Building Through the Pandemic

Effects of the coronavirus show up in worksites and home design

By Kathy Dean

When the pandemic shutdown hit Atlanta in March, ‘business as usual’ was anything but that. Some companies had no choice but to close their doors and hope it was temporary. Others made drastic changes in their operations. Changes needed to happen quickly for the home repair, renovation and construction businesses, as they had projects underway.

Keeping up essential services

“As essential service workers, we were able to work throughout the pandemic, though in a very different capacity,” said Warner McConaughey, Founder and President of HammerSmith. “We design and build kitchens, bathrooms and additions, so we’re usually working in homes for a month or longer. Because no one wanted us to stop mid-project, we had to adapt quickly to protect the safety of our coworkers, associates and clients.”

One adaptation was the addition of handwash stations. Another was limiting the work sites to one trade a day, when possible. “In the past, we might have had the electricians, plumbers and HVAC associates stacked up together,” McConaughey explained. “We now give them each a day so they can work socially distanced in a safer, cleaner environment.”

Moon Bros., Inc. was also able to continue working, for the most part, according to Tiffany Barcik, Moon Bros. Associate. “On our job sites, we continued construction with the consent and support of our clients,” she said. The company instituted protective measures for clients, including typical construction separations and personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff members.

“We’re working at full capacity now, but the notion of ‘business as usual’ has changed,” Barcik said. Material acquisition has been impeded, resulting in a slower pace for some projects, and the need to plan for longer lead times. “We are adjusting to the new normal of persistent hand cleaning, masks and constant physical separation.”

Zach Reece, COO at Colony Roofers, said the company is 100% back and ready to work. “We’ve been very fortunate to continue operating without interruption through the pandemic lockdown,” he reported. “As an essential service, we’ve done everything in our power to continue serving property owners in the Atlanta area while observing social distancing and health precautions.”

Still, Reece noted, the company is nowhere near ‘business as usual’ from a demand standpoint, “…but we are definitely picking up in comparison to a month ago. I would guess that a second wave would have a far stronger impact on our ability to meet customer demand.” He added that a second wave during the rainy season (November through March) could have a huge impact on his industry.

Focus on safety

Reece said that Colony Roofers makes cleaning and disinfecting a high priority. “We also encourage all our employees to wear masks and use hand sanitizer in the field,” he said. “Customers definitely want to be sure that they’re working with a company that takes health and safety very seriously. We’ve received many questions regarding our practices around masks and social distancing.”

Reece noted that at the start of the pandemic, Colony Roofers also began offering ‘Virtual Quotes’ by using satellite imaging to measure properties and going over quotes via video calls. Moon Bros. has also become more diligent in maintaining the separation for clients and staff. “In our renovation projects where our clients maintain residence, we install a temporary plastic wall to separate the constructions zones from the rest of the livable house,” Barcik said.

“On one of our projects — a renovation for a doctor at Grady — we have a hand cleaning station that is maintained and utilized constantly,” she said. Also, masks are required for everyone while they’re inside the construction zone. “These measures have worked well and haven’t been difficult to institute there and on other job sites.”

At HammerSmith, design meetings and weekly manager meetings are held remotely through Zoom and other digital means, McConaughey said. Project managers send daily email updates with photos to clients. The company also uses DocuSign and direct deposits in lieu of sharing pens and passing checks.

“Some of our client meetings are still held in clients’ homes, but now with masks and social distancing,” he said.

According to Barcik, the largest adjustment in the office workflow at Moon Bros. has been around the communication with clients. “We haven’t been meeting as much in person and as a result, conference calls and video conferencing have become critical,” she said. “This lack of in-person contact has impacted our design process.”

Normally, the architect meets with the client to get a personal understanding of who they are and what they want. This is done with more than a list from the client, Barcik explained. It’s also “…a culmination of impressions, answers to questions, facial expressions, body language, understanding of personalities and lifestyle.”

The ability to do this remotely is a challenge, she added. “This definitely puts more responsibility on the architect to find and create effective communication skills.”

The post-pandemic home

McConaughey said that the way people see and use their homes has changed dramatically, “…and I think a lot of this paradigm shift is here to stay.”

With people being together at home, they’re noticing their houses more. “Couples are discussing what they want for their homes,” he said, adding that HammerSmith has gotten a lot of calls from people who request dedicated office space.

