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HEALTHCARE REAL ESTATE, CONSTRUCTION, DESIGN & FACILITY PLANNING

Charles Michelson Discusses Design and

Construction During and Post COVID

BY DANIEL CASCIATO vision for our buildings, the goals to succeed and provide excep- products for cleaning germs and bacteria,
brands, roles and responsi- tional service within buildings. What will but no one should be lulled into a false
Charles Michelson can bilities have changed and also stay the same is the need to interact sense of security that traditional cleaning
think of no other time in his- must be synthesized for suc- with people personally, safely and respond activities can thereby be suspended.”
tory when modern architect cess and adaptability in the to the physical and psychological needs of The quality of mechanical systems have
Le Corbusier’s “Form follow future.” the people they service, the workforce, been greatly improved since the days of
function” words are as rele- Michelson notes that we and the C suite people. Legionnaire’s Disease and newer germ and
vant as they are today. have experienced a baptism The coronavirus crisis has certainly virus killing system enhancements will be
“All of us are experiencing under fire in the use of avail- made a large impact upon existing projects added to mechanical systems. Improved
the immediate response to able technology; an instan- from planning through construction. filters for these systems will be available.
the COVID-19 pandemic, taneous immersion in the “Regardless of the phase of a project, “The need for ongoing and proactive
social distancing, touch virtual world with online how do we keep everyone safe?” asks cleaning and maintenance procedures
nothing, temperature taken Charles Michelson interactive business meet- Michelson. “That is always the primary must occur,” adds Michelson. “No one ele-
at the door, zoom meet- ings to allow work to con- concern. After that, under the new nor- ment will allow the active maintenance of
ings,” says Michelson, president of Saltz tinue, simultaneously keeping us safe and mal, is the project still appropriate? Will it buildings to be suspended.”
Michelson Architects. “This only scratches enhancing the activities in which we par- service the need under the conditions it Designing for safety of airborne disease
the surface of the paradigm shift in busi- ticipate. was originally conceived? Is the cash flow will be an ongoing future design concern.
ness and healthcare for the future.” “In our buildings we will continue to still there to construct and sustain the "How do you design spaces in which to
For example, architects and designers see the trend of touchless everything, sen- project? Are the business model and pro- be social and yet achieve an appropriate
services will exceed the traditional roles as sors, RFID chip technology, and even jections still accurate for the project to be social distancing for safety?” wonders
consultants commissioned to design a voice technology to allow activities to successful?" Michelson. “What is the formula that sat-
building. occur without the touch of a human, pos- Ambiguity and the unknown are diffi- isfies the public concerns and perceptions
“We are part of a team that must identify sibly contaminated hand,” he says. “There cult environments to make decisions and that will allow a space to be used and
and establish the operational strategy first, will be an increased use of ultraviolet commit millions of dollars in construction therefore the business be successful?”
then redefine the structure that surrounds lights to kill bacteria and ionizers in our money. Once the decisions are made, there In the foreseeable future, design for
it,” he says. “We are within a rapidly mechanical systems to filter the air from must be a commitment to see it through. public safety will take precedent over
changing society, changing service contaminates. We will soon see sensors “Vision is important and it becomes crit- design for maximum return on invest-
providers, exponentially changing tech- and foot pedal controls for elevators.” ical to strengthen what is important to ment. Spaces will need to be flexible and
nology and changing workforces. The What will stay the same, he believes, are achieve the ultimate goal,” he adds. adaptable to events, all of which possess
Some of the amenities and upgrades that enough space for safety.
current facilities may consider during the “We will move away from being a tactile
pandemic will be a touchless experience as society, a handshake hello, a hug, touching
they interact with the built environment, different surfaces, to a more visual and
according to Michelson. audio experience,” he says. “Design will
“We are selecting non-porous surfaces need to capture the warmth of human
that are easy to clean and using technology interactions and experience without pro-
to screen people from illness,” he says. moting touch. We are a world in transi-
“We are already past the handheld ther- tion. The fabric of design, operations, and
mometer gun to the sensor at the door that our building need to be restructured and
posts your temperature as you walk in. I rewoven with an additional thread of envi-
have been intrigued by the recent addition ronmental safety incorporated into the
of elevator foot controls to ring for the ele- structure of our lives.”
vator on each floor and then a foot control
within the elevator to select your floor. For more information, visit
Ionizers and ultraviolet light are good www.saltzmichelson.com.
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16 September 2020 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News