WELL™ CERTIFICATION

The WELL Air concept aims to achieve high levels of indoor air quality across a building’s lifetime through a range of strategies that include source elimination or reduction, active and passive building design and operation strategies and human behavior interventions

Increasing awareness of outdoor air quality can help individuals reduce exposure to contaminants when outdoor pollution levels are high; when alerted, individuals can take appropriate action, such as staying indoors and keeping windows closed.

An outdoor air quality monitoring system is installed within the project boundary.

The system takes measurements each minute of PM2.5, temperature and humidity.

Environmental alarms are reflected on the home automation screens, and they also send the same message to mobile phones linked to the home automation so that the alarm can be reported remotely.

In each dwelling unit there is a display which shows the values of PM2,5, temperature and humidity. The system notifies the owner when the air quality overpass certain quality levels and recommends to keep the windows closed.

TEMPERATURE:
In the event that there is a difference of 8ºC between the measurement of the external sensor and the sensor of the home automation screens of the rooms, an environmental alarm is issued with the following text: ”Please keep the windows closed”

HUMIDITY:
In the event that the humidity rises to 65% as measured by the probe of the home automation screens of the rooms, an environmental alarm is issued with the following text: “Please keep the windows closed”

PPM:
In the event that the PPM 2.5 particles reach a threshold concentration of 16 µg/m3 as measured by the external probe, an environmental alarm is issued with the following text: “Please keep the windows closed”

The WELL Water concept covers aspects of the quality, distribution and control of liquid water in a building. It includes features that address the availability and contaminant thresholds of drinking water, as well as features targeting the management of water to avoid damage to building materials and environmental conditions.

Individual water metering can provide homes with early leak detection and help reduce water consumption.

A water consumption sensor is installed before the shut-off solenoid valve in the individual connection of each dwelling unit.
This sensor sends the information to the home automation system of the dwelling unit, and the measurement can be consulted on the main screen in the living room.

To access it, you must go to the maintenance access menu. In this folder there is a consumption submenu, and within the latter is the water consumption folder. In this folder, the historical consumption can be consulted, as well as the partial consumption from a time selected by the client (similar to the system used in vehicle odometers), as well as viewing graphs to intuitively understand the dynamics of water consumption over time.
It can also be consulted on mobile phones that are linked to the home automation system.

Leak detection systems can effectively minimize water loss and damage due to leaks.

Flood probes are installed in risk areas, bathrooms, kitchen and bathtub area. If a probe is triggered, a flood risk message is issued on the main screen of the home (living room) and on the mobile phones linked to the home automation system. The water supply is also cut off by means of the solenoid valve placed at the entrance of the home’s water supply.

To restore the water supply, it is necessary to deactivate the flood message on the screen within the maintenance access menu. In this folder there is a technical alarm submenu, and within this last one there is the flood alarm folder.

The WELL Nourishment concept requires the availability of fruits and vegetables and nutritional transparency. It encourages the creation of food environments, where the healthiest choice is the easiest choice.

Gardening may provide mental health benefits by reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.

On the left side of the C building, an outdoor space is provided for the growing of the following species:

• Vegetables: Lettuces, tomatoes, onions, garlic and carrots
• Aromatic plants: Rosemary, basil and parsley

Regular occupants have access to planting supplies, including planting medium, watering system, plants and gardening tools.

The WELL Light concept promotes exposure to light and aims to create lighting environments that promote visual, mental and biological health.

Homes with access to daylight can help improve sleep patterns and decrease falling incidents, infectious diseases and depression.

All dwelling units have a glazing area between 28 an 38 % of the interior regulary occupied area, providing natural daylight.

Blackout shades can help provide a cool and dark environment that is optimal for sleep.

Foscurit and roller blinds are installed in all bedrooms with a maximum 1% visible light transmittance.

Roller bilnds can be controlled from the home automation system.

The WELL Movement concept promotes physical activity in everyday life through environmental design, policies and programs to ensure that movement opportunities are integrated into the fabric of our daily routines, buildings and communities.

Neighborhoods designed to increase physical activity levels enable more active lifestyles, support human and environmental health and promote social cohesion.

The main Higueron Residences building entrance opens onto a street with a sidewalk/footpath and is connected to at least three other streets (Av. 8 de Marzo, c/Paula, c/Leticia) with sidewalks/footpaths within a 540 m walking distance.

The sidewalks incorporate the following design strategies:

i. Have a width that is at least 1 m.

ii. Have intersections that include curb cuts.

iii. Are physically separate from the portion of the roadway dedicated to motor vehicles through either a curb edge.

Within a walking distance of less than 150 m the Residences Apartments users have access to the hotel gym, restaurants and hair care services.

The WELL Thermal Comfort concept aims to promote human productivity and provide a maximum level of thermal comfort among all building users through improved HVAC system design and control and by meeting individual thermal preferences.

The heating and cooling in each regularly occupied room can be independently controlled.

