How Will Luxury Buildings Change in the Wake of Coronavirus?

Luxury buildings in urban areas are going to function a lot differently post-coronavirus. While this will be true nation-wide, it will be especially true in major cities, with New York City in particular being a prime indicator of what changes we can expect to see in the near future. With so many people in the state of New York making daily sacrifices to their normal routines in the name of public safety, re-examining the demand for in-building amenities like like lobby gyms, pools, and children’s play areas is very prominent right now, as the age of social distancing has put a lockdown on most of these services.

Luxury Amenities

Millions of urban apartment-dwellers are learning to adapt to a work from home life, meaning no trips to the office, the gym, or even the bar — but what does that look like when those locations are in the same building as you? With exclusive amenities and luxury living areas being a huge buyers draw in the luxury real estate market, many are left wondering what these services will look like in the age of social distancing and beyond. Most of the services luxury homebuyers are accustomed to are being limited, or even locked down entirely.

When it comes to some ultra-luxury buildings, upscale events such as wine tastings, film screenings, and resident event gatherings have all been canceled. As imagined, it can be very challenging for building managers to explain to residents, old and new, that the luxury amenities included in the price-tag of their home are now extremely limited or non-existent. Fortunately, we have already seen many creative solutions in action, and doubtless more will follow! Some building managers have gone so far as to host virtual meetings and parties for tenants via Zoom and other online conference platforms, while others are running giveaways on Instagram to encourage resident social distancing. For example, photos of life during quarantine can mean being entered to win $100 gift cards for Amazon, Food Delivery, Disney+ streaming, and other services. This does more than provide a comfort to tenants who’s lifestyles have been interrupted — it fosters a sense of camaraderie from building managers to tenants, which is very important right now. Residents are counting on guidance from building management to stay up-to-date on the rapidly changing public health crisis.

Common Space

Perspectives on the use of shared spaces looks a lot different for everyone since the recent outbreak. For most people, staying home of other people, or maybe more? This is a challenge many New York City residents face in particular, as they are increasingly worried about the risk of contracting coronavirus in their lobby or other common areas. Building managers are taking steps to limiting the possibility of transmission, including but not limited to cleaning and disinfecting door handles & elevator buttons, as well as high-traffic areas like gyms and laundry rooms. Additionally, awareness is key. Signs and instructions encouraging residents to disinfect infect their homes, practice proper hygiene, and wash their hands frequently will likely be common place for long after this period of social distancing has ended.

Cleaning & Air Quality

In addition to continuous cleaning of all public door handles, buttons, and light switches, many residential buildings can also expect to see more ongoing cleaning throughout the day, and an end of day deep cleaning and disinfection. Some senior residences in particularly are being given an especially thorough treatment plan that includes a protective coating that works to repel germs from all surfaces.

Now let’s talk about air quality. With mold, poor ventilation, and low humidity levels being an issue in many New York residences, many are wondering what will change in the wake of this respiratory virus. At the moment, no special ventilation precautions are recommended for residential or commercial buildings, but building staff are taking extra care to ensure building ventilation systems are maintained properly per standard protocols for optimal indoor air quality. Ventilation is especially crucial in common areas, and we should see an increased effort to increase the amount of outdoor air that is coming into the building. Perhaps we will see an increase in more Green Roofs, such as the eco-friendly sixth floor of Green Roof Condominium, designed to purify the air, reduce ambient temperature, and save energy to boot.

The NYC Health Department does not recommend that buildings increase humidity levels to control COVID-19 transmission at this time.

Smart Home Technology

The top priority of most luxury real estate buyers has consistently been Smart Technology features such as entertainment, automated lighting, and temperature control. Unsurprisingly, this focus on technology is more in demand than ever, as New York City apartment-dwellers are encouraged to spend nearly all of their time at home. When entire families are stuck inside together for days on end, the small conveniences of lights that follow a schedule, a temperature that remains consistent and comfortable, and entertainment on hand for children and adults alike can make the days much more bearable. Having an at home movie night feels a lot more like a special occasion when the surround sound kicks in and the lights go down automatically while the opening credits roll.

Not to mention, air quality and temperature control not only save energy, they could also save you from falling ill. While adjusting temperature or humidity levels are not is currently recommended to directly combat COVID-19, keeping a consistent temperature can keep residents comfortable and healthy so that they don’t have to worry about common colds or other infections.

Only Time Will Tell

We can only wait and see how this period of social distancing will affect the development of luxury amenities in apartment buildings in the future. It’s hard to believe demand for exclusive amenities will decrease, but we can be quite sure the coronavirus outbreak will continue to foster change in many of the daily habits and routines we’ve taken for granted for so long.