Professor Serves on International WELL Building Institute Advisory Board
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) recently released its Global Research Agenda. Schulich Associate Professor Avis Devine from the Brookfield Centre in Real Estate & Infrastructure serves on the Advisory amongst a variety of researchers as the sole business school representative. Devine has been on the board since the group’s inception. Professor Devine teaches courses in both the one year Master of Real Estate and Infrastructure (MREI) and the MBA program.
IWBI is best known for offering WELL Certification, which is a healthy building certification program similar to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), but for occupant and user health rather than environmental health. WELL is a leading tool for advancing health and well-being in buildings globally.
“I believe strongly in expanding the discussion around sustainability from just environmental to also include social, which is something healthy buildings address,” said Devine.
Devine’s role in IWBI underscores the importance of research in sustainability at Schulich. A major focus of IWBI has been to scope out the needed research in support of healthy buildings, to serve as a guidepost and call to action for academics and consultants around the world.
“When originally approached to join the Advisory, I learned that most of the membership is comprised of those specializing in the buildings technically (engineers) and in occupant health (medical and public health experts),” says Devine. “I know that it’s key to have the business aspect represented in the conversation, so I wanted to add that voice to the group.”
IWBI is a participant of the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate citizenship initiative, and helps companies advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the use of WELL. Over three quarters of a billion square feet are registered in the WELL Building Standard (WELL) in over 65 countries.