How a pandemic highlights the need for adaptable buildings

Part of the Community Resilience Series

By Helen Stefanidis

Central to a circular economy is designing waste out of systems and reusing products and materials in ways that benefit people, the environment, and the economy. In the built environment, that means construction that uses non-toxic, low-carbon materials and is designed for adaptation and deconstruction (instead of demolition). Decreasing reliance on raw materials for new buildings and shifting to reusable, repairable, biodegradable, and recyclable materials and products will not only maximize the lifespan of resources and products, but help to reduce pollution and climate change and decrease or eliminate waste in an industry that accounts for 40% of all CO2 emissions.

One of the critical necessities that has come to light with COVID-19 is the need for dynamic structures, changing with the uncertainty of this virus and how we use buildings. Globally, architects and planners are figuring out ways to take this into account in construction and building (especially as the fight against coronavirus is expected to continue for the foreseeable future) coming up with flexible, quickly assembled, mobile, and simple structures. 

Courtesy of Opposite Office

Dramatic increases in the need for healthcare space is one example. As New York City was anticipating the need of an immediate increase in hospital rooms, they sought to generate useful spaces for patients by either altering the capacity of existing structures or reusing buildings – office spaces, stadiums, convention centers, etc. – which already have the required basic amenities such as proper HVAC and treatment infrastructure. The American Institute of Architects also quickly stepped in to give guidelines on how best to retrofit existing spaces. Globally, shipping containers were turned into intensive-care pods, consisting of rapidly mounted, easily movable and safe units and the New Berlin airport, under construction since 2006, proposed turning into a “Superhospital” for coronavirus patients. 

The pandemic has also necessitated quarantine spaces. Architects considered mobile emergency quarantine spaces which include lightweight, fast, modular, flexible for expansion and reduction, affordable, weatherproof, mobile, safe, and secure. They are prefabricated with on-site assembly, minimizing in-situ construction. Units can be quickly constructed to respond to various terrains and conditions with minimal changes. They can also be moved around to various sites, as intensive-care needs increase or decrease, without having to build new structures. What if these products can eventually be shared globally, without burdening countries with less resources to build new structures to accommodate patients?  

Once we move out of the pandemic phase, thinking circularly when it comes to building and construction, might even help with economic recovery. What will happen with all that extra  office space if we continue to work from home? Can we use currently closed sports arenas for something else? As governments look to move forward, how can they do so without spending more money on new products and construction? This might just be the time for businesses and governments to start working together to create resilient systems that will benefit all, as well plan for a next wave, then recovery, and eventually, resilience.