The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has released two new resources and one revised resource to support employers, public officials, and design professionals with re-occupying buildings more safely.
The AIA embarked on an initiative to explore how design strategies, backed by science, can be a public health solution. “Reopening America: Strategies for Safer Buildings” is intended to provide tools and resources for reducing risk when re-occupying buildings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The AIA’s initiative to help develop strategies included a team of architects, public health experts, engineers, and facility managers. The effort’s goals were to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in buildings, promote social distancing standards, and enhance well-being in communities transitioning to new lifestyle norms.
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.
The three initial tools are:
• 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.
• 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.
• COVID-19 ArchMap
Architects can now input design strategies that mitigate risk of COVID-19 transmission for any building type into the AIA’s map. The map is produced in partnership with the University of Kansas Institute of Health + Wellness Design and is intended to facilitate design innovation.
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