NeoCon World’s Trade Fair Overview and Major Manufacturer’s Introductions
NeoCon® World’s Trade Fair, the contract furnishings industry’s premier event and North America’s largest conference for interior design and facilities management began June 12th and continues through June 14th in Chicago at the landmark Merchandise Mart. Similar to the International Consumer Electronics Show for consumer electronics, manufacturers in the contract furnishings industry, plan their product introductions for NeoCon.
“NeoCon World’s Trade Fair is the epicenter of commercial furnishings industry,” said Mark Falanga, senior vice president, Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI). “NeoCon is the show where thousands of cutting-edge contract furnishings products are unveiled, making it a can’t miss show for any serious design professional or end-user looking to impact their business and increase their bottom line.”
This year NeoCon celebrates its 38th year and is expecting more than 45,000 attendees, a 40% increase from 2005 and the highest number since 2000. More than 1200 companies are exhibiting in a sold out 1.2 million suare feet of exhibit space. According to the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau, NeoCon generates $47 million in revenue for the city of Chicago.
Neocon announcements follow from the key players in the contract furniture industry including Herman Miller, Kimball, Knoll, Steelcase. Haworth is not included as specific NeoCon 2006 prese releases were unavailable.
Herman Miller, Inc., Snags Best of Show, Two Golds and Silver at NeoCon 2006
Herman Miller's My Studio Environments captured the coveted Best of Competition in the annual Best of NeoCon Awards announced Monday morning at the opening of the three-day contract furnishings trade show in Chicago.
The striking system, designed by Doug Ball, also won the Gold Award in the Furniture Systems category.
Herman Miller also won the Gold Award in the Lighting category for the Yves Behar-designed Leaf personal light, and Geiger International, a Herman Miller subsidiary, won the Silver for Ergonomic Task Seating.
The awards, now in their 17th year, drew nearly 360 entries in almost 30 categories, and were judged by designers and facility managers who are members of the IIDA and IFMA. The competition is sponsored and organized by Contract magazine, which will feature My Studio Environments on the cover of its August issue.
SOURCE: Herman Miller, Inc., www.hermanmiller.com
Herman Miller, Inc., Wins OFDA Dealer's Choice Award as Manufacturer of the Year
Herman Miller won the top award from the Office Furniture Dealer Alliance, cited as Manufacturer of the Year in balloting announced Monday during the opening day of the NeoCon trade show for the contract furniture industry.
The OFDA awards are presented annually to recognize manufacturers for their commitment and outreach to the dealer channel. The manufacturers are graded by dealers in six key categories--training, product lines, service and support, sales and marketing, management, and technology.
Herman Miller also won Dealer's Choice awards in the service and support and technology categories, in addition to the Manufacturer of the Year citation.
SOURCE: Herman Miller, Inc., www.hermanmiller.com
Herman Miller, Inc., Offers "Real Choices" at NeoCon 2006
Herman Miller, Inc., will introduce a bevy of new products at NeoCon 2006 in Chicago's Merchandise Mart from June 12-14. The additions to the portfolio include two office systems, an LED table top light, and an executive office chair from its Geiger subsidiary.
The theme for Herman Miller this year is "Real Choices," illustrated through interactive product displays, graphics, and alluring colors in textiles and finishes to reflect the company's myriad solutions for workspace design, comfort, and performance.
"We realize there are multiple and specific customer needs in the marketplace," says Herman Miller President and CEO Brian Walker. "Our new and existing products represent our researched and thoughtful response to those needs and symbolize our long-standing commitment to offering customers the best choices for attracting, supporting, and retaining top talent."
More than a System
My Studio Environments is one of two new systems designed by Doug Ball. An innovative concept in open-plan workspace design, it is a user-centered solution featuring elements that enhance physical and psychological well-being and instill a personal sense of ownership.
My Studio can be utilized for privacy or collaboration and supports spaces with a reduced footprint. The office layout provides capability for creating, displaying, and organizing work. It also incorporates a personal closet for the storage of personal items. Adds Ball: "My Studio can adapt without being moved. It was specifically designed to conform to a variety of work styles without the need for reconfiguration."
The second system, Vivo Interiors, is a frame-and-tile system that offers a clean, fresh aesthetic. In Vivo, Ball reveals crisp edges for a straight, well-defined appearance, while its trim pieces interlock for exceptional alignment and fit. A horizontal bead defines the tiles and reflects light, providing added visual interest.
