SENIOR LIVING COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK
WE’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE
Chipman Design Architecture has weathered over four decades of economic turbulence by consistently leading with our values. We believe people come first, standing as a partner by our clients’ side, and committing the talent and resources needed to innovate through any storm. CDA has helped our clients find success in difficult times due to our ability to respond quickly, pivot team priorities, and adapt services to meet immediate client needs. Throughout the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009, we doubled down on our client partnerships, building more fluid and non traditional relationships by offering new services like lease reviews and architectural test fits. Crisis or not, we are nothing without our amazing team members, and we understand the demand to rethink human-centric design principles for our clients, as well as how to support our staff as we adapt to collaborating in a new working environment. Admittedly, COVID-19 is uncharted territory, but as the leading architectural design firm for a post-COVID-19 world, we are facing it with courage, innovation and resilience. COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ FIRM HISTORY
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LAKE BARRINGTON WOODS BARRINGTON, IL
WE HAVE YOUR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PLAN FOR COVID-19
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mongst the hardest hit of this pandemic are the elderly, and those residing in areas of high concentration such as senior living communities are at even higher risk. CDA studied how the physical environment of a community can maintain connection and comfort, both in the public and private spaces of a community. General programming for this case study included a large Independent and Assisted Living community sitting on 20 acres, with a variety of amenity spaces and just over 200 resident units. CDA is leading the way with foresight and imagination on how public spaces need to not only adapt now but also thrive in a modified future. To meet changing demands we have to be SMART:
SPATIAL AWARENESS MATERIALS AIR QUALITY ROADMAP TOUCHLESS COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ SMART INTRO
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SPATIAL AWARENESS
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apping flexible solutions such as modular furniture and portable dividers will easily transform spaces to accommodate varying social distancing measures. In response to widely accepted social distancing guidelines, making ample space for personal boundaries is key to maintaining the health and safety of employees and customers. The challenge is translating those design choices without losing a sense of connection. The primary areas of concern for most businesses and offices are common spaces like reception waiting areas, dining areas, meeting rooms, and break rooms. All of these gathering rooms will require a little creative thinking to draw a new floor plan to accommodate social distancing. Seat counts will need to be reduced and should remain adaptable to increase or decrease depending on future social distancing rules. Design choices should also emphasize privacy, with solutions like portable dividers that offer screening between seating.
COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ SPATIAL AWARENESS
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MATERIALS
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aterial choice is a major consideration in redesigning for a post-COVID world. Updating materials to innovative products noted for their anti-microbial and sanitation performance will serve a safer environment. Bleach-cleanable materials and textiles (typically used in health care settings) are becoming the norm for commercial settings and are readily available to ship on demand without long lead times. The use of non-porous materials for countertops is ideal for ease of sanitizing. Quartz, for example, is available in a wide variety of looks, from solid white to mimicking natural stone. Additionally, copper, an on-trend material in the design world right now, is also naturally antimicrobial. Manufacturers have quickly adapted their product lines to include cost-effective options for the utilization of copper such as peel-and-stick solutions, which allow for a quick application that can be completed in a matter of minutes.
COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ MATERIALS
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AIR QUALITY
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roper ventilation and air purification is an important step in taking precautions against the spread of disease transmitted through aerosol or droplets. Installing well-planned HVAC systems that bring more than just comfort to a space will contribute to healthy Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). While the gold standard for cleaner air might include the integration of HEPA filtration, UV-C light air purification and more advanced control packages within the mechanical system, these solutions are costly and often cannot be retrofitted to existing applications. However, notable improvements in air quality can be achieved in nearly all systems by installing better air filters (MERV-13 minimum), increasing fresh air ventilation, setting controls to operate fans for longer periods, or even operational strategies such as running HVAC systems during off hours to “flush� the space of airborne contaminants. If the architecture of the space allows it, open operable doors and windows during cool hours of the day to increase ventilation, then adjust control settings to address the changes in humidity that come with outside air.
COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ AIR QUALITY
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ROADMAP
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or a brick-and-mortar location, it’s imperative to communicate that guests can safely move through the space. Showcasing proper signage etiquette is key, combined with intentional design cues throughout, will provide subliminal way-finding. Many of the ways a business needs to adjust its space will go unseen by employees and guests, so it’s important to ensure messaging and signage convey these choices. A successful socially distanced guest experience will also include clear signage directing customers. Thoughtful messaging invokes confidence for all end-users, as it suggests that everyone’s safety matters and that necessary measures are being taken. A more long-term solution than floor marker stickers could be creating clear, yet seamless, flooring and ceiling transitions that more subtly tell people where to go without distracting from the overall design of the space. Additionally, an array of previously secondary services have surged into the forefront, such as BOPIS (Buy online, pick-up in store) or curbside pick-up. Pathways for these services should be holistically integrated into the overall design, instead of as an after-thought.
COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ ROADMAP
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TOUCHLESS
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lready a key tool in replicating a sense of human connection in personal and professional settings, technology is a key tool that will be used in bridging the gap in human connection from six feet away in a public setting. Integrating both advanced technology and dependable mechanisms will ensure a contactless experience from initial entry and beyond. Contactless offerings are becoming the expectation and therefore must be integrated into the overall design to promote a seamless experience. Smartphone apps will continue to gain momentum, as most small businesses have moved operations online while closed, presenting an opportunity to foster community through a digital experience. Strategically installing viewing monitors at contact points can aid communication of key information between employees and guests.
COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ TOUCHLESS
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CASE STUDY
SENIOR LIVING BEFORE
KITCHEN AND DINING AREAS ARE ENCLOSED AND DO NOT ALLOW FOR ADEQUATE FLEXIBLE SPACE FOR MEAL PREPARATION AND DINING DURING QUARANTINE
UNDERUTILIZED SPACE SHOULD BE REEVALUATED TO SERVE MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS, SUCH AS A WORKING DESK AREA FOR VIRTUAL CALLS OR TELEMEDICINE APPOINTMENTS
RESIDENT ENTRANCES LACK A DEFINED AREA FOR PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES SUCH AS STAGING INCOMING PACKAGES, HAND SANITIZER, AND TEMPERATURE CHECKS FOR STAFF AND VISITORS
COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ CASE STUDY: BEFORE
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CASE STUDY
SENIOR LIVING AFTER
OPEN KITCHEN
VINYL FLOORING
REMOVING THE WALLS AND INCORPORATING THE EATING AREA AS PART OF A LARGER, QUARTZ ISLAND IS A MORE EFFICIENT USE OF SPACE AND EASY TO CLEAN WHEN RESIDENTS OPT TO OR ARE REQUIRED TO DINE IN-UNIT $$$
MODERN VERSIONS OF THIS PRODUCT RESEMBLE REAL WOOD FOR A FRACTION OF THE PRICE, IS EASY TO CLEAN, WATER RESISTANT, DURABLE, AND DOES NOT COLLECT AIR CONTAMINANTS LIKE CARPET DOES. $
ENTRY NICHE
BUILT-IN DESK
REDUCING THE LARGE ENTRY CLOSET PROVIDES ADEQUATE SPACE FOR A MULTI-PURPOSE NICHE USED FOR HANDSANITIZER, TEMPERATURE TAKING, STORING MAIL AND PACKAGES, ETC. $$
A DEDICATED WORKSPACE WITH COMMUNITY-SUPPLIED TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS FOR EASY TELEMEDICINE VISITS, RIGHT FROM THE COMFORT OF HOME $$
COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ CASE STUDY: BEFORE
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CASE STUDY
SENIOR LIVING BEFORE
HARD TO CLEAN SEATING UPHOLSTERY AND FLOORING MATERIALS CAN HARBOR DIRT AND BACTERIA IF NOT PROPERLY MAINTAINED
CLOSED QUARTERS
VISITOR CHECK-IN
FURNITURE CONFIGURATIONS ARE NOT SPACED APPROPRIATELY FOR PROPER SOCIAL DISTANCING
VISITORS MUST PHYSICALLY ENTER THE BUILDING TO BE SCREENED FOR TEMPERATURES AND CONTACT TRACING RECORD
HI TOUCH AREAS UNUSED OUTDOOR AREA
PUSH BUTTON DOORS REQUIRE PHYSICAL CONTACT TO OPEN
OUTDOOR SPACE IS UNDERUTILIZED, LIMITING ACCESS TO CLEAN, FRESH AIR
COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ CASE STUDY: BEFORE
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CASE STUDY
SENIOR LIVING BEFORE
EASY TO CLEAN EASY TO CLEAN OR ANTIMICROBIAL MATERIALS SUCH AS LUXURY VINYL FLOORING OR NON-POROUS QUARTZ ALLOWS STAFF TO EASILY SANITIZE HI-TOUCH SURFACES LIKE COUNTERS, CHAIRS OR TABLE TOPS. $
FLEXIBLE FURNITURE FLEXIBLE ARRANGEMENTS ALLOW FOR PROPER SOCIAL DISTANCING EVEN AS SAFETY GUIDELINES CHANGE $
DEDICATED SOCIAL ZONES AN ALTERNATIVE WHEN OUTSIDE LOCALES SHUTDOWN FOR SAFETY REASONS. THESE MIGHT TAKE THE FORM OF A GAME LOUNGE OR A DAY-NIGHT BAR, AND CAN ADD VALUE TO A COMMUNITY POST-PANDEMIC. $$$
VISITOR CHECK-IN ADDING A SCREENING DESK PRIOR TO ACCESSING THE MAIN LOBBY NOT ONLY KEEPS RESIDENTS AND STAFF SAFE, IT CLEARLY CUES VISITORS INTO THE COMMUNITY’S PROCESS $$
OUTDOOR AREA UTILIZING OUTDOOR SPACE GIVES RESIDENTS AND GUESTS A SAFE SPACE TO SOCIALIZE. $$$
COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ CASE STUDY: BEFORE
TOUCHLESS ENTRY AUTOMATED SENSOR DOORS ARE TOUCHLESS AND LIMIT THE POSSIBILITY FOR CROSS CONTAMINATION $$
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MOOD BOARD
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ostalgic charm comes naturally to this community where horse carriages once roamed the lantern lit streets and cobblestone spotted the countryside. Inspiring spaces that spark memorable moments, both new and old, is quintessential within senior living environments. Historical nods are celebrated through a tapestry of elements, such as artisanal woodwork and regional, time-period inspired fabrics.
COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ MOOD BOARD
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CASE STUDY
COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ PROJECT “AFTER” RENDERING
RESIDENCE UNIT RENDERING
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CASE STUDY
RESIDENCE UNIT RENDERING BUILT-IN DESK
OPEN KITCHEN
ENTRY NICHE
A DEDICATED WORKSPACE WITH COMMUNITY-SUPPLIED TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS FOR EASY TELEMEDICINE VISITS, RIGHT FROM THE COMFORT OF HOME $$
REMOVING THE WALLS AND INCORPORATING THE EATING AREA AS PART OF A LARGER, QUARTZ ISLAND IS A MORE EFFICIENT USE OF SPACE AND EASY TO CLEAN WHEN RESIDENTS OPT TO OR ARE REQUIRED TO DINE IN-UNIT $$$
REDUCING THE LARGE ENTRY CLOSET PROVIDES ADEQUATE SPACE FOR A MULTI-PURPOSE NICHE USED FOR HANDSANITIZER, TEMPERATURE TAKING, STORING MAIL AND PACKAGES, ETC. $$
VINYL FLOORING MODERN VERSIONS OF THIS PRODUCT RESEMBLE REAL WOOD FOR A FRACTION OF THE PRICE, IS EASY TO CLEAN, WATER RESISTANT, DURABLE, AND DOES NOT COLLECT AIR CONTAMINANTS LIKE CARPET DOES. $
COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ PROJECT “AFTER” RENDERING
QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS A LOW-MAINTENANCE, MAN-MADE PRODUCT THAT IS NON-POROUS AND EASY TO CLEAN, QUARTZ WON’T TRAP AND HARBOR BACTERIA LIKE NATURAL STONE CAN. $$
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Be well!
LAUREN CHIPMAN Chief Executive Officer lchipman@chipman-design.com 626-399-9494
MEG BOYLE Principal, Design Studio mboyle@chipman-design.com 630-747-5285
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