The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) has formed a task force on reducing the enormous health burden from COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. Its goal is to define the critical role buildings, organizations and communities play in prevention and preparedness, resilience and recovery. The task force’s work will take a broad approach, considering both new and recurring infectious agents that can affect large populations.
The task force will include experts from public health, government, academia and philanthropy, as well as the architecture, design and real estate communities. The task force will focus on actionable measures that can be taken to more fully deliver resources needed to advance a global culture of health.
“IWBI’s work centers on providing evidence-backed solutions that advance better health and well-being in the places and spaces where we spend our lives,” said IWBI chairman and CEO Rick Fedrizzi. “The creation of this task force provides a mechanism to focus on this immediate challenge and collect and apply the expertise and insight of our global community.”
The built environment is an essential element in physical and mental health as well as preventing disease.
The aim of the task force is twofold, according to IWBI president Rachel Gutter. First, it must identify and develop a set of signature deliverables and resources, including guidelines for individuals, organizations and communities to help them better integrate actionable insights and proven strategies into how they manage both their buildings and their organizations.
“Second, the task force will assess ways in which the WELL Building Standard (WELL) itself can be further strengthened so the system, which touches more than a half-billion square feet of space across 58 countries, can best continue to support prevention and preparedness, resiliency and recovery in this critical moment and into the future,” she said.
Experts in air quality, hygiene and other relevant topics who want to get involved on the coronavirus task force should contact the IWBI at: taskforce@wellcertified.com
