5 Key Tips in Designing Educational Facilities in the Post-CoVid Era

The education sector has not been exempted from the pandemic’s toll. Face-to-face classes had been shifted into virtual ones where the majority of students, families, and professionals found it really hard to cope up with the new normal. 

Allowing schools to stay closed is not a very good option as not everyone has the capability to continue virtual classes. Today, as the government is planning to reopen schools, incorporating CoVid-19 solutions in school designs is of utmost concern. 

Have Front Porch areas on campuses.  

This “front porch” is basically a waiting area where students and faculty staff can wait in line before finally entering the main campus grounds. This is designed to become a handwashing facility where administrators can check temperatures and distribute masks.  Barriers will also be present to enforce social distancing. 

Incorporate new classroom layout and ideas. 

Maintaining distance in classrooms is a tough thing. From an architect’s point of view, it’s an ideal design solution to “offset every other row instead of removing rows, creating almost a diagonal pattern”. Moreover, floor area could be increased by opening movable partitions. Locking casters are also recommended to be used for seats to stay in place. 

Throughout the course of the pandemic, the concept of an outdoor classroom has also been conceived. Tent-like structures could be built on unoccupied campus grounds where natural daylight is highly utilized. 

Improve air quality. 

Today, building structures need to have proper air circulation and be rid of stagnant air. This does not mean that air conditioners would be totally out of the picture. Those schools that use ACs could use higher HVAC filters. It is still vital to talk to an HVAC professional to see what your building needs and what suits it best – from filters that remove at least 99.97% of airborne allergens and pollutants to those that use short-wave ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and viruses.

On the other hand, schools can still use open windows for continued air flow. 

Have smooth, easy-to-clean surfaces

As we need to be clean at all times, materials inside schools must be easy to clean as well. For items to be considered as such, it has to “retain its structure and appearance after repeated wipes from harsh chemicals. “ Second, every surface of an item must also be easily cleaned. Chairs with seat cushions that press up against back cushions is a no-no. Other debris are easily trapped in these kinds of materials. Third, seamless ones are the right pick. Non-porous materials are highly recommended as they do not harbor much pathogens. Lastly, self-sanitizing items 

Apply touchless and flexible designs on interiors. 

As much as possible, we try to limit anything related to “touch”, thus, touchless faucets and flush valves, soap dispensers, hand dryers and towel dispensers must be applied, including doorless bathrooms with sinks facing hallways reduces student interaction with touchless access. Moreover, mobile and movable furniture for social distancing and flexible furniture to allow for a quick transition of the space is greatly recommended. 

The pandemic is uncertain. Thus, we need to apply a proactive approach to the public’s concern. And it is only right that we give utmost importance towards safety. It is best that we find a firm that will address Health and Safety Architecture Designs. 

CP Design and Architecture, a Davao Architecture Firm, is home to School and Office Architecture Designers  that applies these 5 key tips in helping educational facilities achieve paramount public safety.