The International WELL Building Institute Launches the WELL Coworking Rating

Spaces that earn the rating receive a public-facing plaque.

The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) has partnered with The Instant Group, the largest global marketplace for flexible workspace, to launch the WELL Coworking Rating.

This health leadership benchmark is designed specifically for coworking and flexible spaces and draws from the health strategies in the WELL Building Standard. It includes more than 50 features spanning all 10 concepts in WELL, including air and water quality, light, thermal comfort, and physical fitness. Coworking spaces that earn the WELL Coworking Rating can display a public-facing seal.

“The rating is launched to respond to growing demand for healthier workspaces within the coworking and flexible space industry,” explained Jessica Cooper, chief product officer at IWBI. “Businesses that earn the WELL Coworking seal can communicate to occupiers that their workspaces are designed to enhance overall comfort, satisfaction, and performance.”

Why Target Coworking Spaces?

Coworking and flexible spaces have enjoyed significant growth in the last few years, according to IWBI. Coworking spaces have seen an 18% compound annual growth rate, from $19 billion in 2023 to $22 billion in 2024. A report by real estate solution company Vestian estimates that the flexible office sector will rise from its current size of 53.4 million square feet to roughly 81 million square feet by 2025, a 52% increase.

The growth started before the pandemic, but its recent acceleration is likely due to multiple factors, including the rise of hybrid work culture, global expansion, workforce mobility and remote work, corporate urbanization, and entrepreneurial ecosystems, Cooper said. “The demand for coworking and flexible space is expected to continue to rise, and responding to health opportunities within these environments is key,” Cooper added. “Yet, prior to the WELL Coworking Rating, this market did not have industry-specific wellbeing protocols to follow.”

How to Earn the WELL Coworking Rating

There are 53 points available in the rating, of which a location needs to earn 23 to achieve it. The achievement will then be verified through a third-party documentation review. More than 40 health and wellbeing solutions are available to earn these points in seven Action Areas:

Restorative Places
Productive Work Environments
Health Promoting Food and Movement
Air and Water Quality
Maintenance and Operation Policies
Wellbeing Education and Engagement
Innovation

The rating is available globally and made accessible through a partnership with The Instant Group, which is administering the rating through its flexible and coworking marketplace platform. Organizations participating in the WELL at Scale pathway can also opt into pursuing this rating as part of their engagement with IWBI.

“Organizations that achieve the rating for one or more locations demonstrate health leadership,” Cooper said. “Earning WELL achievements demonstrates a strong commitment to employee wellbeing and sustainability and can enhance environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy and reporting.”