Last month, Archinect reported on the recently completed “Preparedness Assessment Tool” developed by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) that aims to offer guidance for how existing spaces can be converted for temporary hospital use during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The tool, crafted by the AIA's COVID-19 Task Force, is designed to help architects and healthcare directors appropriately select existing buildings for reuse as Alternative Care Sites (ACS) by bringing together some of the best practices currently known for limiting the spread of infectious diseases in interior spaces. 

The tool was recently updated by the task force in order to "better meet the needs of frontline workers, including healthcare providers" and to  better "reflect recommendations from various agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the United States Army Corps of Engineers," according to the AIA. 

AIA also reports that the tool was recently selected for international distribution by the United States Department of State, which has translated the guide into Spanish, French, and Portuguese for sharing with "embassies around the world."

Describing the goals of the tool, AIA COVID-19 Task Force chair Dr. Molly Scanlon, FAIA, FACHA, explains, “Our goal was to distribute credible information quickly to impact health outcomes. As we learn more about the coronavirus and how to adapt the built environment to serve urgent health needs, we are committed to providing updated information, and in multiple languages.”