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

Mind

Mind

The WELL Building Standard™ (WELL) optimizes cognitive and emotional health through design, technology and treatment strategies.

Background

While mental and physical health are often conceptualized as separate domains, our minds and bodies are inextricably connected. For instance, exercise increases the release of serotonin, which can elevate mood and regulate the sleep cycle. The simple act of worrying, on the other hand, can trigger physiological responses similar to the way physical stress and injury can. While the body has a remarkable capacity for recovering from a single acute stressor, chronic, repeated activation of the stress response can be especially damaging both physiologically and psychologically. Because humans have the capacity to worry about abstract and often non-immediately resolvable problems such as loss, career, finance issues and se...read more

84 Health and wellness awareness

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: WELL Building Standard® Guide P P P
2: Health and Wellness Library P P P

85 Integrative design

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Stakeholder Charrette P P P
2: Development Plan P P P
3: Stakeholder Orientation P P P

86 Post-occupancy surveys

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Occupant Survey Content - P P
2: Information Reporting - P P

87 Beauty and design I

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Beauty and Mindful Design P P P

88 Biophilia I - qualitative

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Nature Incorporation O P P
2: Pattern Incorporation O P P
3: Nature Interaction O - P

89 Adaptable spaces

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Stimuli Management - O O
2: Privacy - O O
3: Space Management - O O
4: Workplace Sleep Support - O O

90 Healthy sleep policy

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Non-Workplace Sleep Support - O O

91 Business travel

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Travel Policy - O O

92 Building health policy

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Health Benefits - O O

93 Workplace family support

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Parental Leave - O O
2: Employer Supported Child Care - O O
3: Family Support - O O

94 Self-monitoring

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Sensors and Wearables - O O

95 Stress and addiction treatment

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Mind and Behavior Support - O O
2: Stress Management - O O

96 Altruism

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Charitable Activities - O O
2: Charitable Contributions - O O

97 Material transparency

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Material Information O O O
2: Accessible Information O O O

98 Organizational transparency

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Transparency Program Participation - O O

99 Beauty and design II

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Ceiling Height O O O
2: Artwork O O O
3: Spatial Familiarity O O O

100 Biophilia II - quantitative

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Outdoor Biophilia O O O
2: Indoor Biophilia - O O
3: Water Feature O O O

84 Health and wellness awareness

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: WELL Building Standard® Guide - P P P P
2: Health and Wellness Library - P P P P
3: Health and Wellness Narrative - P - - -

85 Integrative design

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Stakeholder Charrette P P P P P
2: Development Plan P P P P P
3: Stakeholder Orientation P P P P P

86 Post-occupancy surveys

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Occupant Survey Content - P - O O
2: Information Reporting - P - O O

87 Beauty and design I

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Beauty and Mindful Design O P P O P

88 Biophilia I - qualitative

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Nature Incorporation - P P O O
2: Pattern Incorporation - P P O O
3: Nature Interaction - P P O O

89 Adaptable spaces

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Stimuli Management - O - - -
2: Privacy - O - - O
3: Space Management - - - - O

90 Healthy sleep policy

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Non-Workplace Sleep Support - O - O O
2: Delayed Start - O - - -

92 Building health policy

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Health Benefits - O - O O
2: Community Immunity - O - - -

93 Workplace family support

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Parental Leave - O - O O
2: Employer Supported Child Care - O - O O
3: Family Support - O - O O

94 Self-monitoring

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Sensors and Wearables - O - O O

95 Stress and addiction treatment

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Mind and Behavior Support - P - O O
2: Stress Management - P - O O
3: Mind and Behavior Support for Students - P - - -

96 Altruism

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Charitable Activities - O - O O
2: Charitable Contributions - O - - O

97 Material transparency

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Material Information O O O O O
2: Accessible Information O O O O O

98 Organizational transparency

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Transparency Program Participation - O - O O

99 Beauty and design II

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Ceiling Height O O O O O
2: Artwork O O O O O
3: Spatial Familiarity - O O O O

100 Biophilia II - quantitative

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Outdoor Biophilia - O O O -
2: Indoor Biophilia - O O O -
3: Water Feature - O O O -

P5 Health through housing equity

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Unit Allocation - - O - -
2: Housing Cost Limits - - O - -
3: Affordability Period - - O - -

P6 Education space provisions

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Classroom Space Allocation - O - - -
2: Class Size Caps for Elementary School - O - - -