General scoring rules

The Overview in the WELL Building Standard describes scoring rules for all projects, including WELL Core:

• Projects cannot earn more than 12 points per concept (including any extra points achieved). Note: Points achieved above the concept maximum threshold can be pursued alternatively as Innovation points. Learn more about submitting concept overages as innovations.
• Projects cannot earn more than 100 points total across the ten concepts.
• Projects cannot earn more than 10 innovation points.

WELL Core projects do not need to meet a minimum threshold per concept.

Adjusted WELL Core point values

WELL Core projects have different point values for parts and features than owner-occupied projects. These are based on the extent to which the requirements benefit occupants within the project. Features that must be met for the whole building are generally worth more for WELL Core, while features with no or limited effect on tenants are generally reduced in value. 

You will recognize this difference in the digital version by switching the WELL Core toggle on or off, or when comparing the WELL Core requirement to a WELL Certification requirement in offline tools such as the PDF or spreadsheet checklist. For example, something that may be worth one point in WELL Certification could be worth 0.5 points in WELL Core Certification.

Additional point opportunities

Some features can earn WELL Core project points for being applied outside of the leased space, as well as an additional point for achieving the requirements for tenants.

WELL Core projects may earn one additional point for certain features by meeting requirements within tenant spaces. If a building is fully leased out and does not include direct staff and/or non-leased space, the project can earn both the base point and additional point by meeting the requirements outlined in the additional point opportunity.

Follow these steps to indicate which points you are pursuing:

1. Open your project's Scorecard tab.
2. Select the feature.
3. Choose which type of points you are targeting on the feature's entry on the Scorecard tab under the 'WELL Core Guidance' section.

If you do not make a selection but mark the feature as Yes on your scorecard, this menu will default to "Only targeting the feature point."

For more on when these points may apply and other insights into projects' point-earning potential, consult the digital standard. To view this guidance, be sure to toggle on the WELL Core view.