WEDG Verification
WEDG is a national rating system recognizing waterfront projects for resilient, sustainable, and accessible design. Earning WEDG Verification:
- Builds trust with communities
- Smooths permitting and approval processes
- Increases your competitiveness for funding
- Differentiates your project to investors, tenants, and funders
- Provides guidance to the design team
WEDG Verification is the gold standard for waterfront design. To become WEDG Verified, projects submit their design to Waterfront Alliance and are scored on a 250-point system.
WEDG supports residential and mixed-use developments, parks, port and working waterfront facilities, natural areas and restoration projects, and resilience projects.
The WEDG rating system stands alongside and is comparable to the rigorous criteria set through LEED, Envision, and other industry leading rating systems. It is recognized as an approved green building certification in GRESB.

Earning WEDG Verification
Teams leading waterfront projects sign an agreement with Waterfront Alliance to pursue WEDG Verification and submit their design to Waterfront Alliance for review. Projects submit their 100% construction documents for final decision on WEDG Verification. Many projects seek a preliminary review at approximately 50% design.
More information on the review process and pricing can be found in the WEDG Verification and Pricing brochure.
WEDG Verification and Pricing: Download
Assessing your Project for WEDG Verification
Project teams can conduct a self-assessment of their project against the WEDG criteria with the WEDG Scorecard. Project teams interested in WEDG Verification should discuss their project with the WEDG Team by contacting Joseph Sutkowi, chief waterfront design officer ([email protected]).
WEDG Scorecard: Download
How WEDG Works for You
When a project pursues WEDG Verification, Waterfront Alliance provides support in stakeholder engagement and guidance on incorporating WEDG into grants and approvals processes. Through the WEDG review, projects receive feedback from world-class experts in engineering, landscape architecture, and the environment.
Once a project achieves WEDG Verification, Waterfront Alliance partners with the project team on a public relations campaign to support the project.
How WEDG Works for You: Download
WEDG Supports Working Waterfront Facilities
The WEDG rating system is designed to accommodate waterfront projects of all types including working waterfront and offshore wind port facilities. The standard includes credits and guidance designed to apply specifically to these unique waterfront projects.
WEDG and Working Waterfronts Download
