Earning the seal was spearheaded by our WELL Accredited Professional, Project Director, Associate, Joanna Adams-DeCastro.

“There are many benefits in having gone through this process and achieving this rating ourselves,” explained Joanna. “We feel it is extremely important to be a leader in this healthy building movement, starting with our own space and employees, providing them with more confidence coming to the workplace knowing they are in a safe and healthy environment.”

Designed to empower owners and operators of large and small businesses alike to take the necessary steps to prioritize the health and safety of their staff, visitors, and stakeholders, the WELL Health-Safety Rating helps guide users in preparing their spaces for re-entry in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The WELL Health-Safety Rating provides a centralized source and governing body to validate efforts made by owners and operators. It leverages insights drawn from the IWBI Task Force on COVID-19, in addition to guidance on the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), global disease control and prevention centers, and emergency management agencies.  It also draws upon standards and procedures from recognized standard-making associations such as ASTM International and ASHRAE, leading academic and research institutions, as well as core principles already established by IWBI’s WELL Building Standard, the premier framework for advancing health in buildings and spaces of all kinds.

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While the COVID-19 pandemic is not over, more companies and organizations are beginning to bring people back to work, and life is normalizing a bit. Now more than ever, awareness of the benefits of creating safe and healthy work and living environments has become more prevalent and wide-reaching. To address both immediate and long-term wellness benefits, DCS Design has extended our Human Wellness Design services to include full-service assessment and coordination of WELL Building Standard Certification and WELL Health-Safety Rating.

This recent extension of our Human Wellness Design includes assisting clients achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating and subsequent Safety Seal which focuses on operational policies, maintenance protocols, and emergency plans to address health and safety-related issues. Additionally, WELL Health-Safety creates an accessible pathway to certification and serves as an access point to full WELL certification.

Many factors account for healthy living and working environments. Humidity levels, air ventilation, temperature, lighting, plumbing, and accessibility to contaminant-free water are a few of the determinants affecting a space’s over-all health. Further, we spend 90% of our time indoors. By improving the health of our interior environments, we can reduce health care costs, and substantially increase productivity and attraction and retention of employees and tenants.

Also, what better way to show our commitment to creating healthy environments than to pursue WELL Health-Safety Rating for our own office space? Led by our WELL accredited professional, Joanna Adams-DeCastro, we have officially registered our space and are now diligently working towards the required 15 points to achieve the rating.

“It’s so exciting to be going through this process ourselves,” Joanna shares. “And we felt it was very important we ‘walk-the-talk.’ We believe so strongly in the future of healthy living and working spaces. Now having embarked on this journey for ourselves, we have even greater knowledge and ability to assist our clients!”

 Let’s get started!

Click below to learn more about our Human Wellness Design Services. Or call us today to talk about how you can get started! Call Marcia Calhoun 703.556.9275.

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DCS Design continues to help our clients immediately focus on getting people back to work, and now we are extending our wellness services to focus on critical, long-term health and safety for the workplace and beyond.

What path to healthier living and working
is right for your organization?

While WELL Building Standard (WELL) remains the leading tool for advancing the health and well-being of buildings and workplaces globally, two recent certifications are now available to ensure businesses, large and small, have access to science-based health and safety best practices and third-party certification.

WELL Health-Safety Rating

You have most likely seen the public service announcements featuring a variety of celebrity ambassadors, and soon you will be seeing more and more buildings and spaces proudly displaying the WELL Health-Safety seal. The WELL Health-Safety Rating is focused on operational policies, maintenance protocols and emergency plans to address future health and safety-related issues, with a focus on sanitization, emergency preparedness, health resources, air and water quality, engagement and communication, and innovation.

Fitwel

Created in partnership by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the General Services Administration (GSA), Fitwel provides guidelines for designing, constructing, and operating healthier buildings, and focuses on health areas including building location, outdoor spaces, indoor environments and workspaces, accessibility to healthy food and water, and emergency procedures.

Fitwel Viral Response Module

An offshoot of Fitwel, this distinct certification was developed specifically to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and other deadly diseases and pathogens in the workplace.

 What is the cost?

The cost of certification varies by program. WELL Health-Safety Rating and Fitwel are designed to be more accessible and affordable than the more comprehensive WELL Building Standard. WELL Health-Safety also serves as an access point to full WELL certification.

 Let’s get started!

Our team of experts, including WELL accredited professionals, are here to help you understand which rating is best suited for your business, and guide you in implementing short and long-term health and safety practices. Call us today to learn more! Call Marcia Calhoun 703.556.9275.

“As designers, we thrive on providing functional and beautiful spaces people enjoy living and working in every day. To also be able to ensure those spaces are healthy and increase their overall wellbeing…that’s the ultimate beautification.”

—Joanna Adams DeCastro

Joanna is a LEED AP and WELL AP with over 30 years’ experience in commercial and multi-family spaces. To see some of the project Joanna is working on at DCS, follow her HERE on LinkedIn.

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