Industry, Workplace, Community and the Importance of WELL in the Post-pandemic Environment
Originally published on May 19, 2020 by Brielle Scott
There is no doubt COVID-19 has accelerated the already changing nature of commerce and work and introduced a new layer of considerations for commercial real estate development.
Prior to the outbreak, we saw e-commerce’s exponential trajectory, increased demand for immediate goods, and the rise of urban industrial development to fulfill last-mile needs. All of these factors have created the now-accelerated need for more urbanized solutions and the inclusion of a better-integrated workforce. The emergent need for a more resilient, reliable and reconfigurable supply chain that is more locally grounded will drive this change even further.
In a recent webinar exclusive to National Forums members, KSS Architects Partner Ed Klimek, AIA, NCARB, discussed how industrial and office development can respond to these changes in order to bring the most value in a post-COVID-19 world.
In many ways, the pandemic revealed where the U.S. is vulnerable, Klimek said: lack of health infrastructure, lack of preparedness, and shortcomings in social and economic infrastructure. We will continue to face the impact for years and months to come.