by Brianna Crandall — September 10, 2014—Major furniture manufacturer Kimball Office’s Ohio-based select dealer partner Innovative Office Solutions was chosen to collaborate design services and handle furniture acquisition for the “Classroom of the Future” project just unveiled at Sidney High School (SHS) in Sidney, Ohio.
The Workforce Partnership of Shelby County, a not-for-profit organization, was formed to address the need to better align existing education and workforce training programs with clearly defined industry-specific pathways, preparing students for work and employment. The Sidney High School Workforce Academy “Classroom of the Future” features state-of-the-art furniture that provides an agile, active learning environment.
Technologies include a media lounge, interactive video displays with multi-touch screens, collaboration work stations, a digital signage player, flexboard tracking system with swivel white boards, a wireless presentation system with teleconferencing capabilities, and a classroom set of Chromebooks. Kimball Office products used to create an engaging environment conducive to learning include: Hum, Scenario, Fit, Villa, Beo Lounge, Traxx, Wish and Priority.
“With the challenge of creating a state-of-the-art future classroom designed to accommodate a variety of learning styles and teaching methods, as well as integrating cutting-edge technologies, the Workforce Partnership carefully considered designers and suppliers that would be able to accommodate those very specific needs. IOS and Kimball were the perfect choice,” said Sharon Maurice, Director of the Workforce Partnership of Shelby County. “The design has proven to provide a positive, efficient learning environment for the general student population as well as special needs students.
“The furniture is reconfigured on a daily basis and has also proven to be durable and quickly adaptive. It provides an environment that encourages students to be creative and work collaboratively. From beginning to end of this project, IOS and Kimball have provided extraordinary design, products and customer service,” concluded Maurice.
Innovative Office Solutions was invited by local business leaders to head up the design of the classroom. The company collaborated with Kimball Office and PBK Architects, who had partnered together in 2012 on a “Learner Think Tank” project, for concepts and designs. The close collaboration of the three groups led to the design and, ultimately, the unveiling of the classroom in a ceremony in August.
