The second Italian edition of the WELL 2025 global event series took place on 29 May 2025 at the European Centre for Earth Observation (ESRIN) in Frascati (Rome). GET, as the local partner of the International WELL Building Institute for the second year in a row, supported the organization in defining all the details for an event that celebrated the commitment of local leaders and companies in the WELL community. Thanks to the synergy among speakers, sponsors, and collaborators, the event successfully enhanced the importance of a people-first approach while exploring local and global trends within the movement. The event counted more than 20 speakers and an international audience of more than 120 participants.
WELL2025: a morning of commitment to people-first places
Participants had the opportunity to hear Rachel Hodgdon (IWBI President and CEO) share inspiring words highlighting the importance of embracing the power of putting people first, together with the real estate market’s role in delivering health and wellbeing solutions. The audiance also had the pleasure to attend the institutional remarks by Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio (Univerde Foundation President). Daniele Guglielmino (GET CEO) introduced the start of the day, presenting the company’s commitment to WELL themes, as demonstrated by the five platinum-level projects in GET’s portfolio. Fabrizio Capaccioli (Green Building Council Italia President) then shared the wellbeing democratization concept, reaffirming that urban regeneration should not be a privilege for a few but a right for many.
The morning continued with a presentation by Ann Marie Aguilar (IWBI Senior Vice President, Team EMEA) of the updates on IWBI progress and strategic direction, with the report of the WELL data in Italy: counting 662 subscribed locations for WELL at Scale and a total amount of more than 4M sqm certified or under certification. The organization’s success is also attributed to its continuous adaptation to a constantly evolving environment, leading the healthy building movement for over a decade. An example is the introduction of WELL for Residential, the first and only certification for healthier homes, addressed by Liz Miles (IWBI VP, WELL for Residential) during the closing remarks.
The hosting location was chosen not only as a hub of technological innovation, but also because of its status as a WELL Platinum Level Project. Roberto Franciosi (ESA Head of Facility Management), Michael Tisone (ESA Civil Engineer and Project Manager), and Andrea Costa (R2M Solutions Co-Founder and Managing Partner) shared with the participants their journey towards this achievement.
The morning of the event concluded with the first panel entitled “Committing to people-first places through design and management”, moderated by Ezio Micelli (Venice Iuav University Professor), featuring a discussion among Anna Maria Pacini (DeA Capital Real Estate Head of ESG Management), Alfio Foresti (Techne S.p.A. Sales Director), Simona D’Oca (JLL Italy Head of Sustainability), and Federica Di Mario (Radoff Managing Partner). The debate addressed a crucial question: Is well-being considered a cost or an investment? The professional experiences of each panelist have highlighted how fundamental it is that economic advantage includes sustainability aspects and how well-being is determinant for the production of value. The certification achievement should be seen as a starting point for building, as maintaining standards and energy efficiency is an ongoing responsibility. Thus, the integration of social sustainability practices within business processes becomes a possibility, not an obligation.
WELL 2025: The value of WELL for people and organizations
After lunch, the audience had the opportunity to gain deeper insight into what it means to invest in health, thanks to the talk given by Giovanna Jagger (IWBI Sr. Director, Global Market Development). It was pointed out that WELL is the world’s largest certification and rating platform for healthy buildings, with more than 529M square meters certified in over 130 countries. Data shows how the Certification can boost workplace satisfaction (+28%), productivity (+ 10 point in median productivity scores), and mental health (+ 10%) according to the report “Understanding the Impact of WELL Certification”. Additionally, professional studies link health investments to greater performance and profitability, 7.7% higher rents per sq ft in certified healthy buildings (MIT Center for Real Estate Research). Josh Jackman (Chief Operations Officer) then presented the ART Health Solution’s commitment to designing healthy offices using workplace science, through client storytelling.
The topic of safety enhancement as a result of a design focused on the well-being and health of its occupants was also addressed, thanks to the surprise speech by astronaut Luca Parmitano.
Next on the agenda was a fireside chat featuring Iacopo Predieri (GET Sustainability Consultant) and Marcela Guerra (referent Enel Group Certifications WELL & LEED), who shared ENEL’s exemplary case of the adoption of the WELL at Scale protocol. The chat highlighted how sustainability is a strategic pillar for the organization that directly affects productivity and talent retention. ENEL joined this version of the certification in 2020, this choice allowed the company to:
- Standardizing management and maintenance processes and making well-being initiatives adaptable to all the locations included in the portfolio.
- Integrating well-being as a central part of the company culture to create healthier and more sustainable working environments.
ENEL’s portfolio includes more than 500 buildings, 13 projects -to date- in five countries (Italy, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Chile) have proudly earned WELL Platinum certification. Furthermore, for its commitment, the company received the WELL Concept Leadership Awards for Innovation.
For the second panel entitled “Advocating and Designing for Healthy Organizations”, the focus shifted from the structure of the building to that of the organization. The talk was moderated by Luca Solari (OrgTech founder), who interviewed Adelaide Clerici (Edison Workplace Manager), Stefano Adami (Greenwich Srl Sustainability Consultant), and Rita White (Italian Academy of Biophilia President). The conversation tackled the importance for organizations to meet people’s needs within the spaces they live in. The two elements highlighted that have the most impact on well-designed organizations are: authenticity and processes. Occupants need to feel that the implemented measures serve their interests by being personally involved, and every process element is essential to enhance health and well-being.
Massimiliano Fadin (Ponzio Alluminium Director, Marketing & Communication), event master of ceremonies, introduced the closing remarks from Alessandro Miani (SIMA President) and Rachel Hodgdon, who underlined the importance of remembering that everyone deserves to live their best and healthiest life. Afterward, the audience had the opportunity to explore the ESRIN location, diving into the Earth observation mission, and ending the day with a networking aperitif.
The WELL 2025 event has been the perfect opportunity to celebrate the local impact of the WELL community by allowing key figures in the market to share news and insight to advance toward a future that prioritizes even more people in the design of built spaces.
Sincere thanks to the local sponsors, Techne S.p.A., Radoff, Greenwich SRL, Rilo Digital Planning, Ponzio Aluminium, to the scientific partners, the Accademia Italiana di Biofilia (AIB), the Società Italiana di Medicina Ambientale (SIMA), and Orgtech, and to everyone who participated and made the day possible.
GET, relying on its professional experience and the WELL AP team, is ready to support new projects in achieving social sustainability goals.
