One of the purposes behind the Asset Management Council’s series in Fluidity in Assets, is to share knowledge of how businesses are contributing to reducing the impact of COVID-19. But another purpose is to share good news stories from around the world. In this post, we head to the USA, where the US military is helping to convert disused buildings into hospitals.
Lieutenant-General Todd Semonite, commander of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), spoke recently on converting disused buildings, hotels and universities into hospital facilities, in light of the significant deficit faced by the health industry due to COVID-19.
The Javits Center in New York State is already being converted into an alternate care facility. Lt-Gen Semonite advised that USACE is working alongside the New York City’s mayor and NY State governor’s teams, as well as existing health infrastructure to place almost 3000 hospital-like rooms in the convention centre. Nurses stations are scattered throughout the converted facility, in order for health professionals to be able to see up to twenty patients from the station1.
The commander of USACE also noted that this can be done across the country, providing a quick but reliable solution to the coronavirus pandemic and the stress it creates on the health industry.
Do you have a story to tell of repurposing assets, particularly in light of COVID-19? Let us know so we can share what you’re doing here on the AM Council’s website.
