The failure to contain the COVID-19 pandemic has been blamed on ill-preparedness, poor leadership and political squabbling. Office towers and other commercial buildings are typically engineered for energy savings and odor and temperature control, but not public health. The scientists envision futuristic buildings with systems that could detect a crowd gathering in a room and immediately adjust the ventilation to increase air turnover. “Think of how many cases during this pandemic could have been prevented if this was taken seriously,” she said. “But there are practical limits to what you can do as a building owner before you start having to raise the rates for your tenants.”

Source: Los Angeles Times May 13, 2021 18:07 UTC