DuPont™ Corian® Featured in Surrey Memorial Hospital Redevelopment and Expansion

What does one of British Columbia’s busiest hospitals do when its infrastructure can no longer support its growing number of patients?  It launches the largest-ever healthcare construction project that the province has ever seen.

The Surrey Memorial Hospital officially broke ground on its redevelopment and expansion project in March of 2011.  One of the largest goals of this project was to promote environmental sustainability; this goal will become a reality upon completion of the project in 2014.  The expanded facility was designed and constructed to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold status.

In order to achieve this environmentally-sustainable design, the selection of building materials had to be carefully assessed.  Not only that, but the building materials selected had to be suitable for a hospital environment – an environment in which infectious control and patient care are at the forefront of design considerations.  It is no surprise, then, that DuPont™ Corian® was selected for several applications during the construction planning process.

A total of 337 sheets of Corian® were used in the construction of integral sink counters, nursing stations, window sills and other decorative applications.  The company responsible for fabricating and installing the Corian®, Morinwood Mfg. Inc., has thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the hospital renovation and expansion.

“It is amazing to see the transformation of the entire hospital,” said Tom Morin, owner of Morinwood Mfg.  Inc.  “We cannot wait to see the end product when the project is completed in 2014.”

Given the extent of the Corian® fabrication that needed to be done, Morin worked closely with both DuPont™ and Willis to ensure the material was readily available to meet the demanding construction schedule.  “Because of the mutually supportive relationship that DuPont™ and Willis offered, we were able to in-turn give the project the best service and value,” said Morin.

When the redevelopment is completed in 2014, the hospital will be able to meet the demands of its increasing patient base by offering a larger facility and more patient-friendly attributes – including the hygienic, durable DuPont™ Corian®.  Said Morin, “I anticipate that Corian® will continue to be a go-to material for healthcare applications.  The Surrey Memorial Hospital is just one example of how this material provides both form and function for healthcare environments.”

Since 2007, Morinwood Mfg. Inc. has been a leader in architectural millwork, finish carpentry and laboratory casework contracts for commercial and institutional projects.  For more information, visit www.morinwood.ca.

 

Ending consumer confusion in the countertop ‘biz’

How consumers can go from confused to enthused about Premium Decorative Surfaces

Premium Decorative Surfaces.  These three little words are bringing a renewed excitement to the countertop industry.  And - what’s more – defining “Premium Decorative Surfaces” is bringing a clear, concise vision to the everyday countertop consumer.

Ok, so what the heck are Premium Decorative Surfaces?

When you move beyond the realm of laminate countertops, you have entered into the world of Premium Decorative Surfaces.  From quartz to granite, from solid surface to soapstone, these “higher-end” surfaces are what consumers look for when they want to bring a definitive and “upgraded” style to their kitchen and bath countertop.  Not only is the countertop often the focal point of any kitchen or bathroom, it is the most highly used surface in the entire household.  It is understandable, then, that there has been a strong consumer focus on searching for the “perfect” countertop material.  However, once the search for the “perfect” surface begins, so also begins the phenomenon known as “consumer confusion”.  Consumers now, more than ever, are confused about all of their options and are confused about the overwhelming amount of information that is available to them.

Consumer Confusion: How it all Began

Let’s take a trip back in time to the year 2000.  Laminate was essentially the only available material in terms of countertop surfaces.  With the limited scope of options to countertop consumers, certainly there had to be a surface that would bring a renewed interest to this seemingly single-product industry.

Enter Granite.  Heavily marketed as “the next best thing”, consumers became enthralled with the elegance that came with a hard and shiny stone countertop.  And so the industry trends began to shift dramatically towards granite.  From homes to apartments, restaurants to offices, this relatively unknown material just a few years prior had become an industry giant in the world of residential and commercial design.

With its growing hold on the countertop market share, granite became the go-to material for anyone in search of a premium countertop.  However…

Here is what could not be predicted: although many consumers wanted to keep up with the growing trend of purchasing granite for their homes, other consumers wanted to differentiate and find a countertop material that better fit their lifestyle.  And here, it was in this moment that the “robotic granite buyer” began to disappear and the “confused consumer” was born.

With so many options, how can I choose?

The answer to this question, my friends, has become extremely convoluted.   The Premium Decorative Surfaces category can easily encompass a confusing number of options.  And with all these options available, which information can you trust?  Who can you trust to provide you with the right information?  And, most importantly, how can you realize that choosing the right countertop does not begin with reading the latest “home trends” magazine or watching a design show on TV - it begins with finding the perfect countertop material for your lifestyle?

