General Knowledge

Learning Hubs and Media Centers

One of the many concerns over the effects of the pandemic on learning over these past two years has been the loss of opportunities for students to collaborate in person, important for both learning and the development of social skills.

One of the ways these vital needs are being addressed is through the use of learning hubs and media centers, spaces that foster a combination of socialization and education. Let’s take a look at both.

Learning hubs, also called learning commons, are spaces for students to use either between classes or after school. In some cases these are off-site areas sponsored by local communities, but many are within school walls. Designed to be more inviting than simply hanging out in hallways or lobbies, learning hubs are flexible and adaptable to a variety of needs.

There are no hard and fast rules for learning hub design, but common items typically include soft and inviting furniture, with a layout that can be adapted to individual study or group collaboration. In some ways, learning hubs reflect trends we’ve seen in colleges, and in office design. Many have cafes with coffee or other drinks and light fare, tools like whiteboards to promote group work and private spaces for counseling, tutoring or quiet study. Some may even have outdoor areas.

While some schools have added learning hubs via new construction, many more are repurposing existing space, often unused or underused spaces like lobbies or cafeterias, which might normally be occupied for only a couple of hours per day.

The media center is an extension of the same concept, but with (as the name would suggest) a focus on the technology needed to produce graphic elements for projects and presentations. For that reason, media centers (also called library commons) are typically developed within existing libraries. The media center creates a hybrid space where new technology lives side by side with ready access to books and other more traditional sources of research.

As with learning hubs, look for lounge-style furniture designed for comfort, collaboration and flexibility, as well as the preservation of the private study spaces you’ll find in a traditional library.

COVID-19

Douron is fully operational to provide service to our employees, clients, partners and community. We have received required status for distribution to essential companies per state and federal guidelines.

We are continually monitoring the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) for daily updates to provide our employees a safe and healthy working environment.

We have established a continuity plan that relies on email, virtual meetings and remote connectivity as our primary contact and response method. With our software phone application, our employees can be reached at their normal extensions. Messages left on team members’ work phones are monitored and answered as quickly as possible.

Our showrooms in Baltimore, Rockville and Delaware are open. All of our facilities are being cleaned and disinfected regularly to ensure a safe work environment.

MANUFACTURING PARTNERS

Douron is monitoring the operational status of our manufacturing partners and we will provide updates, as we receive them, via email.

SALES

Account Executives will continue to be available by their standard email addresses, phone extensions and mobile phone numbers. All responses to projects from our Account Executives will be via email or phone.

CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPPORT

Douron headquartered team members are in office and fully operational. Our continuity plan has been tested to make an easy transition as not to delay our ability to serve you.

WAREHOUSE, DELIVERY AND INSTALLATION (WD&I)

Currently, Douron is accepting all shipments and making deliveries, while safely completing projects. There is restricted entry for delivery drivers to our warehouse and paperwork is being delivered to the door. Our warehouse team has been provided rubber gloves, masks and disinfecting spray to utilize upon receipt of product and to use as necessary. All WD&I employees have proper documentation of the nature of their delivery being essential to the operations of our clients.

After installation, all furniture surfaces and cabinet are sprayed and disinfected. We want to ensure a safe installation process. Our employees are aware and following (CDC) guidelines of daily cleaning of tools and building materials; washing hands as often as possible; covering coughs and sneezes with tissues and avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

WARRANTY AND CLAIMS

Our Corrective Actions Department is reviewing all claims made by clients and reporting information to the appropriate manufacturer.

If you are experiencing any warranty or service related issues, please fill out a warranty request form at https://douron.com/warranty-request/or email correctiveactions@douron.com.

We are working together with you to provide safe and healthy environments.

Effects of Pandemic on Supply Chain, Costs and Productivity

Like many industries, office furniture has been impacted by the challenges of supply chain issues resulting from the pandemic. We’re experiencing constant lead time changes and sometimes-daily cost increases from manufacturers.
While the current situation is beyond our control, Douron is here to help guide you through this constantly-changing process. We are working every day to get your furniture furnishings as quickly as possible, and at the lowest cost the market will allow.
You can rest assured that we’ll provide you with the most up-to-date information on your project’s schedule and any necessary price changes. As soon as we know, you’ll know.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate these unusual times together, and thank you for choosing Douron.

