The Top Benefits of Being a WELL Accredited Professional: Is It Right for You?
Is a WELL accreditation 100% necessary to get ahead in the healthy building industry? Not necessarily but it definitely helps!
The WELL Building Standard is reshaping the built environment by focusing on human health and well-being. As interest in healthier spaces continues to grow, the role of professionals with expertise in this area becomes even more crucial.
But what exactly is the WELL AP credential, and how can it benefit your career in architecture, design, or real estate?
What is the WELL AP Credential?
The WELL AP credential signifies a professional's expertise in the WELL Building Standard and their commitment to advancing well-being through design.
By earning this certification, professionals demonstrate their knowledge in promoting environments that support physical and mental wellness, such as air quality, water quality, and optimal lighting.
To become a WELL AP, individuals must pass the WELL AP exam, a comprehensive test that covers various aspects of human health and the built environment.
For professionals in architecture, interior design, real estate, or construction, the WELL AP credential can be a valuable asset.
Benefits of WELL AP Certification
Becoming a WELL Accredited Professional offers several advantages that make it a worthy investment. Here are the top benefits:
Global Recognition:
The WELL AP certification is recognized worldwide, making it a valuable credential for professionals looking to work in the international arena.
Increased Career Opportunities:
With the WELL AP credential, professionals stand out in a competitive market. Employers in green building, real estate development, and wellness-focused industries actively seek out candidates who have this certification because it demonstrates a deep understanding of how to create spaces that prioritize health and well-being.
Competitive Advantage:
In a crowded job market, the WELL AP credential gives you a competitive edge. As the demand for healthier and sustainable environments increases, having this certification demonstrates your ability to meet these modern design challenges.
Commitment to Health and Sustainability:
Earning your WELL AP certification shows your dedication to sustainable design and human wellness. For professionals passionate about making a positive impact on people’s lives, this credential affirms your expertise and commitment to creating healthier environments.
The Importance of Human Health and Well-being in the Built Environment
The built environment directly influences wellbeing, whether it’s through air quality, lighting, water, or the materials used in construction. Poorly designed spaces can lead to a range of health issues, including respiratory problems, stress, and even poor mental health.
The WELL Building Standard seeks to address these concerns by setting guidelines that help create environments that support well-being.
From optimizing air filtration systems to ensuring adequate natural light, the WELL standard provides a framework to improve the quality of life for occupants. As a WELL AP, you'll be at the forefront of this movement, contributing to healthier buildings and communities.
Becoming a WELL AP Professional with the International Well Building Institute IWBI
If you're considering becoming a WELL Accredited Professional with the International Well Building Institute, here’s what you need to know about the process:
Eligibility and Exam Requirements
The first step in earning the WELL AP credential is passing the WELL AP exam. This 115-question multiple-choice exam is designed to test your knowledge of the WELL Building Standard and your ability to apply its principles in real-world projects.
The exam covers various topics, including air and water quality, light, thermal comfort, nutrition, and other key wellness elements in the built environment.
The test is administered by GBCI (Green Business Certification Inc.) and can be taken at Prometric testing centers worldwide. Yes, there are quite a few different entities involved here, including the International Well Building Institute but stick with us!
Certification Cost and Maintenance
The cost of becoming a WELL AP includes both the exam fee and any preparation materials or courses you choose to take.
Once certified, WELL APs must renew their credential every two years to stay current. This involves completing continuing education requirements to ensure your knowledge stays up-to-date with evolving standards and practices.
Career Opportunities and Market Demand
In today's job market, professionals with expertise in green building standard and the wellness certification process are in high demand. It's already a global movement, so passing the WELL AP exam can open up new opportunities across various sectors, including real estate, architecture, interior design, and corporate wellness consulting.
With businesses and developers increasingly focusing on creating healthier workspaces, residential communities, and hospitality environments, the demand for WELL APs continues to grow.