This may seem like a simple enough idea, but let us take a look at some of the available countertop surfaces in the market today:

• Granite
• Quartz
• Solid Surface
• Limestone
• Soapstone
• Glass
• Stainless Steel
• Tile
• Marble
• Exotic Wood
• Concrete
• Recycled Materials

While some of these surfaces are perfectly suited for specific applications, not all surfaces are perfect for your home.  Some countertop materials are natural and beautiful but can be high-maintenance, while others may be more economical but don’t fit your lifestyle needs.  This, in conjunction with the elements of an unstable economy, means that now – more than ever – there is a growing need to be certain that you are sinking your money into the right Premium Decorative Surface.

 

Putting Two and Two Together

We know that lifestyle considerations are important when choosing a countertop surface. We know that value is an important factor in choosing the right countertop surface.  So what next?

Amongst the plethora of available surfaces, there is a clear delineation between two – yes, only two -varieties of Premium Decorative Surfaces: those that are hard and shiny and those that are seamless/integrated.

Hard and Shiny Surfaces vs. Seamless/Integrated

No matter who you are and what your everyday life entails – whether you’re a mother of three or a bachelor in the city - if you can take into account the various qualities of these two types of Premium Decorative Surfaces, you will be able to make a more educated decision and choose the surface fits your lifestyle.

And So Ends the Confusion

As with every decision we make in our everyday lives, we are faced with weighing the outcomes of our decision.  So why should choosing a countertop be any different?  If the design industry can lean away from suggesting a product and begin to suggest a product for your lifestyle, then you can make an educated, assured decision.  It is with this simple idea that you, as the consumer, can stop being confused and can become confident in choosing the perfect countertop surface for your home.

The Hard and Soft of It: Hardening of Homes in North America

By: Michael Hetherman, President & CEO

With today’s aging population, there are several facets of society that are being molded to conform to the needs of this rapidly-growing demographic.  For instance, the popularity of “aging in place” has hit an all-time high.  Many seniors are opting to modify their homes in order to make their living situations more comfortable.  However, there is one aspect of “aging in place” that seems to be increasingly overlooked: the importance of sound-reducing appliances and surfaces throughout the home and the effect that they have on the elderly generation.

It is no mystery that the greater the age, the greater the odds of having complications with eyesight and hearing.  The typical baby boomer would, no doubt, tend to prefer a quieter, more peaceful environment.  But wait – would it not be just as easy to assume that everyone would prefer a quieter and more peaceful home environment?  Perhaps the needs of one generation cascade into the desires of an entire population.

At some point in the 1970s or 1980s, there came a grandiose design scheme called “open concept”.  This truly changed the way our homes functioned.  Walls were torn down to create “great rooms”.  Hardwood and tile flooring took precedence over carpet.  Cloth drapes were replaced by wood blinds.  Oil paintings were replaced with glass-faced paintings.  All of these designer trends became wildly popular – and yet not a single consideration was made for the acoustical sacrifice that comes along with these aesthetic changes.  This is not to say that any of these trends are “wrong”; it simply means we’ve uncovered something.

In a recently-printed article in the Globe and Mail which focused on the effects of noise throughout the home, I was left pondering one interesting quote: “When we come home, it’s supposed to be our sanctuary.  What’s happened is, we’ve gone on this amazing technological revolution where everything around us is technology but often the compromise in the design is that the sound hasn’t been considered, so you’ve got this massive orchestra at home.”  The article stressed that homes are being constructed with no consideration for the acoustical disturbances that come with homes that are technologically-advanced.  Many of these design aspects – from appliances to the home décor itself – are causing a wealth of acoustical annoyances that are affecting the homeowners who reside in these spaces.

Though I have yet to realize the full effects of the acoustical “annoyances” that are present in many modern-day homes, my recently passed father-in-law, John, certainly had his fair share of these annoyances while living in our home.  When my daughter would serve meals on our quartz kitchen island, John would cringe at the sound of the plates and glasses clanking on the hard surface.  Switching to a more sound-absorbent countertop surface - one simple design change - would have made a world of difference for him.  His sound-sensitive ears were further affected by the presence of hard surfaces and fixtures throughout our home which created, in his eyes, one large acoustical nightmare.  Once John passed away, my wife and I – as recent empty nesters – heeded his opinion and decided it was time to renovate.  We wanted to know what it felt like to have a truly euphoric, peaceful home environment.

We began our renovation by tackling the great room.  We covered our hardwood floors with carpet.  We replaced our leather furniture with fabric furniture.  We removed our wood blinds and replaced them with cloth blinds.  We insisted on only placing canvas-wrapped art in our newly-renovated space.  And, as we truly did “gut” our great room during the renovation and had the room down to the studs, we made the conscious decision to not install surround sound.  In considering our desire for a quieter home, the acoustical factor of our re-design truly did influence our decisions.  In our dining area, we opted for an over-sized area rug; we removed the hutch and replaced it with a canvas-wrapped piece of art which now functions as one large acoustical panel.  These changes, coupled with our new lighting scheme of lamps and dimmer switches, truly transformed our space into something spectacular – and peaceful.

