Significant climate change and weather-related disturbances like hurricanes are becoming more severe and frequent. Since 2017, 22 significant natural disasters have caused more than 938 billion dollars in damage and a tragic toll on human life and operational disruptions.
As architects and designers, we need to implement strategies that enhance the ability of a building to maintain operations during these times of natural or human-made disasters and climatic change. Nowhere is this more important than in the design of healthcare facilities within the communities they serve.
In recent years, our nation has seen a shift in healthcare facilities migrating into suburban communities to make quality care more convenient. In addition, many community healthcare facilities act as a centralized emergency hub for the community to seek refuge in the event of a disaster.
To read the full article please go to Medical Design and Construction Magazine August/July 2021 issue.
Authors
Steven C. SchultzResiliency has no single solution. It is a multifaceted approach that balances the available budget, program, local constraints, and community goals to inform the solution. We should endeavor to implement what is feasible in the short-term, while thoughtfully continuing to improve these outcomes in the future.