As communities across the US initiate phased reopening plans, The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is releasing new resources today to support employers, public officials and design professionals with re-occupying buildings more safely.
“Communities need guidance for reopening buildings safely during the pandemic,” said 2020 AIA President Jane Frederick, FAIA. “This initiative used credible science and current infectious disease data to develop practical strategies that can help businesses reopen their doors more safely during this pandemic.”
AIA’s initiative included a team of architects, public health experts, engineers, and facility managers who developed strategies to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in buildings, promote social distancing standards, and enhance wellbeing in communities transitioning to new lifestyle norms. A comprehensive report of the initiative is available on AIA’s website.
Initial outcomes from the team were used to develop new and enhanced tools that can assist employers, building owners, and design teams with best practices to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public while providing services.
- Tool #1 - Risk Management Plan for Buildings – Provides a comprehensive process for assessing hazards in buildings and reducing risk. This methodology not only can be applied during the pandemic but for all shocks and stresses to create more resilient buildings and businesses.
- Tool #2 - AIA Re-occupancy Assessment Tool (2.0) - Provides an enhanced framework of strategies for re-opening buildings, including restaurants, retailers, offices, senior living facilities, schools and housing.
- Tool #3 - COVID-19 ArchMap – Architects can now input design strategies that mitigate risk of COVID-19 for any building type to AIA’s map. The map is produced in partnership with the University of Kansas’ Institute of Health + Wellness Design and intended to facilitate design innovation.
Outcomes from the charettes are also being used to develop tailored strategies and considerations for offices, retailers, schools, and senior living facilities. Individualized reports will be released in phases, in the near future.
AIA’s team used a virtual charrette workshop-a method used to study specific issues in a limited time frame using an intense brainstorming session-to develop the strategies.
As part of the sessions, a group of public, environmental, and occupational health experts and physicians provided an independently developed, 90-minute briefing on SARS-CoV-2 infectious disease transmission, epidemiological models, and insights into the most current research of the virus as of early May.
A complete summary of the public health briefing is available online.
Visit AIA’s website for more COVID-19 resources for architects.
Related Stories
Industry Research | Dec 28, 2022
Following a strong year, design and construction firms view 2023 cautiously
The economy and inflation are the biggest concerns for U.S. architecture, construction, and engineering firms in 2023, according to a recent survey of AEC professionals by the editors of Building Design+Construction.
Self-Storage Facilities | Dec 16, 2022
Self-storage development booms in high multifamily construction areas
A 2022 RentCafe analysis finds that self-storage units swelled in conjunction with metros’ growth in apartment complexes.
Market Data | Dec 13, 2022
Contractors' backlog of work reaches three-year high
U.S. construction firms have, on average, 9.2 months of work in the pipeline, according to ABC's latest Construction Backlog Indicator.
Contractors | Dec 6, 2022
Slow payments cost the construction industry $208 billion in 2022
The cost of floating payments for wages and invoices represents $208 billion in excess cost to the construction industry, a 53% increase from 2021, according to a survey by Rabbet, a provider of construction finance software.
Mass Timber | Dec 1, 2022
Cross laminated timber market forecast to more than triple by end of decade
Cross laminated timber (CLT) is gaining acceptance as an eco-friendly building material, a trend that will propel its growth through the end of the 2020s. The CLT market is projected to more than triple from $1.11 billion in 2021 to $3.72 billion by 2030, according to a report from Polaris Market Research.
Market Data | Nov 15, 2022
Construction demand will be a double-edged sword in 2023
Skanska’s latest forecast sees shorter lead times and receding inflation, but the industry isn’t out of the woods yet.
Reconstruction & Renovation | Nov 8, 2022
Renovation work outpaces new construction for first time in two decades
Renovations of older buildings in U.S. cities recently hit a record high as reflected in architecture firm billings, according to the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
Market Data | Nov 3, 2022
Building material prices have become the calm in America’s economic storm
Linesight’s latest quarterly report predicts stability (mostly) through the first half of 2023
Building Team | Nov 1, 2022
Nonresidential construction spending increases slightly in September, says ABC
National nonresidential construction spending was up by 0.5% in September, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Hotel Facilities | Oct 31, 2022
These three hoteliers make up two-thirds of all new hotel development in the U.S.
With a combined 3,523 projects and 400,490 rooms in the pipeline, Marriott, Hilton, and InterContinental dominate the U.S. hotel construction sector.