Facilitating the WELL Building Standard through Wellness Programs in the Workplace

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study explores establishing a theoretical connection between wellness programs and the built environment based on the WELL Building Standard, aiming to identify affordable building strategies which can support wellness program implementation. First, this study outlines the process of building a wellness program designed under both U.S. regulations and programs designed by wellness program providers. Second, existing wellness programs are broken down by respective categories in the outlined structure. Third, the categorical concepts and criteria of the WELL Building Standard are arranged according to the established categories and programs. Fourth, overlaps between the subdivided wellness programs and the WELL Building Standard are compared to identified elements of existing wellness programs. Finally, this paper suggests the incorporation of the WELL Building Standard into wellness programs by changing the paradigm of the built environment from an environmental context to an active contributor to a wellness program.   KEYWORDS: Workplace, WELL Building Standard, Wellness Program, Health, Built Environment