91视频

The 鈥渘ew normal鈥� has taken on multiple forms throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The first stage was shifting to remote work temporarily and then to a long-term work from home life. But the 鈥渘ew normal鈥� is still metamorphosing as people prepare to return to the office.

With two COVID-19 vaccines approved for emergency use, the general public might start to see vaccinations late-spring to mid-summer. Work spaces need to be prepared to keep occupants safe during the pandemic for when workers gradually return.

鈥淲e haven’t actually had to teach tenants how to safely occupy a building,鈥� Keren Eichen, director of real estate services for Unico Properties, said.

Buildings, entryways, and gathering spaces are being retrofitted to allow for social distancing. Signage is being put up reminding people to stay six-feet apart and wear a mask. Throughout the building, sanitation stations may lace the hallways; arrows placed directing one-way traffic and barriers put up to protect workstations.

ZGF Architects principal Alan Gerencer has spent nearly 30 years working on methods to build collaboration in workplaces and design environments for people to feel comfortable.

鈥淧eople need to be ready to return and feel comfortable in the space,鈥� Gerencer said. 鈥淢ake sure it feels and looks clean.鈥�

While every company will have a different approach and space to work with, Gerencer encourages businesses to survey employees about what they’re comfortable with and not. The information gathered will help inform how to design spaces.

As the pandemic progresses, Dietrich Wieland, president of Mackenzie, said the virus is impacting design on simple levels in many cases. It has made them rethink how they plan break rooms and entryways.

The firm released a COVID-19 design guide in March and updated it in May, where they looked at existing layouts, how they could be retrofitted and then reimagined.

Entryways typically have people coming and going from the same door, which places people face-to-face. As a retrofit, it could have a barrier in the middle, creating lanes for entering and exiting. A sanitation station can be placed inside the doorway, and a queue of people can wait outside to enter with markers indicating every six feet. A reimagined design has separate entry and exit points, touchless doors and a canopy to cover people waiting.

While it’s going to be a slow transition back into the office, COVID-19 has already impacted the way people look at office spaces and their importance for workplace culture.

鈥淭he beauty of the office is this touch point where we all come together,鈥� Gerencer said.

As property managers, Unico Properties has been investing in signage, touchless technology, PPE and sanitation chemicals to get the U.S. Bancorp Tower ready for people to come back to work.

Eichen said the scale of the signage campaign required throughout the tower is the first of its kind. Signs line the building and are propped up in rooms that say 鈥淟et’s be safe鈥� in the hallways, 鈥淭hank you for practicing social distancing,” and on the floor detailing 鈥淪tand here; stop the spread.鈥�

Property Managers have been going above and beyond what their jobs traditionally mandate. Eichen said Unico is the busiest it has ever been in 2020.

Workers continue to remain at home as COVID-19 case numbers rise. But the planning and preparation for their returns have already started.

While 2020 comes to a close and 2021 entices a 鈥渘ew normal,鈥� flexibility has been a critical clause throughout.

鈥淚t is really important to understand what is so important to people,鈥� Gerencer said. 鈥淲hat is it that will make them feel comfortable and valued and what is working for them.鈥