WELL for Residential: Global Certification for Healthier, Resilient Homes
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) has announced that its WELL for Residential program—the only global certification dedicated to healthier homes—has seen remarkable engagement during its pilot phase. The initiative now spans nearly 20 million square feet of real estate, covering over 40,000 residential units across 22 countries. Of these, more than 3,000 units, representing over 7 million square feet, have already achieved WELL Residence certification or precertification through the program’s evidence-based, third-party verified framework designed to promote healthier, more resilient living environments.
“We are thrilled that WELL for Residential has rapidly emerged as a leading solution in the industry, supporting people to live healthier, more fulfilling lives in their homes,” said IWBI President and CEO Rachel Hodgdon. “This global collaboration addresses the pressing need for homes that actively enhance resident health and well-being while also offering measurable financial benefits for developers and investors.” To date, WELL for Residential achievements extend across nearly 10 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, China, New Zealand, Japan, Italy, Spain, Malaysia, and India.
As the global authority driving market transformation through healthier buildings, organizations, and communities, IWBI launched WELL for Residential to reshape how homes are designed, built, and operated to support occupant health. Featuring more than 100 strategies, the program evaluates how design, operations, and resident behaviors can boost well-being, covering key elements such as indoor air and water quality, natural light, access to fitness and green spaces, and initiatives promoting both physical and mental health.
“Homebuyers and renters increasingly expect residences that prioritize their well-being,” said Liz Miles, IWBI Vice President of Residential. “Homes built to be healthy and resilient are better equipped to respond to climate challenges while improving residents’ overall quality of life. WELL for Residential provides a clear framework to achieve these goals.”
WELL for Residential is the world’s first holistic, third-party verified certification exclusively focused on health and well-being across all residential types, including single-family homes and multifamily units. At its early 2024 launch, the program included 25 global pilot participants, representing nearly 30,000 homes.
What participants are saying:
B K Malagi, Vice Chairman of Experion Developers, said, “Achieving WELL for Residential precertification is a milestone that reflects our commitment to creating homes that support resident well-being beyond luxury and aesthetics.” Experion has secured precertification for three flagship complexes totaling nearly 1,000 residences.
Chris Botten, Head of Sustainability at Lendlease UK, shared, “Our aim is to design homes that foster healthier, happier lives. Earning Europe’s first WELL Residence certification at Parkside demonstrates our commitment to resident well-being at every stage.”
Chris Wilson, CEO of Corvias, said, “Participating in WELL for Residential is a crucial step in setting health standards for military housing. This program reinforces our commitment to service members and their families while highlighting our approach to evidence-based, resilient home design.”
Alex Uregian, Managing Director of City Sanctuary, noted, “Our Grade II listed Albion Court retrofit allowed us to test WELL in the mid-market rental sector. Early results—better sleep, calmer evenings, healthier indoor environments—show that well-being-focused design is no longer limited to luxury homes.”
Jaykant Patel, founder of ARCHETYPE, said, “Integrating WELL into our Continuum 115 Apartments enhances residents’ confidence that their homes are healthier and more resilient, aligning with our health-focused design approach.”
Dr. Ted Caplow, co-founder of Caplow Manzano, explained, “WELL provides a clear, credible standard for healthy residential design—a frontier that was largely unexplored. Displaying the WELL mark signals to homebuyers that these homes meet rigorous health standards.”
Nick Deacon, Development Manager at Johnson Development, stated, “WELL for Residential offers a framework that communicates real, evidence-based value to builders, residents, and stakeholders alike.”
The program was developed with input from over 100 advisors and 20 builder and developer groups. Extensive collaboration over two years with IWBI’s WELL for Residential Advisory—comprising architects, engineers, public health experts, and real estate professionals—shaped the final framework.
Recognizing the program’s rapid adoption, IWBI announced that its Governance Council unanimously ratified WELL for Residential. The program is scheduled to be fully integrated into the One WELL platform in 2026. Established in 2020, the Governance Council comprises global thought leaders, public health experts, and business executives who safeguard the integrity of IWBI certification frameworks and accelerate WELL adoption worldwide.
WELL for Residential is part of IWBI’s broader WELL ecosystem, which offers organizations globally an evidence-based approach to health-focused design. WELL programs—including WELL Certification, WELL Health-Safety Rating, WELL Performance Rating, WELL Equity Rating, WELL Coworking Rating, WELL Community Standard, and WELL for Residential—enable organizations to prioritize physical and mental well-being. Through WELL at Scale, these strategies are implemented across entire portfolios or organizations, impacting over 6 billion square feet across nearly 100,000 locations in more than 140 countries, benefiting over 30 million people worldwide, with participation from more than 180 Global and Fortune 500 companies.