“The adults need a place where they can shut the door and have silent space for work, Zoom calls, etc.,” he said. “The kids, too, need their own space to study, do their schoolwork and make Zoom calls.”

While the open concept is still popular for the family to get together, there’s more emphasis on the need for quiet places in the house “…for those moments of solitude.”

McConaughey reported that the company has also gotten calls to build or complete carriage houses. “The owners want another dwelling on the property with space to cook, eat and live in,” he said. “It’s a place for friends who come to visit from out of town, or maybe for aging parents, since they’re not going into senior living facilities at this time,” he said. “And if someone gets sick, there’s a place where they can be comfortable while they’re quarantined.”

Barcik also has found that, with the additional time at home, people are viewing their houses differently. They want space to quarantine or separate if needed, exterior spaces for social gatherings that provide safe distances and and quarantine areas and washing stations for incoming groceries. “The pandemic will no doubt significantly change the way we design.”

She said that one of the big requests from Moon Bros. clients right now is pools. “Clients who were able to swim at gyms are no longer doing so,” she said, “and while we have done plenty of pools in the past, we’ve definitely seen an increase in the desire to have one’s own pool.”

While HammerSmith and other construction companies are busy now, McConaughey stressed that there is a concern the demand may be short-lived. “If half of the country isn’t working, this may not last,” he said.

Rubenstein Partners, L.P. has unveiled the new brand for the 47acre development formerly known as Lindbergh City Center. Now known as Uptown, the property is being redeveloped into a mixed-use hub centered around direct access to the Lindbergh MARTA station, Atlanta BeltLine and South Fork Trail. Uptown encompasses approximately 120,000 square feet of retail space, nearly 1 million square feet of office space and a variety of community gathering places throughout the site. The two 14-story office towers will come online later this year, and Rubenstein’s redevelopment plans include an overhaul of the 35,000-square-foot office atrium to create an open gathering space. A diverse mix of restaurants, retail, and artist studios is also planned.

Martin Hoover, owner of Empire Heating & Air Conditioning, was recently awarded the 2020 Distinguished Service Award by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America. For 35 years, Hoover has owned and operated Empire, a local heating and cooling company servicing metro Atlanta areas in Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Forsyth and Gwinnett counties.

Spaces has expanded its flexible workspaces at its Midtown location at Colony Square. Spaces now occupies the first, second and third floors of Building 400, with the first floor opening up to the soon-to-be-completed Plaza at Colony Square. With various FlexSpace offerings from memberships to designated desks and office spaces to meeting rooms, Spaces offers flexible options to fit every schedule and need.

The Bridal Extravaganza of Atlanta is going virtual July 19-24 bringing together Georgia’s top wedding vendors and engaged couples. Brides and grooms can easily meet wedding vendors through interactive video chats; register for wedding and honeymoon giveaways; receive door prizes from all vendors; and upgrade to the VIP experience for curbside pickups of cake tastings, flowers, vendor gifts, and more to sample from home. For more information, visit atlantaweddingconnection.com.

Market agency Nebo has relocated its headquarters to the MET, a new mixed-use spaee across from the West End MARTA station in Adair Park. Founded in 2004, the company has grown to nearly 100 full-time employees. The new offices feature studio space and colorful murals meant to inspire creativity and celebrate the artistic culture of the MET. Nebo’s office will also incorporate an event space, including an outdoor patio, that can accommodate up to 250 people.

One Medical, a membership-based primary care facility, has opened a new location on the ground floor of ICON Midtown Luxury Apartments on 14th Street. Memberships are $199 per year and includes 24-hour virtual care services via mobile app, on-demand video visits, “Treat Me Now” digital assessments for common health concerns, easy vaccine and medical record access and prescription renewals. The Midtown location offers ifull lab services, mental and physical health check-ins, chronic illness management and annual wellness visits, in addition to COVID-19 PCR and antibody testing by appointment. Most major insurance plans are accepted for in-office care. For more information, visit onemedical.com.

Aqua-Tots Swim Schools is preparing to open its newest location on Atlanta’s upper westside. The 4,500 sq. foot swim school is tentatively scheduled to open July 6 at Westside Village at Moores Mill along Marietta Boulevard and Coronet Way. The school offers comprehensive swim curriculum for children as early as four months old. For more information, visit aqua-tots.com/ atlanta-westside-village.