by Ann Withanee — June 1, 2012—In response to healthcare industry requests for seating products that offer increased flexibility, durability and easy maintenance, Kimball International’s Kimball Office unit is unveiling significant enhancements to its Beo, Collage and Event seating solutions. The new options were designed with research collected from healthcare facilities throughout the country and will be on display in a special presentation the week of June 11 in the Kimball Office showroom in Chicago.
Kimball Office’s goal is to provide solutions that not only meet and exceed expectations, but also have the flexibility to transition easily in and out of the seat and retain a safe, clean, quiet and healthy environment. Adds Max Holland, director of vertical markets: “Although the enhancements are in response to requests from specific market segments, many of the new features are also relevant to everyday workplace settings.”
The new seating options for the healthcare market are Beo, Collage and Event.
Beo: For the healthcare market, Kimball Office’s popular side, guest and lounge seating line Beo is expanding its offering with five new enhancements. Beo lounge will be available with a clean-out feature to help organizations easily wipe surfaces and remove debris, and an extra three inches can be added to the chair’s width in order to accommodate individuals up to 350 pounds. Tablet surface choices are wood or laminate, and a specialized grommet can be installed in one or both arms to allow users to easily transfer and lock the tablet surface into either arm for increased functionality. To promote a quiet and peaceful recovery and work environment, Beo also offers an optional quiet caster. Beo’s arms, back and seats can be upholstered separately in order to delineate space through color and match the interior design’s aesthetic.
Realizing clients’ desire for design options tailored towards broader audiences, Kimball Office has also added a bariatric bench to its Collage and Event seating line options to accommodate visitors and guests. The bariatric benches are designed to accommodate users up to 500 pounds.
Collage: Designed for private offices, public spaces and meeting rooms, Collage offers designers and facilities managers a versatile, stylish, wood-framed guest seating option. A new bariatric bench solution increases the line’s versatility, without compromising its design, which is already available with or without arms, as two-person benches and with a slat or upholstered back.
Event: Suited for meeting and training rooms, the new bariatric bench offers the line’s standard options such as: mobile or static legs, arms or no arms, and a variety of designs for the back shape. The bariatric bench helps facilities support a greater range of users and brings increased flexibility to commonly used spaces.
Beo, Collage and Event will be available for order in fall 2012. Each line meets Scientific Certification Standards (SCS) Indoor Advantage Gold and American National Standards Institute/Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association (ANSI/BIFMA) “level” 2 certifications. The products may contribute towards Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits and support the organization’s sustainability practices.
Kimball Office products can be found on its page on the ecoScorecard site, an online tool to quickly and simply research sustainable products and download documentation for green building programs such as the LEED program.
For more information visit the Kimball Office Web site.
