Pandemic Inspires COVID-Conscious Design

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we live, and for some, what we look for in a living situation. NBC's Liz McLaughlin reports.

(NBC News) — The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we live, and for some, what we look for in a living situation.

In some of the nation’s hottest real estate markets developers, designers and realtors are adapting for a new COVID-conscious era.

Working and learning from home is still an adjustment for many, making open floor plan homes less desirable than they once were.

“Having the ability to close a door is of the utmost importance,” says Keller Williams realtor Yamel Ramirez.

Realtors say the pandemic is changing priorities for buyers.

“One is, what outdoor spaces are they offering? What kind of COVID-conscious systems do they have in place in order to make me feel safe if it’s a large condominium?” says Peggy Olin of OneWorld Properties.

Some multi-family designers are starting to move away from co-working layouts and shared amenities, opting instead for “pod-style” features.

“The major thing that we’ve been trying to implement in a lot of our upcoming projects are just creating private spaces,” says Ashley Harris of Southpark Interiors.

Meanwhile, condo and apartment buildings are advertising touchless features such as voice-activated elevators and robots that can deliver goods, park cars and sanitize spaces.

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