The Future of Flourishing: A First Look at the Unified WELL Standard
We believe the environments we inhabit should do more than house our daily activities; they should actively support our well-being. This philosophy is why we closely follow the evolution of the WELL Building Standard, the global benchmark for health-centric design.
Recently, the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) shared a significant milestone: the next version of the WELL Standard is now open for public comment through May 1. This "One WELL" vision is a thoughtful reimagining of how we create, measure, and sustain spaces that put people first.
A Unified Vision for Health
The most significant shift in this update is the move toward a unified, harmonized standard. Previously, different types of projects, from commercial offices to residential spaces, navigated separate frameworks. The new preview consolidates these into a single cohesive system.
This "One WELL" approach ensures that whether we design a private sanctuary or a community hub, the core principles of human health remain consistent and accessible. It’s a more intuitive way to look at the building blocks of wellness, making it easier for designers and inhabitants to understand how a space supports them.
What is Changing?
While the rigorous, evidence-based strategies that define WELL remain the foundation, the way we interact with them is becoming more streamlined. Key updates in this preview:
Integrated Ratings and Certification: In a shift that honors every effort made toward health, the new structure ensures that "every step forward counts." Points earned toward specific health, safety, or equity ratings now count toward full WELL Certification.
Thematic Groupings: Strategies are now organized into intuitive themes. This allows design teams to pinpoint goals, such as mental health support or restorative lighting, with greater precision.
Clearer, Global Language: The requirements have been rewritten to be clearer and more scannable. This shift away from dense technical jargon makes the standard more adaptable across global markets and easier for homeowners and business owners to implement with confidence.
Rewarding Progress: Preconditions, the mandatory baseline requirements, will now qualify for points across the board. This recognizes the value of these fundamental health features and rewards projects for their commitment to baseline excellence.
Designing for the Whole Person
At its heart, the evolution of the WELL Standard is about making "people-first places" the norm rather than the exception. By refining the concepts we've championed, like air, light, mind, and community, this update makes it simpler to weave wellness into the fabric of a building.
For example, the updated standard continues to prioritize:
Restorative Spaces: Creating opportunities for quiet reflection and connection to nature to mitigate daily stress.
Environmental Quality: Ensuring the invisible elements, the air we breathe and the water we drink, are held to the highest purity standards.
Inclusive Design: Expanding the community concept to ensure spaces are equitable, accessible, and welcoming to all, regardless of physical abilities or backgrounds.
Why Your Voice Matters
The IWBI is seeking feedback from the community of designers, architects, and occupants who live and work in these spaces. The public comment period is an opportunity to ensure the standard remains practical and impactful for real-world application.
By participating in this process, we contribute to a future where our buildings are tools for longevity and joy. As this new version moves from preview to final release, it promises to make the journey toward a healthier home or workplace more efficient and rewarding.
Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017, Sarah was honored as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).
References & Further Reading
For those interested in the rigorous science and evolving frameworks behind the One WELL vision, the following resources provide the foundational data and official guidelines used to develop these health-centric strategies:
Primary Sources
International WELL Building Institute (2026). The WELL Building Standard: Concept Directory. An overview of the eleven core categories of human health in the built environment.
International WELL Building Institute (2026). One WELL: A Unified Vision for the Future of Health. Official announcement regarding the harmonization of WELL programs and the public comment period.
IWBI Public Comment Portal (2026). Standard Preview and Feedback Forum. The active platform for reviewing side-by-side comparisons of v2 and the upcoming enhancements (Open through May 1, 2026).
Foundational Research
Allen, J. G., & Macomber, J. D. (2020). Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Drive Performance and Productivity. Harvard University Press. A key text often cited by IWBI regarding the economic and cognitive benefits of healthy offices.
World Health Organization (WHO). Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality. The scientific basis for many of the Air and Materials requirements found within the WELL Standard.
Global Wellness Institute. Wellness Architecture & Design Initiative. Research exploring the intersection of the built environment and holistic human health.
