Where energy codes and LEED focus mainly on how a building performs, the WELL Building Standard asks a different question: how does the building affect the health and wellbeing of the people inside it? As employers compete for talent and tenants demand healthier spaces, WELL has become one of the most sought-after certifications in commercial real estate. Here's how it works.
What is WELL certification?
WELL is a performance-based certification for buildings, interiors and communities, published by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and administered through GBCI (the same body behind LEED certification). The current version, WELL v2, is built around evidence linking building design and operations to human health.
The 10 concepts
WELL v2 is organized into ten concepts, each addressing a dimension of occupant health:
- Air · Water · Nourishment · Light · Movement
- Thermal Comfort · Sound · Materials · Mind · Community
Within these concepts sit 108 features — 24 preconditions (mandatory for any certification) and 84 optimizations (which earn points). A project can pursue up to 12 points per concept, up to 100 points across the ten concepts.
Certification levels
| Level | Points | Minimum per concept |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 40 | None |
| Silver | 50 | 1 point |
| Gold | 60 | 2 points |
| Platinum | 80 | 3 points |
Performance verification — the WELL difference
What sets WELL apart is that certification isn't granted on documentation alone. WELL requires on-site performance verification: a qualified agent visits the completed building and physically tests air quality, water quality, lighting, temperature and acoustics against the standard's thresholds (alongside letters of assurance). The building has to actually deliver — not just promise.
WELL vs LEED
They're complementary, not competing. LEED is primarily about the building — energy, carbon, water, materials and environmental impact. WELL is about the people — comfort, health and experience. Many projects pursue both, and the two share overlapping ground in daylight, thermal comfort, ventilation and materials. (See our guide to LEED v5 energy modeling.)
Where modeling supports WELL
Several WELL concepts are backed by exactly the building-physics analysis we do day to day:
- Thermal Comfort — PMV/PPD comfort modeling (to ASHRAE 55) demonstrates that occupied spaces stay within comfortable ranges.
- Light — daylight simulation and circadian/melanopic lighting analysis support WELL's daylight and lighting features.
- Air — ventilation and indoor-air-quality modeling informs the strategies behind the Air concept.
- Sound — acoustic analysis supports the Sound concept.
Modeling these early helps a design hit WELL thresholds before the on-site verification — reducing the risk of a failed test late in the project.
The takeaway
WELL turns "healthy building" from a marketing claim into a measured, verified outcome. For owners it's a differentiator; for occupants it's better air, light and comfort. And because so much of it rests on thermal comfort, daylight and ventilation performance, the right modeling early in design is one of the surest ways to get there.
Pursuing WELL certification?
We provide the thermal comfort, daylight and ventilation modeling that supports WELL's Thermal Comfort, Light and Air concepts. Let's talk about your project.
Get in touchThis article is general guidance and reflects information available at the time of writing. WELL requirements are defined by IWBI and may be updated — always confirm current requirements in the official WELL v2 standard for your project.