Whether you're working on office design, residential real estate developments, or hospitality projects, the WELL AP exam credential enhances your professional profile and boosts your career prospects.
Conclusion
While preparing for the exam and maintaining the credential requires an investment of time and resources, the benefits—ranging from enhanced career opportunities to improved earning potential—make it well worth the effort.
If you're passionate about designing healthier, more sustainable environments, the WELL certification credential denotes expertise like nothing else out there right now!
Designing healthy buildings like a good ancestor: TEDx Talk 14.01.24
Matt Aspiotis Morley - Designing healthy buildings like a good ancestor - TEDx - 14.01.24
What connects evolution history with the healthy building movement?
Evolutionary history helps explain our innate connection to music & dance, need for social bonding, penchant for salty or sweet foods, empathy with certain four legged animals, and plenty more besides
That kind of zoomed out, deep time perspective can also provide a surprising amount of guidance on how to build better buildings today for the generations to follow
those responsible for our built environment can in other words make targeted design decisions influenced by evolutionary psychology and anthropology to ensure cross generational karma.
essentially this is how I feed my hero complex - helping residential real estate developers, hotels and offices create places and spaces that are healthy for people and planet
In addition to urgent de-carbonization for planetary health, right now that means answering specific human health concerns as well, such as
- non-toxic building materials
- enhanced indoor air quality
- maintaining a connection to nature indoors
-designing interiors for physical activity and mental wellbeing
Evolutionary timeline
No matter where we are on the evolutionary timeline - in any society, be it tribal or post industrial, some of us are drawn to child rearing, others to trading goods and services, caring for the sick, preparing food or passing on wisdom.
While some (like me) feel a gravitational pull towards the physical structures we inherit, build, and ultimately leave behind.
And So, now that i have you gathered around this large format campfire, let me tell you our story…
Green building materials in new and existing buildings
We begin with the materials that go into building construction and interiors because If we get that bit wrong, those elements alone can be responsible for habitat loss, resource depletion and environmental damage even before the first foundation is laid
To prevent that, we want less fossil-fuel based plastics in our flooring, more sustainable timber, and more locally sourced, recycled and biobased materials.
Building materials that impact human health
At the same time, on the human side, we are still playing wack-a-mole with a plethora of ‘chemicals of concern’ that quietly crept into our man-made building materials after the 19th century’s chemical revolution.
Think of asbestos, formaldehyde, Lead, more recently still flame retardants, antimicrobials, and chemical off-gasses known as Volatile Organic Compounds.
Indoor air quality in building operations
The issue is low-grade piping, insulation, furniture, flooring, finishes, paints and adhesives that previous generations inadvertently buried in our buildings leaving behind a toxic inheritance
If allowed to accumulate indoors these substances can variously cause hormone disruption, cancer, respiratory problems, & Cognitive disfunction. The stakes are high basically.
How do we avoid making similar mistakes in our new buildings and refurbishments?
Great-great grandparent test
As a first pass when looking at a fit-out materials list, i use the great-great-grandparent test - would they have recognized a given material?
If not, i need to push the manufacturer for what’s called a Product Declaration showing exactly what’s in it, essentially like a material ingredient list, so we have some visibility on the possible health risks to people or planet
Life Cycle Analysis of materials
From there, going a level deeper, we can deploy a life cycle analysis to check how a material was extracted, what went into the manufacturing process, how it degrades or breaks down over time while in use, as well as what options exist for its reuse at the end of its life
Precautionary Principle
Thirdly, the precautionary principle - if in real doubt about a specific material, the responsible thing to do is leave it out, especially when dealing with a large volume order, for example the choice of flooring in a 1000-unit residential tower.
So those three tools help ensure the materials going into a building are not creating an unhealthy indoor environment or causing damage to the natural world.