The placement of Vivo's work surface is also unique for a frame-and-tile system. Its sidelong placement allows for a wider range of view. The new orientation helps people feel more secure and increases awareness of teammates and environmental changes.
Both My Studio and Vivo are the first systems to be designed according to the McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry's (MBDC) Cradle to Cradle protocol, adopted within Herman Miller as Design for the Environment. The protocol informs the safety of a product's material chemistry, the ease of disassembly, the percentage of recycled content in the product, along with the recyclability of the product's parts. Similarly, both systems have been awarded GreenGuard certification.
Touch the Light
The new Leaf personal light by Yves Behar and his San Francisco-based design firm, fuseproject, represents the future of lighting. Twenty LEDs (light emitting diodes) create an interactive experience, allowing control of both the color and intensity of illumination. With the touch of a finger, Leaf emits a warm, ambient glow or a cool, blue affect.
Its propriety heat dissipation system coupled with the energy efficiency of LED technology also makes Leaf a smart choice for the home or office environment. It too was designed according to Herman Miller's Design for the Environment protocol and utilizes 40 percent less energy than compact fluorescent lighting. Says Behar, "The real magic behind Leaf is the way it translates human touch--it creates a compelling way to experience the art of light."
Sitting in Style
The new Foray chair is the first collaborative design from Geiger International and Herman Miller. Designed by Eric Chan, Foray's intelligent design offers elegance matched with the latest in ergonomic seating technology. Foray also was designed according to Herman Miller's Design for the Environment protocol and is expected to receive GreenGuard certification in July 2006.
"We wanted to produce a chair that would be attractive to a technology-reliant executive," says Geiger President Dave Guy. "Its user-defined settings and materials combine for the ultimate experience in comfort and durability," he adds.
A Golden Anniversary and a Reintroduction with Swagger
The Eames Lounge and Ottoman, designed by Charles and Ray Eames, is commemorating its 50th anniversary with a lively celebration and a new veneer that hearkens back to its original, lustrous rosewood. The new sustainable veneer option is called santos palisander. At NeoCon there will also be a display of invited designers' interpretations of the iconic lounge, in the form of three stylish sets whose cushions have been transformed into impressionistic canvasses.
Herman Miller also is showing at NeoCon its reintroduction of the Nelson Swag Leg group, a set of desks, tables and chairs designed by George Nelson, Herman Miller's longtime director of design. The chair, originally produced in fiberglass-reinforced plastic, is being reissued in earth-friendly and recylcable polypropolene. The collection also includes two dining tables, a work table and the elegant Nelson Swag Leg Desk.
The Sounds of Sonare
Sonare Technologies/A Herman Miller Company will demonstrate its next generation of the Babble voice privacy technology with Multivoice in the 11th floor Herman Miller for Healthcare showroom. Multivoice can be placed in any workspace and activated to protect private face-to-face conversations. Designed to operate independently of the telephone, Multivoice allows the freedom to speak securely within an open-plan office, conference room, or lobby setting.
Sonare's showing at NeoCon includes Roomtune. Displayed within the Herman Miller showroom, Roomtune turns tack boards, whiteboards, and artwork into sophisticated panels that remove excess sound energy, improving the overall acoustic performance of an interior space. Sonare President Bill DeKruif noted, "Babble opened the door for us to explore new ideas about protecting privacy and confidentiality. We're thrilled to add Multivoice and Roomtune to our sound management portfolio and the range of our interior applications."
Building Bridges with Alliance Partners
Herman Miller for Healthcare will reside in its own showroom this year at NeoCon. Its new location on the 11th floor of the Merchandise Mart in Suite 113a marks the first opportunity to fully demonstrate its range of products, knowledge and services in a variety of simulated applications.
Along with its casework, systems, and clinical furnishings, Healthcare will be displaying a new seating option from alliance partner Brandrud. Brandrud offers a comprehensive furnishings portfolio for patient rooms, exam rooms, treatments areas, and lobby and lounge areas.
Herman Miller's alliance with Bretford, Inc., expands its ability to serve a variety of learning environments in corporate facilities, colleges, and universities. Bretford offers innovative tables and visual display products for meeting and conference rooms, as well as learning spaces.
