An alternate care site checklist produced by a special COVID-19 task force of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is being distributed internationally by the United States Department of State, which translated the tool into three languages.

AIA’s COVID-19 Alternate Care Sites Assessment Tool—originally created in English for primary distribution within the United States—is now available in Spanish, French, and Portuguese. The checklist highlights important areas to consider when evaluating buildings to be used for temporary healthcare operations during a pandemic. The translated document will be made available to embassies around the world.

AIA’s task force is also releasing an updated version (V2.0) of the checklist, which was enhanced to better meet the needs of frontline workers, including healthcare providers. The tool has also been updated to reflect recommendations from various agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Research articles were also added.

“Our goal was to distribute credible information quickly to impact health outcomes,” said task force chair Dr. Molly Scanlon, FAIA, FACHA, who is an environmental health scientist at Phigenics. “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.”

The task force developed the tool using established healthcare design best practices and standards in combination with federal documents issued during the COVID-19 crisis. Additionally, professional input was provided from trained and experienced health care architects, engineers, life-safety consultants, front line health workers, and hospital facility operations. A comprehensive briefing of the task force’s initiatives and its COVID-19 ArchMap are available on AIA’s website.

AIA’s task force was launched to support the COVID-19 response. It is comprised of architects with a wide range of expertise, including healthcare facility design, urban design, public health and disaster assistance. Task force members include:

• Dr. Molly M. Scanlon, PhD, FAIA, FACHA | Phigenics
• Diana Anderson, MD, ACHA | dochitect
• Eve A. Edelstein, PhD, MArch, Assoc. AIA, EDAC, FAAA | Clinicians for Design
• John Fowler, AIA, EDAC, LEED AP | Margulies Perruzzi
• William Hercules, FAIA, FACHA, FACHE | WJH Health
• Erin Peavey, AIA, EDAC, LEED AP | HKS, Inc.
• Yiselle Santos, AIA, LSSYB, WELL AP, LEED AP | HKS, Inc.
• Ellen Taylor, PhD, AIA, MBA, EDAC | The Center for Health Design
• Kirsten Waltz, AIA, ACHA, EDAC, LEED AP | Baystate Health
• Marvina Williams, RN, BSN, LSSBB | Perkins&Will
• Frank Zilm, DArch, FAIA, Emeritus FACHA | University of Kansas School of Architecture & Design

Visit AIA’s website for AIA COVID-19 resources for members.