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Designing for more extreme climate events in the future

In an article that first appeared in Canadian Healthcare Facilities magazine, Mike Cavanaugh and Brett Farbstein of architectural, engineering, design, and construction firm, CannonDesign, consider some of the fundamentals in ensuring that hospitals and other healthcare facilities are designed to be as resilient as possible in the face of extreme climate events.

When major weather events like 2018’s Hurricane Florence and Tropical Storm Gordon make landfall, they create chaos for everything in their path. While many people can flee these storms in advance to ensure their safety, healthcare institutions must stay operational to serve those in need of care. The decision to close or evacuate a hospital can mean life or death for critical patients. Given this, as well as the tens of millions of dollars in damages that may be sustained when severe weather hits, it is imperative that healthcare leaders invest in hospitals and care facilities designed for maximum resiliency.

Overcoming obstacles 

Today, hospitals face many resiliency challenges. Design responses most commonly focus on sea level rise, inland flooding, wildfires, extreme temperatures, drought, and extended power loss.

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Upcoming Events

The Fire Safety Event 2024

National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham
30th April - 2 May 2024

Wales regional conference, exhibition and awards dinner 2024

International Conference Centre (ICC) Newport
28th - 29th May 2024

NAHFO National Conference 2024

Crowne Plaza Newcastle Upon Tyne
3rd - 5th June 2024

Design in Mental Health 2024

Manchester Central
4th - 5th June 2024

InstallerSHOW 2024

National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham
25th - 27th June

Healthcare Estates 2024

Manchester Central
8th-9th October 2024

Access the latest issue of Health Estate Journal on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Health Estate Journal app from your device's App store

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