WELL Building Standard Surpasses 6 Billion Sq Ft Globally
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) has seen remarkable expansion of its WELL Building Standard, now influencing over 6 billion square feet (approximately 557.4 million square meters) of space across nearly 100,000 sites in 137 countries. This milestone reflects a growing global embrace of environments that prioritize human well-being.
To celebrate this achievement, we asked IWBI’s President and CEO six questions about what this milestone means for the future of health-focused design:
1. What does it signify now that WELL adoption has surpassed 6 billion square feet?
This moment marks a fundamental change in how we view investing in health—not as an expense, but as a powerful driver for positive transformation.
2. What insight have you gained about WELL's global reach from this milestone?
If all properties enrolled in WELL were considered a nation, their combined economic impact would place them as the 12th largest economy in the world.
3. How can you explain WELL’s return on investment to skeptics?
A decade of independent research supports the effectiveness of WELL-certified spaces. These environments enhance satisfaction, promote physical and mental health, and improve productivity.
4. How does WELL align with current investor interests?
Today’s investors aren’t just avoiding risk—they’re seeking assets that perform. Data shows that WELL Certified buildings consistently outperform both newly built uncertified spaces and even green-certified buildings, particularly in user satisfaction.
5. Any words for the WELL community—clients, advocates, and leaders?
To everyone who has contributed to this movement: thank you. Your belief in the transformative power of health-centered design has brought us to this point.
6. What’s next for the WELL movement?
Our goal is to expand WELL’s global presence even further. We aim to involve all our regions in upcoming global summits and increase engagement across markets.
BONUS: What does the 6 billion-square-foot milestone mean to you in one word?
“Thirty.” That’s the estimated number of people, in millions, whose lives are positively influenced by WELL-certified environments every day.
Click here to watch the video.
To celebrate this achievement, we asked IWBI’s President and CEO six questions about what this milestone means for the future of health-focused design:
1. What does it signify now that WELL adoption has surpassed 6 billion square feet?
This moment marks a fundamental change in how we view investing in health—not as an expense, but as a powerful driver for positive transformation.
2. What insight have you gained about WELL's global reach from this milestone?
If all properties enrolled in WELL were considered a nation, their combined economic impact would place them as the 12th largest economy in the world.
3. How can you explain WELL’s return on investment to skeptics?
A decade of independent research supports the effectiveness of WELL-certified spaces. These environments enhance satisfaction, promote physical and mental health, and improve productivity.
4. How does WELL align with current investor interests?
Today’s investors aren’t just avoiding risk—they’re seeking assets that perform. Data shows that WELL Certified buildings consistently outperform both newly built uncertified spaces and even green-certified buildings, particularly in user satisfaction.
5. Any words for the WELL community—clients, advocates, and leaders?
To everyone who has contributed to this movement: thank you. Your belief in the transformative power of health-centered design has brought us to this point.
6. What’s next for the WELL movement?
Our goal is to expand WELL’s global presence even further. We aim to involve all our regions in upcoming global summits and increase engagement across markets.
BONUS: What does the 6 billion-square-foot milestone mean to you in one word?
“Thirty.” That’s the estimated number of people, in millions, whose lives are positively influenced by WELL-certified environments every day.
Click here to watch the video.
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