While campus re-opening recommendations from the government remain undefined, the direction has been clear that a variety of strategies will be beneficial, including the following:
Minimize touch surfaces
Touch surfaces, where they do exist, should be durable and cleanable
Limit proximity to others where possible.
Smaller groups in larger spaces
Limit diverse interactions
Can students be kept within a limited group? (i.e. live together/learn together)
Minimize space changes for as many people as possible.
These strategies can be implemented at a variety of extremes. At this time, many schools are initiating campus modifications to accommodate these strategies, including:
Touchless Technology
Primary building entrances
Select secondary building entrances to minimize traffic jams at primary entries
Bathroom doors
Plumbing fixtures
Minimize self-serve where ever possible
Dining Halls (are service station modifications necessary to support this)
Technology modifications
Expand on classroom collaboration technology (facilitate students ability to share their screens wirelessly to shared resources)
Extend remote learning infrastructure (add connectivity, display panels, cameras, and speakers to classrooms)
Outfit ancillary spaces with technology to support remote learning
Create temporary classrooms in order to support smaller class sizes.
Hand sanitizer stations
Near entrances
Strategically placed in corridors
We at Marquis Architecture are well versed in high tech classroom spaces, temporary spaces and existing building renovations, and are looking forward to being a part of the solution to help academia return to the campus environment.