United Community: South Carolina’s First WELL Certified Building
The milestone of becoming South Carolina’s first WELL Certified building belongs to United Community (UCB) bank in Greenville, South Carolina. This certification, awarded by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), recognizes buildings that promote health and wellness for their occupants. The project, designed by McMillan Pazdan Smith, showcases innovative architecture and sets a new standard for healthy building design in the region.
United Community Featured in BUILDINGS magazine
This BUILDINGS magazine article, published in May 2025, tells the story of how the bank’s headquarters came to be the first WELL certified building in the state.
WELL Certification and Its Importance
WELL Certification is a performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and well-being. The process for becoming a WELL certified building includes evaluations of a building’s air, water, and light, as well as, how it contributes to occupant fitness, health, nourishment and wellness. Achieving WELL certification demonstrates a company’s commitment to creating a workplace that prioritizes the health and well-being of its employees.
Sustainable Commercial Design and Construction
To become the first WELL certified building in South Carolina, The United Center incorporated numerous sustainable and health-focused features, such as advanced air filtration systems, abundant natural light, easy access to the outdoors, and ergonomic workspaces. These elements contribute to a healthier and more productive environment for all of the bank’s employees, visitors, and customers. The building’s design also minimizes energy consumption and reduces its environmental footprint. Harper General Contractors was the GC tasked with turning the innovative design into reality.
Impact on the Community
United Community is a bank that lives up to its name, by prioritizing the communities it serves. This WELL Certified building has had a positive impact on the local community by being a model for other businesses in the Southeast, encouraging them to adopt similar health and work environment practices. In addition to aligning to United Community’s values and being a great addition to Greenville’s innovative downtown district, this project raises awareness about the importance of healthy building design and its benefits for all occupants and the environment.
