June 19, 2006—Highlights from the Steelcase Inc. showroom exhibition during NeoCon’06 include the launch of two chairs, an updated version of its highly successful Leap chair, and non-traditional interpretations of 8×8 work spaces. And unmistakable, says the major global producer of office furniture, is the application of the company’s research and commitment to the environment.
“The nature and sociology of work has evolved over the years, and our customers are looking for ways that their furniture can also evolve to meet their changing needs,” says James P. Hackett, president and CEO of Steelcase Inc. “This year’s showroom [at The Merchandise Mart, Chicago, for NeoCon] demonstrates innovative yet hard-working solutions that allow people to thrive, not just survive, at work.”
Showcased are more than a dozen 8×8 workspaces, commonly called cubicles. Museum-like in its presentation of 14 settings, the exhibit demonstrates that the ubiquitous workstation can support independent, pair, and group work in dynamic and inventive ways.
Research has shown that traditional, cubicle-style workspaces may not effectively support diverse work styles. However, this exhibit of existing and new Steelcase products proves that these traditional settings can be reinvented to allow easy transitions between individual and teamwork, define space to create privacy without barriers to interaction, and provide workers more control over their space.
Some of the work issues the 14 unique settings address are: How workers balance privacy; how to enable workers to relax and rejuvenate; how workers can increase their approachability; how workstations can support diverse work styles; how to separate workers without isolating them; how to provide workers the ability to spread work out; how to provide workers privacy for intensive work.
In seating, new Siento, new Move, and refreshed Leap represent an evolution in Steelcase’s patented seating technologies, building upon the Live Back and Your Profile technologies.
Designed by renowned Spanish architect Jorge Pensi, known for his fluid and elegant chair designs, the Siento chair is ideal for use in executive offices, conference rooms, and other high-image workspaces. The striking yet subdued design of Siento incorporates Live Back technology, which allows the chair back to change shape and encourage healthy spinal motion, unlike traditional executive seating that uses outdated back technology, explains Steelcase.
The multi-purpose Move chair is ideal for guest seating and almost any place people want to sit in comfort including conference rooms, team areas, classrooms, touchdown spaces, reception areas, or cafes. Designed by the Steelcase Design Studio, Move incorporates Your Profile seat technology with flexors under the seat cushion to create a dynamic comfort pocket unusual in multi-purpose chairs. Up to 99 percent recyclable at the end of its life, Move is made with only seven screws for quick and easy disassembly in less than five minutes with common hand tools.
Both Siento and Move are constructed with McDonough Braunguart Design Chemistry (MBDC) approved materials—a materials assessment to determine that every material used is safe for human and environmental health. Siento is currently under review for MBDC’s Cradle-to-Cradle certification.
The refreshed design of the Leap chair shows improvements in four key areas: performance, esthetics, ease of use, and environmental effectiveness. The chair’s sleek new design provides improved back support, and a new arm depth adjustment enables users to get closer to their work and provide better support for reclining. It recently received a Silver Cradle-to-Cradle Product Certification from MBDC and is GreenGuard Indoor Air Quality Certified.
For more information, visit the Steelcase Web site.
