 |
KNOLL Knoll is recognized internationally for creating workplace furnishings that inspire, evolve and endure. Knoll's commitment to innovation and modern design has yielded a comprehensive portfolio of office systems, seating, files and storage, tables and desks, wood casegoods, textiles and accessories. A Commitment to Modern Design Since the company's founding in 1938, design integrity has been the guiding principle as Knoll offers insight into the way business is changing and into what's possible—now and for the future. Knoll believes good design is good business. The company's commitment to modern design has yielded a comprehensive portfolio of furniture products and textiles designed to provide enduring value and help clients shape their workspaces with imagination and vision. Knoll has been recognized as a design leader worldwide with products exhibited in major art museums. More than 40 pieces are in the permanent Design Collection of The Museum of Modern Art in New York . An Understanding of the Modern Workplace Knoll watches how the modern office is evolving, and makes furniture that responds and adapts to changing needs. The company is thinking about the emergence of a new workplace climate, the meaning of new workplace planning models and how ecological principles inform product designs. Knoll engages in research activities, including independent field studies; collaborations with customers, universities and industry associations; and ongoing dialogue with experts from the fields of technology, architecture, design, organizational behavior, psychology and business management. A Dedication to Sustainable Design Knoll is a leader in policies and practices designed to protect the biosphere, conserve natural resources and reduce waste. The company is committed to helping safeguard all natural habitats and local communities. Knoll strives to make the most efficient and responsible use of renewable resources, including water, soil and forests, and to conserve natural resources. The company is a pioneer in Clean Technology. Its commitment to high environmental standards is mandated by a comprehensive Environmental, Health & Safety Management Plan. Knoll reaches out and aligns with third party certification organizations, including The GREENGUARD™ Environmental Institute, The U.S. Green Building Council (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and THE GREEN™ STANDARD.org, that share the company's commitment to sustainability. Knoll's product designers are engaged in a continuous program of research and design, experimenting with new materials and new uses for existing materials. All Knoll architecture and design managers in North America are required to attain LEED® Professional Accreditation. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the rating system of the U.S. Green Building Council, is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance sustainable buildings. Knoll's recent initiative with the Chicago Climate Exchange, as part of the company's 2006 commitment to the Clinton Global Initiative, addresses concerns for global climate change and targets programs to enhance energy efficiency throughout company facilities. The Generation Chair Even more recent is the introduction of a work chair for the contemporary workplace: Generation by Knoll™, the first work chair that allows you to sit and work the way you want. Commenting on the design and development of the Generation by Knoll chair, Andrew Cogan, Knoll CEO, "Generation by Knoll moves as you move and is designed to respond to the way people really sit, including seemingly unconventional postures," he added. "Generation by Knoll is all about being able to express yourself and your individuality." Unique elastic design offers a new level of comfort and unrestrained movement that supports a range of natural postures and diverse work styles. Material Innovation The Generation by Knoll chair's innovation is distinguished by a high performance elastomer that has been used in a range of consumer and industrial applications and gives Generation its spring and flexibility. Until now, this material has never been used in such an application, and one of its most common uses—as a hinge on dishwasher doors—gives a good indication of its features: durability and flexibility. The Flex Back, Flex Top and Dynamic Suspension control leverage the benefits of this material. Further, this advanced material meets Knoll Design for the Environment Guidelines, which dictate that design for durability requires the minimal use of materials, which must be non-toxic, recyclable and/or rapidly renewable materials. How People Work Generation by Knoll reflects empirical evidence that sitting upright and facing forward is just one of many things that people do in their office chair. This finding is based on insights gathered on the contemporary workplace and the way in which people work, both alone and with each other. Today, with the evolution from strictly focused, task-oriented settings to more informal gatherings, there is a premium placed on the freedom of movement. This freedom facilitates spontaneous interaction, encouraging people to do their best work in the manner that is most effective to them. Kent Parker, lead designer, Formway Design, stated, "In short, we've reached a new understanding about the way people work and how they sit throughout the day. Generation by Knoll offers the freedom of movement that is essential in today's collaborative workplace." Generation by Knoll and Sustainable Design Generation by Knoll can help contribute to achieving the following LEED® credits: Recycled Content (2 points); Low-Emitting Materials (1 point) with its GREENGUARD Children & Schools certificationSM; Innovation in Design (1 point) with its SMaRT© certification. A point for Regional Materials (1 point) may also apply, depending on project location. The total recycled content for the chair with arms and aluminum base is 46% and for a plastic base is 40%. Generation by Knoll contains no polyvinyl chloride (PVCs). Generation by Knoll has earned a Sustainable Platinum rating under the SMaRT© Sustainable Product Standard and GREENGUARD Children & SchoolsSM certification. An alternate version of the Generation by Knoll chair using material derived from a renewable source is in development. Headquartered in East Greenville , Pennsylvania , Knoll serves its clients in North America through a network of more than 300 Knoll dealerships and 100 showrooms and regional offices. In Europe , Knoll has showrooms and is represented by dealers in most major cities. Throughout Asia and Latin America , independently owned dealers and licensees serve Knoll clients. Contact: Maria DiPietro, Knoll Inc., 215-275-4199, mdipietro@knoll.com Generation by Knoll™ Microsite: sithowyouwant.com |
|
