As areas stabilized from the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home limits were lifted, businesses began preparing to bring their employees back into the physical workplace at a limited capacity when the state of Connecticut officially allowed businesses that were closed to reopen with particular restrictions and guidelines as of May 20, 2020.
Albert B. Ashforth, Inc., The Ashforth Company’s management services division, diligently and swiftly developed a COVID-19 Re-Entry Plan for all of its buildings. The plan highlights operational and safety procedures and protocols that were implemented, updated, and enhanced to live and work in a post COVID-19 executive order shutdown world.
Prior to launching the Re-Entry Plan, Ashforth’s management team personally connected with tenants for their input to ensure their needs and concerns were being addressed. To aid in the overall planning, Ashforth also conducted a brief online survey and asked tenants to share their specific company re-entry plans.
“Ashforth’s main goal is to help our tenants navigate the new building processes and ensure the transition back to the office and going forward feels safe, efficient, effective, and aligned to the needs of each tenant’s organization,” said Brian Heelan, Senior Vice President & Director of Operations.
Focusing on the transition of returning employees and realizing it would look different for every organization, the plan was customized, when necessary, to each managed building’s environment and tenants’ needs. The plan addressed many areas: signage, cleaning and janitorial, contractors and vendors, tenant occupancy and visitors, HVAC and indoor air quality, Ashforth building staff, main building entrance, building entry from parking garages, common areas and corridors, elevators, restrooms, and amenities.
Ashforth’s Marketing Department helped to develop the plan and produce as a user-friendly instructional presentation. In addition, they created and coordinated all the necessary and abundant signage visibly posted throughout each building to aid in social distancing, wearing of masks, and to remind all of other CDC and State of Connecticut guidelines. This included floor decals and signs located in lobbies, elevator vestibules, and throughout common areas; elevator signage advising on occupancy limits; stairwell signage indicating access entry points and one-way travel when designated; restroom occupancy limits; and available hand sanitizer stations.
To help limit the spread of the virus Ashforth implemented numerous procedures including increasing daily day and evening cleaning frequencies, addressing high-traffic and high-touch common areas including restrooms, stairwells and elevators; installing numerous hand sanitizer stations; and increasing outside air ventilation rates, when practical.
Ashforth also installed NanoSeptic skins on high-touch areas including doors handles and elevator buttons. The product turns such high traffic public touch points into continuously self-cleaning surfaces. Powered by light, NanoSeptic surfaces utilize mineral nano-crystals which create a powerful oxidation reaction. Working 24/7, the surface continually oxidizes organic contaminants. Unlike traditional disinfectants and cleaners, the NanoSeptic surface uses no poisons, heavy metals or chemicals, and nothing is released from the surface since the nano-crystals are molecularly bonded to the material.
Improving overall indoor air quality has always been a high priority for Ashforth. At its owned buildings in CT, 3001 Stamford Square and 707 Summer Street, the Company has been, and continues to, utilize high efficiency MERV 13 filters used in superior office buildings that remove droplet nuclei (sneeze) and most harmful smoke, dusts, powders and pigments. At Greenwich Plaza, combined with high efficiency filters, a bipolar ionization system has been in place to safely clean the inside air and kill harmful pathogens including bacteria, viruses and mold.
“As we move forward, we understand re-entering and working in the office will be unique to every tenant and will have its ongoing challenges. Ashforth is committed to open communications, staying abreast of new information, guidelines and technology, and continually enhancing our operations when practical. We will navigate and work together with all of our tenants to make this as successful as possible and ensure the most safe and productive office properties,” said Heelan.
