Better Environments Can Help Learning Thrive

A Checklist for the WELL Building Standard™ in Schools

by Mary Mowad Guiteau, IIDA, IFMA

Student Performance is Affected by School Environments

According to 2017 research from the Center for Disease Control & Prevention, there is a direct relationship between students’ academic achievements and health-related behaviors.  Because children and young adults spend a large amount of time in educational environments, those spaces play a critical role in their psychological, physical, and social development. According to the International WELL Building Institute, healthy learning environments can improve the wellness and well-being of its students, faculties, and support staff. 

The WELL Building Standard™ focuses on 7 core concepts relevant to health:  air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind. 

Below is a checklist of those concepts with examples of issues in schools that can be addressed by applying concepts of WELL to those spaces.  This illustrates how educational spaces can create an environment that enhances student well-being and academic performance.  This checklist gives you an opportunity to evaluate your own learning environment to confirm optimum conditions for learning.

 Impact:  Air features provide an improved, comprehensive approach to address problems of indoor air quality and its effects on student health. 

Impact:  Voluntary hydration is a common problem in school-age children.  It can negatively impact cognitive functions. 

Impact:  Proper nourishment (fuel) optimizes a student’s opportunities in learning.

Impact:  Light is one of the main drivers of the human circadian system, which starts in the brain and regulates physiological rhythms throughout the body's tissues and organs. Circadian rhythms are kept in sync by various cues, including light, to which the body responds.

Impact:  Physical activity affects brain development in important areas that control learning, memory, and attention. WELL helps to address this issue through strategies that bring tangible impact in promoting students to be active, both individually and collectively as part of a larger school community.

Impact:   Students who already suffer from attention deficits are even more adversely affected by poor acoustic conditions than the average student.  WELL focuses on acoustic solutions and takes a proactive approach to establish thermal comfort for interior environments.  Additionally, providing suitable furniture can improve the students’ comfort levels.

Impact:  Schools have the opportunity to positively impact students’ mental health, physical health, and academic performance through educational materials and by incorporating natural elements into the space. WELL provides an improved, more comprehensive approach to combat some of these issues through mental health support and education, as well as increased access to nature or views of nature.

The opportunities offered by the WELL Building Standard™ give educational institutions a chance to create healthier learning environments in which students, faculty, and staff members can excel, thrive, grow, and collaborate.

Is your school at its optimum for learning?

Graphic icons from the International WELL Building Institute™. 

H/S EXPERIENCE

Holly & Smith's award winning educational work includes new school campuses & facilities and renovations. Our focus and commitment to our clients along with our superior understanding of education architecture has led to several longstanding relationships, including eleven school parish systems throughout Southeast Louisiana, the Diocese of Baton Rouge Schools, the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and several universities, including the Louisiana State University, the University of New Orleans, Loyola University, Southeastern Louisiana University, Xavier University, Delgado Community College in New Orleans and the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS).

Mary Mowad Guiteau is a registered interior designer at H/S and a supermom to two kids. She is a member of the International Interior Design Association and International Facility Management Association. Mary is Director of Interior Design for H/S. She has been involved in the design of education facilities for over 21 years.

More information can be found on this subject by contacting H/S Architects at jennifer@hollyandsmith.com.