IRVINE, CA—Ware Malcomb, an international design firm, based here in Irvine, CA, recently revealed a new area of expertise in designing projects to achieve WELL building standard certification from the International WELL Building Institute. The firm is offering the service to clients across its 22 offices throughout North America. In the exclusive Q&A below, GlobeSt.com chats with firm principal Tiffany English about how incorporating WELL concepts into a new facility will provide building occupants with an enhanced experience landlords, tenants and clients with unique advantages. WELL is the world's first building standard focused exclusively on human health and wellness, setting performance requirements in seven categories relevant to occupant health in the built environment: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind.
GlobeSt.com: What does the WELL Building standard mean for those who hire design firms?
Tiffany English: According to the International WELL Building Institute, employers spend 90% of their annual operating costs on people. This means that even a small impact on productivity, engagement and satisfaction in the workplace can have huge returns on investment. Incorporating WELL concepts into a new facility will not only provide building occupants with an enhanced experience, but will also provide unique advantages for landlords, tenants and clients alike in their future business operations.
GlobeSt.com: What are the building features that the standard promotes?
English: The WELL Building Standard is the world's first building standard focused exclusively on human health and wellness of the occupants. WELL contains seven main concepts focused around: Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Fitness, Comfort and Mind, and incorporating these elements into the built environment. WELL is administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), a public benefit corporation whose mission is to improve human health and well-being through the built environment.
GlobeSt.com: How can design firms leverage this standard to their advantage?
English: Develop an expertise in the latest WELL Building Standard to help clients improve employee well-being and increase personnel retention and recruitment efforts.
GlobeSt.com: Where do you see the WELL-building movement heading?
English: The workplace of the future will be based more on human sustainability. To respond to the ever-growing health and wellness industry, workplace design needs to incorporate elements of health, wellness, and sustainability into the environment.
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Natalie Dolce
Natalie Dolce, editor-in-chief of GlobeSt.com, is responsible for working with editorial staff, freelancers and senior management to help plan the overarching vision that encompasses GlobeSt.com, including short-term and long-term goals for the website, how content integrates through the company’s other product lines and the overall quality of content. Previously she served as national executive editor and editor of the West Coast region for GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum, and was responsible for coverage of news and information pertaining to that vital real estate region. Prior to moving out to the Southern California office, she was Northeast bureau chief, covering New York City for GlobeSt.com. Her background includes a stint at InStyle Magazine, and as managing editor with New York Press, an alternative weekly New York City paper. In her career, she has also covered a variety of beats for M magazine, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, FashionLedge.com, and Co-Ed magazine. Dolce has also freelanced for a number of publications, including MSNBC.com and Museums New York magazine.