The building lifecycle
Of course Buildings, just like the materials that go into them, have their own lifecycle, from planning to design, construction, operation and in some cases eventual demolition
Although if you adopt a 100 or even 1000 year mindset in phases 1-3 you can delay demolition indefinitely, which means less waste, less carbon impact and more chance of making it into Wikipedia
So that in-use phase can extend on and on, our work therefore continues to make an indoor environment as healthy as possible.
Healthy indoor air - inspired by the International Well Building Institute WELL certification
Even before Covid hit, as part of a healthy building plan, we knew We needed to increase indoor ventilation rates, so circulating the air in a closed indoor space more often; upgrade air-conditioning unit filters to catch the smallest airborne particles and off-gasses, and install air quality monitors to help us ‘see’ the air quality and identify issues in real time.
Green healthy indoor air quality
Combined with a materials policy, these initiatives will give us something close to green healthy indoor air, maybe not as good as self-isolating in a forest treehouse but clearly these are solutions specifically for urban living..
Natural materials and biophilic design in indoor spaces
When we start prioritizing non-toxic, natural materials such as woods, stone, cork, wool, rammed earth, lime plaster and clay, they automatically bring an organic aesthetic back into our buildings right when our Dense urban environments feel increasingly disconnected from the natural world we evolved in.
Biophilia in architecture and interior design
Only recently with what is known as Biophilia are architects and designers rekindling that connection with nature by reintroducing elements of the wild back into our built environment in what equates to an aesthetic cross-breed: Part indoor, part outdoor.
Biophilic design is really just a butterfly emerging from its cocoon in design terms, it’s been right there all along, waiting for its moment
So we fill our interiors with all those natural materials and finishes as well as living plants, vertical gardens and hydroponics.
We deploy indirect representations of nature such as colours, fractal patterns, organic textures and shapes, but also sounds, scents, even smart lighting to replicate the ebb and flow of sunlight.
Research studies into biophilic design
In one of two studies I worked on with a research team at the University of Essex, after just 30-60 mindful minutes in a biophilic space, 74% of respondents felt an improvement in mood, 84% felt more productive and 87% reported lower levels of perceived stress.
Matt Aspiotis Morley - Designing healthy buildings like a good ancestor - TEDx - 14.01.24
Vitamin Nature for health and wellbeing
So a space loaded with 'Vitamin Nature' like this one provides enough sensory continuity with the natural world to trigger many of the same mental health benefits as our brain on actual nature - at least until that next jog along the river.
Green exercise for building users
Which is where our tale takes another twist, because green exercise / exercising outdoors means you get all the mental health benefits of being fully immersed in nature as well as the physical benefits of movement and exertion. Green exercise is like exercise squared.
Biophilic gym design in new and existing buildings
If a hard working post grad student at this medical university in Stockholm can’t get Outside in their break because it’s a snowy -5C, biophilic design can provide a solution
We converted an under-utilized waiting area of just 25m2 into a forest-themed fitness room using sustainable non-toxic materials with functional equipment for small group training sessions accessible to all staff and students
Why did one of the world’s leading medical universities ask me do that? Because the right dose of exercise has been proven to boost productivity and concentration, reduce anxiety, enhance feelings of self-esteem, and improve mood.
In other words, those around us benefit indirectly too, whether that be an employer or university in this case.
Not all of are focused on health and wellness
But I’m not here to sell you exercise - not all of us were 'born to run’, in fact our ancient instinct is to conserve energy & avoid unnecessary exertion.
Based on UK averages, Somewhere around 85% of you in here, the non regular exercisers, are officially off the hook, Inertia is the norm.
There’s a catch however because from a deep time perspective, calories were generally scarce, so several hours of daily movement (hunting & gathering) were required to procure even a minimum calorie intake.
The birth of Agriculture and then industrialization broke that bond, unleashing untold numbers of comparatively cheap, low grade calories for our ready consumption.
