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Case Study – University of Pennsylvania Stouffer Hall

In Bedroom, case study, solid wood by Morgan Dix

Overview DCI partnered with Atkin Olshin Schade Architects and Advanced Office Environments to furnish Stouffer Hall at the University of Pennsylvania. Features The furniture was composed of solid oak construction. The custom and ADA compliant wardrobes featured plywood sides. We assembled the wardrobes in the bedrooms bolting together two cabinets. The beds have a high-low configuration allowing students to hang their legs off the end of the bed. The University …

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Case Study: Turning Empty Houses Into Homes With Chicago Furniture Bank

In Beds, case study, Recovery Friendly Workplace, Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse by Morgan Dix

Where do people go when they can’t afford furniture? In Chicago, there’s a remarkable organization called the Chicago Furniture Bank (CFB). And it helps individuals and families who are transitioning out of homeless. In their own words, “CFB breaks the cycle of furniture poverty by transforming an empty house into a home” through providing folks with high quality used furniture. In the Fall of 2022, DCI was lucky enough to …

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Case Study: Building Durable Steel & Wood Beds for Fort Sam Houston

In Beds, case study, Design Resource, Purchasing and Value by Morgan Dix

Over the years, DCI has worked on numerous projects with Fort Sam Houston—a joint Army and Air Force Base based in San Antonio. Recently, the Base approached us with a new request. They were looking for a solution to replace their antiquated Captain’s Beds. Design Update: Captains Beds They were interested in a fresh contemporary design that both centered the strength of steel while softening the cold institutional feel of …

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Case Study: University of Tampa

In Bedroom, Blog, case study, Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse, solid wood, Wood is Good by Morgan Dix

Summary: In 2010, DCI started working with the University of Tampa. Over the last 11 years, we’ve upgraded the design standard across the UT campus upgrading 10 residence halls and 4,430 beds, including Vaughn Hall next year. Furniture: Bunkable Bed, Adjustable Height Bed, Tall Bed End, Mattress, Wardrobe, Pedestal Desk, Three Drawer Chest. Wood: Solid Maple, Natural Finish University of Tampa The University of Tampa is a medium-sized private university …

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Plywood Bed Decks vs Metal Bed Springs

In Bedroom, Beds, Blog, nuts and bolts by Morgan Dix

Should you buy a plywood bed deck or metal bed springs for your residence hall beds? We get this question a lot. And the truth is, there are benefits to both. There are some popular misconceptions too. For example, most campuses stick to the same standard for compatibility, and that isn’t necessary. Why? Because, it’s not hard to convert from metal springs to a wood deck assembly while maintaining compatibility …

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Case Study – Travis Air Force Base

In Bedroom, Blog, case study, Government by Morgan Dix

Summary: DCI installed solid wood bedroom sets in a three-building cluster at Travis Air Force Base. The project presented unique challenges including installing new furniture in occupied rooms, removing, palletizing, and transporting the old furniture, and using a reach lift. Travis Air Force Base Travis Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force air base under the purview of the Air Mobility Command, located in Northern California. In 2020, DCI …

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Cal Poly Case Study: Increasing Occupancy and Cost Savings Plus A Big Sustainability Win

In Bedroom, Blog, case study, Occupancy, Purchasing and Value, Recycle by Morgan Dix

Summary: In 2017, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo hired DCI to introduce a new design standard on campus. In the process, we helped increase occupancy (and the bottom line) by turning 390 doubles into triples, saved the school a huge amount of money on a new wardrobe, and recycled 500 metal bed frames. A New Design Standard In late 2017, DCI was awarded a contract to introduce a new design …

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Why We Source Mattresses Made By Blind & Visually Impaired Workers

In Beds, Blog, Green Manufacturing by Morgan Dix

Eighty four years ago, in a small two-room shop in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a few members of the local Lions Club gathered to charter a new initiative. They were opening a manufacturing plant operated by the visually impaired. It started small, but it grew into something remarkable. Humble Beginnings The organization founded that day was called Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind. It would grow to become IFB Solutions, the largest employer …

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Penn State’s Demo Dorm Room

In Bedroom, Purchasing and Value by Morgan Dix

We love working with Penn State University. Previously, we’ve shared with you their unique and engaging process for choosing residence hall furniture. They call it the Best Value Process or BVP for short. What’s so unique about Penn State, in our experience, is that they fully include their students in their furniture vetting and selection process. The Demo Dorm Room Earlier this week we were visiting Penn State as part …

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Life or Death: Guardrails Are No Laughing Matter

In Bedroom, Beds, Blog by Morgan Dix

“College students are our future. Why are we putting them in significant danger where they should feel safest?” -Clark Jacobs, Co-founder, Rail Against the Danger, TBI and stroke survivor.   Broken arms. Cracked skulls. Strokes. Blunt force trauma. Brain bleeds.  What do these injuries make you think of? Maybe football? Or a horrible car accident? Domestic abuse? Nope! It’s a little more mundane than that. Try slumbering college students tumbling …