The American Institute of Architects (AIA) released new resources to support employers, public officials, and design professionals with re-occupying buildings more safely after COVID-19 shutdowns.
The 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.” The new and enhanced tools can assist employers, building owners, and design teams with best practices to protect the health and safety of the public.
· A Risk Management Plan for Buildings provides a 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,” an AIA press release says.
· 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
· COVID-19 ArchMap allows architects to input design strategies that mitigate risk of COVID-19 transmission for any building type. The map is produced in partnership with the University of Kansas’ Institute of Health + Wellness Design and intended to facilitate design innovation.
The team will also release more detailed strategies and considerations for offices, retailers, schools, and senior living facilities “in the near future.”
Related Stories
| Apr 10, 2014
New California energy code requires building systems to be ready for demand response energy management
Starting in June, California’s latest version of its Title 24 building code kicks in, requiring several systems come with demand response capability.
| Apr 4, 2014
Green Building Initiative moves to include locally sourced materials in Green Globes
The Green Building Initiative group based in Portland, Ore., met with the Department of Agriculture on a plan to include locally sourced materials in its green building standards.
| Apr 4, 2014
White roofs outperform green roofs in reducing heat-island effect, says Lawrence Berkeley Lab
A new report from LBNL says that white roofs are three times more effective than green roofs at “cooling the globe.”
| Apr 4, 2014
ASHRAE standard aims for consistency in measuring building energy use
The standard answers such questions as: Should the measurements of a building’s area used in the equation to derive energy use per square foot be taken from the exterior dimensions or to the centerline of the wall? And, should storage spaces be included even though they are unoccupied?
| Apr 4, 2014
Cleveland’s sewer authority to pay developers for green solutions to stormwater runoff
The district’s intent to use natural features to absorb stormwater reflects an urban trend that other cities including Philadelphia and Detroit have embraced.
| Mar 30, 2014
Solar panels on Big Ben intended to spur U.K.’s sustainability targets
Solar panels may soon be installed on the face of Big Ben in London as part of the U.K.'s initiatives to reach its greenhouse gas emissions objectives under the Climate Change Act of 2008.
| Mar 26, 2014
EPA clarifies Clean Water Act in revision that was opposed by developers
The Environmental Protection Agency recently unveiled a rule designed to define more clearly which waterways are covered by the Clean Water Act and therefore require U.S. permits for certain activities.
| Mar 26, 2014
Better Buildings Initiative leading to tens of millions of dollars in savings annually, says DOE
Facilities across the nation have been able to shave on average about 2.5% of their annual utility costs through efficiency initiatives spurred by the federal Better Buildings Initiative, according to the Department of Energy’s Maria Vargas.
| Mar 26, 2014
Univ. of Nebraska-Omaha fire could prompt building code changes
A dormitory fire at the University of Nebraska at Omaha that displaced with 42 students (but caused no injuries) could trigger local building code changes.
| Mar 26, 2014
Associated Builders and Contractors wary of federal overtime rules changes
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) cautioned that President Obama’s directive to the U.S. Department of Labor to change federal overtime rules could harm its members.
