The extensive spread of COVID-19 has turned the once-bustling office spaces into ghost towns. Employees quarantined inside working from home to help curb the spread of the infection. This global pandemic has as also increased awareness regarding hygiene as well as the relationship between our physical environment and our health. Therefore, it is sure to change the way commercial spaces are constructed, designed, and managed.
The architectures, developer and corporate real estate leaders will have to find innovate, novel, and safe way to rebuilt their upcoming projects. As a response to this crisis, the structural requirements of offices in sense of design, form and function are anticipated to change radically. This paradigm shift means the arrangements of cubicles, cafeterias, etc. will change forever.
The ever growing multinational companies and new start-ups, finding a space at aggregated and hygienic localities has become difficult. There are cubicles are closed together, open cafeterias, and compact conference rooms. These designs will see a total reversal.
We have focused on such aspects that can experience reversals.
Retrofitting and Focusing on Physical Elements
Most of the commercial spaces have a similar outdated structure, like a stuffy old box lined up with desks, inadequate ventilation. Therefore, Retrofitting is the only subsequent way to make changes. This will make the offices fit for life and encourage a better community. The retrofitting will include natural light, outdoor cafeterias, better-ventilated windows, sensor technology. This will reduce the strain on the employees and promote a healthier workplace.
Foster Proficient Work Community through Design
There is already a lot of panic and anxiety due to the global pandemic, which is predicted to continue even after the virus’s effect is controlled. Having spent a great deal of time at home and away from the office, the leaders will have to rebuild the sense of community. Therefore, equipping the office places with areas, enabling collaboration and socialization. This will also support social interactions.
Prefabrication of Building Materials
It’s time to shift the construction activities from the site to the production plants. This will reduce material wastage and will help fabricate materials regardless of outdoor conditions. Another benefit is that social distancing and personal protective equipment is easy to enforce at factories than sites. Prefabrication will come with good quality raw materials, less interaction among workers and an automated process.
Focusing on Indoor Air Quality and Automated Cleanliness
With the perturbing epidemic, the world has understood the importance of hygiene and good air quality, and healthy immune. So the developers will get a lot of demand to design and build an office that has sufficient air circulation. The indoor air quality will become the basic demand for an office space. Low air quality has been linked to poor immune, heart problems and respiratory diseases. To maintain hygiene efficiently, sensors can be really useful. It will ensure better cleaning protocols. Touchless door entry, self-cleaning surfaces with antimicrobial technology, will be more useful to keep the offices clean.
