Exterior active design

When activity is part of daily routine, fitness comes naturally. Integrating elements of active design into the building and site, and creating cyclist and pedestrian-friendly environments can help incentivize activity. Thoughtful urban planning considers the importance of locating popular amenities, such as restaurants, grocery stores and schools within walking distance of each other, enabling healthy habits, such as walking or cycling as active alternatives to a more sedentary mode of travel.

This feature requires exterior design details and amenities that facilitate more active living. Incorporating these principles is particularly important for projects that are isolated from urban centers where automobile transportation predominates.

Part 1: Stair Accessibility

The following requirement is met at every major building entrance:

a.²⁷ Wayfinding signage and point-of-decision prompts to encourage stair use. At least one sign is present per elevator bank and one per building entrance.

Part 2: Pedestrian Promotion

To encourage more pedestrian activity, sites in which the building takes up less than 75% of the total lot size include at least two of the following:

a.⁸⁷ A water fountain or other water feature.

b.⁸⁷ A plaza.

c. A garden.

d.⁸⁷ Public art.

Part 3: Walk Score®

To encourage neighborhood connectivity and daily activity, the following requirement is met:

a. The building address has a Walk Score® of 70 or greater.

Muscular

Respiratory

Cardiovascular

Skeletal

Nervous

	Core & Shell	Tenant Improvement	New Construction
Part 1: Stair Accessibility	P	-	P
Part 2: Pedestrian Promotion	O	O	O
Part 3: Walk Score®	O	O	O

	Commercial Kitchen	Schools	Multifamily Residential	Restaurant	Retail
Part 1: Stair Accessibility	-	P	P	O	-
Part 2: Pedestrian Promotion	-	O	O	O	O
Part 3: Walk Score®	-	O	O	O	O

Verification Methods Matrix

	Letters of Assurance	On-Site Checks
PART 1 (Design) Stair Accessibility		Auditor Inspection
PART 2 (Design) Pedestrian Promotion	Architect	Spot Check
PART 3 (Design) Walk Score®	Architect

Show Standard Citations

1

U.S. Green Building Council. LEED v4: Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction. Washington D.C.: U.S. Green Building Council; 2013: 37, 43-44, 541-552, 567, 605, 623, 645-53, 658-61, 682-3, 685-6, 723-4.
67.3.b	USGBC's LEED v4 LT credit: Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses is intended to "promote walkability, and transportation efficiency and reduce vehicle distance traveled" and "improve public health by encouraging daily physical activity".

86

**Walk Score. Walk Score Methodology. http://www.walkscore.com/methodology.shtml. Published 2014. Accessed October 17, 2014.**
67.3.a	Walk Score’s City and Neighborhood Ranking identifies that a Walk Score® of 70 or greater is one that allows most errands to be accomplished on foot.

87

New York City Departments of Design and Construction, Health and Mental Hygiene, Transportation, City Planning. Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Design. Published 2010: 4-7; 34; 43; 72-76; 85-87.
67.1.a	NYC Active Design Guidelines identifies the design of pedestrian-friendly streets with a number of features, including benches, as a key recommended measure to encourage active environments.
67.1.b	NYC Active Design Guidelines recommends strategies for creating pedestrian and bicycle-friendly public spaces, including the provision of both movable and fixed seating.
67.1.c	NYC Active Design Guidelines recommends strategies for increasing walking, including the provision of supportive infrastructure along walking routes, such as drinking fountains and water refilling stations.
67.2.a	NYC Active Design Guidelines recommends strategies for creating pedestrian and bicycle-friendly public spaces, including the provision of water fountains.
67.2.b	NYC Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Design recommends strategies for creating attractive plaza spaces.
67.2.d	NYC Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Design recommends incorporating temporary and permanent public art installations into the streetscape to provide a more attractive and engaging environment.

This is a legacy version of the WELL Building Standard. Please check the latest version here.

67. Exterior active design