In an effort to support the health, safety and wellbeing of students, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) is releasing 3D design models and strategies today that can assist education officials with reopening schools during the pandemic.
For the 2020-21 school year, districts are facing the difficult task of determining if K-12 schools will reopen this fall. As part of the AIA’s initiative, “Reopening America: Strategies for Safer Buildings,” the AIA’s team—comprised of architects, public health experts, engineers, and facility managers—assessed hazards in K-12 schools and developed strategies to mitigate risk of COVID-19 transmission.
In addition to the 3D design models—produced by VMDO Architects—detailing strategies for classrooms and corridors, the team is releasing a report that provides additional considerations for entrances, gymnasiums, assembly spaces, cafeterias and other spaces. Other strategies are also available for restrooms and staff spaces such as offices. The report also elaborates on the many factors that need to be taken into consideration when reopening schools and provides basic building blocks that can be adjusted on a case-by-case basis when working with design teams to ensure the needs of individual education facilities are met when adapting buildings for COVID-19.
Findings in the report are meant to work in tandem with tools that can assist education officials with preparing schools for reopening, including a seven-step Risk Management Plan for Buildings for assessing hazards and applying strategies that reduce risk and the AIA’s Re-occupancy Assessment Tool, which provides a framework of strategies for making buildings safer.
Resources were developed from a wide range of expertise using a virtual charrette workshop – a method used to study specific issues in a limited time frame using an intense brainstorming session.
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 June. For more detailed information on public health hazards and considerations in schools, see AIA’s COVID-19 emerging research and public health data.
Tailored strategies and considerations for senior living facilities are also being developed and will be released in the near future.
Visit AIA’s website for more COVID-19 resources for architects.
Related Stories
Market Data | Oct 11, 2021
No decline in construction costs in sight
Construction cost gains are occurring at a time when nonresidential construction spending was down by 9.5 percent for the 12 months through July 2021.
Market Data | Oct 11, 2021
Nonresidential construction sector posts first job gain since March
Has yet to hit pre-pandemic levels amid supply chain disruptions and delays.
Market Data | Oct 4, 2021
Construction spending stalls between July and August
A decrease in nonresidential projects negates ongoing growth in residential work.
Market Data | Oct 1, 2021
Nonresidential construction spending dips in August
Spending declined on a monthly basis in 10 of the 16 nonresidential subcategories.
Market Data | Sep 29, 2021
One-third of metro areas lost construction jobs between August 2020 and 2021
Lawrence-Methuen Town-Salem, Mass. and San Diego-Carlsbad, Calif. top lists of metros with year-over-year employment increases.
Market Data | Sep 28, 2021
Design-Build projects should continue to take bigger shares of construction spending pie over next five years
FMI’s new study finds collaboration and creativity are major reasons why owners and AEC firms prefer this delivery method.
Market Data | Sep 22, 2021
Architecture billings continue to increase
The ABI score for August was 55.6, up from July’s score of 54.6.
Market Data | Sep 20, 2021
August construction employment lags pre-pandemic peak in 39 states
The coronavirus delta variant and supply problems hold back recovery.
Market Data | Sep 15, 2021
ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator plummets in August; Contractor Confidence down
ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales, profit margins and staffing levels all fell modestly in August.
Market Data | Sep 7, 2021
Construction sheds 3,000 jobs in August
Gains are limited to homebuilding as other contractors struggle to fill both craft and salaried positions.