Facilities
Residence Hall Designs Predicted to Change in Reaction to COVID-19
Emphasis on solitary sleeping unit spaces will almost certainly dominate in home hall style in coming months and years, together with widespread places that motivate bodily distancing, wider entrances and kitchens that permit for a person-way traffic styles. People are the predictions of student housing design experts at KWK Architects, a company that layouts facilities for better education.
“Security and protection” will dominate for long run college students and their family members, according to KWK Principal Sara Koester. That could result “in a motivation for solitary-occupancy bedrooms in home halls” or a double bedroom made with “paired single” units, she said. In the latter method every human being would have home furnishings, a closet and operable window on his or her aspect, and there would be just a several shared elements, these as a corridor doorway and a thermostat. Koester observed that the bedroom shape would be extensive and shallow, enabling beds, desks and closets to be positioned farther aside.
“The two sides [could] be marked with flooring patterns and paint finishes to distinguish the two zones inside the room,” she proposed. “The two roommates will function as a ‘family unit’ given that they are, without a doubt, sharing a home.”
Bathroom layout might supply for several non-public bathrooms, each individual with a bathroom, sink and shower. The popular lavatory spot would involve two entrance/exit details to allow for for a 1-way targeted traffic pattern. And a common lavatory spot would place “sufficient room” in between the fixtures, to stimulate hand washing and socializing when nonetheless keeping length.
Bodily distancing would also be emphasized in social areas, such as ground lounges and study rooms. Kitchens would be organized for one particular-way circulation and appliances spaced to allow numerous function regions with suitable buffers concerning them.
Koester said that hand washing stations would “be ample and adequately spaced with components at each station.”
She predicted that entrances to structures will be designed to be wider, to accommodate several one entrance doorways, to prevent citizens from obtaining to get shut collectively as they enter and depart. Lobbies will need to have to be substantial ample to allow for pedestrian stream to the elevators or stairs even though distancing, and elevators would be sized to accommodate folks standing at reverse corners. Corridors will widen and attribute smaller alcoves at standard intervals, with sights to the exterior and quite possibly a bench, to serve as spots to “move out” of the way of website traffic circulation. Doors to bedrooms would also be put in recessed pockets off the corridor, to enable for safe and sound distancing from the corridor as people enter and depart their rooms.
Koester explained she would also hope to see space outdoors for individual things to do, these types of as hammocking and swinging, with terraces and patios presenting spots for little groups to properly meet.
With cautious and considerate scheduling, Koester suggested, home corridor design and style can equilibrium environmental well being fears and dwelling choices of college students even though even now encouraging local community and furnishing a nurturing surroundings.
Koester’s concepts are offered in an article on the KWK Architects web site.
About the Author


Dian Schaffhauser is a senior contributing editor for 1105 Media’s education and learning publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Areas4Mastering. She can be attained at [email protected] or on Twitter @schaffhauser.

