5 Opportunities to Improve Lobby Design in Response to Pandemics

5 OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE

LOBBY DESIGN IN
RESPONSE TO PANDEMICS

The information contained in this document is meant to serve as a starting point in the conversation around holistic design solutions for
building lobbies and entrances. If the design of building lobbies can more adequately control infection, preventing it from progressing
beyond the lobby and making the space feel clean, then the building will be a healthier place in which to live, work, learn and heal.

Employee Well-Being: As we consider redesigning our existing spaces and plan for future projects, it is important
to begin with understanding the WELL Building Standard. This building rating system is focused on how buildings can
positively influence the health and well-being of people who work, live, learn and heal within them. Strategies that can
be applied to existing and new lobby designs include: ventilation effectiveness and enhanced ventilation, operable
windows, pollution infiltration management, air filtration, microbe and mold control, hand-washing efficiencies and
enhanced daylight access.

FIVE AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT

1. ENTRY VESTIBULES
The entry vestibule serves as the first point of contact as residents,
employees and visitors enter a building. A vestibule can be viewed
as an ‘anteroom,’ a program element often used in healthcare
design, to provide a buffer between two rooms controlling air flow,
movement and the passage of contaminants.

Entry vestibules are due for a reimaging given what we have
experienced in the recent pandemic. From immediate changes such
as determining if all people entering the building will use the same
entrance or if a separate entrance for deliveries and guests is
needed, to long-term solutions like designing larger vestibules
that can transform into queuing space or screening space during
times of need, there are different opportunities to improve upon
design to keep employees healthy and happy.

2. LOBBY DESKS
The concept of a lobby desk exists in every place type. It is the place
a guest goes to check-in, whether at a hospital, school, senior living
facility, apartment building or office. Although desks may vary in
function or design, all desks pose a risk of spreading germs through
the touching of surfaces and proximity of people.

As we continue designing with the need for a lobby desk, there are
other options to consider such as the use of a virtual assistant and
the development of new guest protocol at the entry of buildings.
Some clients may not have the need for an initial face-to-face
interaction and thus a digital check-in procedure could be used
in lieu of a lobby desk. Long-term strategies for clients who need
a lobby desk may want to consider design strategies such as
incorporating UV light sterilization, utilizing low-wall air returns and
providing enclosed meeting rooms in the lobby.

3. SEATING AREAS
Nearly all built environments provide a seating area adjacent to the
main entry. Depending on the place type, these areas can have their
own unique look. One consistent factor in these spaces is that they
provide a comfortable setting where people can engage and interact.

In trying to reduce the opportunity for germ spread, seating areas
must be addressed. A simple way to keep spaces as sanitary as
possible during a pandemic is to decrease the amount of existing
furniture to support social distancing and help widen circulation
paths. Other more permanent solutions could include providing
flooring transitions such as rugs to indicate placement of separate
groups. During the ideation of new ground-up projects, it will be
beneficial to have a discussion about the possibility of designing
these spaces with a certain amount of furniture flexibility that would
allow the spaces to convert from meeting spaces to offices to
queuing areas.

4. PUBLIC RESTROOMS
Public restrooms are one of the most prolific spots for the spread of
germs. Under normal circumstances this is true, but when discussed
at the scale of a world-wide pandemic this issue becomes
exacerbated. Restrooms also present an interesting issue of
balancing sustainability with a high level of sanitation.

The smallest changes in the public restroom setting can have a huge
impact on reducing germ spread such as implementing hands-free
door hardware. By eliminating a potential surface contaminator, we
are reducing the opportunity for germ spread. Additionally, replacing
existing fixtures with touch-less fixtures take away yet another surface
for germs to spread. Long-term design solutions may include
designing improved ventilation systems by incorporating the use of
MERV-13 filters1 and considering the use of gender-neutral restrooms
to eliminate uneven usage, crowding and wait time.

1 msystems.asm.org/content/5/3/e00375-20

5. VERTICAL CIRCULATION
Arguably the most difficult concept to master during a pandemic
is circulation. As creatures of habit, once a routine is learned it is
difficult to change it.

How can building circulation be designed to decrease the spread
of germs while maintaining efficient movement for building
occupants? We propose a couple of ideas: promote the use of stairs
and encourage occupants to use one stair for traveling up and
a separate for traveling down. If two elevators are available, the
same would be encouraged; one for traveling up and the other for
traveling down. Programming the elevator doors to sit open while
at rest is another design opportunity that could be implemented
quickly. A long-term solution might consider the use of concierge
style elevator call technology such as the viz mobile app or facial
recognition allowing for touch-less elevator use2.

2 thyssenkrupp-elevator.com.cn/en/cn/covid-19/

For more resources related to architecture, planning and interior design recommendations
related to post pandemic facility designs visit eua.com/covid19insights

milwaukee : madison : denver eua.com