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Student Symposium 2021

COVID CONSIDERATIONS

"New Space for a New Normal; Designing for the Ever-Changing Future"

Designing with COVID considerations means creating spaces that people feel comfortable and safe in through natural and seamless practices.

Since boutique hotels are already very guest-oriented, the safety and comfort of the guests is already at the forefront of the design.

COVID safety is implemented into the Aurora Hotel design through flexible and adaptable practices. The ability to rearrange spaces based on the event occurring or function needed within a space will help implement the most safe strategy for guests occuppying the space.

This tactic relates to the concept, a theater, because the Aurora Hotel "sets the stage" based on the event taking place within the hotel to best satisfy the needs of the space and the safety of the guests.

Flexible and Dynamic Plans

In the design plans for the Aurora Hotel, to specific areas are shown implementing the flexible and dynamic strategies related to COVID design considerations.

The two areas are the (1) Event Space and the (2) Lounge.

Both areas typically consist of guests socializing and entertaining at some capacity.

Arranging the furniture of the space to best suit the desired function or current event is most important for the safety and well-being of the guests.

It is important to know when social distancing needs to be enforced and when social mingling can be encouraged. Space planning can help provide guests with the proper cues as the what strategy is being implemented and make sure they abide by that plan. Creating arrangements for both social distancing and social mingling, at appropriate times, allow the Aurora Hotel to offer guests a fun and exciting experience without putting them at risk of health concerns - such as a global pandemic.

Key Components

To make this goal and design strategy successful, specific elements are implemented to allow for such flexible and dynamic spaces. 

Specifying retractable walls, track ceilings for removable walls and dividing panels, as well as bleach cleanable materials all make a significant impact.

Aesthetics in design are important, but so is function. Aesthetics do not matter if the space cannot be used. These design strategies will set the Aurora Hotel up to be designed for the "ever-changing future."

COVID Design Strategies

COVID Plans