Name
WELL Gold High Security: Designing Mission Resilience in a Secure Workplace
Date & Time
Saturday, October 17, 2026, 8:30 AM - 9:45 AM
Manoj Dalaya Larry Henderson Ava Helm Gregory Giammalvo Linda Toth
Description

Healthy buildings are often associated with openness, while secure facilities are seen as constrained and compartmentalized. This session bridges that gap through the Institute for Defense Analyses National Headquarters in Potomac Yard, Virginia, a two-tower workplace that achieved WELL Gold (2023) within a high-security environment integrated into a mixed-use community. The presenters will share design and material strategies that support occupant well-being, bring daylight into secure interiors, encourage movement through intentional circulation and stair placement, and provide secure outdoor amenities such as courtyards and terraces. The session also highlights low embodied carbon approaches, including concrete incorporating sequestered CO₂ and precast systems designed to reduce emissions while maintaining a contextual limestone aesthetic. Attendees will leave with practical methods to apply WELL principles to complex, security-driven projects while maintaining operational flexibility and community impact.

Course Credit
LU/HSW
Number of Credits
1.25 Learning Units (75 min.)
ID
4212