Assembling Your Space Planning Team

 As we continue dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, employers are looking to commercial architects for advice on how to design their workplaces to maximize the health and safety of everyone. While it may not be possible to tear down the whole building and start from scratch, there are certain modifications you can make to your workspaces that create a safer environment and improve indoor air quality. If you’re in the process of assembling your space planning team to develop a return to office (RTO) plan, here are some tips for you:

  • Check the latest cleaning and disinfecting guidelines from the CDC. You’re undoubtedly cleaning your building more, especially while the CDC continues to release pertinent information, like the importance of disposing personal protection equipment (PPE) immediately after use. When planning for your RTO, note the communal areas that receive the most foot traffic, because these areas will need to be disinfected more efficiently and frequently. 
  • Evaluate your air ventilation systems. We know that COVID-19 is an airborne virus, so high-quality air ventilation and filtration is a must. Most of us don’t work in places that keep the windows open all day. So when fresh air 24/7 isn’t an option, investing in top-of-the-line air filters and ventilation systems is the next best thing.
  • Redesign your office space to allow for social distancing. Most corporate offices have an open floor plan. With that said, many companies have to reevaluate their office design in order to bring people back to work safely. This is an area where you should seek the advice of a commercial architect who can make the safest use of your existing space. They can also make recommendations about how to redesign your workplace to adhere to proper social distancing.

Commercial architecture to promote safety 

Many people think architects only get involved in projects at the very beginning stages, which is not the case. Many commercial architects work on redesigning and replanning office spaces that have existed for many years. You don’t need to start from scratch in order to make your workplace safe; there are clever ways to adapt your current space. And if your employees are currently working from home, now is the perfect time to redesign your office. 

Many experts have warned that we will not be returning to “normal” for a very long time, and encouraged employers to make the necessary workplace modifications now in order to keep staff safe and socially distant from one another. For more information about adapting your workplace to adhere to the latest COVID-19 health and safety protocol, or if you have any other questions about commercial architecture, please contact us today. Discover why so many people in New Jersey partner with us. We look forward to hearing from you.
Originally posted https://leeb-architecture.com/assembling-your-space-planning-team/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hybrid Office Design: A Guide for Architects and Employers

Image
Hybrid office design is now standard practice across the board. Some companies still require employees to be in the office full-time, while many others offer a permanent hybrid work alternative.  Gallup  states that hybrid workers are, on average, coming into the office three days per week, which requires a rethink of modern office architecture. We need innovative office spaces to accommodate the diverse needs of hybrid work. That being said, our team of architects in NJ have put together a guide to hybrid office design based on the most recent commercial office additions to our portfolio. What Are Hybrid Work Models?    What are flexible and hybrid work models at their core? They link remote workers with on-site employees and include spaces such as home, the office, and a third space that could be a local coffee shop or a more ambitious spot like the beach. Employees have the flexibility to choose when they will be in the office, unless there are team-specific ...
Read more

How to Keep Commercial Building Costs On-Budget

Image
Commercial building projects are highly complex and demanding – and it’s important that they not only stay on schedule, but that they stay on budget too. While unforeseen circumstances can push both of these goals out, there are ways recommended by  Commercial architecture in NJ   to help prevent delays and rising costs. Know the Weak Points in  Commercial Building Design  and Construction Projects  When a commercial building project is facing delays and rising costs, there are several areas where weak points in the project are often found. By knowing these weak points and having a strategy that prevents them from collapsing, your project should move forward much more smoothly. These weak points include: Lack of vital design information –  Incomplete architectural plans that lack certain details and specifications will cause confusion, delays, miscommunication and even more work due to tear-outs. Choosing cheap contractors –  Contract...
Read more

How Residential Architecture is Responding to Climate Change

Image
Climate change is something every industry, including architecture, has started  adapting to. Building residential architecture that is made for the ever-changing weather challenges like extreme hot temperatures, flooding, and storms has become an integral part of the future.  Climate adaptation in architecture has changed to increase sustainability and the safety of the people who reside in homes that experience extreme weather patterns. Our team of  residential architects in NJ  takes a closer look below:  Evolution of Climate-Responsive Residential Architecture Climate architecture considers the environment and the structural adaptations of a building to thrive in its abode. Here are some ways in which the building industry has transformed residential architecture for climate change: Using eco-friendly resources Incorporating natural building materials Maximizing the building structure Focusing on the environment to reduce carbon emissions has become vital. T...
Read more