Planning for the quality of the sound at the design stage can result in a building that delivers occupant comfort and drives positive outcomes including improving patient satisfaction and increasing speech privacy and employee productivity.
The importance of infection control and the impact of operating conditions on the built environment have taken renewed focus in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a part of the ongoing response, industry organizations, such as the American Society of Heating and Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), have released updated considerations for design and construction professionals, including airflow strategies and temperature and humidity controls, as well as ventilation and pressurization.
The pandemic of 2019-2020 has made the world a far different place. While the threat of infectious diseases was already concerning, it has brought a renewed consciousness about healthcare facilities, the people who save lives in those facilities, and those whose lives are saved.
According to an analysis of government data by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGCA), construction spending rose 1.4 percent in August as residential boom outweighed private nonresidential decline and flat public categories.