WTA builds emergency quarantine facilities in aid of hospitals in the philippines

WTA architecture and design studio has created emergency quarantine facilities to augment and increase capacity of hospitals in the philippines in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. the temporary structures are being built to house PUIs (persons under investigation) and keep them from spreading the infection. the manila-based studio, who has made the designs open source, is pushing to build a total of 62 emergency quarantine facilities, and by april 15, 2020, it has completed 15, while 32 are currently under construction, and 15 are still to be constructed.

images courtesy of WTA

WTA has developed the emergency quarantine facilities for hospitals and institutions in the philippines that are at maximum capacity. the structures feature a simple enough design that can be built in five days with readily available materials. each facility measures 6 x 26 m and will have 15 beds and two toilets. patients and healthcare workers will have different entrances with doctors having their own external testing box to check patients without having to go inside the facility. airflow is directed one way from front to rear with side vents that discharge air away from each bed and prevent recirculation.

WTA is planning to build 62 emergency quarantine facilities with roughly 1000 beds, while demand rises as the virus spreads out. the studio has made the designs open source and put them up online (link here), so everyone can have access to them. ‘it is our fervent hope that more groups would take up the designs and do with them as they please so we can build more facilities faster,’ says william ti, founder of WTA.

‘at this point of our build journey, we all know that it takes a village to treat the sick and heal the wounded,’ the studio notes. ‘it also takes a village to sustain what we have started. it also takes a village to accomplish all these worthy acts. help us flatten the curve because your participation matters, and your help can help build a village that will save lives and bring families together again.’