May 1, 2020

Stronger Together: How the A&D Community is Helping Others

As the novel coronavirus quickly rattled the world, forcing people to change the way they live and work indefinitely, the architecture and design community sprang into action—finding ways to help others, even as they faced their own respective challenges. From donating textiles for the creation of medical masks, to outfitting field hospitals in New York City with showers, to envisioning prototypes for patient body shields and funding meals for food banks, the community continues to step up. 

Though some parts of the world are beginning to transition out of quarantine, life is hardly snapping back to the way it once was. As we continue adapting to the new normal and navigating the return to public spaces, protective gear seems here to stay—at least for now. Take a look at how more than 60 designers, manufacturers, universities, and industry groups found innovative ways to make use of their skills, equipment, and spaces to help the greater good over the past few weeks. 

The following list is organized alphabetically by cause and features the names of firms that lent a helping hand. 

3-D Printing Masks and Equipment 

3-D printed face shields made by Brooks + Scarpa. Photography courtesy of Brooks + Scarpa. 

Brooks + Scarpa 

Kohn Pedersen Fox

Page Southerland Page

Shimoda Design Group

Tighe Architecture

Wilkhahn

Producing/Donating/Designing Masks, PPE, and Medical Gowns 

Architects and designers are making protective face coverings in all shapes and styles. Photography courtesy of The House of Scalamandré. 

Allsteel

AMEICO 

Andreu World

Ann Gish

Apparatus

Baker Design Co. 

CannonDesign

Chilewich

Dauphin Group

David Sutherland 

Designtex + West Elm

Eric Brand 

Eventscape

Gunlocke

Fabricut

FederlegnoArredo and Salone del Mobile.Milano

Harbinger 

HBF Transitions Factory

Integra Seating

Kravet Inc.

Loll Designs

Louis Poulsen

Louis Vuitton

Maple Wood Quilting Co

Massimo Iosa Gina – Iosa Ghini Associati 

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams 

MKDA

Nagami Design

Natuzzi

Norwalk Furniture 

O. Henry House

PARTISANS 

Pindler

Ratana 

Rich Brilliant Willing

Room & Board 

Standard Textile

The House of Scalamandré + STARK + MaskClub

University of Southern California School of Architecture

Wearbest / Swavelle

Wilkhahn

Woodard Furniture

Stitchroom

Producing / Creating Prototypes for Face + Body Shields + Equipment for Medical Centers

These protective countertop shields by Carvart keep employees safe at essential businesses, such as pharmacies. Photography courtesy of Carvart. 

Ascalon Studios

BIG 

Carvart

Cerno

Clarus

Humanscale

Gensler 

Kimball

Pearlman Design

PRISM DESIGN 

Donating Fabric for Masks and Gear

Lively patterns and hues are transformed into protective masks. Photography courtesy of Fabricut. 

Fabricut

Kravet Inc.

Pollack

Rosemary Hallgarten

Stitchroom

Stylex Seating

Zoffany

Donating Materials/Resources

Allermuir halted production of its contemporary designs and moved all production to support the creation of NHS furniture. Photography courtesy of Allermuir. 

Cactus

Century Furniture

Ceramics of Italy

Kohler Co. 

Allermuir

Yield Design

Kohler Co. donated showers to a field hospital in New York City. Photography courtesy of Kohler Co. 

Community Support through Funding Initiatives & Donations, Virtual Visits/Events, and Classes

ASID

Cambi Auction House

Cosentino

DARRAN Furniture

DesignGivers

Elephant Ears Design 

Flavor Paper

Formica

Gensler

Preciosa Foundation 

Samuel & Sons

Samuelson Furniture

Sherwin-Williams

Studio Four NYC 

The Invisible Collection

> See our full coverage of COVID-19 and its impact on the A&D industry

ThinkLab, the research division of SANDOW, is gathering information about our industry’s response to COVID-19. Click here if you’d like to participate.

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