Building WELL to Build Value: Why Healthy Buildings Drive Bottom-Line Results

The conversation around building wellness has evolved from a nice-to-have perk to a strategic business imperative. At GCG we excel in helping our clients balance their healthy and high-performance building goals while maximizing their investment.

Below, we break down how WELL certification is making this reality possible—and why the numbers prove it's one of the smartest investments you can make. For Developers, Property Managers, Corporate Business Leaders, Education Executives and beyond, here are the highlights:

Real Estate Performance That Pays:  Integrating healthy building strategies strengthens your real estate investment with measurable premiums (4).

What Occupants Demand: IWBI's 2023 State of Workforce Well-being Poll found that 96% of employees agree that a healthy work environment is necessary for productivity, with 87% believing employers should be "ethically obligated" to create environments that enhance health and well-being (3). These expectations directly impact talent attraction and retention in today's competitive market.

Where the Real Value Lives: In addition to the social and human-health impact, the economic case for healthy buildings is impressive. According to an IWBI Research Review, high-performance healthy buildings deliver a net present value of $21,172 per occupant over 10 years based on benefits only related to productivity, retention, and improved well-being (1). That's $115 per square foot in measurable returns (1). Better ventilation alone reported an increase in productivity by $6,500 to $7,500 per person annually in office settings (1). When you add improved air quality, thermal comfort, and quality light exposure across any building type, cognitive function and well-being also jump significantly (1).

For multifamily projects, the impact can be dramatic —

NAVA's Lakehouse community in Denver, CO expresses that “WELL Certification has positively impacted their team, business operations, and financial returns" (2). To make the business case, they analyzed the value in investing in the health of building occupants, as opposed to solely investing in building energy spend. This exercise estimated that a 10% improvement in human health translates to $2.5 million in economic benefit, compared to just $20,000 from a 10% reduction in energy spending (2). Read more about this case study here.

The Bottom Line

WELL certification represents a rare convergence of doing good and performing well financially.

The data is clear: healthy buildings create healthier bottom lines. For property owners and organizations evaluating healthy-building strategies, this isn't about whether you can afford to invest—it's whether you can afford not to. WELL certification is a strategic investment that can keep paying dividends year after year.

Ready to explore how WELL certification can transform your building's performance? The research shows that investing in occupant health isn't just the right thing to do—it's the smart business decision that drives value across productivity, real estate performance, and long-term returns.

Reach out to our GCG Team at Sara@GreenwoodCG.com | Lauren@GreenwoodCG.com or visit Contact | The Greenwood Consulting Group to discuss how building WELL can build value for your organization or your next project.

Sara Greenwood, WELL AP+WELL Faculty | Rebecca Rice, WELL AP | Ara Nenninger, WELL AP | Lauren Koval, PE | Jenn Mahon, WELL AP+WELL Faculty | Elena Kiernan, WELL AP | Rachael Johnson, WELL AP

References: 

(1)  International WELL Building Institute. "Executive Snapshot: Research Review - The Business Case for Healthy Buildings and Healthy Organizations." 2024.

(2)  NAVA Real Estate Development. "WELL Case Study: Lakehouse Denver." Available at: https://resources.wellcertified.com/tools/well-case-study-nava-lakehouse-denver/

(3) International WELL Building Institute. "Annual Report 2023: Investing for Health." 2024

(4) International WELL Building Institute. "Strengthen Real Estate Returns: How Investing in Health Pays Back - One Pager Summary." 2023. Available at: https://www.wearewell.com/health-pays-back

Images courtesy of IWBI WELL - International WELL Building Institute | IWBI