Several other alliances enhance Herman Miller's ability to provide customers with powerful choices for creating great places. Baker Manufacturing, Edelman Leather, First Office, Luna Textiles, Maharam, SCA Wall Services, SitOnIt, Inc., and Theatre Solutions, Inc., broaden and deepen the portfolio of products and services available through Herman Miller.
"We are making history at this NeoCon--and a strong statement about the future--as we bring to market an unprecedented set of new solutions and an amazing array of choices," said CEO Walker. "We have never been better positioned to serve our customers with the innovative product solutions that we can offer through Herman Miller and through our valued partners."
SOURCE: Herman Miller, Inc., www.hermanmiller.com
Kimball Office introduces Priority™casegoods line
Aesthetically and functionally adaptable, Priority fits an extensive range of design, application, space, and budget challenges. Its intelligent mix of built-up and modular components minimizes asset management while supporting individual preferences. Just as important, its integrated technology solutions deliver accessible wire management and connectivity. A refined palette of materials, details, and finishes further enhances Priority’s almost limitless practicality. Drawing upon a versatile assortment of worksurfaces, drawer pulls, edge profiles, and door styles, Priority can be dressed up or down to cost-effectively carry the warmth and sophistication of wood throughout the organization. Priority achieves all this and offers quick specification and installation, and the beautiful veneers and craftsmanship for which Kimball Office is known.
Increases Facility Efficiency:
With its expansive offering of fully assembled, modular and mobile components, Priority adapts effortlessly to a variety of work environments, and changing projects and work modes.
Pre-assembled units set conveniently in place, simplifying specification and installation.
Non-handed modular pieces offer choice and versatility. Mobile elements give people the freedom to move between concentration and collaboration at will. By using Priority components with Traxx®, Kimball Office’s innovative horizontal mounting system, useable space can be created almost anywhere, including in corners and around columns and other architectural obstructions.
Facilitates Day-to-Day Productivity:
Priority provides an assortment of worksurfaces, storage components, and height-adjustable pieces that let workers tailor their individual spaces to better support the ways they work. U-shaped surfaces allow occupants to choose which way they face within their space, while P-tops furnish room for informal meetings. Extended desks, credenzas, and returns provide more workable, functional surface in the same amount of space. Mobile pedestals with cushion tops provide additional seating and stow neatly under desks. Height-adjustable tables fit people of all sizes and address ADA guidelines.
Connects People and Technology instantly:
Aesthetically and functionally adaptable, Priority fits an extensive range of design, application, space, and budget challenges. Its intelligent mix of built-up and modular components minimizes asset management while supporting individual preferences. Just as important, its integrated technology solutions deliver accessible wire management and connectivity. A refined palette of materials, details, and finishes further enhances Priority’s almost limitless practicality. Drawing upon a versatile assortment of worksurfaces, drawer pulls, edge profiles, and door styles, Priority can be dressed up or down to cost-effectively carry the warmth and sophistication of wood throughout the organization. Priority achieves all this and offers quick specification and installation, and the beautiful veneers and craftsmanship for which Kimball Office is known.With its expansive offering of fully assembled, modular and mobile components, Priority adapts effortlessly to a variety of work environments, and changing projects and work modes.Pre-assembled units set conveniently in place, simplifying specification and installation.Non-handed modular pieces offer choice and versatility. Mobile elements give people the freedom to move between concentration and collaboration at will. By using Priority components with Traxx®, Kimball Office’s innovative horizontal mounting system, useable space can be created almost anywhere, including in corners and around columns and other architectural obstructions.Priority provides an assortment of worksurfaces, storage components, and height-adjustable pieces that let workers tailor their individual spaces to better support the ways they work. U-shaped surfaces allow occupants to choose which way they face within their space, while P-tops furnish room for informal meetings. Extended desks, credenzas, and returns provide more workable, functional surface in the same amount of space. Mobile pedestals with cushion tops provide additional seating and stow neatly under desks. Height-adjustable tables fit people of all sizes and address ADA guidelines.
Priority’s integrated wire management solutions make getting connected and staying connected simple. Fully assembled desks have approach-side pedestal doors that open, making setting up, adding and moving wired equipment quick and convenient. Specially designed technology-management elements, including optional power/data outlets, keep electronics charged up and close by. Optional cord management troughs, mounted to the underside of worksurfaces, keep cords out of the knee space and up off the floor. Undersurface storage units feature a pullout shelf for peripherals, freeing up valuable desktop space. Cords run to power outlets through a cord opening in the bottom of the unit. Hinged modesty panels allow access to building power/data sources. Grommets at the bottom back of pedestals route cords between
components.
