Commercial construction projects are always a challenge when your buildout includes work on an infrastructure that is simultaneously inhabited by workers or residents. But this type of work is commonplace, especially in facilities such as hospitals, senior living residences, and assisted living facilities, to name a few.

And while constructing around the needs and schedules of residents is challenging, it is essential work that needs to be handled with the utmost care, planning, and safety. Throughout the pandemic, our work has not stopped, nor has our attentiveness and respect for those with and for whom we’re working.

As we undergo assisted living projects where residents are still living in the facility, we are especially mindful to implement the following best practices:

• Plan, plan, plan – During pre-construction, we develop a feasible work schedule that enables us to effectively work around resident schedules or to co-exist when necessary in a way that is distanced and minimally disruptive. It also means ensuring that our vendors, subcontractors, and other partners know and do the same.
• Segment our work – Depending on the project, some construction work during the pandemic is taking slightly longer than before due to implementing elevated safety measures to account for physical distancing and limiting trades on site at a given time, but these are things we plan for in advance. Once the project is underway, we strategically segment our work so as not disrupt daily life of the residents. By working in sections, not only are we able to contain the space and keep the work isolated from residents, we are also able to efficiently complete the work per the plan outlined during pre-construction.
• Elevate health and safety checks – We are acutely aware of our presence while working in facilities that are home to populations at higher risk for complications due to COVID-19, and we take our responsibility for safety seriously. Our entire team of employees – both those in the field and in the office – are undergoing periodic COVID-19 testing, and those working at assisted living facilities are tested frequently. We also conduct daily temperature checks and health screens on all of our employees.

Construction during the pandemic may look a little different, but attentiveness to the residents living in the assisted living facilities we work on has not and will not change. At the end of the day, it is their home, and we make it a priority to respect that.

If you have questions about construction during the pandemic or want to learn more about our health and safety standards, get in touch with us right away.