Post-renovation, the feedback from our family and friends has been astounding.  They frequently comment on how warm and tranquil our home environment has become - though nobody can quite put their finger on the exact design aesthetic that makes it so inviting.  The truth of the matter is, we have softened our home.  We have removed every ode to modern-day “hard” design aesthetics and transformed our home into our own place of solitude.

So what about the other areas in my home?  As an experienced kitchen designer, I believe the kitchen is one of the most important spaces and needs to be designed carefully in order to create a functional environment for the homeowner.  Though I have yet to fully tackle my kitchen renovation, one thing is certain: aside from the floors, the kitchen countertop is the largest horizontal surface in the home and, as such, should be designed to be functional for the homeowner – not just designed to be attractive.  Does the function and attributes of a hard, shiny countertop surface make an impact on the eyes and ears of an aging population?  Absolutely.  Would a seamless, integrated work surface – such as DuPont™ Corian® - reduce visual and acoustical strain?  Without question.  Surfaces such as Corian® seem to find the perfect blend between hard and soft; they can truly transform the acoustics of a room.  And when considering new appliances, is it easy to overlook the more expensive yet much quieter options that are available in the market today?  No doubt.  But I still ask one question: at what point during a $20,000 kitchen renovation did saving a few bucks win over the overall function and ambiance of the kitchen?  This is perhaps the most commonly overlooked consideration for designers today.  We need to ask Mr. and Mrs. Jones what is important to them in terms of appeal and function and ensure the end design is going to work for their lifestyle.

When it’s all said and done, the design community is, at large, continuing to place their focus on the “wow-factor” designs that are found on TV and in magazines.  If we can simply begin to speak about “softer” design aesthetics and ask each homeowner if these factors are important to them, we can stop the unnecessary “hardening of the homes” in North America and offer a place of peace from today’s hectic world.

 

This floor-to-ceiling wall art functions

beautifully as a large acoustical panel.

 

John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport "Bathroom Blitz" with DuPont™ Corian®

With thousand of people community by air every day, airports become a very busy place.  Whether passengers are landing or departing, it's important that each passenger's experience at the airport is a positive one; from the customer service they receive to the impression of the airports facilities, cleanliness and atmosphere.

Taking this to heart, John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport in Hamilton, Ontario recently invested in one of its most frequented facilities: the bathrooms.

The airport, which was originally constructed in 1940, has continually seen growing interest from travelers in the Greater Toronto Area.  With that in mind, the current President of John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport, Frank Scremin, aims to ensure that his facilities provide a top-notch experience for travelers who utilize the airport.

After making the determination that the Hamilton Airport would indeed give its bathrooms a facelift, Scremin wanted to be certain that his choice in building materials reflected the airport's goal of increasing hygienic properties - all while remaining aesthetically attractive.  Upon review of his surfacing material options, he was left with but one obvious choice: DuPont™ Corian® solid surfaces.

DuPont™ Corian® was originally chosen for its extremely hygienic properties.  Because Corian® is non-porous and has the ability to be void of any seams, it inhibits the growth of mold, mildew and germs and allows for low-maintenance and easy cleaning.  Not only that, but Corian® is an extremely durable material - and, perhaps more importantly, has the ability to be completely renewed and repaired.  Because of this reparability, Scremin knew that his initial investment in Corian® would result in a surfacing material that would stand the test of time and be a valuable long-term investment.  In addition to these advantageous features, DuPont™ Corian® has a Class I (Class A) fire rating which ultimately results in a safer environment for airport employees and guests alike.

"Aside from the benefial features of Corian®," said Scremin, "we also wanted the bathroom renovation to focus on the element of customer satisfaction.  Bathrooms are frequently one of the most talked about areas in terms of public spaces.  We wanted to be sure that our new bathroom environments would satisfy each and every guest in our airport."

With all this in mind, DuPont™ Corian® was not only chosen for the countertops and sinks, but was used for the toilet and urinal partitions as well as the wall application situated behind the urinals.

As the first of several bathroom renovations wrapped up in January 2013, the results have been impressive.  The space has been transformed into an attractive, functional and hygienic atmosphere.

Should the airport eventually undergo additional renovation, Scremin will not hesitate to once again utilize DuPont™ Corian® as the material of choice.  "We are incredibly pleased with the outcome of the bathroom renovation," said Scremin, "and we will gladly use Corian® during future renovations at the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport."

Before - Sink Area	After - Sink Area
Before - Urinal Area	After - Urinal Area
After - Partitions