A shared commitment to people and planet

The places where we live, work, and gather shape both our well-being and our environmental impact. A commitment to healthier buildings is, at its core, a commitment to healthier people and a healthier planet, a principle central to both LEED and WELL.

Growing market demand for integrated health and sustainability performance has led the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to establish a LEED + WELL streamlined certification process. By identifying aligned strategies and streamlining documentation requirements, this process helps project teams pursue both certifications more efficiently. Options available to support streamlined certification under LEED and WELL include:

• Option 1 (proof of award): Used when a project leverages an earned WELL or LEED achievement to satisfy equivalent credit requirements in the other rating system.
• Option 2 (synchronous review): This option allows projects pursuing WELL and LEED concurrently to submit reviews and receive achievements at the same time. (Review the 'Option 2: Synchronous Review' section below to confirm your project meets the eligibility criteria.)

LEED + WELL crosswalk resources and process

The LEED + WELL Crosswalk identifies where compliance in one program can satisfy requirements in the other. Teams may pursue any or all applicable equivalencies.

The crosswalk includes three ruling types:

• Bidirectional: Achievement in either program satisfies the corresponding requirement in the other.
• LEED → WELL: A LEED credit satisfies the associated WELL feature part only.
• WELL → LEED: A WELL feature part satisfies the associated LEED credit only.

Projects should reference the crosswalk rulings during design and documentation development to identify opportunities to leverage strategies that are equivalent across programs.

Project boundary

Depending on the option pursued, please note the following guidelines regarding the project boundary for LEED and WELL:

When applying option 1, the project boundaries do not need to be identical; however, the previously awarded project boundary must fully encompass the scope and boundary of the strategies being pursued in the current submission.

When applying option 2, the project boundaries and scope must be identical for both LEED and WELL.

Step 1: Registration

Projects must be registered in both the LEED and WELL platforms. 

WELL registration

During the registration process, a project  can indicate any other certifications being pursued. Once LEED has been selected, provide both the LEED project ID and name. This information can be updated at any time via the Project Information section under the Edit tab within your WELL project dashboard.

LEED registration

• LEED Online (v4/v4.1): Indicate the project is pursuing WELL certification within the project details page and enter the WELL project ID and name.
• Arc (v5): Use the Project Information form to indicate participation in the LEED + WELL streamlined path and enter the WELL project ID and name.

Step 2: Documentation submission

Projects may pursue one of two documentation pathways when applying the LEED + WELL Crosswalk:

Option 1: Proof of award

Used when the project has a WELL or LEED achievement certificate to demonstrate compliance with equivalent strategies or credits in the opposite system. This approach streamlines documentation for the program the project is pursuing by replacing more extensive documentation requirements with a simple “proof of award” for equivalent strategies. 

For example, if a project achieved LEED and is now pursuing WELL, the project can utilize their LEED achievement in lieu of the documentation requirements for WELL for any or all equivalent strategies. 

The following versions of WELL and LEED can be applied through this option: 

• One-directional crosswalks (applied from LEED → WELL only) 
  • WELL v2 + LEED O+M v4 / v4.1
  • WELL v2 pilot + LEED ID+C / BD+C / O+M v4
• Bi-directional crosswalks (these contain both one-directional rulings and bi-directional rulings depending on the credit)
  • WELL v2 + LEED ID+C v4 / v4.1 / v5
  • WELL v2 + LEED BD+C v4 / v4.1 / v5

Where a specific strategy or pathway is required by the crosswalk ruling, documentation must demonstrate that the strategy was implemented and approved.

To utilize proof of award 

1. Upload supporting evidence within each WELL feature part utilizing the crosswalk equivalency:
   • Proof of awarded LEED credit(s) should be submitted, such as the final LEED report or scorecard. 

If the related LEED or WELL certification is not yet finalized, the project may submit a narrative indicating that final proof of award will be submitted by the WELL Performance Review phase. In this case, the feature parts will stay pending until the proof of award is submitted.

Acceptable forms of “proof of award”

• LEED Final Design Review Report
• LEED Final Construction Review Report 
• LEED Final Combined Design and Construction Review Report

Option 2: Synchronous review

A synchronous review allows LEED v4 / v4.1 and WELL v2 reviews to occur concurrently resulting in both certifications being awarded together.

The following versions of WELL and LEED can be applied through this option:

• WELL v2 + LEED ID+C v 4 / v4.1
• WELL v2 + LEED BD+C v4 / v4.1

These versions contain both one-directional rulings and bi-directional rulings depending on the credit.

To pursue a synchronous review:

1. Submit a request through the WELL Support tab at least 30 days before submitting documentation. It’s critical that projects state their intent to utilize this pathway so that the reviews can be coordinated effectively. If you do not notify IWBI in advance, the project will be required to pursue Option 1 and submit proof of award.
2. Upload documentation only within the platform associated with the selected compliance pathway. 
   • For example, if you are using a LEED credit to comply with WELL, upload LEED documentation in the LEED platform and nothing in the WELL platform for that strategy. If you are using a WELL feature to comply with LEED, upload WELL documentation in the WELL platform and nothing in the LEED platform for that strategy. 
3. In your WELL scorecard, select the LEED + WELL checkbox for each feature part using the LEED compliance option.  Ensure the feature has been marked “Yes”. 
4. Ensure both LEED and WELL scorecards reflect all attempted credits and feature parts, including those pursued through the crosswalk.
5. Submit for review in both platforms within two business days of each other.

Synchronous review: What to expect

For projects pursuing option 2 (synchronous review), reviews for both programs will be completed and returned according to the applicable review phase timeline. Credits and feature parts using the crosswalk will reflect a coordinated status when returned.

If a credit or feature part relying on the other program’s compliance path is marked pending in preliminary review, it will also be marked pending in the other program.

If a significant issue affects both LEED and WELL submissions, both reviews will be placed on hold. If only one submission is affected, that review may be placed on hold while the other proceeds. Upon completion, coordinated reviews will be returned in their respective platforms.

Have questions? Contact us using your project's Support tab.