3D printers have become invaluable tools for producing much-needed personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tech companies such as Apple and Blue Origin, manufacturers like Ford Motor Co., and universities such as Duke and Harvard, have been using their printers to churn out face shields for first-line medical workers.
And it’s not just corporations and academia jumping in, either. Former Autodesk CEO Carl Bass and Chris Taggert, who operate a 10,000-sf metal shop in West Berkeley, Calif., recently set up a GoFundMe page to help their meet their goal of producing more than 20,000 shields using 3D printers for areas hit hardest by the coronavirus.
Last Friday, AMITA Health Resurrection Medical Center Chicago received its initial shipment of 20 reusable face shields that its medical staff helped design in collaboration with Chicago-based Krueck + Sexton Architects, which produced the shields on a 3D printer.
Thirty of Krueck + Sexton’s employees—essentially its entire studio—were involved in the initial concept design, which over the past several weeks they discussed during the office’s weekly “Friday Forum.” Ten of those employees were actively involved in sketching and refining the shield design.
The hospital's medical personnel was involved in refining the design of the face shields, whose initial concept Krueck + Sexton's entire studio team worked on.
Project Architect Mariusz Klemens spearheaded this effort after his sister-in-law, Dr. Angelina Slota, a resident at the hospital, told him about Resurrection’s need for more PPEs. He set up a temporary 3D printing operation in his apartment and worked round the clock to produce and assemble the shields. The medical team got involved in testing the prototype in a hospital setting, and providing feedback that guided the design for improved functionality and flexibility.
Klemens has since has purchased a second printer to facilitate production of 80 more shields for the hospital, including its Emergency Department team that put in a request for the personal protection equipment.
The face shield is designed for easy maintenance.
The face shield, according to Krueck + Sexton, has some unique features:
•It provides a continuous barrier, with no holes or screws
•The curved plastic shield extends to the wearer’s chest and covers his or her ears and side of head.
•The shield provides additional coverage to the forehead from the top. And the single-material helmet hooking system can be adjusted to different head sizes.
•The shield itself can be adjusted to accommodate the height of the wearer.
•The face shield has no rubber pieces, and has been designed for easy cleaning.
Related Stories
Coronavirus | Jun 26, 2020
ICYMI The Weekly show: The hotel sector's 'competition for cleanliness' and workplace design amid COVID-19
This week on The Weekly (June 25 episode), BD+C editors spoke with leaders from Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Henderson Engineers, and Shawmut Design & Construction on three timely topics.
Coronavirus | Jun 23, 2020
A look back at design standard shifts: ADA vs. COVID-19
The short story is official design guidelines are slow to be developed and made into law.
Coronavirus | Jun 23, 2020
WATG designs solution for isolating without sacrificing social connectivity
The design was inspired by oriel bay windows.
Coronavirus | Jun 22, 2020
Boldt creates an innovation task force to speed up safe opening of jobsites, 14 offices
Boldt creates an innovation task force to speed up safe opening of jobsites, 14 offices
Coronavirus | Jun 19, 2020
Experts address COVID-19's impact on nursing homes and schools on The Weekly
The June 18 episode of BD+C's "The Weekly" is available for viewing on demand.
Coronavirus | Jun 18, 2020
Brown University tops off first housing building in three decades
The facility, scheduled for completion next April, will combine a residence hall with student health services.
Coronavirus | Jun 17, 2020
HOK and Germfree partner to design mobile COVID-19 testing lab
Access to quick, reliable, and repeated testing has been one of the greatest challenges for businesses, institutions and individuals during the COVID-19 crisis.
Coronavirus | Jun 17, 2020
Guiding changes in the workplace: Past, present, and future
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies are managing sudden change as they assess the impact on workplace design and how people use spaces.
Coronavirus | Jun 14, 2020
A new report on how campus buildings can reopen safely
Leo A Daly white paper suggests dividing students into smaller “cohorts,” and assigning bathroom spaces.
Coronavirus | Jun 12, 2020
BD+C launches 'The Weekly,' a streaming program for the design and construction industry
The first episode, now available on demand, features experts from Robins & Morton, Gensler, and FMI on the current state of the AEC market.