Page 19 - SFHN JUNE 2020 FLIP BOOK

HEALTHCARE REAL ESTATE, CONSTRUCTION, DESIGN & FACILITY PLANNING

Healthcare Design

Few events will have had and touchless anything ing you enter the building; that will we must minimize cross contamination
as immediate an impact upon will become normal selec- occur. You have already experienced this between respiratory and non-respiratory
the design community than tions. Materials used in getting take-out food when a favorite patients as much as possible. In medical
the COVID-19 pandemic. hospitals; germ resistant restaurant brings your food to you buildings, the entire question of where
More than in healthcare facil- materials, welded seams directly in the car, motor still running. patients are screened; even prior to
ities, all buildings will be will be specified in non- There will be a form of drive through entering the building will need to be
reevaluated from a perspec- hospital and even non- medicine that evolves which will become determined during design to ensure
tive of viral contamination. medical projects. All routine. There is no reason to believe patient and public safety. Masks will be
In a similar manner that bathrooms will start to that building entrances and exits will the new normal in medical buildings and
Legionnaires Disease initiat- resemble the restrooms in continue to be a single door. Defining the dispensing and disposal of the masks
ed ventilation code changes airports or turnpike rest activities and people movement in a will become the public practice. There
and shifted the mechanical stops, ingress and egress building will allow clear circulation and will be a proliferation of separation
design in buildings, it is not BY CHARLES openings, motion sensors provide the abilities to separate ingress design and practices that evolve over-
beyond reason that future MICHELSON, AIA, for toilets, urinals, water, from egress doors thereby lessoning time.
codes will include safety ACHA, LEED AP soap, and paper tower interaction between people and lessen- Ultimately, our recent experiences
requirements for discourag- dispensers. Recent stud- ing the opportunity for infections to be with the COVID-19 virus throughout the
ing any contagious disease. ies of hand dryers in rest- transmitted through unintended touch. country have provided the public a tech-
What does that mean? In an office, retail rooms speak to the germs that remain All public spaces in buildings will go nological baptism under fire. In the
store, restaurant, do we simply increase behind so until the perception of that through a redesign visioning process. As future we will virtualize as many
the size and volume of every building so problem is solved, they will be eliminat- a designer of pediatric medical offices, processes and activities as possible to
social distancing is accommodated ed. we have always provided separate wait- minimize opportunities for interpersonal
through additional space? That would As we commence work on the design ing areas for the sick and healthy contamination.
hardly be affordable or achievable. of new medical facilities, the entire patients. This can become the new nor-
However, there can be real design premise of the building lobby, parking, mal for all medical waiting rooms; sick
changes that will become the norm in entrance to the elevator lobby or waiting vs. well waiting. In addition, a sophisti- For more information, contact Charles
the design of buildings to help safeguard areas for services will be reevaluated in cated wayfinding to verify area designa- Michelson, President, Saltz Michelson
and discourage disease transmission their entirety. In a homage to the 1950’s I tions will become a much more visible Architects, at (954) 266-2700 or
through breathing and touch. believe there will be an increase in car component of design as the public must cmichelson@saltzmichelson.com or visit
Low hanging fruit such as the selec- side services where if something can be be easily directed to the appropriate loca- www.saltzmichelson.com.
tion of non-porous, seamless materials brought to you in the car instead of hav- tions to minimize risk. Through design,

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