Convert Buildings into Coronavirus Hospitals

Abstract

The novel Coronavirus pandemic is escalating day by day. It has badly affected many countries and states. According to CNN’s recent report by health officials, the US is on the top rank with more than 82,000 confirmed coronavirus cases than any other country in the world today. The United States Army Corps of Engineers are struggling hard to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic quickly. In this article, we will discuss the reaction of the US Military to convert buildings into temporary hospitals on an urgent basis to minimize the burden on civilian hospitals caused by the virus.

Introduction

In an effort to halt the COVID-19 pandemic and increase the medical capacity, the United States Army Corps of Engineers has stepped in to convert retrofitting primarily hotels, convention centers, bankrupt hospitals, and dormitories into temporary hospitals within three or four week time period to provide an intensive care facilities. To facilitate the process, The Army Corps of Engineers has established a standard design and contract. The US is desperate for 10,000 hospital rooms by converting existing hotels, and perhaps large spaces into “ICU-like facilities”.

The Role of Architectural Design and Engineering Services

US Army Corps of Engineers has produced a “standard design structure” to convert buildings into temporary hospitals. USACE has presented a conceptual plan, crafted by its Engineers which has been approved by both FEMA and HHS.  Semonite, Chief of the Army Corps reported that:

“This is an incredibly complex problem, and there is no way we’re going to be able to do this with a complex option — we need something super simple”

As a Structural Engineer and designer, we must pay attention to design a circulation and planning diagram that allows the separation of goods and services from patients and their families. Structural engineers can also provide their services to figure out large spaces like hotel gymnasiums, and car parking areas and do necessary structural modifications to shape them into halls for nurses. A Structural Engineer’s task is to provide services related to structural designing and architecture by considering the following structural designing principles.

• Scaling and proportion techniques along with lighting and materiality for the main entrance to the hospital.
• Parking structures and medical offices to put patients and their families on the quickest path to the front door.
• Elevator facility should be available in the center of the patient department, instead of at the end of the department to minimize cross-infection risks.
• Build a comfortable and private discharge route that is separated from the main hospital doors for the patients who are leaving the hospitals.

In this mission of converting buildings into hospitals, Interior designers are also struggling hard to provide their services. Evidence-based design is normally recognized as the best practice for the interior design of healthcare facilities. Modern Interior designers are keen to help the US Army Corps of Engineers to achieve their target and successfully convert a large and vacant buildings into hospitals. Interior Designer must pay attention to the patient-centered element to create a positive reaction for the overall population within a hospital.

• Make available spaces flexible for the patients.
• Design according to the needs and requirements of the situation.
• Convert pre-structured rooms into proper isolation wards.
• Use Resources and Tools that offer protection against the spread of Infection.
• Implement a Biophilic Interior Design methodology.
• Introduce Logistical considerations into the design, for patients transfer to storage and ventilation.
• Well-designed water and sanitary system to control cross-infection.

US Military decided to convert Buildings into Coronavirus Hospitals

According to March 28, 2020 statistics, the United States has reported 104,837 confirmed coronavirus cases and the death toll passes 1,711. The increasing ratio of coronavirus infected patients has created a gigantic challenge for the US Health department due to the lack of hospital beds and other facilities. To provide intensive care facilities, including “ICU facilities”, “isolation rooms”, “Thermal screening”, and so on, the US Army Corps of Engineers has decided to start working on a project to convert vacant buildings, primary hotels, and even large spaces into coronavirus hospitals over a period of days. The chief objective of this project is to ensure the health and safety of its citizens and to provide them all the necessary facilities to overcome this disease.

Coronavirus Hospitals

Ways in which Engineers can convert the Structure of existing Buildings into Hospitals

 Retrofit Hotels Conversion in to hospitals

 Hotel Rooms are converted into Hospital Wards

The US Army Corps of Engineers has decided to convert empty hotel rooms across the country into hospital wards to treat coronavirus patients to release the pressure on hospitals that are filling up with patients. They believe that empty hotel rooms are the ready-built solution for looking after coronavirus infected patients. They are not only concerned about providing enough space for the patients, but also ensure the facility of well-trained medical staff and ventilation equipment. Each room will have a similar standardized set of provisions, as suggested by the US Department of Homeland Security (FEMA) and the Department of Health and Human Services.

• Primary Hotels are converted into “ICU-like facilities”

The US Army Corps of Engineers has stepped in to create makeshift hospitals across the country so that proper treatment can be received by the coronavirus infected people. This step has been taken to meet the growing needs for intensive care facilities such as “ICU-like facilities” to provide quality treatment for coronavirus patients.

Coronavirus Hospitals

• Operating Theatres are transformed into Wards

 In this emergency, all those surgeries, and operations which do not require immediate attention such as knee and hip operation will be canceled to free up space. Operating theaters where these operations and surgeries are typically carried out are well-furnished with oxygen supplies, to transform them into hospital wards for coronavirus patients.

intensive care unit

• Conversion of Vacant Buildings into Hospitals

 All available vacant buildings across the country such as retrofit hotels, college dormitories, convention centers, bankrupt hospitals, and perhaps large spaces will be transformed into coronavirus hospitals in a prioritized order. Once recognized by local leaders, the existing buildings will be rented by the state and handed over to USACE. The US Army Corps will hire contractors in an exceptionally short period. To keep the virus sealed off from room-to-room, negative pressure capabilities will be needed, and be outfitted with the proper medical supplies based on a list provided by FEMA and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Conclusion

By concluding this article, it is recorded that the United States (US) is badly affected by coronavirus as compared to other countries with over 100,000 confirmed corona cases. The state is struggling to make rooms in hospitals and converting anesthesia machines to the ventilator to meet the requirements of patients. US Army Corps of Engineers has decided to handle the situation by converting vacant buildings, hotels, bankrupt hospitals, and perhaps large spaces into coronavirus hospitals to facilitate the increasing number of patients.