What is WELL Certification and could it add value to your next project?

WELL Certification achieved at ubanest Battersea

As expectations around building performance continue to evolve, the conversation is no-longer focused solely on energy efficiency or operational carbon. Increasingly, developers, investors and occupiers are asking a broader question. How does a building support the health, comfort and wellbeing of the people who use it?

This shift has driven growing interest in WELL Certification. Originally developed by the International WELL Building Institute, WELL Certification provides a framework for designing and delivering buildings that actively support human health and wellbeing. It considers how people experience buildings day to day, from air quality and thermal comfort through to lighting, acoustics and mental wellbeing.

For facade consultants and Passivhaus designers such as Henriksen Studio, WELL Certification aligns closely with our performance-led approach to design. It recognises that truly sustainable buildings should not only reduce environmental impact but also create healthier and more resilient spaces for occupants too.

What is WELL Certification?

WELL Certification is a performance-based building standard focused on health and wellbeing within the built environment. Unlike environmental certifications that concentrate primarily on energy or sustainability metrics, WELL Certification places human experience at the centre of the design process.

The framework assesses a wide range of factors that influence wellbeing. These include indoor air quality, water quality, natural light, thermal comfort, acoustics, movement, mental wellbeing and access to healthy spaces.

Many projects now seek to integrate WELL principles alongside Passivhaus, BREEAM and embodied carbon strategies to create buildings that are both environmentally responsible and occupant focused.

For a consultancy such as us here at Henriksen Studio, this integrated approach reflects the wider direction of the construction industry. High-performing buildings are increasingly expected to deliver low energy demand, reduced carbon emissions and enhanced occupant wellbeing simultaneously.

How could WELL Certification add value to your project?

The value of WELL Certification extends beyond accreditation itself. Increasingly, it is being recognised as a commercial and strategic advantage across both residential and commercial developments.

Occupier expectations have changed significantly in recent years. People are more aware of the relationship between buildings and wellbeing, particularly in relation to ventilation, daylight and indoor environmental quality. WELL Certification offers a clear framework for responding to these expectations in a measurable and credible way.

For commercial developments, this can contribute to stronger tenant demand and improved long-term asset value. Buildings that prioritise occupant wellbeing may also support productivity, satisfaction and retention among employees. In competitive markets, these factors can become increasingly important differentiators.

Corporate tenants have a lot to gain, as the creation of healthy work environments make it easier to attract and retain top talent. In an environment where talent is at a premium, offering a healthy environment can be key differentiator.

In residential projects, WELL principles can help create healthier and more comfortable living environments. Improved indoor air quality, reduced overheating risk and enhanced daylight access all contribute to the quality of the spaces people experience every day.

There is also growing alignment between WELL Certification and ESG objectives. Investors and stakeholders are increasingly assessing buildings not only on environmental performance, but also on social value and occupant wellbeing. WELL Certification can therefore support broader sustainability and responsible investment strategies.

What does WELL Certification look like in reality?

In practice, WELL Certification is not defined by a single design feature or technology. Instead, it is reflected through a coordinated design approach that considers how the building performs as a complete system.

Facade design plays a particularly important role. The facade has a direct influence on daylight quality, solar control, overheating risk, thermal comfort and internal air quality. Decisions made during early-stage design can therefore have a significant impact on occupant wellbeing.

For example, careful glazing specification can improve daylight penetration while managing glare and excessive solar gain. High-performance facade systems can support thermal stability and reduce thermal bridging, helping to create more comfortable internal environments throughout the year.

Ventilation strategy is equally important. Buildings designed with strong airtightness and ventilation performance can help maintain healthy indoor air quality while reducing energy demand. This is one reason why Passivhaus principles and WELL Certification are often highly complementary.

Ultimately, WELL Certification is less about introducing visible wellbeing features and more about embedding performance-driven design principles throughout the project lifecycle.

WELL Certification in practice: A case study

Last year, we were honoured to discover that one of our client projects, urbanest Battersea, was selected as one of just 13 case studies to feature in the new Global Wellness Institute (GWI) report, Build Well to Live Well: Case Studies Volume 1.

The study highlighted how wellness real estate is transforming communities across the globe and drew on real life examples to demonstrate how wellness can be successfully embedded in projects of any size, at any price point, and for any type of occupants.

urbanest Battersea is a ground breaking new student housing development in London. It houses over 850 students. The project commenced in 2021, and it opened to receive its first student residents in Autumn 2024. It’s three high-rise towers are connected by a four-storey podium with common amenity spaces and courtyard gardens on the lower levels.

At Henriksen Studio, we were the Passivhaus designer and WELL Certification consultants on the project. We were brought on board in 2021 and consulted with urbanest right from the concept design stage. We worked in collaboration to execute urbanest’s vision: to lead the way within student accommodation by delivering the most sustainable product on the market.

In February this year, urbanest Battersea became the UK's first student accommodation scheme to achieve WELL Residence Certification.

A huge achievement, which truly confirms urbanest Battersea’s position as a world class, leading PBSA building - while further reinforcing their position as one of the market leaders in the sector.

Read more about urbanest Battersea, our role in the project and how it achieved WELL Certification in our previous blog post: A sustainable building project, worthy of international recognition

How can WELL Certification be achieved?

Achieving WELL Certification requires collaboration across the full design team from the earliest project stages. Successful outcomes typically rely on integrating wellbeing objectives into the wider architectural, facade and environmental design strategy rather than treating certification as a standalone exercise.

Early-stage analysis is particularly valuable. Daylight modelling, thermal analysis, condensation risk assessments and facade performance studies can all help inform design decisions that support WELL objectives.

Material selection also plays an important role. Low-emission materials, durable facade systems and high-performance glazing specifications can contribute to healthier indoor environments and long-term sustainability targets.

Performance verification is another key aspect of WELL Certification. Testing and monitoring are used to confirm that buildings are performing as intended once constructed.

This process requires a detailed understanding of building physics, environmental performance and facade behaviour. As standards continue to evolve, integrated technical expertise becomes increasingly important.

How can Henriksen Studio support WELL Certification?

Henriksen Studio supports clients through performance-led facade consultancy and Passivhaus design services that align closely with WELL Certification objectives.

The studio’s expertise in facade performance, building physics and low-energy design enables client project teams to address many of the technical challenges associated with occupant wellbeing and environmental performance simultaneously.

This includes support with facade optimisation, thermal performance analysis, daylight strategy, overheating assessments and airtightness considerations. By integrating these elements early within the design process, projects can develop robust strategies that support both sustainability and wellbeing outcomes.

As demand for healthier and more sustainable buildings continues to grow, WELL Certification is likely to become an increasingly important consideration across the built environment. For developers and design teams seeking to create buildings that deliver long-term value, it represents an opportunity to combine environmental responsibility with high-quality occupant experience.

If you would like to learn more about the services we offer, which support both WELL Certification and Passivhaus Certification, explore our website, or get in touch with the team direct. We would welcome a conversation.