Schools In Focus: Indoor Air Quality

Schools In Focus is a podcast dedicated to the design, planning and management of educational facilities and campuses. Listen in as we chat with industry experts, facility managers, architects, security and safety professionals, and other thought leaders. Catch up on previous episodes here.

Today's episode is on indoor air quality in classrooms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schools In Focus, Episode 10: Indoor Air Quality

Schools In Focus podcast logo and Mike Wolf and Ron Wendorski

COVID-19 continues to be a health risk to in-person learning at schools and universities. While we wait for more and more people to get vaccinated to obtain herd immunity, schools still need to prioritize clean and safe facilities for students, teachers, and staff. One way schools and universities can mitigate the COVID-19 risk is to utilize their HVAC systems to circulate clean fresh air.

In this episode, I spoke with Mike Wolf, Director of Regulatory Affairs, and Ron Wendorski, Director of the Bernard A. Greenheck Education Center from Greenheck, a HVAC equipment manufacturer, to talk about indoor air quality in classrooms. They explain how foundational technologies like increased air ventilation and filtration can help reduce the spread of COVID-19. They also explain how additive technologies like ultraviolet technology and bipolar ionization can help.

We also discuss cost-effective ways to improve HVAC systems and the long-term benefits of indoor air quality.

“It’s not a one-size fits all fix here,” Wolf explains in the episode. “There’s going to be different size of facilities, different HVAC systems in different buildings, maybe even within the same building. And in order to come up with the best solution, there’s not going to be a one silver bullet, most cost-effective solution that typically could be used. And the listeners are going to have to understand all these different options and explore what’s going be the best solution for their particular application.”

Listen in to learn more about indoor air quality.

Where to Listen

Schools In Focus is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher. Subscribe today, or listen below!

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at ymarquez@1105media.com.

Featured

  • VLK Architects Receives Caudill Award for Texas Learning Center

    VLK Architects recently received the Caudill Award for its work on the Dr. Jim F. Chadwell Administration Building and Discovery Lab Learning Center for Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD in Fort Worth, Texas, according to a news release. The award is the highest honor from the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) / Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Exhibit of School Architecture yearly competition.

  • DreamBox Math

    Discovery Education Debuts Enhancements to DreamBox Math

    Discovery Education recently announced that DreamBox Math, an online math program for K–8 students to supplement core instruction, has been updated to improve accessibility for K–5 students, according to a news release. DreamBox Math provides personalized instruction by adapting to individual learners’ responses and providing an engaging, dynamic learning environment.

  • California High School Debuts $35M Performing Arts Center

    Irvine High School in Irvine, Calif., recently opened its new Performing Arts Center built in partnership with C.W. Driver Companies, according to a news release. The facility cost $35 million and covers about 25,000 square feet.

  • Washington University School of Medicine Completes $165M Expansion Project

    The Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo., recently completed a vertical expansion of its Steven & Susan Lipstein BJC Institute of Health (BJCIH), according to a news release. The university partnered with Lawrence Group for the design of the six-floor addition, which cost about $165 million.