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

Core & Shell Scope

WELL Core and Shell Certified projects integrate fundamental WELL Building Standard™ (WELL) features into the base building design and operation, which creates an incentive for future tenants seeking to support the health and productivity of their occupants. It also enables future tenants to more easily pursue WELL Certification for their interior spaces.

Core and Shell Certification includes the areas of the building controlled by the owner, including common spaces, such as lobbies and elevator banks, as well as any areas of the interior buildout managed by the project owner. Depending on the developer's scope, Core and Shell projects can receive Optimizations for complying with all parts of a WELL feature determined to be not applicable (see the WELL applicability matrix in the Introduction to the WELL Building Standard).

For further clarity, the following document outlines applicability determinations for Core and Shell projects.

  • Entire Building: These features are required to be met throughout the entire building, in both tenant and owner-occupied spaces. For features which are intended to impact all occupants, such as amenity and common spaces, Core and Shell projects should use the expected building occupancy or the default occupancy of 250 ft²/person (23 m²/person).
  • Extent of Developer Buildout: These features are required to be met in all common areas, spaces under owner control, and all portions of the interior buildout managed by the project owner.
  • Extent of Developer Buildout with Capacity for Tenant Achievement: These features are required to be met in all spaces included in the developer buildout and require that the building systems in place have capacity to allow tenants to implement the feature requirements within their leased space.
  • Extent of Developer Buildout and Confirmed Tenant Support: These features are required to be met in all spaces included in the developer buildout and require the building owner to provide tenants with full support to meet the feature requirements. This may include providing tenants fiscal allowance to implement the feature. Additional documentation may be required in these cases, depending on the type of support provided. Lease or sales agreements that leave the cost of implementation to the tenant do not qualify.
  • Common Areas and Spaces under Owner Control: These features are required to be met in common areas and spaces under building owner control.
  • Spaces Under Owner Control: These features are required to be met only in spaces that are used by the staff operating the Core and Shell building.
  • Spaces under Owner Control with Tenant Education: These policy-based features are required to be met for the staff employed by the Core and Shell project and require the project owner to provide education to tenants regarding the benefits of the feature and its relationship to the WELL Building Standard.

Air

Feature 01: Air quality standards

Part Scope
Part 1: Standards for Volatile Substances
Common Areas and Spaces under Owner Control PRECONDITION
Part 2: Standards for Particulate Matter and Inorganic Gases
Common Areas and Spaces under Owner Control PRECONDITION
Part 3: Radon
Common Areas and Spaces under Owner Control PRECONDITION

Feature 02: Smoking ban

Part Scope
Part 1: Indoor Smoking Ban
Entire Building PRECONDITION
Part 2: Outdoor Smoking Ban
Entire Building PRECONDITION

Feature 03: Ventilation effectiveness

Part Scope
Part 1: Ventilation Design
Extent of Developer Buildout with Capacity for Tenant Achievement PRECONDITION
Part 2: Demand Controlled Ventilation
Extent of Developer Buildout with Capacity for Tenant Achievement PRECONDITION

Feature 04: VOC reduction

Part Scope
Part 1: Interior Paints and Coatings
Extent of Developer Buildout PRECONDITION
Part 2: Interior Adhesives and Sealants
Extent of Developer Buildout PRECONDITION
Part 3: Flooring
Extent of Developer Buildout PRECONDITION
Part 4: Insulation
Extent of Developer Buildout PRECONDITION
Part 5: Furniture and Furnishings
Extent of Developer Buildout PRECONDITION

Feature 05: Air filtration

Part Scope
Part 1: Filter Accommodation
Extent of Developer Buildout with Capacity for Tenant Achievement PRECONDITION
Part 2: Particle Filtration
Extent of Developer Buildout with Capacity for Tenant Achievement PRECONDITION
Part 3: Air Filtration Maintenance
Extent of Developer Buildout with Capacity for Tenant Achievement PRECONDITION

Feature 06: Microbe and mold control

Part Scope
Part 1: Cooling Coil Mold Reduction
Extent of Developer Buildout with Capacity for Tenant Achievement PRECONDITION
Part 2: Mold Inspections
Common Areas and Spaces under Owner Control PRECONDITION

Feature 07: Construction pollution management

Part Scope
Part 1: Duct Protection
Extent of Developer Buildout PRECONDITION
Part 2: Filter Replacement
Extent of Developer Buildout PRECONDITION
Part 3: Moisture Absorption Management
Extent of Developer Buildout PRECONDITION
Part 4: Dust Containment and Removal
Extent of Developer Buildout PRECONDITION

