WELL Certification is for all types of projects—whether newly constructed, undergoing renovation or existing, your project can achieve WELL Certification.
Understand the benefits of pursuing certification for existing spaces
Ignite change
Use the WELL Building Standard to identify low-cost, high-impact changes related to health and well-being that can be implemented at the design, operations and policy levels.
Prioritize health
Reinvigorate your existing space by demonstrating how human health and well-being are being prioritized in a cohesive and comprehensive way. Investing in certification helps you convey how much you value your occupants and their experience within your space.
Increase value
Use certification as an innovative tool to boost the value of your asset and your organization’s wider portfolio.
Evaluate features that require building systems changes
Start by taking a look at features that have to do with the design or mechanical system, and then review those that focus on building operations and organizational policies.
The design and mechanical features are the bigger hurdles for existing spaces to tackle, while operations and policy features are not dependent on the physical space, and therefore can be amended more easily.
Understand the flexibility of WELL documentation
Letters of Assurance can be signed by someone other than the assigned responsible party, provided that person justifies their signature by explaining both their role on the project and knowledge of particular features.
There is a field where this information can be entered on the last page of each Letter of Assurance template.
Consider pathways that focus on operations rather than design
Some features have options that allow projects to implement an operational or performance-based strategy, rather than one that is design-focused.
Explore published AAPs. Certain approved AAPs detail alternative approaches to features that are well-suited for existing spaces, enabling projects to achieve features that might have otherwise been difficult given design and spatial limitations.
Pay attention to time-dependent requirements. Feature requirements that are related to newly installed/applied products or materials as well as construction activities only apply within one year prior to performance verification.