Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1295215
P R E S S R E L E A S E P C L C O N S T R U C T O R S C A N A D A I N C . ( T O R O N T O ) COVID-19 SMART SCREENING AND TESTING POD Combining intelligent technology with modular design Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian industry leaders worked together to launch the Citizen Care Pod – a smart screening and testing pod that integrates intelligent technology within a modular design to support a safe, responsible recovery for governments, businesses, and communities. The Citizen Care Pod is a customizable unit outfitted with the capabilities to enable turnkey mobile COVID-19 testing in high-traffic business environ- ments and communities with the goal to expedite testing, screening, and eventually vaccination on mass scale. A multi-disciplinary team of industry leaders led by Citizen Care Pods Corporation (co-founded by Carl Demarco and Zenon Radewych), WZMH Architects, and PCL Construction collaborated with technology companies Insight Enterprises and Microsoft to bring the Citizen Care Pod from con- cept to completion in less than a month. Utilizing modular construction methods, PCL Construction is manufacturing and assembling the pods by retrofitting shipping containers with customiz- able options to support rapid delivery and installation to any site, including high-traffic or remote locations. "At PCL, we anticipate challenges and are proactive in developing solutions that make construction safer, more efficient, and more sustainable. The Citizen Care Pod's modular construction and integrated technology make it a sustainable, plug- and-play solution that can be rapidly deployed to support the safe reopening of our economy," says Kelly Wallace, VP and district manager, PCL Construction. From the start, the integration of technology was critical in the vision of the Citizen Care Pod. It is equipped with a suite of intelligent, customizable technologies powered by the trusted Microsoft Azure cloud platform and Azure AI, including the Insight Connected Platform and PCL's Job Site Insights Internet of Things hubs, to enable safety and security in the physi- cal testing environment for patients and front-line healthcare workers. The customizable and portable structure is a ready-to-use solution for large-scale businesses, public works, sports and entertainment venues, airports, transit centres and more to support economic recovery. The core focus of the Citizen Care Pod is to not only provide relief to over-burdened hospitals, but also empower businesses and communities to be leaders in health promotion and disease prevention. The Citizen Care Pod has applications beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, including the option to add capabilities for testing and screening for flu season and viral outbreaks, delivering vaccines, and can be further aug- mented to address future public health needs. "Even though the benefits of the Citizen Care Pod are far-reaching, the design and construction process was uniquely local because we could only use local materials and parts. The story of the Citizen Care Pod is really a story of the entre- preneurial spirit during the coronavirus pandemic," concludes Zenon Radewych, partner at WZMH Architects and co-founder of Citizen Care Pods Corporation. Learn more about the Citizen Care Pod at www.citizencarepod.com