Feature 08: Healthy entrance

Part Scope
Part 1: Entryway Walk-Off Systems
Entire Building PRECONDITION
Part 2: Entryway Air Seal
Entire Building PRECONDITION

Feature 09: Cleaning protocol

Part Scope
Part 1: Cleaning Plan for Occupied Spaces
Extent of Developer Buildout and Confirmed Tenant Support N/A

Feature 10: Pesticide management

Part Scope
Part 1: Pesticide Use
Entire Building PRECONDITION

Feature 11: Fundamental material safety

Part Scope
Part 1: Asbestos and Lead Restriction
Extent of Developer Buildout PRECONDITION
Part 2: Lead Abatement
Entire Building PRECONDITION
Part 3: Asbestos Abatement
Entire Building PRECONDITION
Part 4: Polychlorinated Biphenyl Abatement
Entire Building PRECONDITION
Part 5: Mercury Limitation
Extent of Developer Buildout PRECONDITION

Feature 12: Moisture management

Part Scope
Part 1: Exterior Liquid Water Management
Entire Building PRECONDITION
Part 2: Interior Liquid Water Management
Extent of Developer Buildout PRECONDITION
Part 3: Condensation Management
Extent of Developer Buildout PRECONDITION
Part 4: Material Selection and Protection
Extent of Developer Buildout PRECONDITION

Feature 13: Air flush

Part Scope
Part 1: Air Flush
Entire Building N/A

Feature 14: Air infiltration management

Part Scope
Part 1: Air Leakage Testing
Entire Building OPTIMIZATION

Feature 15: Increased ventilation

Part Scope
Part 1: Increased Outdoor Air Supply
Extent of Developer Buildout with Capacity for Tenant Achievement OPTIMIZATION

Feature 16: Humidity control

Part Scope
Part 1: Relative Humidity
Entire Building N/A

Feature 17: Direct source ventilation

Part Scope
Part 1: Pollution Isolation and Exhaust
Extent of Developer Buildout with Capacity for Tenant Achievement OPTIMIZATION

Feature 18: Air quality monitoring and feedback

Part Scope
Part 1: Indoor Air Monitoring
Extent of developer buildout N/A
Part 2: Air Data Record Keeping and Response
Extent of developer buildout N/A
Part 3: Environmental Measures Display
Extent of developer buildout N/A

Feature 19: Operable windows

Part Scope
Part 1: Full Control
Entire Building OPTIMIZATION
Part 2: Outdoor Air Measurement
Entire Building OPTIMIZATION
Part 3: Window Operation Management
Entire Building OPTIMIZATION

Feature 20: Outdoor air systems

Part Scope
Part 1: Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems
Entire building OPTIMIZATION

Feature 21: Displacement ventilation

Part Scope
Part 1: Displacement Ventilation Design and Application
Entire Building N/A
Part 2: System Performance
Entire Building N/A

Feature 22: Pest control

Part Scope
Part 1: Pest Reduction
Extent of Developer Buildout and confirmed tenant support N/A
Part 2: Pest Inspection
Entire building N/A

Feature 23: Advanced air purification

Part Scope
Part 1: Carbon Filtration
Extent of Developer Buildout with Capacity for Tenant Achievement OPTIMIZATION
Part 2: Air Sanitization
Extent of Developer Buildout with Capacity for Tenant Achievement OPTIMIZATION
Part 3: Air Quality Maintenance
Extent of Developer Buildout with Capacity for Tenant Achievement OPTIMIZATION

Feature 24: Combustion minimization

Part Scope
Part 1: Appliance and Heater Combustion Ban
Entire Building OPTIMIZATION
Part 2: Low-Emission Combustion Sources
Entire Building OPTIMIZATION
Part 3: Engine Exhaust Reduction
Entire Building OPTIMIZATION
Part 4: Construction Equipment
Entire Building OPTIMIZATION

Feature 25: Toxic material reduction

Part Scope
Part 1: Perfluorinated Compound Limitation
Extent of Developer Buildout N/A
Part 2: Flame Retardant Limitation
Extent of Developer Buildout N/A
Part 3: Phthalate (Plasticizers) Limitation
Extent of Developer Buildout N/A
Part 4: Isocyanate-Based Polyurethane Limitation
Extent of Developer Buildout N/A
Part 5: Urea-Formaldehyde Restriction
Extent of Developer Buildout N/A

Feature 26: Enhanced material safety

Part Scope
Part 1: Precautionary Material Selection
Extent of Developer Buildout N/A

