Resources

This month’s brand spotlight shines on none other than KI. Headquartered in NBF’s home state of Wisconsin, KI shares our same quality- and customer-driven values. Though it’s hard to pick favorites from this Best of NeoCon award winning manufacturer, let’s take a look at some of our best KI collection picks.

Toggle Collection. This collection of easy-to-use adjustable height desks was designed to help you stay healthier in the office. The height of each desk has a range of 26” to 52”, which allows a user to alternate between sitting and standing in a fluid motion without needing to stop their work. The electric height adjustment allows users to adjust their height with the simple touch of a button, unlike gas lift and crank desks that can take more time to operate.

KI Furniture

Torsion on the Go Collection. Rather than catering to the office worker, KI’s Torsion on the Go is designed to support the workforce of the future by helping students learn more effectively in the classroom. This collection is made up of chairs with and without tablet arms that make classrooms much more functional and engaging both to students and educators alike. The nesting design on these chairs makes them a breeze to store and to move around the classroom in groups. Speaking of moving, check out those dual-wheel casters. The mobility factor on these school chairs makes them easy for students of all ages to move from one area of the classroom to the next, making breakout group sessions as easy as can be.

KI Furniture

Intellect Collection. Another classroom collection, the Intellect desks and chairs have a unique, modern appeal that you don’t find in schools every day. These innovative furnishings are designed with desks that provide more legroom for young students and chairs that can be easily stacked on top of one another for easy cleanup. Sleek and streamlined, members of this collection are compact enough to save floor space in your classroom, but roomy enough to keep kids comfy.

KI Furniture

Athens Collection. A breakroom table is a breakroom table, right? Not by KI’s standards. Their beautiful Athens Collection takes dining to the next level. With thick 1-1/4” table tops, these guys are much stronger than the average bistro table. Each table is supported by a singular tubular steel leg, which is flared at the bottom for both stability and style. A durable laminate table top is highly resistant to scratches and stains, which is ideal for use in a high traffic cafeteria.

KI Furniture

360 Degree Collection. The 360 Degree Collection was specifically designed to enhance creative teaching methods and trends. Offering the ultimate in adaptability, configurability and comfort, these chair desks can roll, rotate, swivel and adjust however needed. With these chair desks, students can effortlessly twist and turn to face the instructor no matter what classroom activities are taking place. The minimal base of the units are also a breeze to clean under, which janitorial staff will appreciate.

KI Furniture

Need help finding furniture that works? Shop our full collection of KI furniture here.

Brand Spotlights

More From NBF

Collection Spotlight: NBF Signature Series Ion Collection

Enjoying the great outdoors is a great way for employees to get motivated and re-energized during a long work day. So how can you encourage employees to utilize your outdoor office space during their breaks? Adding furniture to the area will provide a space to rest, allowing employees to eat lunch outside on a nice day or get together and hold an outdoor meeting when they just want to get a little sun. The problem? Not all furniture is designed for outdoor use, and those that are can cost a pretty penny. That's why we're proud to offer our exclusive NBF Signature Series Ion collection.

#WhyWeWork—Share Your Passion. Inspire Others.

We're passionate about why we work—to help people across the United States create the beautiful office they deserve. That's why all of us at National Business Furniture are committed to helping everyone discover the passion and pure joy that comes from a job well done. See what drives these employees, and tell us why you love your job too!

How to Create a Collaborative Meeting Space in Your Office

If you work in an office, you probably have at least 1 conference room in which most of your meetings are held. But what do you do when a great idea pops into your head and all of the boardrooms are booked? Do you risk sending an email that can be easily ignored? Do you chat in a coworker’s tight, compact cubicle? 

The issue of a lack of conference room space has inspired a fairly new trend in corporate office design—the addition of small, casual meeting areas known as touchdown spaces. Here are 5 tips to consider if you’d like to add one of these little gathering points to your office. 

1. Location, Location, Location

The location of your casual meeting space will be hugely important, so choose wisely. You’ll want to place it in an area near the teams that will be using it the most, but make sure it’s not too close to any major distractions such as loud copiers or bustling training rooms.

2. Keep It Quiet

Speaking of avoiding distractions, be aware of noise levels when selecting your space. You’ll most likely want to add it to an area where you will not be distracted by others around you, and you will not be a distraction to them. 

For example, a meeting area in the middle of a call center might not be the best idea, as the surrounding noises may take away from the conversation. Plus, your meetings will be distracting for employees at their desks, making it difficult for them to focus.

Try grouping casual meeting spaces by department. This way, all the employees in the area are more likely to use that space together simultaneously, eliminating or drastically reducing the opportunity for distracting situations.

3. Big Ideas in a Small Package

Remember, this area is for quick, casual meetings between a few people, so be careful not to take up too much room in the office. A small grouping of 2 to 4 chairs surrounding a compact conference table or even a low coffee table is ideal, providing just enough space for quick, comfortable collaboration.

4. Leave it Open

Possibly the most important thing to keep in mind when designing a casual meeting space is to keep it open. Do not allow this space to be reserved in advance, lest it becomes just another unreachable conference room. Incorporating multiple huddle areas in your office should minimize the chances of every conference room being booked simultaneously, ensuring that all employees can get together at the drop of a hat.  

5. Do Double Duty

A casual meeting space can take many forms. For example, you can easily transform an employee lounge or outdoor break area into a little conference space outside the normal lunch period. Utilizing these small touchpoints for multiple purposes will help maximize the space available in your office.

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Nicole Groshek

Nicole Groshek is the social media and content coordinator for National Business Furniture. She helps employees discover the true joy in loving what they do, from working in an inspiring office to having a little fun on the job.