Village Works Earns First WELL Coworking Rating in U.S.

Flexible workspace in Boston recognized for health-focused design and operations.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 10:22pm

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The Village Works, a coworking space in Boston, has earned the first WELL Coworking Rating in the United States. The designation from the International WELL Building Institute, in collaboration with The Instant Group, confirms that the space incorporates design and operational strategies to support the health and well-being of users in a flexible office environment.

Why it matters

The WELL Coworking Rating serves as a formal mechanism to evaluate how effectively flexible workspaces can support the health and wellness of the people who use them, an increasingly important consideration as the coworking and shared office model continues to evolve.

The details

The WELL Coworking Rating is based on the implementation of evidence-based practices that align with the WELL Building Standard, which sets benchmarks for buildings and spaces seeking to promote wellness-oriented outcomes. The rating spans nearly 50 features organized across 10 WELL concepts, including air quality, water quality, lighting, thermal comfort, and encouragement of physical activity.

  • The Village Works' Boston location earned the WELL Coworking Rating in April 2026.

The players

The Village Works

A coworking space in Boston that was conceived as a human-centered flexible workspace.

International WELL Building Institute

The organization that developed the WELL Building Standard and collaborated with The Instant Group on the WELL Coworking Rating.

The Instant Group

A flexible workspace advisory firm that collaborated with the International WELL Building Institute on the WELL Coworking Rating.

Melissa Tapper Goldman

Co-founder of The Village Works, who described the WELL Coworking Rating as a validation of the team's efforts to create a human-centered coworking space.

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What they’re saying

“The WELL Coworking Rating confirms that the space incorporates design and operational strategies intended to support the health and well-being of users in a flexible office environment.”

— Melissa Tapper Goldman, Co-founder, The Village Works

“Achieving the designation as the first coworking space in the U.S. to receive this rating underscores our long-term focus on well-being and leadership in the flexible workspace category.”

— Melissa Tapper Goldman, Co-founder, The Village Works

What’s next

The Village Works plans to use the WELL Coworking Rating to showcase its commitment to health and wellness, and to inspire other flexible workspace operators to incorporate similar evidence-based practices.

The takeaway

The WELL Coworking Rating provides a formal framework for evaluating how effectively flexible workspaces can support the health and well-being of their users, an increasingly important consideration as the coworking model continues to evolve.