Preparing for specialized practice in design and wellness: A model curriculum

Abstract

With people spending nearly 90% of their time indoors and because buildings can contribute both positively and negatively to user’s health (International Well Building Institute [IWBI], 2015), it is imperative that these spaces are designed with the wellbeing of the occupant in mind. The International Well Building Institute is devoted to improving human sustainability through the built environment. They have recently developed the WELL Building Standard, which acts as a guideline and tool for buildings to positively impact human health. This certification system is based on the idea of quantifying and monitoring the performance of the building through their many features. Similar to LEED, which measures the building’s impact on the environment, WELL will become a growing trend in the design and building industry. Although this information is available and the certification program exists, WELL is lacking the educational material needed to teach this information to both professionals and design students. The purpose of this thesis is to provide a complete curriculum model, including a syllabus, schedule, lectures, assignments, projects, rubrics, and exams that can be adapted for either a university design lecture, studio, or a professional continuing education course. This is important because once people are educated on how buildings contribute to occupant health, this knowledge can be used to positively impact the design of the built environment to improve the quality of people’s lives.