The WELL Building Standard: Managing The Spine for health and wellbeing

Director Robert Hopkins is joined by Cathy Hardman, Workplace Manager at the RCP, to share fascinating insights into the day-to-day operation of this pioneering office building.

Designed by AHR and awarded the prestigious WELL Platinum Certification, The Spine sets a new benchmark for people-focused, high-performance workplaces, blending design excellence with everyday functionality. It’s a dynamic, human-centric environment that demonstrates how thoughtful design can directly support the health and wellbeing of everyone who works in, visits or manages the space.

Recorded within The Spine itself, Cathy shares her experiences managing the building since its opening in 2021, providing practical insight into how the WELL Building Standard influences daily facilities management.

From maintaining indoor air quality and thermal comfort, to implementing live environmental monitoring systems and strict material protocols, Cathy candidly shares the requirements, lessons learned and long-term commitments involved in sustaining WELL compliance. She also highlights the value of post-occupancy evaluations and user feedback in driving continuous improvement.

Key WELL features, such as ergonomic furniture, biophilic design and policies that support hygiene, mental health and work-life balance, are also discussed, highlighting their measurable impact on RCP staff and visitors.

Download the transcript here.

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