by Brianna Crandall — June 24, 2019 — Toronto, Canada-based contract furnishings designer and developer Allseating debuted the third phase of its ever-expanding Exchange Collection at this month’s NeoCon 2019 show in Chicago. Designed in collaboration with award-winning furniture designer Nick Gillissie, Exchange is a modular soft seating system designed to meet the long-term needs of the modern, flexible workplace through supporting movement and choice. While conceptualizing the enhancements to the system, Gillissie surveyed the 21st century worker to better understand their desired conveniences.
With access to power, work surfaces, storage and collaborative tools, Exchange modular soft seating system provides an all-encompassing destination that supports user preference, whether to relax, collaborate or focus. Image courtesy Steelcase
With access to power, work surfaces, storage and collaborative tools, Exchange provides an all-encompassing destination that supports user preference, whether it be a place to relax, collaborate and socialize, or a private spot for individual focus.
At launch in 2018, Exchange offered 2,725 possible configurations. The third expansion of the collection allows for additional planning capabilities resulting in over 180,000 possible variations, claims the company. Exchange is comprised of just seven recycled injection-molded plastic components and a series of support rails. From single chairs and banquettes to open-plan collaborative enclosures, personal pods and quad workstations, companies can specify the system to suit their needs. In the third phase, Gillissie has introduced back-mounted counters, larger collaborative pods with media sharing, and half-moon collaboration circles with storage and power.
Nick Gillissie of modus ID explained:
The contract furniture industry has used the term “systems” in a specific way over the last 30 years, referring to multi-component products that are used to create workstations in their most recognizable form: a desk with a task chair and some variety of vertical surfaces to provide privacy. With these recent additions to the Exchange collection, we are forming the basis of a new kind of workplace “systems” product that creates work settings that are: soft seating based instead of task chair based; that provide work surfaces suitable for individuals moving from location to location — as opposed to full-sized desks stacked high with paper organizers; and that create spaces supportive of collaboration without the need for costly, full partition walls.
Customization and retrofitting are reportedly key to this collection. Arm styles can be modified based on the work done within the environment. For example, wide, low arms with integrated power outlets can be specified for collaborative areas to support laptop use. Additionally, the collection features connecting legs and tables that allow configurations to easily attach to each other, enabling end users, designers and specifiers to create their own custom layouts. In order to best complement a space’s design concept, designers can choose from a multitude of different features and accessories, along with various finish and upholstery options.
Phase 3 adds back-mounted counters, larger collaborative pods with media sharing, and half-moon collaboration circles with storage and power. Image courtesy Steelcase
In addition to Exchange Phase 3, Allseating also featured product previews at NeoCon from Todd Yetman’s new collections, Watson and Innate; industrial designer Nita Chakravarty’s Mantra, and Carl Gustav Magnusson’s third collaboration with Allseating, Prata. The brand also previewed Emanuela Frattini Magnusson’s new Grade 4 fabric collection that features geometric shapes and pops of color.
For more information about Exchange Collection Phase 3 and Allseating’s other product introductions, visit the company’s website.
