{"id":38395,"date":"2018-01-19T10:45:11","date_gmt":"2018-01-19T15:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/?p=38395"},"modified":"2018-06-20T15:17:07","modified_gmt":"2018-06-20T19:17:07","slug":"contract-seating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.arc.ht\/blog\/product-guides\/product-guide\/contract-seating\/","title":{"rendered":"An Architect’s Guide To: Contract Seating"},"content":{"rendered":"

Find the perfect contract seating for your next project through Architizer\u2019s community marketplace for building-products. Click here for more information. It\u2019s free for architects.<\/b><\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

Today, the majority of occupations in the U.S. require some combination of sitting and standing workers. The <\/span>Bureau of Labour Statistics<\/span><\/a> reported that across all civilian jobs in 2016, individuals spent an average of 39% of their workday sitting; an extreme case, software developers, spent an average of 90% of their workday sitting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tasked with the challenge of providing for such a complex set of considerations, contract seating manufacturers<\/a> must strive to create excellent products that will successfully promote both physical and cognitive health for diverse situations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Search for Contract Seating Manufacturers<\/a><\/p>\n

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Campus Commons at SUNY New Paltz – Student Center<\/a> by Ikon.5 Architects<\/a> boasts furniture by Knoll<\/a>, Herman Miller<\/a> and Bernhardt Furniture<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

With one leg in research and another in product design, manufacturers like <\/span>Knoll<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Herman Miller<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Steelcase<\/span><\/a> are stepping up to the plate. According to <\/span>Knoll<\/span><\/a>, \u201cSitting is far from static, and in today’s fluid, collaborative work environment, a variety of seating is required to flexibly adapt to the needs of different users across different activities. A person may sit in up to six chairs throughout their workday.\u201d This makes selecting contract seating both fun and, sometimes, a little overwhelming.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Treehouse 2 by Dymitr Malcew; image via Designboom<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Integral to a myriad of commercial and public settings, some of the main typologies in which contract seating takes center stage include workplaces as well as education, hospitality and health facilities. Understanding the setting and future usages of your project space will help determine the best type of seating as well as the appropriate material and size selections. In each case, however, it is important to ensure that the seating can accommodate high traffic, various types of users and exceed any health and safety standards.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Lyss by All Seating; image via Contract Design<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Types of Contract Seating<\/b><\/h2>\n

The language used to differentiate models of contract seating can vary by manufacturer. While the following types of contract seating are not always mutually exclusive, here are a few categories that will help you navigate product selection.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Thyssenkrupp Global Shared Services<\/a> by Arquitetura Nacional<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Task Seating: <\/b>Central to day-to-day productivity and activities,\u00a0task seating<\/a> typically serves as the central workspace for focused, individual desk-bound work. Today, ergonomic <\/span>office chairs<\/span><\/a> offer a custom seating experience that are specifically designer to improve focus and prevent muscle aches and pains. Mesh task seating is especially common, as it provides extra breathability and comfort.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Azion Technologies<\/a> by Arquitetura Nacional<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

The dimensions of task seating depends primarily on the type of product and its users. For adults, the standard width is between 16 and 20 inches and the standard depth is between 16 and 18 inches. The depth of the seat typically tapers off 2 to 3 inches from the front in order to comfortably allow for clearance of the user’s legs.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Eames Aluminum Group by Herman Miller<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Conference and Executive Seating: <\/b>Conference<\/a> and executive chairs are specialized forms of task seating that are thoughtfully designed with private offices and board rooms in mind. Not only are they ergonomically designed to make meetings more comfortable, but they also harness luxurious, high-end materials like leather and aluminum.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Homework<\/a> by Savvy Studio<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Multipurpose Seating: <\/b>A central tenet of today\u2019s workplaces, multipurpose seating allows workers to move seamlessly between multimodal tasks. Multipurpose seating typically includes <\/span>side chairs<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>stacking chairs<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Andaz by Todd Bracher via HBF Furniture<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Many contract seating manufacturers make beautiful, minimal side and stacking chairs that are well suited for every context, whether eating or meating. For example, Andaz by New York designer Todd Bracher (pictured above) is available as a stacking side chair, barstool or counter stool, with both mid and low-back options available.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Julian Street Library at Princeton University<\/a> by Joel Sanders Architect<\/a> features side chairs and lounge seating by Herman Miller<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Lounge Seating: <\/b>Also referred to as collaborative seating, lounge seating<\/a> is a key component of planning effective and comfortable spaces for formal and informal collaboration. Including couches, ottomans, stools and other modular pieces, manufacturers can provide architects with hundreds of design ideas for planning flexible, breakout seating areas. For further modular seating inspiration, check out Architizer’s collection,\u00a0Sitting Pretty: 8 Marvelous Modular Seating Systems<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Umami Lounge System<\/a> by Steelcase<\/a>; image via Steelcase<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Umami<\/span><\/a> by <\/span>Steelcase<\/span><\/a> is just one modular lounge system<\/a> that can be configured to form different working environments. Umami can be arranged in straight, L and U shapes, and harnessed as a booth, open lounge and just about everything in between. At the heart of the design is its beautifully contoured upholstered seating, which can be specified in a variety of textiles and colors.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Soft Privacy by Jehs+Laub; image via Davis Furniture<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Privacy Solutions:<\/b> Many manufacturers are also responding the open-plan workplace plea for privacy solutions. <\/span>Jehs+Laub<\/span><\/a>\u2019s <\/span>Soft Privacy<\/span><\/a>, for example, is a lounge chair with a high back and sides that rise seamlessly from a tapered base. Ideal for university and hospitality environments, these chairs can function as a quiet alcove for one or be clustered into groups, converting any setting into a semi-private meeting zone. If you are looking to incorporate privacy solutions into your next design, check out Architizer’s collection,\u00a0Contract Furniture: 5 Designs Rethinking Privacy in the Workplace<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Steeve by Arper<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Materials and Aesthetics<\/b><\/h2>\n

Many indoor commercial and public spaces feature fabric upholstery because it is durable, inviting and highly customizable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Natural Fabrics<\/b>: Including cotton, linen, leather and wool, natural fabrics are known for their aesthetic appeal, softness and versatility. However, they are also generally harder to clean and more expensive than other options, which makes natural fabrics better suited for low-traffic settings such as executive suites or high-end hotels.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Microsoft<\/a> by Blitz<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Synthetic Fabrics:<\/b> Synthetic fabrics tend to be a cheaper and more durable alternative to natural fabrics, and are therefore ideal for public spaces and high-traffic areas. <\/span><\/p>\n