As I self-isolate at home with my family, doing my part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, I have had some time for reflection. In addition to keeping informed about what I can best do to support those who are suffering from the pandemic, I am also thinking about what we can collectively learn from this ordeal and how that might inform positive action as we recover. I believe the COVID-19 pandemic will influence how we design and manage work environments and public spaces, prompt organizations and individuals to consider resilience, and hopefully inspire greater action on the climate crisis.
How might COVID-19 influence planning, design and policy?
Workplace/Public Space Design
In response to social isolation requirements, the number of people in the U.S. who are working remotely has doubled from mid-March to the beginning of April. Some companies were better prepared than others, and some individual circumstances, such as parents with young children, created challenges, but reports suggest that this transition has not killed productivity, and in some cases has boosted it. According to a recent Gallup survey, 59% of people working remotely during the pandemic say they would like to continue doing so as much as possible after the crisis, compared to 41% who say they want to return to the office to work as before.
When we are able to return to some form of normalcy, how will our experience with the pandemic influence the design and maintenance of indoor environments? We may see the trend toward dense open office environments reversed in favor of greater distancing between workstations. The demand for office space may drop as more companies and employees embrace remote work. We may also see new technologies, procedures and certifications adopted to increase assurance that health, exposure and transmission risks have been mitigated. The thoughtful consideration of these issues will shape the next generation of healthy, high-performance indoor environments.
Outside the office, how will increased awareness of disease transmission vectors impact the way we design public spaces? How can we make spaces that foster the social cohesion we crave while also allowing physical distancing? The design and management of public open space, retail environments, event venues, and dining and drinking establishments may change significantly.
Resilience/Business Continuity
While the specific challenges and required responses may have been different than if we had experienced an earthquake, hurricane or other such hazard event, the pandemic provides a wakeup call highlighting the need for greater resilience in our communities, businesses and homes. The panic buying and hoarding of basic necessities, and the weakness (or lack) of systems for nutrition support for low-income families, childcare for essential workers (health care, first responders, etc.), and care for the elderly, do not suggest great resilience in communities and institutions. We witnessed businesses, school districts, universities and other organizations scrambling to figure out how to operate when everyone is advised to stay home. As individuals and families, many of us found we were not prepared to maintain our health and well-being at home with limited access to resources. Imagine trying to maintain order and functionality when the utilities, infrastructure or other systems we take for granted are disrupted for an extended period.
We clearly need to invest more in resilient systems at all scales (nationally, regionally and locally); creating response plans, pre-positioning resources, and building strong bonds in our communities and neighborhoods. Businesses need to develop continuity plans and consider the physical and technological infrastructure needed to maintain viability and productivity. At home, we should all heed the advice to keep a reasonable supply of non-perishable food, water, medication and hygiene supplies on hand.
Climate Action
The pandemic and our response to it have revealed parallels and connections to the climate crisis. While it is too soon to draw concrete conclusions, initial comparisons of the actions taken by impacted countries suggest that an early and focused response to COVID-19 significantly reduced the health impact and economic cost of the virus. Clearly, a similar model applies to the climate crisis; comprehensive action now will be far less costly with fewer human impacts than a reactive response once the more severe predicted impacts of climate change take hold (Global Commission on Adaptation estimates a $1.8 trillion investment in resilience could net $7.1 trillion in benefits). Similarly, the impact of the climate crisis, just like a virus, will not respect national borders. Coordinated, international cooperation will be more successful than isolationist approaches.
So often, discussion of the environmental and human health benefits of emission reductions from climate action seem abstract, with estimated numbers based on models and projections lacking the power to influence individual behavior and public policy. Preliminary data from regions that have shut down normal activities to prevent virus transmission show significant reductions in air pollution and the illness and deaths typically associated with it. Similarly, the chronic respiratory stress caused by poor air quality has been revealed as a significant comorbidity factor for COVID-19. The U.S. and other countries are currently investing massive amounts of money to save lives and jobs in response to the virus. Clearly, after the threat of COVID-19 has subsided, we can see in real terms that similar investments in renewable energy, clean technology and electrified transportation may save even more lives, and create jobs at the same time. Will lived experience, like fewer asthma attacks and clear views of majestic mountains, prompt action that dire climate models have not?
For the moment, we will focus on doing our part to prevent infection, heal the sick, comfort those who have lost loved ones, and support those out of work. When the dust settles, let’s not forget these and other lessons learned through this ordeal, and rethink how we design and manage our communities, businesses, institutions and homes to improve health and prosperity and reduce environmental impacts, including taking overdue action to stem the climate crisis.
Alan Scott, FAIA, LEED Fellow, LEED AP BD+C, O+M, WELL AP, CEM, is an architect with over 30 years of experience in sustainable building design. He is a senior consultant with Intertek Building Science Solutions in Portland, Ore. To learn more, follow him on Twitter at @alanscott_faia.