WELL Health-Safety Rating Enrolled in One Billion SF of Space
The International WELL Building Institute has achieved the enrollment milestone nine months after launching the evidence based, third-party verified rating in June 2020.
NEW YORK – The International WELL Building Institute has surpassed one billion square feet in spaces enrolled in the WELL Health-Safety Rating.
The institute, which serves as the global authority on how to advance the health and well-being of people through the use of buildings and communities, achieved the milestone within nine months, upon launching the WELL Health-Safety Rating in June 2020.
Utilizing features from the WELL Building Standard, the WELL Health-Safety Rating is an evidence based, third-party verified rating for all buildings and spaces. IWBI launched the rating by leveraging its expertise and feedback from the 600-member IWBI Taskforce on COVID-19.
The WELL Health-Safety Rating focuses on operational policies, maintenance protocols, emergency plans and stakeholder engagement strategies to assist organizations in prioritizing the health and safety of staff, customers, visitors and stakeholders.
The enrollment milestone represents the increased adoption of utilizing properties as frontline caregivers, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We launched the WELL Health-Safety Rating in June 2020 in response to an overwhelming need by our customers for practical, evidence-based strategies that could be quickly deployed to help people get back to business with confidence,” states IWBI president and CEO, Rachel Hodgdon. “Leaders in organizations big and small want effective ways to validate the – often huge – commitments they’ve made to prioritize the health and well-being of workers and visitors to their spaces. The WELL Health-Safety Rating does just that.”
The organizations that are currently enrolled in the WELL Health-Safety Rating span all industries, and include school districts, cultural institutions, non-profit organizations, restaurants, manufacturing, senior living and more. Participating companies include JPMorgan Chase, Discover, USAA, T-Mobile, Empire State Realty Trust, Kilroy Realty, Lincoln Property Co. and Simon Property Group.
Additionally, nearly two dozen sports venues and organizations utilize the rating, including the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Cleveland Cavaliers, in effort to provide players and fans with confidence in their health and safety.
Furthermore, IWBI created two industry-specific advisory groups for the hotel and lodging and sports and entertainment industries, to ensure their unique needs are addressed by the rating.