An American Institute of Architects task force has released a tool to help public officials identify buildings suitable to be adapted for patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Though most construction in New York City has been halted, architects hired for city projects were stunned to get orders last week to stop all ongoing design work. 

In a recent survey by the International Code Council, 26% of the more than 1,150 code-official respondents report building departments have received requests for permits for COVID-19-related facilities, including in temporary structures in alternative locations, such as school gymnasiums, hotels, outpatient surgical centers or in pop-structures in parking lots.