Kansas City, MO.–The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City has been awarded WELL Certification at the Silver level by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) for its leadership in transforming health and well-being in museum spaces. The prestigious distinction was awarded through IWBI’s WELL v2, the latest version of the WELL Building Standard. WELL is the premier building standard for enhancing people’s health and well-being through the buildings in which we live, work and play.
This award is a testament to the museum’s commitment to fostering a healthy, inclusive, and sustainable atmosphere for its employees, visitors, and the broader community.
“The Nelson-Atkins is dedicated to prioritizing human health and well-being in our operational practices,” said Julián Zugazagoitia, Director & CEO of the Nelson-Atkins. “We strive to provide healthy spaces for our staff as well as the public, so we are very proud of this recognition.”
Created through seven years of rigorous research and development working with leading physicians, scientists, and industry professionals, the WELL Building Standard is a performance-based certification system that marries best practices in design and construction with evidence-based scientific research. The Nelson-Atkins earned the distinction based on ten categories of building performance — Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind and Community — and thus achieved a Silver level rating. IWBI is the leading authority for transforming health and well-being with its people-first approach to buildings, organizations and communities.
While building features play a vital role, the Nelson-Atkins museum’s pursuit of WELL certification placed 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.
“WELL has been extremely encouraging in connecting the entire organization from lighting and air quality to the menu in Rozzelle Court restaurant,” said Steve Waterman, Deputy Director, Design & Experience. “They have been a tremendous asset as we strive to generate optimum performance for those who occupy the buildings on our campus.”
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.
WELL is grounded in evidence-based research that explores the connection between the buildings where people spend approximately 90 percent of their time, and the health and well-being impacts inside these buildings. To be awarded WELL Certification by IWBI, the museum underwent rigorous testing and a final evaluation carried out by third parties to ensure it met all WELL Certified Silver performance requirements.
WELL water testing report
As part of the museum’s WELL certification, water quality is tested and that report is made available to the public.
Photo credit: Beth Byers
The WELL Building Institute
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