“We are thrilled that WELL for Residential has rapidly emerged as a leading solution in the industry, supporting people to live healthier, more fulfilling lives in their homes,” said IWBI President and CEO Rachel Hodgdon. “This global collaboration addresses the pressing need for homes that actively enhance resident health and well-being while also offering measurable financial benefits for developers and investors.” To date, WELL for Residential achievements extend across nearly 10 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, China, New Zealand, Japan, Italy, Spain, Malaysia, and India.
As the global authority driving market transformation through healthier buildings, organizations, and communities, IWBI launched WELL for Residential to reshape how homes are designed, built, and operated to support occupant health. Featuring more than 100 strategies, the program evaluates how design, operations, and resident behaviors can boost well-being, covering key elements such as indoor air and water quality, natural light, access to fitness and green spaces, and initiatives promoting both physical and mental health.
“Homebuyers and renters increasingly expect residences that prioritize their well-being,” said Liz Miles, IWBI Vice President of Residential. “Homes built to be healthy and resilient are better equipped to respond to climate challenges while improving residents’ overall quality of life. WELL for Residential provides a clear framework to achieve these goals.”
WELL for Residential is the world’s first holistic, third-party verified certification exclusively focused on health and well-being across all residential types, including single-family homes and multifamily units. At its early 2024 launch, the program included 25 global pilot participants, representing nearly 30,000 homes.
What participants are saying:
B K Malagi, Vice Chairman of Experion Developers, said, “Achieving WELL for Residential precertification is a milestone that reflects our commitment to creating homes that support resident well-being beyond luxury and aesthetics.” Experion has secured precertification for three flagship complexes totaling nearly 1,000 residences.
Chris Botten, Head of Sustainability at Lendlease UK, shared, “Our aim is to design homes that foster healthier, happier lives. Earning Europe’s first WELL Residence certification at Parkside demonstrates our commitment to resident well-being at every stage.”
Chris Wilson, CEO of Corvias, said, “Participating in WELL for Residential is a crucial step in setting health standards for military housing. This program reinforces our commitment to service members and their families while highlighting our approach to evidence-based, resilient home design.”
Alex Uregian, Managing Director of City Sanctuary, noted, “Our Grade II listed Albion Court retrofit allowed us to test WELL in the mid-market rental sector. Early results—better sleep, calmer evenings, healthier indoor environments—show that well-being-focused design is no longer limited to luxury homes.”
Jaykant Patel, founder of ARCHETYPE, said, “Integrating WELL into our Continuum 115 Apartments enhances residents’ confidence that their homes are healthier and more resilient, aligning with our health-focused design approach.”
Dr. Ted Caplow, co-founder of Caplow Manzano, explained, “WELL provides a clear, credible standard for healthy residential design—a frontier that was largely unexplored. Displaying the WELL mark signals to homebuyers that these homes meet rigorous health standards.”
Nick Deacon, Development Manager at Johnson Development, stated, “WELL for Residential offers a framework that communicates real, evidence-based value to builders, residents, and stakeholders alike.”
The program was developed with input from over 100 advisors and 20 builder and developer groups. Extensive collaboration over two years with IWBI’s WELL for Residential Advisory—comprising architects, engineers, public health experts, and real estate professionals—shaped the final framework.
Recognizing the program’s rapid adoption, IWBI announced that its Governance Council unanimously ratified WELL for Residential. The program is scheduled to be fully integrated into the One WELL platform in 2026. Established in 2020, the Governance Council comprises global thought leaders, public health experts, and business executives who safeguard the integrity of IWBI certification frameworks and accelerate WELL adoption worldwide.
WELL for Residential is part of IWBI’s broader WELL ecosystem, which offers organizations globally an evidence-based approach to health-focused design. WELL programs—including WELL Certification, WELL Health-Safety Rating, WELL Performance Rating, WELL Equity Rating, WELL Coworking Rating, WELL Community Standard, and WELL for Residential—enable organizations to prioritize physical and mental well-being. Through WELL at Scale, these strategies are implemented across entire portfolios or organizations, impacting over 6 billion square feet across nearly 100,000 locations in more than 140 countries, benefiting over 30 million people worldwide, with participation from more than 180 Global and Fortune 500 companies.
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