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Page 34 - July 1-14, 2020 www.crej.com Construction, Design & Engineering F or those who have been working fromhome, imag- ining a return to work and daily routines can seemdaunting. Pub- lic transportation, day care cen- ters, school systems, restaurants and more will be adjusting to a post-COVID-19 world. How the corporate office will be affected is one of the most urgent questions asked of designers today. As a certified interior designer for the health care industry, I focus on design solutions that create safe and innovative spaces for well- ness, and many of the materi- als and design methods used in those designs are applicable to the corporate workplace. By bor- rowing ideas and products from health care design like those dis- cussed here, we can make the office cleaner and safer, provid- ing employers and employees with greater confidence, comfort and safety. n Smart materials. A vari- ety of surface-pad products on the market today commonly are used throughout health care facilities and could eas- ily be adapted to the workplace. Applied to high-touch surface areas, such as doors, these pads are engineered to prevent the spread of germs – with each con- tact, a small amount of alcohol gel is released killing various bacteria. A n o t h e r option, pro- moted by scientists for years, is the use of copper because of its antibacte- rial proper- ties. A study completed by the National Institutes of Health proves that a 70% copper coating can be extremely effective at killing strong viruses like MRSA and E. coli. These coatings accommo- date a variety of applications and can easily extend to the design of light switches, elevator buttons, toilet seats and faucets to create a more inherently safe office. For more than a decade, bleach cleanable fabrics have been used in the health care industry and are easy to specify by looking for the WS (water soluble) clean- ing code. Utilizing these fabrics for seating in high-traffic areas, such as conference rooms and break rooms, provides surfaces that can be wiped down fre- quently with cleaning solutions. No need to worry about vinyl making a comeback as these fab- rics have come a long way. Their appearance and feel is deceiving; for example, a handsome faux leather is one of many possible solutions. n Automation. Automation in corporate workspaces is not new; it is commonly used in building lighting systems. How- ever, health care systems on the forefront of technology devel- opment are utilizing radio fre- quency identification sensors to track an employee’s location in a facility and provide timestamps for breaks and activities such as handwashing. While corpora- tions may be reluctant to use this technology to its fullest extent, there are several applications that could be beneficial, includ- ing reminding staff to sanitize their desks and devices, wash their hands or stretch for better health. n Sterilization. Ultraviolet sterilization is a common prac- tice in many health care facili- ties, and places like gyms and hotels have used UV as a stan- dard cleaning protocol for some time. Handheld UV wands are available at low cost, but there’s some doubt in the research com- munity about their effectiveness due to low power levels (much less light emitted than devices used in hospitals, etc.) and their reliance on operator skill. The amount of time needed for a UV wand to hover over an item and effectively inactivate viruses may be unrealistically long, if even determinable. Many prod- ucts do not use UV-C, the grade of UV needed to inactivate the COVID-19 virus, yet claim to provide sterilization. Safety is also an issue, since UV-C and other grades of UV are harmful to humans. n Strategic design. For years, health care design has focused on the intentional/strategic use of space to create separate zones for healthy and sick patients, designating areas that provide peace of mind for occupants and/or protection from potential infection. At the corporate work- place there is no law requiring employers to provide sick leave for employees, and those that do typically offer only minimal time off. As a result, many employees come to work when not feeling well and power through the day to get their work done despite a mild migraine, slight cold or other ailment. To accommodate such situations, designers could create separate “no contact” rooms. Different from mother’s rooms or wellness rooms, these areas would isolate employ- ees who are unwell. The space would require an increase in air flow and an operable window, if possible, to reduce the spread of germs to other parts of the office. Easy-to-clean hard-surface floors and walls, cleanable fabrics, and hand sanitizers would be vital for these no contact spaces. Another feature, hands-free door and foot levers, similar to those in operating rooms or ICU units, would be beneficial at work. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Preven- tion, studies show that nearly 80% of illness-causing germs are spread by hand. Hands-free features at office restrooms and break rooms would be an easy, low-cost way to create a healthi- er environment. Finally, consider sofas, a com- mon furniture piece in an office environment but a great avenue for spreading germs. Seating multiple people in close prox- imity and at eye level increases the chance of spreading bacteria. Modifying seating options and their proximity in an office set- ting should be a key consider- ation moving forward. Individ- ual seats advantageously placed will reduce the chance of spread- ing germs. Health care designers are experts in helping to fight the transmission of bacteria, germs and viruses. Borrowing and implementing simple, tested methods and materials from health care design can make going back to work a more posi- tive and safe experience for all. s Health care design solutions influence corporate workplace Misty Bell, NCIDQ, CHID Senior designer, IA Interior Architects