How COVID-19 Has Experts Planning for Smarter Working and Living Spaces
Historians often point to 1968 as a watershed moment for our nation. War, social unrest and political upheaval were on everyone’s minds and new ideas were in the air. The events of that year fundamentally changed the direction of the country.
Fast forward to 2020.
As Hall of Famer (and longtime Montclair resident) Yogi Berra once said, “It’s like déjà vu all over again.” If ever there was a year tailor-made for Yogi-isms, 2020 is it.
One day, urban planning and building experts may come to think of 2020 in the same way historians think of 1968 – the year everything changed (or at least began to).
In Part I of our dive into city planning for a post-COVID world, we spoke with Bob Bennett, principal and founder of B2 Civic Solutions and the former chief innovation officer of Kansas City, Mo. Bennett offered some striking insight on the future of “smart” technologies in American cities – during and post-pandemic.
This week, we spoke with Violet PR client (and Montclair native) Tony Ianuale, chief operating officer (COO) and chief financial officer (CFO) of Jersey City, N.J.-based land-use firm, Dresdner Robin.
The firm, which provides creative solutions that emphasize technological innovation, specializes in site/civil engineering, land surveying, environmental services, planning, surveying and landscape architecture – in the revival of urban landscapes. Here’s what Ianuale had to say about the COVID-19 climate.
(Courtesy of Unsplash.)
Working from Home -- Welcome to the New Normal
Like most of us, Dresdner Robin employees have had to adapt to working from home (WFH), homeschooling the kids and copious amounts of Zoom meetings. Unlike the rest of us, Ianuale and his team have had to do so while continuing to perform critical field work.
The virus may have shut down most of the country, but clients still need the support of Dresdner Robin. So shortly after the COVID-19 lockdown, the firm quickly began representing clients in virtual regulatory meetings. By doing so, they found a way to prepare themselves and their clients for the new normal.
The Dresdner Robin team found that many large development projects in New Jersey’s urban centers were continuing despite COVID shutdowns. Dresdner Robin’s planners, then, worked quickly and efficiently – and also remotely – to acquire various approvals. The team also ramped up activity on the environmental front – providing key services to state transportation agencies.
“We’re learning and adapting as we go. So far, it’s been a smooth and enlightening process,” said Ianuale.
After spending the last six months in a WFH setup, many folks may not want to schlep back and forth to work five days a week. It is possible that employees may utilize the office for critical meetings and stay for a short time. But the days of spending eight-plus hours in an office may be gone for good. But Dresdner Robin has a plan for that.
“I envision redesigning our offices to adapt for flexible hours and larger meeting spaces, which can foster collaboration,” said Ianuale.
The Future of WFH Is Still TBD
(Courtesy of Unsplash.)
Indeed, workers are already adapting. Here in the Garden State, NJ Transit lost 98% of its ridership during the virus’ peak in April, with daily ticket sales plummeting from $1 million per day to $41,000. Things weren’t much better across the Hudson River, where Metro-North ridership plunged 90% during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.
To be clear, things are looking up – including a marginal increase in ridership during the summer months and an overall increase (1%) in commercial traffic in July on the New Jersey Turnpike (compared to July 2019 figures), according to Mass Transit magazine.
Still, recent events could prove to be a seismic shift that fundamentally changes commuter towns all over the nation. If the trend continues, more livable spaces will be needed.
As Ianuale said, “People may not need a place to work five days per week. But everyone will still need a place to live.”
But it’s not just new construction. As anyone with kids (or a cat) can tell you, setting up a workspace in the bedroom or kitchen is a recipe for a migraine. So, existing homes may need to be retrofitted with an alcove or some other dedicated workspace. This is especially true for apartments and condos where residents are at greater risk of contracting COVID-19.
To combat the spread, some experts also suggest using antimicrobial finishes for high-touch surfaces, such as doors and elevator buttons, etc. In these more densely populated complexes, there will be an entirely new and deliberate focus on cleaning regimen – including higher frequency and new sanitization methods to boot.
While it remains too early to tell what definitive changes will occur in residential and commercial buildings in a post-COVID world, one thing is certain: we will be seeing substantial shifts.
Dresdner Robin’s Ianuale said it best, “There will be another pandemic at some point. We need to begin planning for it now.”
Did we miss anything? Have any insights you would like to share? Let us know in the comments below.
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