Mohawk Group Set to Achieve WELL Health-Safety Rating

Mohawk Group, a producer and distributor of commercial flooring, announced in a press release that all of its design studios and commercial showrooms are set to receive a WELL Health-Safety Rating, as determined by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). Mohawk is among the first flooring manufacturers to meet this standard.

The rating is meant to indicate a facility’s impact on community health. IWBI developed the WELL standard to focus on health and wellness inside buildings, considering factors like interior water and air quality, health-service resources, sanitizing and cleaning procedures, innovation, operational and maintenance policies, emergency plans, and stakeholder engagement.

“The rating is a third-party stamp of approval saying that our showrooms and spaces are clean and safe,” said Mohawk’s vice president of marketing and product development, Jackie Dettmar. “A WELL seal outside means people can feel safer inside.”

IWBI developed and modified the WELL Health-Safety Rating over a few years, most notably during the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. In line with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), global disease control and prevention centers, and academic and research institutions, the rating is evidence-based and third-party verified. The institute announced this month that its projects have hit the 1.5 billion SF mark in more than 80 countries, up from 500 million SF in less than 60 countries less than a year ago.

According to Mohawk senior manager of sustainability Ramie Vagal, “The WELL seal instills confidence and trust throughout the community as it ensures integrity, consistency and results. We believe our ranking communicates our commitment to the health and well-being of anyone who visits or works within our spaces.”

Mohawk Group will get access to a wider variety of health and safety maintenance strategies, as well as more specific methods to lessen the chance of disease transmission. Its WELL rating suggests an above-and-beyond level of commitment to public health and wellness, particularly against the background of the coronavirus pandemic.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Ohio State University Opens 26-Story Hospital

    The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center recently opened in Columbus, Ohio, standing 26 stories and covering 1.9 million square feet, according to a university news release. The project marks ten years of effort and is the university’s largest single-facility construction project ever.

  • Harvard Announces Replacement Facility for Native American Program

    Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., recently announced that construction will begin this spring on a new home for its Native American Program, according to university news. The 6,500-square-foot, all-electric building will stand three stories and serve as the central hub for the Harvard University Native American Program (HUNAP).

  • abstract illustration of school gym

    How the Gymnasium Can Serve as a Model for Learning Space Design

    Multipurpose gyms work because flexibility was built into the brief from the start, not retrofitted later. The same logic applies to academic spaces.

  • Big Horn Academy

    Big Horn Academy

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. Big Horn Academy has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.