Spreads the Benefits of Wood Throughout the Organization:
Priority blends the strength and substance of wood with an array of materials, finishes, and detail options to add subtle distinction and blend with every business setting.
- 2 hardwood veneers – cherry and maple – in 11 finish choices (satin sheen)
- Wide variety of laminate tops for high-use applications - 3 edge profiles: softened, reed, knife; 4 drawer pulls – Cascade, Helix, Link, Wisp – in silver frost metallic or matte black
- 2 overhead door styles: frosted glass with silver frost metallic frames, wood
- Modesty panel options: full-height wood, partial-height frosted glass
- Pediments, project drawers: solid wood, silver frost metallic or cinder fluted laminate
Offers Immediate and Long-Term Value:
Priority provides solutions for a wide range of design, application, space, and budget challenges. It is made by Kimball Office, an industry leader known for fine wood furnishings. For more than 30 years, Kimball Office has been building its reputation on quality, craftsmanship, and integrity of design. Slip-matched hardwood veneers and carefully matched finishes ensure beautifully consistent grain patterns and careful fit and finish from surface to surface and drawer to drawer.
Non-rubbed, satin finish exhibits superior color clarity and durability. Shared finishes and details with other Kimball Office solutions expand design, function, and price point opportunities.
Meets or exceeds all BIFMA/ANSI and ISTA standards. Backed by a lifetime warranty.
Statement of Line:
Desks:
- Assembled desks in double- or single-pedestal, and extended single-
pedestal options
- Modular worksurfaces and component pedestals to create double- and
single-pedestal configurations
Credenzas, bridges and returns:
- Assembled credenzas offered in storage; kneespace and single- pedestal arrangements w/hinged modesty panels
- Modular worksurfaces and component pedestals, lateral files, and storage units to configure a variety of credenza applications
Pedestals and files:
- Lateral files in 2- and 4-drawer configurations as modular and built-up components w/top; 30” and 36” widths on selected units
- Component pedestals in 24”, 30”, and 36” depths; choice of box/box/ file or file/file configurations
- -door storage, multi-file, printer/CPU storage, mobile pedestal with box/file and upholstered top
Storage:
- Vertical storage available in single- and double-door models w/ variety of interior storage applications, including wardrobes
- Freestanding bookcases w/ 1, 2, 3, and 4 shelves
- Set-on-surface bookcases 18” or 36” wide with or without doors
- Overhead storage, choice of open shelf or doors
- Highback organizers in extended widths w/ doors in either wood or frosted glass with silver frost metallic frames; optional tackboards
Bases:
- Half wood cylinder
- 6” wood cylinder
- Fluted square base
- Fluted column leg in height adjustable or mobile/height adjustable
- Plain column leg in height adjustable or mobile/height adjustable
- 16” cylinder for tables
Specialty:
- Pediment and component tops for vertical storage units
- Set-on transaction counter
- Glass or wood modesty
Tables:
- Table tops: Round, racetrack, elliptical, kidney bean
- Occasional table
SOURCE: Kimball International, www.kimball.com
Kimball Office Introduces Adagiato, a New Guest Seating Line Designed
by David Allan Pesso
Adagiato, a new guest seating line from Kimball Office, emphasizes comfort, quality, and a timeless aesthetic. Designed by David Allan Pesso, the chair’s visual appeal and performance stand out from every angle. Tubular steel legs support a shield-like back of rotary-cut beech. Tightly tailored cushions follow the chair’s sculptural contours. Subtle metal fasteners, soft upholsteries, and rich wood finishes in 18 hues provide textural contrast. Generous in scale, Adagiato has a suspended seat for extra comfort and an increased back pitch for extra support. Its accommodating design, featuring three back styles, complements contemporary, minimalist interiors as well as transitional, multi-dimensional environments. GREENGUARD® certified, Adagiato exceeds ANSI/BIFMA testing standards and carries the Kimball Office Lifetime Warranty.
