Originally published by Shantala Weiss for NAIOP's Development Magazine.
Monumental stairs can inspire greater interaction, reduce energy costs, and improve employee health and fitness.
In the wake of COVID-19, workplaces are presented with a unique opportunity to shape corporate culture's future and use physical space to foster a sense of community and innovation that can’t be offered when working from home. Building elements that align with the goals of active, sustainable, and universal design have the potential to play a crucial role in post-pandemic commercial real estate.
COVID-19 has challenged vertical transportation strategies in buildings, which have historically relied on elevators. Ongoing concerns about physical distancing and touching surfaces mean that people may be reluctant to use elevators. A well-dimensioned stair offers enough space for people to ascend and descend simultaneously, giving occupants more room to move than a narrow fire escape or elevator.
“COVID-19 noticeably accelerated the trend of monumental stairs in offices and other commercial spaces,” said Jim Admiraal, executive vice president of sales and preconstruction at Synergi, a national stair design-led subcontractor. “We saw an immediate spike in design plans featuring stairs as a primary vertical mode of transport for major projects all over the U.S.”