Lead Times in Current Climate

Raw Materials Cost Increasing

• Industrial metals nearing record highs, increasing 1.53% from September and ~200% from early 2020.
• Iron Ore prices are rebounding 8.02% from September.
• Since July 2020, Cold Roll Steel has increased more than +230%.
• Aluminum + 49% in the last 12 months.

Container rates and supplier delivery times need significant progress

• Container rates have declined from over $13K to $11.2K per container, an 8.21% decrease from August.
• Supplier delivery times are declining for the first time since early 2020, but still at record “slow” levels.

More logistics capacity needed.

• Global transport capacity is starting to increase (almost 10%) from early 2021, butstill 30% less from where it was in 2019.

Celebrating Diabetes Awareness Month: GBMC Padonia

November is National Diabetes Month, with a focus this year on prediabetes. According to the CDC, more than 1 in 3 adults in the United States is prediabetic. That’s 88 million people, and many are not aware of their condition.

The good news is that managing prediabetes, and preventing it from becoming diabetes, can be accomplished with a series of small diet and lifestyle changes that add up to a healthier you. Things like choosing water instead of sweetened drinks, or walking more, can make big changes in your overall health. And be sure to stay vaccinated, not only against COVID-19 but against seasonal flu as well. Diabetes is a risk factor for both.

It’s an appropriate time, then, to celebrate one of our clients in the medical field: The new GBMC Health Partners Primary and Specialty Care facility at York and Padonia Roads in Timonium, MD. It’s a 14,000 square-foot space offering advance primary care, gynecology, orthopedics, physical therapy and more.

We would normally share photos of the comfortable furniture we provided in one or more waiting rooms for a medical facility like this, but the new GBMC facility doesn’t have any. Patients go directly to their exam room after checking, offering both a streamlined process and a safer environment.

And in keeping with the preventative advice on prediabetes, the team at GBMC Health Partners takes a proactive approach to patient care, regularly reviewing data to make sure all health screenings are up to date and contacting patients if something needs to be addressed.

Douron was able to provide workstations, tables and seating on the second floor for GBMC Padonia’s billing practice. We’re proud to be associated with this beautiful, patient-focused new facility.

Celebrating Golf Month: BMW Golf Championship

August is National Golf Month, a time when golfers are encouraged to share their own experience and bring new participants to the game. Look for busy driving ranges and perhaps even some discounts at your local course.

This year, though, National Golf Month takes on an even more special meaning in the Baltimore/Washington area as one of the biggest events on the calendar comes to our backyard: The BMW Championship, happening at Caves Valley Golf Club on August 24 through 29.

Having any PGA TOUR event come to town is exciting, but the BMW Championship is no ordinary event. It’s the next-to-last stop in the FedExCup Playoffs, and that means the top 70 finalists will be here to take part. These are professional golf’s biggest names and most familiar faces, competing for $9.5 million in prize money. The results will determine the 30 golfers who will compete in the final in Atlanta.

This marks the first time in 60 years that a tournament stop of this magnitude has happened in Baltimore. Douron will be sharing hospitality access with selected guests, and we couldn’t be more excited.

Celebrating Social Wellness Month: Ashburn Senior Center

July is Social Wellness Month, a time for focus on the relationships that keep us emotionally healthy, and increased awareness of the power of social healing to contribute to our happiness and well-being.

Social wellness is often a challenge for our senior population as reduced mobility makes it more difficult to be with family and friends on a regular basis. And of course this was greatly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its enforced isolation –for all of us, but especially for seniors.

That’s why we’re so excited to have been involved in a fantastic project for seniors, which coincided perfectly with both the end of the pandemic and with Social Wellness Month.

The Ashburn Senior Center in Loudoun County, Virginia opened on June 17^th, 2021. This spectacular, 15,000-square-foot facility is ADA accessible and provides administrative and program space for those 55 and older as well as staff and volunteers. The project will also be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified, demonstrating an eco-friendly design that meets the environmental needs of its community.

The Ashburn Center features an amazing array of resources including an art room, exercise and activity center, conference rooms, classrooms, computer lab, a commercial kitchen … even pool tables, a pottery kiln and pickleball. And while we were involved in much of the interior design and fit-out from the reception area to the conference rooms and classrooms, the center doesn’t stop there … many of the interior areas are designed to flow into the surrounding five-acre property and take advantage of the natural surroundings.

We’re so happy to have been a part of the creation of this amazing new facility with Grimm and Parker, and even more gratified that it answers a need for Loudoun County’s senior population … and just in time for Social Wellness Month.

Question about commercial interior design or furnishings? Contact Douron.