West Downs WELL certification

Delivered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the WELL Building Standard (WELL) is a performance-based rating system for measuring, certifying and monitoring features that impact human health and wellness in the built environment.

The ten concepts of WELL are: air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind and community.

As at August 2021, there are 29,761 projects encompassing over 2.72 billion square feet applying WELL across 97 countries.

Buildings are awarded WELL Certification by IWBI after rigorous testing and a final evaluation by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), which is the third-party certification body for WELL, to ensure they meet all WELL performance requirements.

Being located on such a prominent site, the University was keen to express its values and encourage a greater connection with the community. The design brief developed into creating spaces and functions which expressed the values of the University and allowed the students, staff and the local community to enjoy and understand these values.

Further examination of our values and the quality of the architectural design led to the adoption of WELL Certified as an accreditation tool. The adoption of WELL Certified has strengthened management and policy pertaining to health and wellbeing of building users.

The building has been designed to encourage a connection with the community. The public are encouraged to visit the ground floor areas where the Values Café and other features can be found. These include; the courtyard garden, with art work, planting and water feature; art gallery; contemplation space and information hub.

The University’s values are Compassion, Individuals Matter and Spirituality.

The building connects to Compassion through sustainability goals (measured by BREEAM accreditation) which aim to respond to the need to value all life and the planet. This includes low energy design, recycling of rainwater, use of renewable energy and responsible use of building materials.

The value of Individuals Matter is supported in the building by embracing equality, diversity and inclusivity. Connectivity with the community, beauty of design and the inclusive nature of the building all support the individual.

More practically, the building is designed to be as accessible as possible, with evacuation lifts and provision of automatic doors and hold-open doors which only close in the event of a fire alarm. Careful acoustic design provides spaces for quiet reflection and study. There are a variety of toilet facilities, including a wide range of accessible toilets, non-gender specific toilets and a Changing Places personal care room. Located adjacent to the publicly accessible Values Café, this provides less able users and their carers a comprehensive facility, including a changing bench, shower and hoist.

Spirituality is represented by the Contemplation Space, in which no particular faith is represented and users are provided with a space to relax and think. This unique design was the result of an internal design competition within the architectural practice, Design Engine. A circular quiet space with soft furnished pods around the perimeter and a sound system surrounds a central space with a domed ceiling. A sun path diagram is inscribed into the floor to provide occupants a means by which to connect with the planet.

WELL is composed of over one hundred wellbeing features that are applied to each building project grouped within ten concepts. Each WELL feature is designed to address issues that impact the health, comfort or knowledge of building occupants and users.

Accreditation is based on buildings meeting criteria that boost wellbeing set out in the ten concepts of WELL. Features of the West Downs Centre meet those criteria in the following ways:

Air

• Smoke-free environment
• Annual monitoring of air quality
• Condensation and mould prevention

Nourishment

• Fresh fruit and whole grains available
• Clear nutritional labelling on food
• Promotion of healthy eating
• Restriction of artificial ingredients

Light

• Enhanced access to daylight
• Promotion of lighting education

Movement

• Adjustable height work stations/desks
• Cycle storage for staff, students and visitors
• Access to outdoor spaces for exercise

Thermal comfort

• Twice yearly monitoring of thermal conditions
• Thermostatic temperature control
• Twice yearly occupant comfort surveys

Sound

• Acoustic designed interiors
• Identification of quiet zones

Materials

• No use of hazardous materials in construction
• Hazardous waste management
• Environmentally-friendly cleaning products used throughout
• Control of emissions from building materials

Mind

• Mental health promotion and literacy
• Dedicated contemplation space for personal reflection
• Access to nature: bird and bat boxes
• Courtyard garden with art and water feature

Community

• Promotion of health and wellness education
• Occupant and user surveys
• Changing Places room for people with disabilities and their