We are beginning to gain a true perspective into just how important the resiliency of the indoor built environment is in helping keep occupants safe and healthy during episodic events, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. An important realization is just how ill-equipped our building stock may be in helping achieve this reality. Our businesses, schools, stadiums, airports, shopping malls, and almost every other conceivable venue has been closed for months, and as we attempt to reengage the public within the economy, we are beginning to experience a resurgence in COVID-19 cases across the U.S., signaling perhaps another major shutdown in our future.
One question that must be addressed is how do we achieve a level of resiliency in building design that helps us “weather the storm” when faced with unprecedented events like this in the future, and can we achieve indoor environments that allow these buildings to retain some level of functionality? Issues with indoor air quality (IAQ) are nothing new, but, of course, the disease COVID-19 (caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus) certainly is.