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TKB Newsletter – May 18, 2020 – The New Normal

As we prepare to reenter the workspace the primary focus is the safety and well being of employees. Across the industry companies have been active to plan, design, and develop solutions on how to make the office a safe space in this new normal. TKB would like to share what appears to be a general consensus from these many plans on the steps of reentry, along with a few of these well thought out guides to peruse at your leisure.

Visit the CDC’s website below for general guidelines on strategies to be followed in order to create a safe working environment: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/index.html

Industry Solutions:

https://www.nationalofficefurniture.com/NOF/media/general/work_at_home/COVID19-Workplace-Evolution.pdf

https://www.us.jll.com/content/dam/jll-com/documents/pdf/other/reentry-guide-for-working-in-the-next-normal.pdf

https://www.hermanmiller.com/content/dam/hermanmiller/documents/covid_19/embracing_a_new_reality.pdf

TKB Newsletter – May 12, 2020 – Sanitation Solutions – How Do We Disinfect?

With the continual increase in COVID 19 infections, there has been a surge in the need to clean and disinfect our workplaces and homes. This week’s TKB Newsletter aims to provide you with cleaning techniques and introduce innovative products that are in the market to address this issue.

The Center for Disease Control has issued cleaning techniques and mitigation strategies for the workplace that explain in detail how to clean surfaces to reduce the rate of infections. The first category would include cleaning all surfaces with soap and water, for more intense and thorough cleaning, disinfectants recommended by the CDC can be used to further lower the rate of infections and kill germs. Use the link to refer to a list of CDC approved disinfectants and cleaning techniques.

As we progress into unsteady territories, the industry is developing new and innovative solutions to help clean and enhance sterile environments, from disinfecting UV lights to hand sanitizer dispensing door knobs.

Check out some of the interesting products in the market and stay tuned for the TKB’s weekly Newsletter.

Visit the CDC website below for general guidelines on cleaning, EPA approved disinfectants to reduce risk of infection and general mitigation strategies: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/clean-disinfect/index.html

Industry Solutions:

Products

Hygienic Door Handles

https://touchland.com/pages/kub

https://kenall.com/Kenall-Files/Product-Files/Literature/Kenall-Indigo-Clean-Brochure.pdf

https://www.stepnpull.com/

TKB Newsletter -May 6, 2020 – What’s Next? COVID-19 Protocols

As the world gets ready to get back to work, one question lingers in all of our minds, “are we ready?”; the COVID19 pandemic has changed the course of our life in every aspect. Before the pandemic, we would walk around freely with our coffees, enter the office and say our hello’s, come in contact with a number of persons to create a harmonious work environment. Now, we are cautious, scared and anxious to be in such environments; this has had a direct impact on how offices will be designed and how people will interact with one another in the future

Several questions pop up when we think of how an office would re-acclimate to its user needs. Would we have all our workstations six feet apart? Would we have tall shields that enclose our workstations and protect us from infection spreads? What types of materials would we avoid in order to promote a hygienic environment?

Source Image: http://www.todayssystems.com/blog/2017/7/13/6-questions-to-ask-employees-before-designing-your-office-space

These are questions everyone is asking, some industry members have initiated and brought design solutions for the workplace post COVID19. The TKB family brings to you a few design solutions from the industry all under one roof.

Stay tuned for more insight next week!

Visit the CDC website below for general guidelines and mitigation strategies at the workplace: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html

Industry Solutions:

https://www.knoll.com/design-plan/planning/considerations-for-returning-to-a-healthy-workplace

www.hermanmiller.com/covid-19/form/

https://www.allsteeloffice.com/spaces-inspiration/inspiration/designing-new-realities

Post-COVID Workplace

TKB COVID-19 Update

As we maneuver a changing world, TKB is committed to success for clients and projects and to the health of our employees and their families. Thankfully, our work is able to continue within public restrictions; our staff is based from home and continues to deliver the high quality service you need and expect from TKB.

We look forward to a time when we can all be together again. Meanwhile, TKB will be issuing newsletters with COVID-19 related materials and up-to-date information from the CDC. We are exploring and analyzing potential design and planning modifications to meet the requirements of this brave new world, and will continue to share with you.

In the meantime, TKB hopes that you’re staying safe, healthy, and sane during this time! We send well wishes to everyone out there!

(Embracing the “creature” comforts while working from home.)

