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 Innovation credit 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 five 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 and may require inclusion in a lease agreement. 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 ensure their space is meeting the feature requirement. This may include providing tenants fiscal allowance to implement the feature.
  • Common Areas and Spaces under Owner Control: These features are required to be met in common areas and spaces under building owner control.

Air

Feature 01: Air quality standards

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

Feature 02: Smoking ban

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

Feature 03: Ventilation effectiveness

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

Feature 04: VOC reduction

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

Feature 05: Air filtration

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

Feature 06: Microbe and mold control

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

Feature 07: Construction pollution management

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

Feature 08: Healthy entrance

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

Feature 10: Pesticide management

Part Scope
Part 1: Pesticide Use
Entire Building

Feature 11: Fundamental material safety

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

Feature 12: Moisture management

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

Feature 14: Air infiltration management

Part Scope
Part 1: Air Leakage Testing
Entire Building

Feature 15: Increased ventilation

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

Feature 17: Direct source ventilation

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

Feature 19: Operable windows

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

Feature 20: Outdoor air systems

Part Scope
Part 1: Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems
Entire building

Feature 23: Advanced air purification

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

Feature 24: Combustion minimization

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

Water

Feature 30: Fundamental water quality

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

Feature 31: Inorganic contaminants

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

Feature 32: Organic contaminants

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

Feature 33: Agricultural contaminants

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

Feature 34: Public water additives

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

Feature 36: Water treatment

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

Feature 37: Drinking water promotion

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

Nourishment

Feature 39: Processed foods

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

Feature 40: Food allergies

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

Feature 43: Artificial ingredients

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

Feature 44: Nutritional information

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

Feature 45: Food advertising

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

Feature 51: Food production

Part Scope
Part 1: Gardening Space
Entire Building
Part 2: Planting Support
Entire Building

Feature 52: Mindful eating

Part Scope
Part 1: Eating Spaces
Entire Building
Part 2: Break Area Furnishings
Extent of Developer Buildout with Capacity for Tenant Achievement

Light

Feature 55: Electric light glare control

Part Scope
Part 2: Glare Minimization
Extent of Developer Buildout

Feature 56: Solar glare control

Part Scope
Part 1: View Window Shading
Extent of Developer Buildout and Confirmed Tenant Support
Part 2: Daylight Management
Extent of Developer Buildout and Confirmed Tenant Support

Feature 61: Right to light

Part Scope
Part 1: Lease Depth
Entire Building

Feature 62: Daylight modeling

Part Scope
Part 1: Healthy Sunlight Exposure
Entire Building

Feature 63: Daylighting fenestration

Part Scope
Part 1: Window Sizes for Working and Learning Spaces
Entire Building
Part 2: Window Transmittance in Working and Learning Areas
Entire Building
Part 3: Uniform Color Transmittance
Entire Building

Fitness

Feature 64: Interior fitness circulation

Part Scope
Part 1: Stair Accessibility
Entire Building
Part 2: Stair Promotion
Entire Building
Part 3: Facilitative Aesthetics
Entire Building

Feature 67: Exterior active design

Part Scope
Part 1: Pedestrian Amenities
Entire Building
Part 2: Pedestrian Promotion
Entire Building
Part 3: Neighborhood Connectivity
Entire Building

Feature 68: Physical activity spaces

Part Scope
Part 1: Site Space Designation for Offices
Entire Building
Part 2: External Exercise Spaces
Entire Building

Feature 69: Active transportation support

Part Scope
Part 1: Bicycle Storage and Support
Extent of Developer Buildout with Confirmed Tenant Support
Part 2: Post Commute and Workout Facilities
Extent of Developer Buildout with Confirmed Tenant Support

Feature 70: Fitness equipment

Part Scope
Part 1: Cardiorespiratory Exercise Equipment
Entire Building
Part 2: Muscle-strengthening Exercise Equipment
Entire Building

Comfort

Feature 72: Accessible design

Part Scope
Part 1: Accessibility and Usability
Extent of Developer Buildout

Feature 74: Exterior noise intrusion

Part Scope
Part 1: Sound Pressure Level
Entire Building

Feature 75: Internally generated noise

Part Scope
Part 2: Mechanical Equipment Sound Levels
Common Areas and Spaces under Owner Control

Feature 76: Thermal comfort

Part Scope
Part 1: Ventilated Thermal Environment
Extent of Developer Buildout with Capacity for Tenant Achievement
Part 2: Natural Thermal Adaptation
Extent of Developer Buildout with Capacity for Tenant Achievement

Feature 83: Radiant thermal comfort

Part Scope
Part 1: Lobbies and Other Common Spaces
Common Areas and Spaces under Owner Control Only

Mind

Feature 84: Health and wellness awareness

Part Scope
Part 1: WELL Building Standard® Guide
Entire Building