Furniture Specification: Making Sense of the Process
Outfitting a new school with furniture might, on the surface, seem like a simple proposition, but in reality, the task is quite complex. It’s not simply a matter of ordering the requisite number of desks and chairs at the cheapest possible price and calling it a day.
According to Maynard and Kate, the following manufacturers have excellent reputations in the school furniture business. “SIS is wonderful because it offers flexibility,” Maynard says. VS of America www.vs-furniture.com “They’ve been around for a very long time in the school industry. They’ve really focused in the past five years on coming out with products that are much more durable and geared for long-term use,” Kate says. KI www.ki.com The following are also well-respected school furniture manufacturers: |
When carefully selected, furnishings can be used to support curriculum goals, both now and in the future. And although there may not be any published studies on the subject, Pam Maynard, director of interior design for HMC Architects in Ontario, Calif., firmly believes that the right furnishings can have a positive effect on student performance.
“I’m concerned that sometimes furniture is selected based on the very tight budgets, and there’s research that I’ve read that says when you specify the right kind of furniture, it actually can have an impact on student performance,” Maynard says.
In order to choose the furniture that will have the most value for the school, the specification process should start as soon as an architect is hired for the project.
“What we do really try to start out talking about is some of the goals or what [administrators] are trying to accomplish with their furnishings,” says Sandy Kate, senior interior designer for HMC Architects. “We try to do this at a fairly early stage. It’s really beneficial if you start thinking about the loose furnishings before the building is completely designed, so that way, you’re fusing what you’re trying to do with the building; everything’s complementing each other. You want to make sure that the furniture supports the overall goals for the whole facility.”
The architect can also help school administrators navigate the specification process. In some states, schools can purchase furniture directly. In others, purchases over a certain dollar amount must be put out to bid. Other states allow schools to take advantage of state contracts. The process can be daunting, but a knowledgeable firm can help.
Specification Pitfalls
Both Maynard and Kate recommend that school administrators work with their architectural team to complete the specification process. Although purchasing agents or furniture vendors can be highly skilled in other areas, they often do not have the design background necessary to provide for truly harmonious furnishings. Architectural designers can ensure that the furnishings are coordinated throughout the building.
Kate recalls an instance in which furniture specification was left up to a vendor. When the furniture was delivered, the desks would not fit through the classroom door.
Maynard says that purchasing agents may not take into account the overall aesthetic look and feel of the school. For instance, a school may be designed in a cool, earthy Southwestern palette, and then the school purchasing agent might order royal blue plastic chairs, clashing with the existing décor.
Vendors or school staff may also unknowingly duplicate efforts that architects have made. For instance, a classroom may be designed with built-in casework for computer learning stations, but purchasing agents might order additional furnishings for computer stations, not realizing that they are unnecessary.
Maynard recommends that school officials schedule a consultation with an interior designer, even just for a few hours, to help avoid these pitfalls. As she puts it, “Design is not just the aesthetic icing on the cake. It actually does have an impact on staff performance, on student performance and on student behavior.”
Reliable Manufacturers
School furniture manufacturers are now trying to develop better quality products with a better style and more attention to ergonomics.
TIPS FOR SMOOTH SPECIFYING With proper planning, school furnishings can improve the learning process, be aesthetically pleasing and last for years. Here, School Construction News offers tips for a smooth specification process. Curriculum goals: What subjects are being taught, and what furnishings will best support those subjects? Ergonomics for both staff and children: “When we look at academic outcomes and performance of students, if they’re really not comfortable or not in an environment, including the chairs and the desks and the workstations, that supports proper growth, then they’re not going to be performing as well as they possibly could,” says Sandy Kate of HMC Architects. Durability: What gauge of steel is used? Are the welds secure? Warranty and reliability of the manufacturers: “How long have they been in business? That’s something we always look at,” Kate says. Flexibility of the furniture: “Is it going to be moved around easily or reconfigured? It’s not just about how you’re going to be able to use it today, but how you’re going to be able to use it in six or seven years, when you might be using different curricula. It should also be flexible throughout the day,” says Kate. “If you’re looking at a space, how can you select furniture that might be appropriate for an elementary school during the day, but later in the evening might be used for community use? You might need some height adjustment, for example.” Aesthetics: How will it look in the school? Building and technology interface: How will the furniture support what the school is trying to do with technology? “If there are computer work stations, you might want to make sure that there is adjustability, so there will be a fit for each child,” says Kate. “Also, how is that data running through? Do you have certain ports that are going to need to run through the furniture? Do you bring power out farther into the classroom?” ADA compliance: Will the furniture support the needs of disabled students, and does it meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act? |