January 2020 – UIUC Life Home Research Center Completion

This month marks the completion of construction on UIUC’s Life Home: Center on Health, Aging and Disability for the College of Health Sciences at the University of Illinois. The facility offers an interdisciplinary hub for health, aging, and disability research and observation space in a simulated residential setting.

TKB was engaged by the University of Illinois to design a 5000 SF new building for the interdisciplinary center. It includes a typical residential layout with two bedrooms, dining and kitchen areas, an open plan living space, and a fully accessible bathroom with tub and shower, all for-research purposes. One-way windows allow observational research into living spaces to see how users with accessibility issues engage with various products. Cameras record the users’ experience for later analysis. The residential portion of the building simplifies the exchange of tested products.

Products and materials are tested in a laboratory space adjoined by a garage for ease of material delivery. A flexible conference / classroom space can be used by those engaged with facets of the product study: students, researchers, industry partners and the community. A movable glass partition opens the conference room to the adjoining lobby/break room for larger group access. A small administrative area, two interview rooms, and back-of-house functions also support the research function.

The residential facade faces the street, with the academic portion of the building accessed from a rear parking lot. Landscaping further enhances the residential feel.

January 2020 – UIUC Life Home

This month marks the completion of construction on UIUC’s Life Home: Center on Health, Aging and Disability for the College of Health Sciences at the University of Illinois. The facility offers an interdisciplinary hub for health, aging, and disability research and observation space in a simulated residential setting.

TKB was engaged by the University of Illinois to design a 5000 SF new building for the interdisciplinary center. It includes a typical residential layout with two bedrooms, dining and kitchen areas, an open plan living space, and a fully accessible bathroom with tub and shower, all for-research purposes. One-way windows allow observational research into living spaces to see how users with accessibility issues engage with various products. Cameras record the users’ experience for later analysis. The residential portion of the building simplifies the exchange of tested products.

Products and materials are tested in a laboratory space adjoined by a garage for ease of material delivery. A flexible conference / classroom space can be used by those engaged with facets of the product study: students, researchers, industry partners and the community. A movable glass partition opens the conference room to the adjoining lobby/break room for larger group access. A small administrative area, two interview rooms, and back-of-house functions also support the research function.

The residential façade faces the street, with the academic portion of the building accessed from a rear parking lot. Landscaping further enhances the residential feel.

UIUC Veterinary Teaching Hospital Surgical Expansion & Renovation – December 2019 Update

Progress continues on the expansion and renovation at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Veterinary Teaching Hospital, with the arrival and setting of the precast concrete panels and below slab infrastructure. The expansion will provide seven (7) operating rooms, (1) interventional radiation (IR) suite, sterile processing and student support spaces.

The project is scheduled for completion in April 2021.

UIUC Veterinary Teaching Hospital South Clinic Renovation – November 2019 Update

Nearing completion, this project included the renovation of previously unused space on the Veterinary Teaching Hospital campus, creating a stand-alone veterinary clinic to supplement the existing clinical functionality.

The project is scheduled for completion at the end of 2019.

August 2019 – Chicago Trading Firm

The initial project scope was a basic “finishes refresh” of the current space for one of TKB’s repeat clients, a Chicago-based trading firm.

After a careful review of the client’s needs and expectations, the project scope grew to include the following additional features:

General space refresh with new finishes, expanded break room amenities, upgrade of video and teleconference capabilities in all conference spaces, added break-out and huddles spaces, and new furniture throughout.
Trading desk replacement with custom height-adjustable desks, with phased installation so as to not impact active trading.
Server room downsize, reconfiguration and creation of adjacent IT workroom.
Review and reconfiguration of cooling needs at the trading floor.

The project is set to be complete by the end of August 2019.

May 2019 – Prosser Career Academy Renovation

As an Architect of Record for the Public Building Commission of Chicago, TKB was enlisted to renovate the 38,000 SF Career Technical Education (CTE) wing of the Prosser Career Academy. Driven by the need to accommodate expanded career programs, the fast track project will accommodate a broad range of vocational programs, from culinary arts to HVAC, computer and solar labs to auto shop. Accessibility upgrades include new toilets, new building hardware and lockers equalizing opportunities for all students. The complete project budget is approximately $12 million, including equipment for vocational labs.

The final result will provide expanded opportunities for CPS students’ future workplace choices. TKB’s design work began in November, 2018; teaching in the renovated wing will resume in October, 2019.

For more information about the project, please click on the following link for an article posted by the Chicago Tribune: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-auto-shop-classes-prosser-chicago-public-schools-20190414-story.html

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