Commercial Furniture

The Quickbourner Team

• Germany, 1959. Two brothers developed the concept of open office layout and brought the idea to the US in 1967.

• They believed that many offices hindered work productivity. Their designs promoted good communication and flow.

• Referred to a office landscaping.• Their plans were based upon a systems analysis

of work flow and communication.• The layout was very free and non-rectilinear.

The Quickbourner Team

• People in frequent contact with each other were placed close together.

• Many acoustical problems were attempted to be corrected by the use of carpet, plants and acoustical ceiling tiles

• This new approach of “landscape” planning had a tremendous impact on the way offices were to be designed. They were flexible, efficient, open and informal.

• Americans, however, were slow to accept the idea because they didn’t want to give up their hardwall office, which were status symbols to the executives.

Open Office Landscaping

Robert Propst

• Hired by Herman Miller, Inc. in 1960• A researcher and inventor• Developed Action Office I for Herman Miller and

introduced it in 1964.• A panel based system using a vertical approach• Despite what the modern office has become, his

goal was to get away from boxes and corridors.• The use of the panels violated the Quickborner

concept but was widely accepted as open office landscaping.

“Grade A”Systems Manufacturers

• Haworth, Inc. : Unigroup, Premise, and Compose • Steelcase : Series 9000, Avenir, Answer, Kick• Herman Miller: Action Office, Ethospace, Resolve• Allsteel: Stride, Terrace, Concensys• Teknion: T/O/S, Leverage, Transit, District • Knoll: Dividends, Equity, Morrison, Reff,

AutoStrada• Kimball: Cetra, Traxx, Footprint

Types of Modular Furniture

• Systems Furniture- Panel Based (Universal connectors or handed connectors)

• Desking Systems (no panels)• Spine Based (hybrid)

Panel Based System

• Monolithic• Stacked or

Segmented• Off-modular

Panel Terminology

• Monolithic• Raceway• Topcap • Siderail• Honeycomb core• Monocoque

Construction• Adjustable

levelors/glides• Carpet grippers

Heights and Widths will vary

What is Panel Creep?

Top Cap, Side Rail and Corner Post

• Side rails showing “slots” to hang components into.

• Corner post

Variable height connectors

• Variable Ht. Connectors

• Covers exposed panel end when using two different panel heights

Electrical Systems

• Haworth has an 8 Wire System• 3 Hot, 3 Neutrals, 1 ground and 1 Isolated Ground• Max 16 amps per circuit

• All manufacturers have a different system

Panel System

• Top Channel Raceway

Electrical Systems

Lay-inPower Base RacewayBeltline PowerPorted PanelFlex ConnectorProgrammable Receptacle

Components

Worksurfaces

Standard Shapes

Worksurfaces

Edge Options

Wireways – no extra chargeEdge Options

3mm T-Mold ($) - List Prices 10% less than Edgeband

3mm Edgeband ($$) - 4% less than Premise today

Cascade T-Mold ($$$) - 7% more than Edgeband

Upper Storage

Places, UniGroup, UniGroup Too

Examples of Systems Furniture

Haworth Unigroup Too

Haworth Premise

Haworth Compose

Haworth Compose

Haworth Compose

Steelcase Answer

Steelcase Kick

Steelcase Avenir

Steelcase 9000

Herman Miller Action Office Series 2

Allsteel Terrace DNA

Teknion District

Knoll Equity

Knoll Dividends

Kimball Xsite

• Desking• Benching• Storage based – Spine

Planning Guide : http://www.knoll.com/media/9/797/TemplatePlanningIdeas,0.pdf

Non-Panel Based Systems

Conventional vs. Spine Conventional vs. Spine

Haworth Beside

Haworth Reside/Beside/Belong

Haworth Patterns

Steelcase C:scape

Steelcase Elective Elements

Steelcase Post and Beam with Answer Systems

Teknion Interpret

Knoll Template

Knoll Template

Knoll Template

Knoll Template