Places Matter: Global health and the coronavirus

Here at IWBI, we are acutely aware of the gravity of the situation we find ourselves in because of COVID-19. Yet even in the face of the constantly evolving information and the uncertainty it is driving, we remain steadfastly hopeful - hopeful because of the deep compassion that binds our community and the unrelenting dedication to human health that is a hallmark of our shared work.

This is a critical time to work together to accelerate conversations, education and solutions that focus on how the places where we spend our lives can enhance and improve health - not only in unsettling times like these, but on every day of the year. That’s why we are taking action to focus on the leading role buildings, communities and organizations can play to support our health and well-being overall, and our collective ability to prepare for and respond to global health challenges like the one we’re experiencing now. Today, more than ever, place matters to the future of protecting our families, our businesses and the public at large.

First, we are standing up a special Task Force on Coronavirus to deploy a multi-faceted strategy to channel the collective expertise and insight of the global WELL community. Chaired by renowned experts, and populated by dozens of thought leaders and authorities from across public health, design, real estate, government and academia, the Task Force will both inform new Guidelines for Prevention and Preparedness, Resilience and Recovery and enhancements to the WELL Building Standard itself.

Our Task Force chairs include:

• Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., MBA, former president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and distinguished professor of population health and health equity at the University of Pennsylvania;

• Richard Carmona, M.D., MPH, FACS, 17th Surgeon General of the United States and distinguished professor at the University of Arizona; and

• Joseph Allen, DSc, MPH, assistant professor of exposure and assessment science and director of the Healthy Buildings program at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

We’re seeking experts who are passionate about protecting global health through building design and operations, as well as organizational policies and practices. If you’re an authority on air quality, hygiene or another relevant topic, we encourage you to raise your hand: your perspective could help countless others in their efforts to extend evidence-based best practices to their companies and communities. Please reach out to us to get involved with the Task Force.

Second, we will be hosting a series of webcasts geared toward supporting you. Based on webcasts by our team in China that have reached as many as 110,000 attendees at a time, we know that coming together to share our collective knowledge and experience is a key part of maintaining forward motion. From remote work ergonomics to air quality management, we look forward to presenting practical and actionable strategies from our in-house experts and leading minds from around the globe. Sign up to join us for these free sessions and watch your inbox and our social media channels as we continue to roll out helpful materials and relevant tips for taking positive action and staying well.

Third, we’ll host a free WELL AP exam prep course for those of you interested in diving deeper into the WELL Building Standard and bringing a focus on health and well-being into your career. We know many are seeking remote learning opportunities, whether to advance your knowledge or to challenge your mind, so we invite you to log on or share with a friend.

In the coming months, we hope you will join us in this call to action. We encourage you to reach out and share what you’re thinking, pose questions and tell us how IWBI can best support you in your work and at home.

As you take on your own efforts to fortify your personal health and the health of your loved ones, we’re extending the strength of our community - and we thank you for the work you do to contribute to safer and healthier conditions for everyone, everywhere.