ABSTRACT
The WELL Health-Safety Rating is a new evidence-based, third-party verified rating developed in direct response to COVID-19 by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). For the past 6 years WELL programs have been at the forefront of incorporating scientific literature on human health in the indoor environment to outcomes that can be measured and monitored. This new rating system focuses on operational policies, cleaning protocols, and design strategies to build confidence in, and resilience of, our indoor spaces in a post COVID-19 world. A task force of over 500 public health experts, virologists, government officials, academics, business leaders, architects, designers, building scientists, and real estate professionals was assembled when the pandemic began to develop these guidelines.
Powers Brown Architecture has acted in parallel with this standard; but we had to put our own seatbelt on first. We have developed our own policies, retrofitted our office spaces, created plans, and do our fair share of cleaning, washing, and repeating. We have a team of professionals, with not just the WELL credentials, but also the experience to help our clients move forward in this tumultuous time. Putting a WELL Health-Safety label on your building’s front door is a meaningful statement that concerted effort was made for the betterment everyone who enters. It’s a little bit confidence we’re looking for as we all transition forward.
