The International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™) and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) announced June 13, 2016 a partnership to engage the interior design community to accelerate the integration of health and wellness in the built environment. The collaboration will help advance the profession by demonstrating design’s impact on the human experience, and position design professionals at the leading edge of industry practices through co-developed research, education, and training opportunities around the WELL Building Standard™ (WELL).
“By aligning with IWBI, ASID reaffirms its commitment to demonstrate that interior design can improve people’s lives,” said Randy Fiser, CEO of the American Society of Interior Designers.” Credit: CBRE Group, Inc.
“Interior design has the power to impact our health and wellness in a tremendously positive way,” said IWBI Founder Paul Scialla. “Partnering with the American Society of Interior Designers will help further engage this important community of commercial and residential designers, which is critical to the global awareness of the importance of health and wellness in the built environment.”
As part of the partnership, which was announced at NeoCon®, ASID has pledged to educate its members in preparing for the WELL Accredited Professional (WELL AP™) program with a goal to significantly grow the number of practitioners who become accredited in the coming months. The WELL AP credential signifies knowledge in human health and wellness in the built environment and specialization in the principles, practices, and applications of the WELL Building Standard, which is the first building standard to focus exclusively on the health and wellness of the people in buildings.
Additionally, ASID will provide informational and research-based resources to support members in developing innovative interior design solutions that can enhance health and well-being.
The alliance will also generate research on the health impacts of the built environment, with ASID and IWBI collaborating on a pre- and post- occupancy study on the new ASID National Headquarters in Washington, D.C., which is registered to pursue WELL Certification.
“By aligning with IWBI, ASID reaffirms its commitment to demonstrate that interior design can improve people’s lives,” said Randy Fiser, CEO of the American Society of Interior Designers. “Our partnership goes beyond a statement of mutual support. We will continue to work with and through our members, the broader design community, and their clients to advocate for the integration of health and wellness in all spaces, buildings, and communities. Last month, ASID moved into its new corporate headquarters in Washington, D.C., which is registered for WELL and targeting platinum level certification. Our office will be a living laboratory – a tool to advance research and education around health, wellness, and well-being. We are living the commitment.”
Pioneered by Delos™, WELL is an evidence and performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features that impact human health and well-being in the built environment, through air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind. WELL is administered by IWBI and third-party certified by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). To date, the program has enrolled nearly 170 building projects in 18 countries.
Pioneered by Delos™, WELL is an evidence and performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features that impact human health and well-being in the built environment, through air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind. Credit: CBRE Group, Inc.
About the International WELL Building Institute™
The International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™) is a public benefit corporation whose mission is to improve human health and well-being through the built environment. Public benefit corporations like IWBI are an emerging U.S. structure for corporations committed to balancing public benefits with profitability – harnessing the power of private capital for greater good. IWBI administers the WELL Building Standard™ (WELL) – a performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of buildings that impact the health and well-being of the people who live, work, and learn in them. Fulfilling the vision of IWBI Founder Paul Scialla, IWBI has a pioneering altruistic capitalism model that will address social responsibility and demonstrate a sustainable model for philanthropy. IWBI has committed to direct 51 percent of net profits, after taxes, generated by registration fees, certification fees, and recertification fees received from real estate projects applying for WELL Certification toward charitable contributions and impact investment focused on health, wellness, and the built environment. IWBI was established by Delos in 2013 pursuant to a Clinton Global Initiative commitment to improve the way people live by developing spaces that enhance occupant health and quality of life by sharing the WELL Building Standard globally. www.wellcertified.com
About The American Society of Interior Designers
The American Society of Interior Designers believes that design transforms lives. ASID serves the full range of the interior design profession and practice through the Society’s programs, networks, and advocacy. We thrive on the strength of cross-functional and interdisciplinary relationships among designers of all specialties, including workplace, healthcare, retail and hospitality, education, institutional, and residential. We lead interior designers in shared conversations around topics that matter: from evidence-based and human centric design to social responsibility, well-being, and sustainability. We showcase the impact of design on the human experience and the value interior designers provide.
ASID was founded 40 years ago when two organizations became one, but its legacy dates back to the early 1930s. As we celebrate nearly 85 years of industry leadership, we are leading the future of interior design, continuing to integrate the advantages of local connections with national reach, of small firms with big, and of the places we live with the places we work, play, and heal. Learn more at asid.org.
