A healthy civic space is even more important in times of crisis, from incubating innovative pandemic responses to ensuring vulnerable communities receive vital support. As people and organizations grapple with operating under constantly evolving circumstances, the pandemic is highlighting the need for civic clients to rethink how public space is used.

As part of HMC’s ongoing research effort to better understand the longterm effects of COVID-19 and develop solutions for civic spaces, we spoke with various representatives from different public agencies including police, fire, sheriff, city and country administrators, and consultants from public safety and engineering companies to gain insight and understanding of COVID-19’s impact on future facility operation and design.

HMC is committed to sharing our findings with the industry in a series of white papers that focus on five main areas of Technology, Adaptability and Flexibility, Regulatory/Budgetary/Institutional Impacts, Space Needs/Reduction and Restructuring, and Impact to Wellness/Mental Health. In this paper, we discuss the space needs, reduction, and restructuring of civic spaces.