Clever conferencing furniture and tools
Strasbourg, 8th March 2010 - Steelcase, the global office environments manufacturer, launched several ranges of clever conferencing furniture and tools, meant to enhance collaboration during meetings.
Collaborative work has dramatically increased over the last decade. According to a Steelcase IPSOS workplace survey, 62% of European executives often work with another person and 54% often work in small groups too. Collaborative work either includes informal tête-à-têtes at any location as well as the classic round table situation in a dedicated room. In all cases, it is key to properly coordinate media technology, lighting, acoustics, furniture and equipment to provide optimum conditions for communication.
Technology has been flooding in the office and is now ubiquitous. However furniture has been slow to adapt and few meeting rooms integrate as it should media and technology. Cable management in meeting rooms is for example usually awkward and inadequate.
The 4.8 four point eight range of tables are designed to support new ways of working in groups, enabling collaboration using a variety of media. The innovative integration of technology facilitates the connections between people and smooth the flow of information. The range ensures that the use of technology is effortless and intuitive. The innovative “plug ‘n play” connectivity, integrated into the centre of the table, and non-powered cable tray enables the work surface to be clutter-free.
The light open aluminium structure maximizes leg room, optimising user comfort and mobility. 4.8 four point eight’s special shape also allows seeing all the participants and the presentation at the same time.
Meetings are more and more frequent and can happen in an instant. The rooms and the furniture need to be as flexible and mobile as possible to adapt to the moments’ needs of employees. The optimisation of a conferencing space is possible with furniture allowing easy configuration and reconfiguration.
FlipTop Twin is perfect for training or seminar rooms. The range is very flexible and allows easy and fast installation, reconfiguration and clear up the room after a meeting. FlipTop Twin is very intuitive: the top can be flipped from both sides. Once the top is flipped, the tables can be stored in a space saving way. It takes less than 1 minute per table for assembly. The pre-assembled electrification allows quick installation and easy user access to power and data.
TalkTime is also an answer for flexible and modular meeting or training rooms. The legs can be flipped, tool free, in less than a minute. TalkTime saves space and offers an efficient storing. Its legs can be shared to create ganged table rows. Using extension tables allows to always creating the appropriate scenario, no matter if two, three or more tables are installed. Moreover, this is a cost effective solution, as the extension tables have only one side frame (and not two as the standard table). TalkTime offers a very high perceived stability, exceeding the currently know level of robustness for stackable tables.
Along the reconfiguration and flexibility needs answered by the tables, several other clever meeting elements can actively participate to an efficient meeting or training room. Users want to show and share paper and digital information without problems. They need to feel comfortable when presenting: move and change postures freely, install their laptop without problems. They also need to access power, information, beverages, food and other stationery easily.
The Mobile Elements family comprises mobile and multi-purpose tools, supporting every collaboration situation. They include, among others, lecterns, catering trays, pin boards, flip charts, flat screen supports and wardrobes. Mobile Elements offer an easy and direct access to power, with almost no cables visible. They are also height adjustable for an ergonomic posture and their colour and surface match with other surrounding products like tables, to create a coherent collaboration environment.
The H. System is a wall mounted rail system with fixed and movable boards. The two layer system increases the use of the vertical presentation surface. It allows the users to show and share information easily by offering solutions for digital and print media. H. System offers easy and intuitive cable management with no cables visible. Additional elements like shelf panels and small storage boxes are included. Their colour and surface match with other surrounding products like tables and chairs, to create a coherent collaboration environment.