Smart thermostats enable individuals to take control of their thermal comfort and also help save energy.

Smart thermostats can control temperature setpoints remotely, adjust heating and cooling through customizable schedules and predict comfort settings through usage data.

Thermostats installed in the dwelling unit can be operated remotely from outside of the dwelling unit and have programmable temperature setpoints (e.g., based on time of day or location) through Zennio Remote system.

Zennio Remote is an app for the visualization and control from mobile devices (smartphones and tablets) and web browsers. You will be able to interact with your installation in a quick, easy and safe way anywhere, anytime!

You only need a Zennio touch panel (with Remote Control License) connected to the Internet and the app installed on your smartphone or tablet or to introduce the URL 

Providing a desirable thermal comfort level can improve the physical and mental health of individuals.

Heating is mechanically supplied with radiant floor in all regularly occupied rooms and bathrooms with showers and baths, with controls present within the dwelling unit.

Cooling is mechanically supplied in all regularly occupied rooms, with controls present within the dwelling unit.

The WELL Sound concept aims to bolster occupant health and well-being through the identification and mitigation of acoustical comfort parameters that shape occupant experiences in the built environment.

Walls and floor/ceiling assemblies can be constructed to mitigate the transfer of loud noise, improving privacy and confort.

Party walls and slabs have been designed to provide outstanding performance. Impact noise reduction flooring have been implemented. Control quality acoustical tests have been carried out.

Results of the tests shows an improvement over 40 % on the performance of floor/celing assemblies compared to the mínimum code compliance and over 20 % less impact noise transmission.

The WELL Materials concept aims to reduce human exposure, whether direct or through environmental contamination, to chemicals that may impact health during the construction, remodeling, furnishing and operation of buildings.

Building materials impact the quality of air inside homes.

The identification of ingredients or materials hazardous to humans in the construction phase has been carefully selected, installing lower-emitting building materials in homes. This leads to a decrease exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as formaldehyde, and reduce the risk of negative health effects.

Installed mineral wool thermo-acoustic insulation and plasterboard products are Certified Product “Indoor Air Comfort GOLD – top level”. This certificaton demonstrates additional compliance of the product emissions with the EU eco-labels and similar specifications as well as sustainable building certifications. In addition, certified products are those that belong to the best, lowest emission class and are therefore the best in relation to indoor air quality.

The WELL Mind concept promotes mental health through policy, program and design strategies that seek to address various factors that influence cognitive and emotional well-being.

Exposure to natural elements may lead to mental health benefits, such as improved sleep and cognitive functioning, and decreased levels of anxiety and depression.

Window views that include the sky, landscape and ground levels are associated with increased view satisfaction and enhanced psychological well-being.
Aesthetically engaging places encourage the development of positive emotional bonds that support well-being and quality of life.

Well-being, sustainability and visual harmony was seeked on the design to experience the tranquillity and warmth of comfort in a natural and safe environment.
For secure parcel delivery a package room is provided and monitored by an on-site 24-hour concierge service.

Internet access increases an individual’s ability to navigate systems for employment, education, social connection and health care.

The Higueron Residences has free internet service of more than 100 Mbps in dwelling units and common areas, for use by the residents of the dwelling units.

The WELL Community concept aims to support access to essential healthcare, build a culture of health that accommodates a variety of population needs and establish an engaged occupant community.

Higueron Projects has focused on the effect that the built environment has on human beings. We have combined the best design and construction practices in order to positively influence the health and well-being of its occupants in the short, medium and long term.

The Higueron Residences Health-Oriented statement is publicly available by cklicling in the more information button below.

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Accessible education, effective communication and accurate information can help improve health literacy.

People who are educated about the performance of their building show greater satisfaction in their building’s environment.

The educational guide covers all implemented WELL features within the project boundary, including the intent of each feature and provides instructions for use for each feature, as applicable.

The Higueron Residences WELL Educational guide is publicly available by cklicling in the more information button below.

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Innovation features pave the way for projects to develop unique strategies for creating healthier environments.

The WELL AP credential denotes that a person has expertise in the WELL Standard and has a commitment to advancing human health and well-being.

Since the early desing phase, a WELL AP was enrolled by the owner as a key person to help streamline the health and well-being goals of the project.

The main role of the WELL AP in a first stage, was addressing education on health and well-being issues to the all the stakeholders of the project (architects, engineers, contractor, owner, sustainable advisor) and in a second stage became the Project administrator, managing all the information related to the WELL program, helding periodic meetings with the stakeholders since the early design phase until the end of construction works and occupancy of the building, solving doubts and helping to prepare all the documents related to the WELL for Residential program.

Green building programs that reduce the environmental impact of buildings can help contribute to the advancement of human health, such as through efforts that address outdoor air pollution.

By balancing sustainability and human health considerations – through better air quality, access to drinking water and opportunities for physical activity and social connection – both people and the planet can thrive.

The dwelling units has achieved the BREEAM third-party certifications with the level VERY GOOD.