Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Earns WELL Silver Certification

As the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art continues to serve as a cultural cornerstone of Kansas City, it has reached a significant new milestone: earning WELL Silver Certification.

This recognition is a testament to the museum’s commitment to fostering a healthy, inclusive, and sustainable environment for its employees, visitors, and the broader community.

"Being part of the team guiding the WELL Certification process for this museum was incredibly rewarding. We weren't just achieving a certification; we were helping celebrate a space that supports the health and wellbeing of every visitor and staff member."

-Elena Kiernan, Sustainability Consultant

WELL Certification is an internationally recognized standard that prioritizes health and well-being within the built environment. By aligning design and operations with scientific research, WELL Certification aims to create spaces that promote physical and mental health, productivity, and overall quality of life for occupants. A critical component of achieving WELL Certification is Performance Verification. This process involves rigorous on-site testing and measurements conducted by a third-party assessor to ensure that the building meets WELL’s health and wellness standards.

The WELL certification process for existing buildings presented unique challenges, prompting a customized strategy for targeting the most impactful features. The project team successfully completed documentation, performance verification, and third-party review, resulting in a WELL Silver Certification. The museum’s efforts set a strong foundation for any future development, which should view the targeted WELL features in this certification as a baseline and strive to incorporate additional measures to achieve higher levels of WELL certification in the future. While building features play a vital role, the Nelson-Atkins Museum’s pursuit of WELL certification places an equal emphasis on its commitment to employees and the surrounding communities.

This focus is reflected in the museum’s highest targeted WELL Concepts: Movement, Mind, and Community. These categories align with the museum’s broader mission to promote wellness, mental health, and social impact. The Community concept stands out as the largest category, accounting for 68% of targeted optimizations.

The WELL Silver Certification signals more than design excellence—it represents a broader commitment to sustainability, accessibility, and human-centered experiences.

At Greenwood Consulting Group, we are proud to have guided the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art through this process. Together, we’ve strengthened an environment where art, wellness, and community intersect—setting a benchmark for the future of cultural institutions.