Madison, WI (Aug. 2, 2022) – SSM Health is proud to share that the health system’s South Madison Campus proje
ct recently received WELL Certification at the Gold level.
WELL Certification is awarded by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). The prestigious distinction was awarded through IWBI’s WELL v2, the latest version of the WELL Building Standard. WELL is the premier building standard to focus on enhancing people’s health and well-being through the buildings where we live, work and play.
SSM Health Dean Medical Group - South Madison Campus is Wisconsin’s first WELL Building certified healthcare project, as well as the largest healthcare project in the United States. The 185,000 square foot medical group location includes comprehensive primary and specialty care services, alongside on-site clinical support services like lab, imaging and pharmacy.
Created through seven years of rigorous research and development working with leading physicians, scientists, and industry professionals, the WELL Building Standard is a performance-based certification system that marries best practices in design and construction with evidence-based scientific research. SSM Health Dean Medical Group – South Madison Campus earned the distinction based on ten categories of building performance — Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind and Community — and achieved a Gold level rating.
Kyle Prochaska, SSM Health in Wisconsin’s regional director of planning design and construction, served as the project manager and led the healthcare organization’s work in implementing WELL Building standards. He says seeking the certification made sense for the project.
“This certification shows that our facilities reflect our values,” Prochaska notes. “We strive to create facilities that foster healing. By investing in the wellness of our facilities and building for patients, visitors and staff, we are truly honoring our core values of respect, excellence, stewardship and community.”
The WELL Building certification journey begins during a project’s design phase. SSM Health’s project partners included HGA, an interdisciplinary design firm, AEI Engineers, and Findorff. Certification is an accomplishment shared by all project partners.
“Designing a highly functional and sustainable facility for SSM Health that prioritizes environmental and inhabitant health was an exciting and rewarding challenge,” said Paul Widlarz, principal with HGA. “We meticulously considered every detail, from materials to window placement and facility amenities. Achieving the WELL v2 Pilot GOLD Certification was the challenge presented to our collective team and we are proud to have been a part of delivering on that goal!”
“Congratulations to the SSM Health and the South Madison Campus team on achieving WELL Gold Certification. This remarkable accomplishment reflects the dedication and hard work of everyone involved,” said Tony Sullivan, Director of Project Management at Findorff. “Findorff is truly honored to have been a part of this exceptional team, working alongside SSM Health, HGA, AEI Engineers, and the countless men and women who devoted their time and effort to create a beautiful space where SSM Health can continue to provide outstanding care for their patients and families. This certification is a testament to SSM's commitment to excellence and the well-being of the community.”
Project features that helped SSM Health Dean Medical Group – South Madison Campus achieve its WELL Certified Gold rating include:
- Enhanced indoor air quality to reduce allergies and asthma triggers
- Natural light and views of nature to improve mood and reduce stress
- Ergonomic workstations to promote comfort and productivity
- Healthy food options to nourish occupants’ body and mind
- Walking trails and accessible stairways to encourage physical activity
- A variety of comfortable and inviting spaces to relax and socialize
WELL is grounded in a body of evidence-based research that explores the connection between the buildings where we spend approximately 90 percent of our time, and the health and well-being impacts on the people inside these buildings. To be awarded WELL Certification by IWBI, SSM Health Dean Medical Group – South Madison Campus underwent rigorous testing and a final evaluation carried out by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), which is the third-party certification body for WELL, to ensure it met all WELL Certified Gold performance requirements.
SSM Health is currently working to achieve additional WELL Building certification on several other facilities, including the SSM Health medical group location in Beaver Dam and the SSM Health Outpatient Center currently being constructed in Sun Prairie.
