Daily coronavirus briefing: today Dezeen is launching a new daily briefing, rounding up news about the coronavirus pandemic that is relevant to the global architecture and design community. Read our first briefing below and keep up to date with our coronavirus coverage here.

American architect Michael McKinnell dies of coronavirus

Michael McKinnell, best known as the co-designer of the brutalist Boston City Hall, has died at the age of 85 from coronavirus. (via Boston Globe – paywall).

American architects mobilise to make coronavirus face shields for hospital workers

Architects across America including BIG, KPF and Handel Architects have teamed up as part of an open-source project to manufacture face shields to protect hospital workers treating coronavirus patients. (via Dezeen).

New Balance to start making face masks

Shoe brand New Balance is the latest company to announce that it will start manufacturing face masks. The company is following numerous fashion brands that are already making masks (via New Balance Instagram).

Researchers using nano-diamonds and salt to design coronavirus-killing face mask

Several groups of researchers are trying to design a face mask that not only protects against coronavirus but also kills it. This includes using a coating made from salt (via Fortune – paywall).

Creality's 3D-printed buckle makes wearing face masks more comfortable

Chinese 3D-printer manufacturer Creality is fabricating thousands of buckles that make face masks less painful to wear for medical workers treating coronavirus patients (via Dezeen).

How architecture schools in the UK are being impacted by coronavirus

Architectural Association director Eva Franch i Gilabert, Central Saint Martins' Alex Warnock-Smith and Sheffield School of Architecture director of learning and teaching Aidan Hoggard explain how the pandemic is impacting architecture schools in the UK (via Building Design).

AIA task force to offer advice on converting buildings into healthcare facilities

The American Institute of Architects has launched a task force to consult on how to adapt buildings into healthcare facilities during the coronavirus pandemic (via Dezeen).

Fountain of Hygiene hand sanitiser design contest entry date extended

The entry deadline to enter Bompas & Parr's Fountain of Hygiene contest to rethink hand sanitisers and encourage hand-washing during the pandemic has been extended to 5 April. The competition's jury, which will include Dezeen's editor-in-chief Marcus Fairs and Tim Marlow, chief executive of the Design Museum, has also been announced (via Bompass & Parr).

Jupe designs flat-pack intensive care unit to bolster hospitals impacted by coronavirus

Flat-pack startup Jupe has unveiled the "world's first standalone intensive care unit" and several other pop-up care facilities to help hospitals under pressure due to coronavirus (via Dezeen).

US Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA turn New York's Javits Center into 2,910-bed hospital

New York City's Javits Convention Center has been converted into a temporary field hospital by the Army Corps of Engineers. The field hospital will provide care for patients who are not suffering from Covid-19, freeing up capacity at New York's hospitals to treat patients with the virus (via ABC).

Video reveals conversion of London's Excel Centre into coronavirus hospital 

One of the workers converting London's Excel Centre into the NHS Nightingale hospital has revealed a video of the progress (via Construction Manager).

US government stimulus package includes $230 million for the cultural sector

The US government's $2 trillion stimulus package includes $230 million for arts institutes. According to ArtForum, this is considerably less than the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) was seeking from Congress (via ArtForum).

Design Council reflects on coronavirus outbreak 

The UK's Design Council has started a journal to share its reflections on the coronavirus outbreak (via Design Council).