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September 2020 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \ 79 C olorado’s developers and architects normally design office build- ings to be resilient in the face floods, fires and those seemingly ev- er-changing tenant tastes. And while the desire for office spaces that minimize germ/bacteria/virus transfer has been batted around in cli- ent meetings for years, most of the practices rarely, if ever, made it into the final design. Until now. COVID-19 has pushed safe building practices to the forefront and sparked new dialogue on just how to improve tenant safety. “It reflects how everybody’s life is changing,” says Aldo Sebben, principal at STUDIO Architecture. “A virus like this shows the risks involved and up until now that hasn’t really been the focus of office building design. Our office building owners and their tenants are now looking much more closely at how they can protect their workforce.” “As stewards of the build environment, it’s our responsibility to come up with ways that will allow people to utilize office buildings and common spaces in a way that is safe, effective and efficient,” says Amanda Johnson, LEED AP at OZ Architecture. “And it’s our social responsibility to craft ways for that to happen.” Both Sebben and Johnson say that in the last few months clients have ap- proached them looking for ways to make their office projects healthier for the tenants. “It’s something we’re addressing right now on an office project in downtown Boulder,” says Sebben. “The client requested healthier build options and we’re delivering that.” “We’ve seen it on a handful of projects that we’re working on, but most notably a large office building on the Confluence,” says Johnson. “That owner said to us, ‘I want to create the healthiest building in Denver.’ So, it challenged us to not only look at systems, but also vertical circulation, organization of the common spaces and elevators, as well as the path of travel from your car to your suite.” Areas of Focus A study published by the American Society for Microbiology found that a single contaminated office tabletop or doorknob can spread to 40%-60% of workers and visitors within two to four hours. When it’s the common cold, it’s productivity loss. When it’s a deadly virus, the stakes are higher. For STUDIO’s clients, Sebben and his team compiled an extensive list of “COVID-19 Building Strategies” that covered seemingly every design option in ar- chitecture, HVAC, plumbing and electrical, including: • Space Planning • Main Entry and Elevators • Restrooms • Water Fountains • Mechanical Systems • Lighting Dr. Eric Poeschla, head of infectious diseases at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, believes architects, developers and builders should focus on increasing open areas, improved ventilation, increased humidity and hands-free Pandemic Sparks Push for Safer Office Builds WORDS: Kevin Criss