Thanks to COVID-19, health and hygiene are at the top of many architects’ priority lists. Antimicrobial finishes have stepped into the spotlight, but they may not offer the protection they promise.
A recent report by architecture firm Perkins and Will, in partnership with the Healthy Building Network, warns there is no evidence buildings with antimicrobial surfaces have healthier occupants. On the contrary, antimicrobials could be bad for both people and the environment.