PANDEMIC-RESPONSIVE DESIGN

Along with solutions like conducting regular COVID-19 testing, university leaders continue to put
a premium on conventional protocols such as social distancing, mask wearing, hand sanitizer stations
and informational signage across their facilities. It is a positive mental wellness effect that every facility
can achieve and foster, one where people feel safe, comfortable and able to optimize performance. By
designing around all the senses, university leaders provide an awareness of the environment, and
confidence in how to interact with it, therefore using everything in the facility to its full potential.

SMART, practical design - The mentality behind these innovative approaches is straightforward. The key
is not to overdesign in response to the current public health crisis, but instead to be decisive and
practical about the design process. In a time when technology continues to evolve, flexibility along with
a practical sense approach is the key. One of the keys for designers is to understand the daily use and
flow for each of the facility’s user groups. For example, creating diagrams that show both vertical and
horizontal travel paths for each group as well as times when those groups might cross paths proves
decisive. This will help ensure designing ample space in corridors and intersections, which allow ample
room for social distancing.

SPACE- When it comes to space, the pandemic has forced facility leaders to be more conscious about
how to space people out. This is particularly important when it pertains to facilities with locker rooms
and training areas. Some of these solutions include strategies such as widening hallways, as well as using
aesthetics in carpet patterns and ceiling lights to highlight both distance measures and one-way path
directions. In addition to measured diagrams, floor markings and posted signs, reducing the amount of
furniture and equipment inside the locker rooms can also be considered (less to wipe down every day).

ACCESS - Along with increasing the general size of spaces – such as meeting rooms – to accommodate
social distancing protocols, one of the efforts being considered is alternative entry and exit methods,
which can also include card access. Designing touchless systems and utilizing occupancy sensors
wherever possible are additional features that can be incorporated into the design to enhance social
distancing protocols. For example, using apps to lock and unlock entry points can be both a convenient
and safe design feature.

This touchless access approach may also apply to hallways, and other access/entry points. While
the areas still would remain controlled, access would be via automatic door controls. A staff access
control system identifies people based on a match between a personnel tag ID stored in the tag and the
tag ID records stored in the database.

DUAL LOCKER ROOMS: PERFORMANCE + CONNECTION - Access also factors with locker rooms. Today,
leaders are using a one-way enter/exit design approach, which could be applied to the general locker
room design and in specific areas like shower and restroom zones. In addition, leaders can give closer
attention to locker room circulation paths, especially as patrons aim to some level of social distancing.

VENTILATION, UV + OZONE MOLECULES - Two of the major locker room enhancements, especially
during the pandemic, include adding ventilation systems to sterilize the air from odor and bacteria, as
well as integrating UV lighting. Odors, long a huge concern in locker rooms, tend to incubate bacterial
growth that can lead to threats like MRSA and Staph infections. Sports spaces, i.e., locker rooms, weight
rooms, etc., can be odorous spaces. By providing alternative spaces, university leaders help keep the
smells to a minimum and away from regularly occupied space.

REFERENCE:

Cowart, Y. (2021). 6 ways to make sports facilities safe for COVID and beyond.
https://universitybusiness.com/6-ways-to-make-sports-facilities-safe-for-covid-and-beyond/