Designer: David Allan Pesso
Specification Details:
Back styles
- Wood
- Upholstered full-height cushion
- Upholstered half-height cushion
Upholstery / Finishes:
- Upholstery: All Kimball Office fabrics and leathers, Alliance Program upholsteries, as well as customer’s own material
- Contrasting seat and back upholstery available
- Back and seat: 18 wood finishes, including mocha cherry
- Legs and undercarriage: cinder, platinum metallic, or satin nickel metallic
Dimensions:
- 22” (w) x 24 1/2” (d) x 31” (h)
Materials:
- Back: Combination of beech hardwood and veneer
- Seat: molded plywood machined to form an open perimeter spanned by non-directional webbing
- Arms: Solid beech hardwood
- Legs, undercarriage: Steel with smooth powder coat finish
- Cushion: High resiliency, CFC-free polyurethane foam
- Glides: Nylon, swivel
SOURCE: Kimball International, www.kimball.com
Knoll Previews wa™, a New Desk and Storage Collection by Piero Lissoni with Marc Krusin, at NeoCon 2006
Knoll, Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of branded furniture products and textiles for the office and home, has previewed wa, a new desk and storage collection by Piero Lissoni with Marc Krusin, at NeoCon 2006, the Chicago contract furniture industry trade exposition taking place June 12-14.
Commenting on the new collection, Piero Lissoni said, wa "reinvents desks and storage in a linear and well proportioned, modern vernacular."
"People enjoy working together, so the brief was to place them in optimal workplace relationships, focusing on the essential furniture building blocks which could be adjustable and modular, yet harmonious, he added."
"The result of this creative spirit is the combination of simple freestanding tables and storage, emphasizing various horizontal planes, articulating primary shapes with a strong graphic identity—moving the workplace forward, practically and aesthetically," noted Marc Krusin, Lissoni's collaborator for the project.
The new Lissoni desks and storage for Knoll are freestanding primary forms, suitable for open-plan, private office and collaborative settings, offering continuity between furniture and interior architecture. The Collection's visual signature combines a continuous perimeter edge detail that serves to connect components, open legs and thin screens. Soft parts and joining clips enable the personalization of individual workspaces. Stéfan Golinski served as design manager for the project.
"This new desk and storage collection represents a rigorous commitment to the precepts of Knoll design," said Benjamin Pardo, Knoll senior vice president, design.
"It is boldly modern and considers subtle refinements in workspace proportion and overall spatial integration, offering a clear global outlook based on a European design. The graphic silhouette signals clarity and an overall sense of aesthetic harmony," he added.
Lissoni's and Krusin's work responds to several workplace trends indicated by recent Knoll research probing how people work and the spaces they prefer to work in.
· Less Individual Space; More Collaborative Space. Companies are rethinking the work setting to better support collaboration and mobility within the workplace. Knoll research shows that the percentage of floor area devoted to individual spaces in relation to collaborative spaces is shifting from 80/20 today to 60/40 over the next few years. This indicates a need for furniture defined by lower horizons working in tandem with meeting, lounge and café areas.
· Mobile Work Strategies and Multi-Use Environments. The more mobile and collaborative the nature of work within the office, the more furniture needs to be capable of supporting the day-to-day transitions from individual to group work. The most practical approach to this need is to simplify the table into both an individual desk and a conference table.
· Smaller Technology Tools. Flat screen monitors, wireless networks handhelds and laptops all allow for a renaissance of rectilinear worksurface shapes, for simple, space-saving solutions.
"Redefined individual space; more collaborative space; and flexible and mobile work processes supported by small and portable technology define how people work and can translate into more efficient use of real estate," said Christine Barber, Knoll director of workplace research.
Ms. Barber recently completed Workplace Preferences: The Employee Perspective, a nationwide study by Knoll and DYG, Inc. conducted among 850 full-time, white collar employees representing a diverse set of industries including finance, media and communications, business services, healthcare, manufacturing and government.
Founded in 1938, Knoll pioneered the principles of modern design in the workplace and the home, from space planning to furniture to accessories. More than 40 Knoll products are exhibited in the permanent Design Collection of The Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Headquartered in East Greenville, Pennsylvania, Knoll, recipient of the 2005 Russel Wright Award for the Marketing of Modernism, serves clients worldwide. In North America, the Company distributes its products through a network of more than 200 dealerships and 100 showrooms and regional offices. The Company operates four manufacturing sites in North America: East Greenville, Pennsylvania; Grand Rapids and Muskegon, Michigan; and Toronto, Ontario. In addition, Knoll has plants in Foligno and Graffignana, Italy. The Knoll commitment to high environmental standards is mandated by a comprehensive Environmental, Health & Safety Management Plan.
