The International Well Building Institute (IWBI) and the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) are collaborating to streamline the process of integrating the two organizations’ green certification systems.
The collaboration will show how green building, health and wellness are interconnected by streamlining how the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and WELL Building Standard work together.As part of the partnership, GBCI will also provide third-party certification for the WELL Building Standard.
“The green building community has a historic opportunity to use medical science to create better buildings,” says Rick Fedrizzi, CEO of GBCI. “Human health as a pillar of sustainability has long been reflected in LEED, and GBCI’s new role as the third-party certifier for the WELL Building Standard will enable us to take that commitment further while making it easier for LEED users to incorporate health and wellness more deeply into their work.”
Currently in pilot phases, the WELL Building Standard sets performance standards in seven categories: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind. It was developed by researchers and physicians working together with expert practitioners from the building industry.
It applies to commercial, residential and institutional projects. It is administered by the International WELL Building Institute, which was founded “to improve the way people live by developing spaces that enhance occupant health and quality of life.”
Initially, the collaboration will focus on the third-party certification of the WELL Building Standard. The organizations will work together to align the WELL professional education programs and accreditation to meet LEED AP requirements. IWBI’s goal is to align WELL with LEED, the Living Building Challenge, and other global sustainability certifications.
There are a number of WELL pilot projects currently in development, including the William Jefferson Clinton Children’s Center in Port-Au-Prince Haiti, and the CBRE Group Inc.’s new global corporate headquarters in Los Angeles, which was the first commercial office to be both LEED Gold and WELL certified.