Feature 27: Antimicrobial activity for surfaces

Part Scope
Part 1: High-Touch Surfaces
Extent of Developer Buildout N/A

Feature 28: Cleanable environment

Part Scope
Part 1: Material Properties
Extent of Developer Buildout N/A
Part 2: Cleanability
Extent of Developer Buildout N/A

Feature 29: Cleaning equipment

Part Scope
Part 1: Equipment and Cleaning Agents
Extent of Developer Buildout and Confirmed Tenant Support N/A
Part 2: Chemical Storage
Extent of Developer Buildout and Confirmed Tenant Support N/A

Water

Feature 30: Fundamental water quality

Part Scope
Part 1: Sediment
Extent of Developer Buildout and Confirmed Tenant Support PRECONDITION
Part 2: Microorganisms
Extent of Developer Buildout and Confirmed Tenant Support PRECONDITION

Feature 31: Inorganic contaminants

Part Scope
Part 1: Dissolved Metals
Extent of Developer Buildout and Confirmed Tenant Support PRECONDITION

Feature 32: Organic contaminants

Part Scope
Part 1: Organic Pollutants
Extent of Developer Buildout and Confirmed Tenant Support PRECONDITION

Feature 33: Agricultural contaminants

Part Scope
Part 1: Herbicides and Pesticides
Extent of Developer Buildout and Confirmed Tenant Support PRECONDITION
Part 2: Fertilizers
Extent of Developer Buildout and Confirmed Tenant Support PRECONDITION

Feature 34: Public water additives

Part Scope
Part 1: Disinfectants
Extent of Developer Buildout and Confirmed Tenant Support PRECONDITION
Part 2: Disinfectant Byproducts
Extent of Developer Buildout and Confirmed Tenant Support PRECONDITION
Part 3: Fluoride
Extent of Developer Buildout and Confirmed Tenant Support PRECONDITION

Feature 35: Periodic water quality testing

Part Scope
Part 1: Quarterly Testing
Extent of Developer Buildout N/A
Part 2: Water Data Record Keeping and Response
Extent of Developer Buildout N/A

Feature 36: Water treatment

Part Scope
Part 1: Organic Chemical Removal
Extent of Developer Buildout and Confirmed Tenant Support OPTIMIZATION
Part 2: Sediment Filter
Extent of Developer Buildout and Confirmed Tenant Support OPTIMIZATION
Part 3: Microbial Elimination
Extent of Developer Buildout and Confirmed Tenant Support OPTIMIZATION
Part 4: Water Quality Maintenance
Extent of Developer Buildout and Confirmed Tenant Support OPTIMIZATION
Part 5: Legionella Control
Entire Building OPTIMIZATION

Feature 37: Drinking water promotion

Part Scope
Part 1: Drinking Water Taste Properties
Extent of Developer Buildout and Confirmed Tenant Support OPTIMIZATION

Nourishment

Feature 38: Fruits and vegetables

Part Scope
Part 1: Fruit and Vegetable Variety
Common Areas and Spaces under Owner Control N/A
Part 2: Fruit and Vegetable Promotion
Common Areas and Spaces under Owner Control N/A

Feature 39: Processed foods

Part Scope
Part 1: Refined Ingredient Restrictions
Common Areas and Spaces under Owner Control PRECONDITION
Part 2: Trans Fat Ban
Common Areas and Spaces under Owner Control PRECONDITION

Feature 40: Food allergies

Part Scope
Part 1: Food Allergy Labeling
Common Areas and Spaces under Owner Control PRECONDITION

Feature 41: Hand washing

Part Scope
Part 1: Hand Washing Supplies
Extent of Developer Buildout N/A
Part 2: Contamination Reduction
Extent of Developer Buildout N/A
Part 3: Sink Dimensions
Extent of Developer Buildout N/A

Feature 42: Food contamination

Part Scope
Part 1: Cold Storage
Common Areas and Spaces under Owner Control N/A

Feature 43: Artificial ingredients

Part Scope
Part 1: Artificial Substance Labeling
Common Areas and Spaces under Owner Control OPTIMIZATION

Feature 44: Nutritional information

Part Scope
Part 1: Detailed Nutritional Information
Common Areas and Spaces under Owner Control OPTIMIZATION

Feature 45: Food advertising

Part Scope
Part 1: Advertising and Environmental Cues
Common Areas and Spaces under Owner Control OPTIMIZATION
Part 2: Nutritional Messaging
Common Areas and Spaces under Owner Control OPTIMIZATION

Feature 46: Safe food preparation materials

Part Scope
Part 1: Cooking Material
Common Areas and Spaces under Owner Control N/A
Part 2: Cutting Surfaces
Common Areas and Spaces under Owner Control N/A