KnollTextiles Introduces New Upholstery and Wallcovering at NeoCon 2006
KnollTextiles, renowned for harmonizing color, pattern and texture for corporate, hospitality, healthcare, educational and residential interiors, has introduced new upholstery and wallcovering designed by Dorothy Cosonas, Suzanne Tick, Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis and Abbott Miller at NeoCon 2006, the Chicago contract furniture industry trade exposition taking place June 12-14.
Introducing the Dorothy Cosonas Spring 2006 Upholstery Collection
In her first collection for KnollTextiles since joining the Company in March 2005, Dorothy Cosonas uses clean, clear color combinations to present a modern twist on classic motifs and textures with original designs that are highly influenced by the fashion world. The Collection follows in the footsteps of Florence Knoll, who also turned to fashion for inspiration when she founded KnollTextiles in 1947. Each of the five upholstery patterns is luxurious while also meeting stringent contract industry demands.
Introducing Hard Rock and Palladium by Suzanne Tick
KnollTextiles introduces Hard Rock and Palladium, the next generation of technical panel fabrics. Building upon Suzanne Tick's success with Foil Rap and Heavy Metal, this new collection of recycled polyester fabrics uses lustrous tape yarns with metallic finishes to coordinate with the range of finishes found in modern interiors and furniture systems.
Announcing New Voices in Vinyl Wallcovering
KnollTextiles brings innovation and a clear design perspective to vinyl wallcovering with two collections by guest designers in the fields of graphic design and architecture.
The Grammar Collection is a series of three new wallcoverings by Abbott Miller, a graphic designer and partner in the international design firm Pentagram, where his clients include the Guggenheim Museum, Harley-Davidson and The Sigmund Freud Museum in Vienna. Filter, Switch and Merge reflect Miller's expertise in typography. Each pattern is based on a series of letters, overlapping or intermingling, so that graphic language acts as the visual backdrop for an interior.
The Parallel Lines Collection is designed by architecture and design partnership Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis (LTL) Architects. LTL's work includes large scale public projects, academic buildings, commercial renovations, residential projects, museum installations and exhibition designs. In clear contrast with the Grammar Collection, LTL's Margin, Perimeter and Vector are based on drawings, similar to architectural renderings that create a kind of "machined imperfection." Lines and rectangles are combined to create highly-structured designs that appear almost hand-drawn on the wall.
KnollTextiles, a division of Knoll, Inc., maintains a marketing and design studio at 76 Ninth Avenue, 11th floor, New York, NY 10011. For distribution and customer information, call 866-565-KTKT or www.knolltextiles.com
SOURCE: Knoll, www.knoll.com
KnollStudio Introduces New Furniture by Shelton, Mindel & Associates at NeoCon 2006
KnollStudio, renowned for its collection of remarkable and enduring designs, has introduced new furniture by Shelton, Mindel & Associates at NeoCon 2006, the Chicago contract furniture industry trade exposition taking place June 12-14.
Shelton, Mindel & Associates, a New York-based architectural firm, has designed a wood side chair, two lounge seating collections and a table collection for KnollStudio, the classic and contemporary Knoll furniture line for offices and homes.
"Our approach to furniture design comes from the pursuit of architecture—asking questions, solving problems, searching for the essential," said Lee Mindel.
The new furniture by Shelton, Mindel & Associates includes:
· Shelton Mindel Wood Side Chair. This design reinterprets the traditional "banker's chair" to create a streamlined, unassuming contemporary chair for private offices, open plan workspaces and dining applications. The chair's celebration of materials, joinery and finishes results in an honest approach to seating, combining restraint and functionality.
· SM1 Lounge Collection. The quiet proportions and novel, eloquent simplicity of the Shelton Mindel SM1 Lounge Collection, which features a continuous fixed seat and back for a lounge chair, settee and sofa, creates a continuous landscape of order, enclosure and intimacy.
· SM2 Lounge Collection. The SM2 club chair, settee and sofa create an optimally scaled furniture landscape based on a classic cube, juxtaposing a crisp, unobtrusive tailored outer shell frame with a loose plush interior cushion to enliven the design.
