The First Facility Management Blog

On January 18, more than 300 guests joined Kimball Office for the grand opening of its new New York showroom at 215 Park Avenue South, in the historic Union Square neighborhood. The company worked with TVS Interiors to transform the 12,000 square foot facility into a stimulating space that draws architects and designers in and sparks fresh ideas.

“We are passionate about helping our customers realize new possibilities in workplace design,” explains Kimball Office vice president and general manager David White. “This showroom devotes particular attention to the creative needs of the A&D community. It demonstrates how our innovatively integrated systems, casegoods, and seating lines can help them create places where people want to work and gather. It also offers them quick access to product information and technical services.”

The space contains a long central corridor. Here the space’s structural columns
were expanded into rectangular piers with applied millwork panels to create gallery zones. Within, Kimball Office’s furniture lines are displayed in layouts that illustrate the privacy needs of professional organizations, and open plan configurations that support individual and team requirements.

Alongside the real-life vignettes, the showroom presents technology-capable conferencing areas and public spaces to welcome and engage visitors. A color palette of warm creams, whites, and dark chocolates keep the form and function of the furniture center stage. Additionally, the breadth and texture of Kimball Office’s broadly integrated surfaces collection are highlighted throughout the space.

The design team also wanted to give visitors a strong sense of arrival. To that end, a procession of columns with applied sycamore veneer panels visually usher guests into the reception area, where the Kimball name is dramatically showcased on a floating, ebony veneer wall.

With LEED-CI (Commercial Interiors) from the U.S. Green Building Council serving as a guideline, the design team opened up the floor plan and used glass walls and transparent tiles on the systems furniture to keep windows accessible and light flowing. In addition, the team stretched the height of the space by breaking up the ceiling plane and accentuating the column extensions and grids, creating a light open feel and maximizing outdoor views and daylight.

“Creating environmentally sustainable facilities tops our design criteria, as it does for many of our design partners and customers,” said White. “So following the LEED-CI guidelines is an obvious choice for us. By doing so, we address our environmental goals and demonstrate to our clients how we can help them achieve theirs.”

The showroom features low-flow plumbing fixtures, energy-optimizing equipment and appliances, and GREENGUARD-certified Kimball Office seating and systems furniture. Additionally, Kimball Office is committed to sharing the project as part of an educational program to give clients insight to “green building” design and environmentally friendly products.

Kimball Office is in the process of certifying the New York showroom. It will be the company’s third LEED-CI certified showroom. The company’s corporate showroom in Jasper, IN, is Gold certified, and its Chicago facility was awarded Silver certification.

(Photos: Brian Gassel, TVS)