Creative Workspaces: Home Office Interior Design Reimagined
As a WELL and LEED-accredited interior designer specializing in spaces that support emotional and physical wellbeing, I have a particular passion for creative workspaces. Creative work can be inherently joyful and healing, and having a dedicated space, whether an entire room, a desk, or even a chair outdoors that is devoted to accessing a creative flow state, can be an excellent way to find support in the home. Even the intentionality of dedicating an area to creativity gives that work weight and importance, automatically making it a greater priority. The more care put into thinking about a creative space, or any space, the more likely it is to become a functional presence in life, which can be a great way to encourage positive and joyful habits.
One of the things I talk about with many of my clients is designing a space that is specific to their needs and preferences, and working with them to feel comfortable eschewing any expectations they may feel obligated to meet about what a room should look or be like. Many of us adapt to the environments we are in, rather than adapting our spaces to meet our needs. Increasingly, people are craving spaces and routines that feel aligned with who we are, rather than trying to match expectations that feel out of step with what actually works for us. When I’m working, I try to take to heart the idea of meeting my own environmental and emotional needs. Not only does it support my best creative work, but it also helps reinforce how important it is for the client to have this same experience, and makes me feel more connected to my goals as a designer.
I’ve come to learn that different parts of the creative and work process may be best supported by different surroundings. When I’m waking up my brain and body, I like to start the day in the garden. Nature is a huge part of my creative work, but it’s also where I find the most joy and feel most connected to the world and to myself. I love the quiet acts of caretaking as I tend to my plants, and seeing them progress and change reflects the seasonality and natural rhythms of the earth. Seeing the plant life and the birds, and collecting pine cones and seed pods, all help me ground and relax in a way that lends itself to creative thinking throughout the day. While I don’t necessarily spend the time in my garden looking for inspiration, it always finds me. Many of the colors, textures, and imagery in my client work and in the products of my home goods studio, Kale Tree, are inspired by time spent in my garden.
After feeling fully immersed in nature and ready to begin my day in the studio, I’ve found that limited sensory input gives me the most mental space and clarity for creative expansion and problem-solving. Soft, natural lighting, silence, minimal to no scents, and no distracting textures all contribute to a profound external quiet that lets my internal world take focus, and that is really when I can enter a creative flow state where I do my best work. Then, I can tap into the imagery and inspiration that guide my designs and connect with my clients' desires without the distraction of a conflicting external space.
Knowing that I need such minimal sensory input has really emphasized the importance of encouraging clients to honor their personal sensory sensibilities. Every person needs a space as individual as they are, and it’s so important to evaluate what works best for them. If there is a moment when someone really feels they are in a flow state and connecting with a positive feeling, creatively, taking a step back afterward to take stock of their environment can be a good way to reflect on what’s most supportive.
So often, expectations around design can override actual habits and preferences. A common anecdote from clients remodeling their homes is that, although they currently have a designated home office, they usually work at the kitchen table. Knowing this becomes a great opportunity to reconsider the idea of a home workspace and embrace personal sensibilities, rather than expectations about what a home office should be or look like. Is it the warmth and comfort of being around family? The openness of the space, or a more expansive view? Maybe it’s not abandoning a home office altogether, but creating a space that adapts more to a work environment that is actually pleasurable. Taking the time to evaluate what is supportive and what makes it easier for someone to access a flow state can lead to perhaps more unconventional spaces, but also more productive ones. Re-examining how we approach these concepts and environments is one of the most exciting parts of my job and one of the best ways to help my clients physically and emotionally.
Sarah Barnard is a WELL and LEED accredited designer and creator of environments that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. A certified California Naturalist, Sarah believes in celebrating nature through responsible design that works symbiotically with the local environment.
An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was recognized as a "Ones to Watch" Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and has been awarded "Best of Houzz Design" for seven consecutive years. Sarah's MFA in visual arts from Claremont Graduate University informs her practice and innovative approach toward interior design as creating a living work of art.