From elementary schools to universities, once-rigid classroom layouts have relaxed to accommodate a variety of learning styles and teaching approaches. These colorful products pick up on the latest trend of highly collaborative and versatile environments with modular construction that is designed for easy movement throughout a space to help students hit the books—err, tablets.
Monolink, Casala
Uniform rows of seating are a must for temporary assemblies such as commencements, lectures, and school plays held in spaces that normally maintain other uses. This collection of stackable chairs from U.K.-based furniture maker Casala can be aligned in rows via snap-in-place connections and comprises single-unit cast shells and legs. A remote-controlled, digital numbering system updates each one’s numeric label based on the collective arrangement of the units.
Go! Mobile Glassboards, Clarus Glassboards
Notes jotted on a whiteboard need not be left in the meeting room. While a variety of mobile boards exist, Clarus Glassboards’ Go! offers design flexibility. Steel frames offered in 10 finishes, including white and black, support glass panels that are available in 17 hues. The panels measure 40” wide and 73” tall, and weigh 105 lbs. They can nest when not in use or be ganged to capture big ideas.
Layer, OFS Brands
OFS Brands is reshaping the teachers’ desk for a collaborative, re-configurable classroom. The Layer teachers’ station combines a desk and lectern on casters to support various postures and room layouts, freeing the furniture from its historical perch in the front or back of the classroom. Storage in the lectern keeps materials close at hand and reduces reliance on additional shelving.
Alphabet Chair, Artcobell
The stacking desk chair gets an ergonomic upgrade with Artcobell’s Alphabet Chair. The curved back of its polypropylene shell is supported with double-walled hollow channels to eliminate the need for structural ribs while remaining flexible for sitting comfort. Offered in four-leg, cantilever, task chair, and stool models. A centered hand hold helps users move the chair, which can be stacked four units high.
Pirouette Table, KI
Moving furniture out of storage and into active use is rarely a seamless transition. The legs on KI’s Pirouette Table re-orient as its top is raised for assembly and angle when nested. The high-pressure laminate work surface is available in a variety of geometric shapes, while the legs are inset to offer clearance on all four sides of the table.
Go Juice, Palmer Hamilton
Laptops, tablets, and smartphones are increasingly used as learning aids in classrooms. Nomad Flexible Furniture by Palmer Hamilton seeks to reduce students’ and teachers’ dependency on wall outlets with Go Juice. The untethered table power source offers four USB ports for mobile devices and is integrated with a companion table on casters. The unit glows red when its battery power drops below 20% to signal it needs replacing.
