Lasting Design Strategies for the COVID-era and Beyond

Thursday, August 13, 2020
By Yvette Zingery, Partner - Interior Design / Business Development
In Design, Community

Now in the sixth month of the pandemic, we have a seen a myriad of design strategies discussed and implemented, with the goal of keeping people safe and allowing us to slowly re-open our schools and businesses. As architects and designers, we are in fact inundated with different options. While some of these measures seem temporary, there are others that have more long-term merit, and perhaps are even good design ideas to incorporate generally in projects. In this article we will discuss a few ideas that may be worth considering for the current place in time, 2020 mid-pandemic, and beyond.

Outdoor Meeting / Learning Spaces
Research has shown the benefits of nature in healing environments for decades. Access to nature can lower stress levels, increase staff and patient satisfaction, and improve mental and emotional health. In recent years, we have seen the prevalence of outdoor learning spaces growing as well. A recent study showed that when children learn outside, they absorb material more effectively. Those benefits have been shown to continue for the remainder of the day, even after students go back inside. Similarly, in workplace design, the emphasis on wellness has led to an uptick of easily accessible areas to work, exercise, and re-charge outside. This has become a measurable “benefit” companies can offer potential employees, as businesses compete for the best and brightest talent. Given the countless positive results, and on top of the fact that COVID spread is minimized outdoors, the thoughtful design of outdoor spaces is more important than ever. The best outdoor spaces are those that are easily accessible, have good wi-fi, and ideally have good furnishings to facilitate work. Protection from the elements, including the sun, is a plus and extends the use of the area. At our office, we are not having many in-person meetings just yet, but when we do, we are going to our patio where it is easy to distance with a larger group of people.

Indoor Air Quality
Unfortunately, we cannot spend all our time outside. In offices, schools, and other public buildings, indoor air quality (IAQ) has been an important topic. With the goal of occupant health and well-being in mind, LEED project requirements have pressed the issue in the past, with IAQ being a primary focus of achieving points in their rating system. Now, at the height of the pandemic, with schools and companies anxious to bring their students and employees back safely, indoor air quality may be another critical piece of the puzzle. HVAC systems that maximize fresh air intake are optimal. While HVAC systems have typically been designed to meet code minimum requirements for fresh air to keep energy costs low, we are seeing more consideration given to exceeding code requirements to enhance indoor air quality. Filters can also be checked more frequently and replaced with MERV-13 rating or greater to maximize filtration. Another strategy is using germicidal irradiation in ventilation to treat air. Air handling units can be ordered or sometimes retrofitted with UV lights which help eliminate many types of fungi, bacteria, germs, viruses, and pathogens.

Hands-Free
Though research is emerging that this particular virus appears to spread less easily via surfaces, it’s still a good idea to reduce the number of surfaces that need to be touched in public buildings. Restrooms are a great place to start. The benefits of automatic fixtures and flush valves go far beyond reducing the spread of germs. They are more energy efficient, use less water, and keep restrooms looking cleaner. Restroom layout plays a role. Something as simple as positioning the trash receptacle directly next to the door after handwashing, takes away an area where high numbers of people touch the same surface all day long. Another great addition that has become very common is touchless water bottle filling instead of traditional drinking fountains that tend not be used much. Other “touchless” items include door hardware, ranging from heavily automated versions, all the way down to simple levers that you can operate using your foot.

Ability to Work at Home, or Anywhere
When COVID forced the country to shelter in their homes, companies were thrown into work-from-home arrangements with their employees, which for some was a completely new way of doing business. For many, there were bumps and hiccups as IT departments scrambled to make it all work. The outcome? We learned how to work remotely. That is not to say that employees want to work from home on a permanent basis. In a recent survey, only 12% of workers want to continue working from home on a full-time basis. We know that as humans we crave socialization and collaboration with our colleagues. But from a business standpoint, it is certainly a positive step to have the ability for staff to work remotely. Tools like Microsoft Teams that enable virtual meetings have improved how we work remotely, and are likely here to stay. Not only does the ability to work remotely improve productivity, it can also be another incentive that employers can offer to attract and retain talent. Additionally, it has prepared companies for future occurrences that could potentially disrupt everyday office life.

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