See How the New York Design Center Is Protecting Health-Care Workers
Like other nonessential businesses in New York State, the New York Design Center at 200 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, home to dozens of showrooms and galleries from top design talents, has shuttered its doors to encourage people to stay home and help stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. But that doesn’t mean the many members of its tight-knit community are sitting idle. A slew of companies with ateliers at the NYDC have pivoted their businesses to help hospitals and health-care workers in their efforts to save lives.
“Now more than ever, it is important to connect with our 200 Lex family and unite our community,” says Jim Druckman, president and CEO of the NYDC, which has occupied its 16-story landmark building by architect Ely Jacques Kahn since 1926. “One thing that became clear when speaking with many of our showrooms was an overwhelming desire to give back. These efforts came about from companies looking at their resources and seeing how to adapt.”
Given that good design relies on nimble problem-solving, it’s only natural that its practitioners would brainstorm creative ways to contribute to the larger cause.
“This time has reinforced what I always believe in—we are a community, and we are in this together,” Druckman says. “With so much going on right now, our industry should feel like home, in all aspects of the definition.”
Here are just a few examples of how NYDC showroom companies are making an impact.
David Sutherland
The Perennials Fabrics arm of David Sutherland has opened its warehouses, where workers are using fabric not treated with their signature NanoSeal finish to craft masks that can cover and help give a longer life to regulation N95 masks. In an unexpected benefit, the solution dyed–acrylic Perennials textiles are particularly resilient against bleach, a frequent cleaning agent for health-care workers and hospitals.
Avery Boardman
The custom-seating company is liaising with its manufacturers to use materials in its factories to help create necessary masks and medical equipment for hospitals.
Baker
The North Carolina–based furniture company is producing breathable, machine-washable mask coverings for N95 masks, extending their potential use. They are also creating gowns for hospital workers to wear over their preexisting scrubs as an extra layer. Like Perennials’ textiles, the composition of Baker’s solution-dyed acrylics is proving optimal for the job.
Kravet
Kravet is producing masks in its South Carolina warehouse; the firm has also shipped more than 1,000 yards of fabric to the outdoor-furniture company Woodard, whose Michigan factory is producing masks on a mass scale for hospitals.
Thom Filicia
The Queer Eye for the Straight Guy TV personality and designer is working with his Eastern Accents bedding manufacturer in Chicago to produce masks for healthcare workers.
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