First Columbia’s 433 River Street, Welcomes Back Employees & Visitors with High Tech Virus Protection
First Columbia, which owns and operates the building, has taken the last year to evaluate how to make facilities much safer and adjust to the new normal that is here to stay. The goal was specifically implemented to reduce the risk of COVID-19 and alleviate any anxiety that visitors and returning workers may be feeling.
“We’re announcing these safety measures to the public because the 433 River Street building is more than an office building, it is home to three spaces that attract not only tenants but the public too: City Hall on the fifth floor, River Street Market on the first floor, and event space Loft433 on the rooftop floor,” said Kevin Bette, president of First Columbia. “We want the public to know that we’re doing everything we can to make them safe when visiting.”
New safety features for the building include HEPA air filters, touchless access points, touchless sanitizer stations, a mounted thermal reader and a custom app for building tenants. Check out a few list in First Columbia's video: http://bit.ly/433riverstreetprotocolsbit.ly/433riverstreetprotocols
“Our goal at First Columbia is to provide the safest possible environment for those returning to work in our buildings,” said Joe Castaldo, general manager of property services for First Columbia. “We have implemented state-of-the-art measures to make sure people are safe and comfortable when inside our buildings, especially in the common areas.”
Masks are required in all public areas of the building. Touchless access points open doors with a wave of a hand above the sensor and a thermal reader automatically takes the temperature of each person as they enter the building. When a high temperature registers, an attendant will use a handheld thermometer for a second reading. If a visitor’s temperature registers high for the second reading, then that person will not be permitted into the building.
On the first floor of the building, the River Street Market has a spacious dining area with tables much farther apart than the CDC-recommended six feet. Since opening in March 2019, the premium food hall has used a cashless payment system, eliminating the need to handle money and transfer germs. As always, the market’s restaurants are carefully following up-to-date food safety protocols and making some of the area’s best fast casual fare.
AIRFLOW PURIFICATION
First Columbia has partnered with Carrier Corporation, a global leader in building ventilation and indoor air quality, to install multiple HEPA air filters in high-traffic common areas in the building. Airflow is an important factor in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses, and the hospital-grade units remove 99.97 percent of airborne contaminants.
THE WATERFRONT TROY APP
Tenants of 433 River Street can download a free smartphone app, “The Waterfront Troy,” to receive building updates, keep informed about nearby activities, and order food and drink from River Street Market restaurants. The goal of the app is to keep tenants informed and to streamline personal interactions. First Columbia hopes to make the app available to the general public in the future.
“Although each individual company in our building is responsible for keeping their employees safe, First Columbia’s responsibility is to ensure that the entire facility and its common areas comply with the current protocol,” said Castaldo. “We trust members of the public to be courteous of others while visiting.”