalyzing force to drive incredible change at a time when we couldn’t need it more.”

    Avinash Rajagopal, Editor in Chief,
    Metropolis

  • “The IWBI Task Force on COVID-19 allowed us to give WELL v2 one more solid review in light of the current pandemic and fortify it with solutions-oriented interventions and actionable and research-backed strategies before voting on bringing it out of pilot. Because of this decision, we feel that WELL v2 is the most well-positioned certification system on the market to address today’s most pressing health concerns."

    Rachel Gutter, President, The International WELL Building Institute

  • “We have united around this ambitious vision of advancing health and well-being in our buildings, but it must be accompanied by action. As a member of IWBI’s Governance Council, I know that WELL v2 provides us all with a powerful tool to take action and continue to implement our vision of bringing health to the forefront through better buildings.”

    Raymond Yau, General Manager, Technical Services & Sustainable Development, Swire Properties

  • “Buildings - the places where each of us spends roughly 90 percent of our lives - must be at the heart of the solution to foster wellness and deliver positive health outcomes at scale. I’m honored to serve in a position that I see as crucial to not only helping steer the future of WELL but also achieving the shared vision of advancing health and well-being in all buildings all around the globe.”

    Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the United States

  • “Along with my fellow Council members, I’m excited to be part of this historic vote that will usher in WELL v2 to the world. It’s essential that we have the right tool to help deliver better buildings for all as we strive to achieve a culture of health and ensure everyone has the chance to attain their full health potential.”

    Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., MBA, former president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and distinguished professor of population health and health equity at the University of Pennsylvania

  • “In the past two decades, we have seen such significant change in how communities have made buildings the hallmark of a sustainable future. With WELL v2, we can do the same for human health and accelerate this movement to make the places we live, work, learn and play healthier for all.”

    Stephen Huddart, President & CEO, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation

  • “This is a pivotal moment for the future of how we think about buildings and the critical role they play to enhance and improve - not to mention protect - human health. I’m proud to be part of IWBI’s inaugural Governance Council and join this illustrious group entrusted with ensuring WELL v2 is as strong as it can be and positioned to lead the global movement to transform our built environment.”

    Nancy Roman, President and CEO, Partnership for a Healthier America

  • “I’m honored to be part of the Council and be part of this important and collaborative work - all designed to help make our communities healthier, stronger and more vibrant. And that’s what is so exciting about the launch of WELL v2 — that we now have the opportunity to further that mission and inspire the next generation of what health leadership means in buildings around the world.”

    Amit Bouri, Co-Founder and CEO, Global Impact Investing Network

  • “Tools and frameworks are always vital because they set the bar for design excellence, but in times of crisis they become doubly important, inspiring and informing designers as they push for new frontiers. By helping to empower the global architecture and design community, WELL v2 is poised to be a catalyzing force to drive incredible change at a time when we couldn’t need it more.”

    Avinash Rajagopal, Editor in Chief,
    Metropolis

  • “The IWBI Task Force on COVID-19 allowed us to give WELL v2 one more solid review in light of the current pandemic and fortify it with solutions-oriented interventions and actionable and research-backed strategies before voting on bringing it out of pilot. Because of this decision, we feel that WELL v2 is the most well-positioned certification system on the market to address today’s most pressing health concerns."

    Rachel Gutter, President, The International WELL Building Institute

  • “We have united around this ambitious vision of advancing health and well-being in our buildings, but it must be accompanied by action. As a member of IWBI’s Governance Council, I know that WELL v2 provides us all with a powerful tool to take action and continue to implement our vision of bringing health to the forefront through better buildings.”

    Raymond Yau, General Manager, Technical Services & Sustainable Development, Swire Properties

Item 2 of 8
TWO YEARS, ONE VOTE

What does it mean to graduate?

The graduation of WELL v2 out of pilot stage demonstrates that each feature of WELL v2 meets the four key tenets of the standard development process for WELL. In June 2020, the IWBI Governance Council voted that WELL v2 was ready to move out of pilot stage because each feature met the following four tenets:

  • Evidence-based

    Each WELL feature is underscored by available evidence that links design, policy and built environment strategies to health and well-being outcomes. Features are substantiated by a diverse and rigorous evidence-base, including peer-reviewed literature; academic research; and leading design standards, laws, codes and best practices.

  • Verifiable

    All WELL features are third-party verified through documentation and/or performance testing.

  • Implementable

    All WELL v2 features have been tested through WELL v1 and/or the WELL v2 pilot, demonstrating adoption and uptake by projects across the world.

  • Presented for outside input

    At every step of the way, IWBI gathered feedback from a diverse community of practitioners, subject matter experts, users and other third parties to inform the development and evolution of WELL.

Download the full governance report

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