· SM Table Collection. The Shelton, Mindel & Associates SM tables, constructed of bent metal and enhanced by a floating glass top, embody the concept of M.C. Escher's dynamic form: a continuous, non-concentric extrusion with no apparent beginning or end.
Founded in 1938, Knoll pioneered the principles of modern design in the workplace and the home, from space planning to furniture to accessories. More than 40 Knoll products are exhibited in the permanent Design Collection of The Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Headquartered in East Greenville, Pennsylvania, Knoll, recipient of the 2005 Russel Wright Award for the Marketing of Modernism, serves clients worldwide. In North America, the Company distributes its products through a network of more than 200 dealerships and 100 showrooms and regional offices. The Company operates four manufacturing sites in North America: East Greenville, Pennsylvania; Grand Rapids and Muskegon, Michigan; and Toronto, Ontario. In addition, Knoll has plants in Foligno and Graffignana, Italy. The Knoll commitment to high environmental standards is mandated by a comprehensive Environmental, Health & Safety Management Plan.
SOURCE: Knoll, www.knoll.com
KnollStudio at NeoCon 2006
Introducing the Maya Lin Stones in Molded Plastic
A new addition to Maya Lin's iconic collection, the Stones are now available in rotational molded high density polyethylene with a light texture. Sculptural and organic in shape and form, the molded polyethylene Stones are suitable for high traffic areas and outdoor use. Available in a fresh palette of neutrals and a bright — all colors are fade resistant for outdoor use and impact resistant for high traffic use. The Stones can be specified without weight or with added weight for greater grounding.
Introducing the X3 Barstool + Smoke Color
X3 combines form and innovation. A Marco Maran design, X3 chair and barstool is a one-piece shell, obtained by the bi-injection of transparent polycarbonate and a desmopan colored lattice. This complex molding technology, applied for the first time in furniture, brings a unique, versatile effect to the collection. This modern classic, now available in bar and counter height is ideal for café, residential and educational applications. The new smoke color is neutral yet elegant to suit a variety of environments.
Introducing the Divina Ottoman
Clean lines and exceptional comfort characterizes the Divina lounge collection from Italy's Piero Lissoni. The Divina Ottoman, like the other pieces in the collection, comprises the razor thin chrome legs that support the chrome-plated frame.
Introducing the Girard Table
Designed in 1948 for Knoll, the Girard table's asymmetric shape reflects the mid-century's aesthetic of clean lines and organic shapes. Available in a range of veneer options, the Girard table is a modern classic that will easily fit into any residential or contract application.
Propeller® Adjustable Height Legs
In keeping with the iconic shape of the Propeller leg, the height adjustable tables with C and T leg combines function with ingenious design. Propeller typifies the functionality and modernity that are the hallmarks of KnollStudio. Designed by Emanuela Frattini Magnusson.
SOURCE: Knoll, www.knoll.com
Spinneybeck at NeoCon 2006
Woven Style Leather Rugs
Emanuela Frattini Magnusson designed a series of leather rugs that received a 2003 Best of NeoCon Award. For 2006, Spinneybeck features a woven style rug. Each 1" leather strip is bonded to a recycled leather backer, the edges are dyed and then the strips are hand-woven. A felt backer is stitched to the entire rug.
Leather Wall Panels
Leather wall panels offer architects and designers the opportunity to specify custom vertical applications at a competitive price. All 24 standard Spinneybeck leather styles and 800 in-stock colors can be utilized for wall panels. Leather wall panel costs compare favorably to other materials such as tone and wood veneer that are typically incorporated into custom interiors.
New Riva Aniline Leather
A full aniline (or naked) leather protected with a waterproof and soil resistant treatment which is added during the tanning process. The result is a product that combines all the desired characteristics and feel of a full aniline leather with the endurance of a waterproof leather. Riva resists stains from water, coffee, mustard, ketchup, and salad dressing and resists fading in direct sunlight.
New Belting Leather
Belting Leather is 100% vegetable tanned, aniline dyed leather with a light water resistant finish. It can be used as an inlay on desks and tables, or as straps and seat pads on custom furniture. The pliability of this product allows it to be woven, wrapped around columns or applied to walls.
