May 1st, 2020
by American Institute of Architects

The following is a press release from the American Institute of Architects asking design professionals to contribute information on COVID-19 alternative health care sites to the organization’s new online resource.

 

An American Institute of Architects (AIA) task force is asking architects, designers, engineers and facility owners around the globe to provide design information on COVID-19 alternative healthcare sites for a new online resource.

The AIA task force has created the online tool to facilitate information sharing and the development of best practices for responding to COVID-19 and future pandemics. As part of the new online resource, architects, designers, engineers and facility managers worldwide can input information on alternative care sites into AIA’s database. Information will appear on the COVID-19 ArchMap, which was produced in partnership with the University of Kansas’ Institute of Health + Wellness Design. The task force developed this tool to catalog current public health and healthcare facility response and to serve as a research database moving forward.

Additionally, the task force is currently creating a preparedness assessment tool to assist individuals — who are not experienced healthcare designers — with evaluating buildings for alternative healthcare operations in a non-healthcare setting during the COVID-19 response. The tool will include a variety of considerations in a checklist format for whether a site is appropriate to be an alternative care site.

The AIA task force — announced last week — is comprised of architects with a wide range of expertise, including healthcare facility design, urban design, public health and disaster assistance.

AIA is encouraging federal, state and local governments to adapt appropriate existing — and especially vacant or temporarily unused—buildings to meet the growing healthcare and quarantine needs resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Visit AIA’s website for more COVID-19 resources for members.

About the Author
Founded in 1857, the American Institute of Architects consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through more than 200 international, state and local chapters, AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public well-being. AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation, and world. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards.