General Knowledge

Hear, Hear – Acoustics and Privacy in the Office

While the trend towards open spaces and co-working areas in office design has many benefits including improved teamwork and employee engagement, there are some pitfalls also. Put a lot of people in an open space and there can be acoustics and privacy issues that become apparent. And sometimes you just need privacy for that important phone call, be it personal or business-related.

Trouble is, many of the materials traditionally used in office construction, like drywall and glass, are not great sound absorbers. Hard surfaces reflect noise, creating a “live” space that can quickly become a cacophony of sound, even with only a handful of people there. Needless to say, office workers don’t like this … and they like the lack of privacy even less. So it’s critical to make every effort to reduce noise pollution in the workplace.

That’s why manufacturers continue to introduce a wide variety of acoustical solutions for the office environment. These solutions can range from simple acoustical fabric panels to deaden sound reflection in a conference room to sophisticated sound-masking systems that produce white noise in the background, reducing distractions and improving privacy.

And in between, there’s a big range of possibilities in furniture and fixtures: high-backed, fabric-covered chairs and benches; seating booths with enclosed ceilings; private office pods for one or two people; even semi-enclosed rolling workstations that can be repositioned at a moment’s notice.

In other words, whatever your specific issue with noise happens to be, there’s almost certainly a fixture or furniture type that’s designed to solve it. Want to make a private call? Need a way for two people to talk without being heard all over the office? Need the ability to change from group efforts to privacy on a moment’s notice? There’s furniture for that.

The solution begins with a thorough assessment of the problem. If you’re planning a new space, or if your current space is presenting acoustics and privacy problems, let’s talk about it. Quietly.

Questions about acoustics in office design? Contact Douron.

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. Check out some of our collaborative spaces at Wheaton High School here.

COVID-19 Update

Douron’s COVID-19 Update

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 COVID-19 updates to provide our employees a safe and healthy working environment. Click here to learn more about how you can protect yourself and others from the virus.

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 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 effects of the pandemic. We are 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. Douron is 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 regarding your project’s schedule, any necessary price changes and current effects of the pandemic. 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, but still 30% less from where it was in 2019.

Suicide Prevention: #Bethe1To

The effects of the pandemic on our overall mental health have been well documented, and as we enter September, National Suicide Prevention Month, there’s good cause to take a closer look.

Surprisingly, suicides decreased by six percent nationally in 2020 (source: Healthline). This runs counter to well-documented increases in nearly every other mental health category as we were all challenged by increased isolation. The prevailing theory around the decrease is that despite our physical separation, watershed events like the COVID-19 pandemic often result in an increase in our overall sense of community.

Not all the news is good, however. The CDC reports that from mid-2020 through early 2021, emergency room visits for suspected suicide attempts among teens, especially girls, showed a sharp increase. In February and March of 2021, the incidence of those visits was more than 50% higher than for the same period two years prior. Clearly, the pandemic has taken a toll on our teens.

The National Suicide Prevention Month website asks us all to #Bethe1To:

Ask. People with suicidal thoughts feel relief when someone asks after them in a caring way.

Be there. People are likely to feel less depressed and isolated when someone listens to them without judgment.

Keep them safe. A simple but effective means for reducing suicides is to remove weapons and other possible lethal means.

Help them stay connected. Helping someone at risk to create a network of individuals to support them can encourage them to take positive action.

Follow up. Studies demonstrate that supportive, ongoing contact following an individual’s release from care can make a difference in suicide prevention.

By being alert to the mental health of those around you, and especially teens, you can make a difference.

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. The 15th anniversary of the BMW Championship will enjoy a high profile among the players and boasts one of the strongest fields at any golf tournament around the world.

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.

Hear, Hear – Acoustics and Privacy in the Office

Learning Hubs and Media Centers