SOURCE: Knoll, www.knoll.com
Steelcase Embraces the Cubicle and Showcases New Seating Products at NeoCon 2006
Steelcase Inc. (NYSE: SCS), a global office environments manufacturer, today opens its showroom for exhibition at NeoCon 2006, the World's Trade Fair for Interior Design and Facilities Management. Highlights from the show include the launch of two chairs, an updated version of its highly successful Leap chair, and non- traditional interpretations of 8 x 8 work spaces; unmistakable in each is an impressive application of the company's research and commitment to the environment.
"Steelcase came to NeoCon this year with a renewed sense of optimism about all that is possible within the realm of office design. 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," said James P. Hackett, president and CEO of Steelcase Inc. "This year's showroom demonstrates innovative yet hard-working solutions that allow people to thrive, not just survive, at work."
Rethinking the 8x8 Workspace
Solid research is the foundation of every product and solution that Steelcase offers. This year the company showcases more than a dozen 8 x 8 work spaces, commonly called cubicles. Museum-like in its presentation of 14 unique 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 work spaces 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 team work, 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
* How to enable brainstorming and inspiration
New Seating Introductions and Enhancements
Siento(TM), Move(TM) and Leap(R) represent an evolution in Steelcase's patented seating technologies, building upon the Live Back(R) and Your Profile(TM) technologies, which are currently used in the Leap and Think chairs, respectively. Comfort and ergonomics are often compromised in multi- purpose and executive seating. However, Move and Siento demonstrate how innovative technologies are being utilized to bring a new level of comfort and ergonomic design to these seating categories.
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 chair reflects Pensi's world-class architectural background with a striking yet subdued design that is unique among traditional, high-end executive seating. Siento incorporates Live Back technology, which allows the chair back to change shape and encourage healthy spinal motion, unlike traditional executive seating which utilizes outdated back technology.
McDonough Braunguart Design Chemistry (MBDC) has conducted a materials assessment to determine that every material used in Siento is safe for human and environmental health. Also, Siento is currently under review for MBDC's "Cradle-to-Cradle" certification. The University of Michigan has also conducted a Life Cycle Assessment of the chair to evaluate the chair's life- long impact on the environment. Additionally, the standard leather option for Siento uses a chromium-free tanning process.
The Move chair takes multi-purpose seating to a new level of comfort. It 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, it provides a clean aesthetic that is simple in form and construction. Move incorporates Your Profile seat technology with flexors under the seat cushion to create a dynamic comfort pocket that provides unparalleled comfort for a multi-purpose chair. 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. Like Siento, Move is constructed with MBDC approved materials which are safe for human and environmental health. A Life Cycle Assessment has also been completed on Move to evaluate the chair's life-long impact on the environment.
Additionally, a new refreshed design of the Leap chair is debuting with improvements in four key areas: performance, aesthetics, 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. The Leap chair also underwent a Life Cycle assessment by Michigan State University to measure its environmental impact through every step of its life cycle. It recently received a Silver Cradle to Cradle Product Certification(TM) from MBDC and is GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified(R).
NeoCon 2006 will run from June 12, 2006 through June 14, 2006 at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, Illinois.
About Steelcase Inc.
Steelcase, the global leader in the office furniture industry, helps people have a better work experience by providing products, services and insights into the ways people work. The company designs and manufactures architecture, furniture and technology products. Founded in 1912 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Steelcase (NYSE: SCS) serves customers through a network of more than 800 independent dealers and approximately 13,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2006 revenue was $2.9 billion. Learn more at http://www.steelcase.com .
SOURCE: Steelcase Inc.
Steelcase Inc. to Webcast First Quarter Conference Call – June 26
Steelcase Inc. (NYSE: SCS) will webcast a discussion of its first quarter fiscal 2007 financial results on Monday, June 26, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. EDT. The news release detailing first quarter fiscal 2007 results will be issued the same day before the market opens. Links to the webcast and supporting presentation slides will be available at http://www.steelcase.com/ir on the day of the news release. A replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the call concludes. Please go to the Investor Relations section of the web site for further information.
SOURCE: Steelcase Inc., www.steelcase.com
Steelcase Inc. Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be Webcast
Steelcase Inc. (NYSE: SCS) will webcast their Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Thursday, June 22, 2006, beginning at 11:00 am EDT. Details and links to the webcast are available at www.steelcase.com/ir. A replay of the webcast will be available on the company's website shortly following the conclusion of the meeting.
SOURCE: Steelcase Inc., www.steelcase.com
