The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), a worldwide leader in advancing healthier buildings, workplaces and communities, has announced a major enhancement to its WELL offering. It is introducing two new designations – the WELL Real Estate Rating and the WELL Operations Rating – aimed at helping real estate firms and investment funds apply and expand health-focused practices across large property portfolios in a practical and scalable way.
WELL is widely used by forward-thinking organizations as a framework for investing in human health and meeting broader social sustainability objectives. Its ecosystem brings together a growing network of companies seeking credible recognition as they progress toward better health and well-being outcomes. With these new ratings, IWBI is creating additional pathways for property owners and investors to gain early or incremental acknowledgment through the WELL system.
Both ratings are now available. The WELL Real Estate Rating concentrates on improving core building infrastructure, while the WELL Operations Rating targets day-to-day building management and upkeep. Covering elements such as air quality, water standards, and design features that support physical activity and mental well-being, the ratings provide a structured way to assess and verify the most important health-related aspects of base buildings. Built from selected features of the broader WELL Standard, they enable organizations to secure initial recognition and create a stepping stone toward full WELL Certification and future milestones.
According to IWBI leadership, research-backed and performance-verified approaches have demonstrated that buildings and organizations can significantly influence human health. Achieving these ratings gives real estate companies a way to quickly build credibility with occupants and investors while moving toward larger, long-term health and sustainability goals.
These ratings highlight excellence in particular focus areas within the wider WELL framework. They offer independent, third-party validation of health and social impact measures that are especially meaningful to property investors and tenants. By emphasizing essential infrastructure and operational practices, they allow owners to document measurable progress early in a building’s lifecycle and address priority ESG and performance concerns sooner.
The WELL Real Estate Rating is designed for real estate funds, REITs and asset managers looking to upgrade foundational building systems to better support occupant health and comfort. It prioritizes indoor environmental quality, resilience for both assets and surrounding communities, and responsible use of building materials.
The WELL Operations Rating, on the other hand, is geared toward those managing properties day to day. It promotes strong operational standards through effective maintenance of building systems, high indoor environmental quality performance, preparedness and resilience policies, and an improved overall tenant experience.
IWBI’s product leadership has emphasized that these tools are intended to make it easier for organizations to start and succeed with WELL, whether they are applying it to one site or an international portfolio. The new ratings provide credible, early-stage validation of health impact that aligns with increasing expectations from both tenants and investors.
For building owners, aligning with WELL can set their properties apart in a competitive market. Strengthening core infrastructure and operational practices creates a verified healthy foundation that tenants can build upon, helping occupants benefit from health-focused design and amenities from the moment they move in.
Properties that earn these ratings can showcase leadership in occupant well-being, social responsibility and ESG performance. The achievements can also be cited in sustainability disclosures, investor reporting and GRESB submissions.
WELL-based strategies are now in use at close to 100,000 sites worldwide, covering more than six billion square feet across over 140 countries. Thousands of organizations, including more than 190 companies from the Global and Fortune 500 lists, use WELL to positively impact the lives of over 30 million people around the globe.
Click here to know more about how to enroll in the WELL Real Estate Rating.
WELL is widely used by forward-thinking organizations as a framework for investing in human health and meeting broader social sustainability objectives. Its ecosystem brings together a growing network of companies seeking credible recognition as they progress toward better health and well-being outcomes. With these new ratings, IWBI is creating additional pathways for property owners and investors to gain early or incremental acknowledgment through the WELL system.
Both ratings are now available. The WELL Real Estate Rating concentrates on improving core building infrastructure, while the WELL Operations Rating targets day-to-day building management and upkeep. Covering elements such as air quality, water standards, and design features that support physical activity and mental well-being, the ratings provide a structured way to assess and verify the most important health-related aspects of base buildings. Built from selected features of the broader WELL Standard, they enable organizations to secure initial recognition and create a stepping stone toward full WELL Certification and future milestones.
According to IWBI leadership, research-backed and performance-verified approaches have demonstrated that buildings and organizations can significantly influence human health. Achieving these ratings gives real estate companies a way to quickly build credibility with occupants and investors while moving toward larger, long-term health and sustainability goals.
These ratings highlight excellence in particular focus areas within the wider WELL framework. They offer independent, third-party validation of health and social impact measures that are especially meaningful to property investors and tenants. By emphasizing essential infrastructure and operational practices, they allow owners to document measurable progress early in a building’s lifecycle and address priority ESG and performance concerns sooner.
The WELL Real Estate Rating is designed for real estate funds, REITs and asset managers looking to upgrade foundational building systems to better support occupant health and comfort. It prioritizes indoor environmental quality, resilience for both assets and surrounding communities, and responsible use of building materials.
The WELL Operations Rating, on the other hand, is geared toward those managing properties day to day. It promotes strong operational standards through effective maintenance of building systems, high indoor environmental quality performance, preparedness and resilience policies, and an improved overall tenant experience.
IWBI’s product leadership has emphasized that these tools are intended to make it easier for organizations to start and succeed with WELL, whether they are applying it to one site or an international portfolio. The new ratings provide credible, early-stage validation of health impact that aligns with increasing expectations from both tenants and investors.
For building owners, aligning with WELL can set their properties apart in a competitive market. Strengthening core infrastructure and operational practices creates a verified healthy foundation that tenants can build upon, helping occupants benefit from health-focused design and amenities from the moment they move in.
Properties that earn these ratings can showcase leadership in occupant well-being, social responsibility and ESG performance. The achievements can also be cited in sustainability disclosures, investor reporting and GRESB submissions.
WELL-based strategies are now in use at close to 100,000 sites worldwide, covering more than six billion square feet across over 140 countries. Thousands of organizations, including more than 190 companies from the Global and Fortune 500 lists, use WELL to positively impact the lives of over 30 million people around the globe.
Click here to know more about how to enroll in the WELL Real Estate Rating.