Scoring
In evaluating adherence to the WELL Building Standard™ (WELL), a project’s assessor will grade each concept independently on a numerical scale. While this concept-by-concept analysis is used initially to ensure that all Preconditions per concept are met, the final WELL Score is calculated based on the total Preconditions and Optimizations achieved across the board—not as a function of averaging independent concept scores. Failure to achieve any Precondition in any concept will preclude the award of WELL Certification. If all Preconditions are satisfied, higher levels of certification award are possible. In evaluating award levels, all Optimization features are treated equally. Concept scores and the overall WELL score are calculated as follows for the number of WELL features applicable to a specific project type:
Total Preconditions = TP
Preconditions Achieved = PA
Total Optimizations = TO
Optimizations Achieved = OA
Wellness Score = WS
In making these calculations, Innovation features are not included among the total optimizations (TO), though achieving them will increase Optimizations Achieved (OA). The example below shows an office that successfully meets the requirements of the New and Existing Buildings project type. With all Preconditions met and 29 Optimizations met, it will receive the scores calculated as shown.
| CONCEPT | PRECONDITIONS | OPTIMIZATIONS | CONCEPT SCORES | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APPLICABLE | ACHIEVED | APPLICABLE | ACHIEVED | ||
| Air | 12 | 12 | 17 | 3 | 5 |
| Water | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Nourishment | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 9 |
| Light | 4 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 6 |
| Fitness | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 7 |
| Comfort | 5 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 6 |
| Mind | 5 | 5 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
| Total | 41 | 41 | 59 | 29 | 7 |
Lower scores (0 – 4) comprise the compulsory Precondition features; a score less than 5 would denote failure to meet the Preconditions in that concept and thus failure for overall certification or compliance. Silver scores (5 – 6) mean that all compulsory Precondition features have been met in the concept. Gold scores (7 – 8) and Platinum scores (9 – 10) comprise the non-compulsory Optimizations.