A mismatch of modernity
There have only been 10-15 generations since industrialization but our ancestors spent around 10,000 generations in a Paleolithic environment. Our genes simply aren’t adapted to a world of calories on tap > it’s what’s known as a mismatch of modernity.
Lifestyle disease epidemic in public health
We’re now in the midst of a lifestyle disease epidemic in advanced economies with obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease responsible millions of deaths every year.
So how can buildings help?
Sitting is only part of the issue when it comes to inactivity, it’s movement that really matters.
Matt Aspiotis Morley - Designing healthy buildings like a good ancestor - TEDx - 14.01.24
Inactivity and movement in sustainable design
Some, indeed any physical activity is better than none and studies show going from an entirely sedentary lifestyle to just 60 minutes of moderate exercise per week can drastically reduce mortality rates.
Active Design strategies as wellness features
'Active Design' strategies facilitate frequent movement snacks amongst building occupants - tiny bite size chunks of low level activity that might not otherwise happen yet cumulatively make a real difference.
In a workplace, I’m implementing environmental design 'nudges' that can assist in forming healthy new 'habits': adjustable sit-stand desks can be a game changer for those with lower back issues, a standing meeting area is ideal for a 30-minute brainstorming, and a low reclined seating area helps take the load off tired feet.
This is about moving between different spaces for different types of work - be it collaborative, creative or deep concentration.
Promoting mental resilience in green buildings
Crucially though, full autonomy remains with the end user in this type workspace, there are no sticks - only carrots.
The individual is accountable for his or her own actions, because beyond the physical benefits, that’s also where inner, mental resilience is built, brick by brick, micro decision by micro decision
So When nobody is watching, what decisions do you make?
It’s not literally about the stairs, there’s a wider metaphor for life in there somewhere i’m sure but… if you let me loose...
Activated Stairwells
Active Design can also wage war with soulless, dull and neglected stairwells that nobody uses for fear of setting off a fire alarm.
Instead, for say a premium student accommodation building for example, we can design stairwells with wall murals, LED lighting, maybe a sound system and a funky playlist - whatever it takes to make the stairs a frequently used feature of the building, not just an emergency escape (although we do have to follow health and safety code too!).
Active Travel Facilities
An under-utilized Basement space or corridor can provide secure storage for a variety of bicycles, folding bikes, e-bikes and mobility options, ideally with charging stations, showers and lockers for wet running gear.
Investing in Such 'active travel' facilities increases the likelihood of more green healthy movement between home and work, be that jogging, cycling or anything else.
It’s good for us, the planet and again also indirectly benefits the business or developer that made it all so convenient.
Restorative spaces - quiet rooms
Specifically for mental wellbeing, An empty room in a forward thinking office can become a restorative space, or ‘quiet room’ like this one for cathartic venting, a moment of strategic rest during the workday, or a delicate 1-2-1 conversation.
If We fill it with natural materials, an air purifier, nature sounds a d aromatherapy we start to see how powerful a joined-up, 360-degree experiential design approach can be…
Evolution-friendly building design adaptations
So as I see it, a healthy materials policy, purified indoor air, biophilic design, active design strategies and restorative spaces are all evolution friendly design adaptations for modern buildings aimed at reducing stress and anxiety, increasing physical activity, improving the quality of our indoor air and bringing nature back into our urban existence.
A deep time perspective on healthy buildings
When i think about what I do from a deep time perspective - of ancestors past, present and future - creating green healthy places starts to look like something of a family business, it’s all a matter of perspective.
Thankfully, Having a transcendent life goal like this, a 'Telos' in Greek, has given me real meaning and purpose going into the second half of my life, at least until i finally answer the call of the wild, find a mate and pass on my stair-loving genes.
Because Remember, continuity is everything, the House of Mother Nature always wins - this whole show will go on, with or without us, no matter how central we think we are to the plot.
So it’s really just three acts: life, death and the stories of our ancestors.
Both I and the real estate industry therefore, simply have to make this the performance of a lifetime.