News Room
  • Wish Heavy Duty version available April 15th
    The new Wish Task 300 version supports users up to 300 lbs and has 3 arm styles. Read More 
    Wish Heavy Duty Task 300 Seating


    In April, Kimball Office will introduce Heavy Duty models in the Wish seating offering.

    The new Wish Task 300 models support users up to 300 lbs and are available with height adjustable arms, conference arms, or armless. These additions to the existing Wish line of task seating, complete the offering.

    Wish has universal appeal with ergonomic controls and an unexpectedly affordable price. With a variety of arm styles and functionality, the line now has standard task seating, stools, and the new heavy duty version.

    Wish seating is Indoor Air Quality certified and more than 90% recyclable.

    Beginning April 15th, Wish seating can be ordered by contacting a Kimball Office dealer or visiting a Kimball Office showroom. To locate the closest dealer or showroom, visit the Where to Buy section of our website or call 800.482.1818.
  • Hero and Fit Win Good Design Award
    New seating lines from Kimball Office | Interstuhl receive industry recognition Read More 
    Kimball Office is starting the new decade off with a bang! Our Hero. Just for You and Fit seating lines have both been awarded GOOD DESIGN Awards from the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies! Since 2001, Kimball Office has won nine GOOD DESIGN awards in seating, office systems and tables.

    "Our recent GOOD DESIGN wins are an excellent way to start off 2010," said Jeff Fenwick, vice president and general manager at Kimball Office. "It's a true honor when the hard work and thoughtful design of not one, but two, of our lines are recognized on an international stage by some of the best in the business." Unveiled in Chicago in June last year, the entire line of six new seating models (including Hero and Fit) from the Kimball Office | Interstuhl partnership have received rave reviews from the media and the industry alike.

    For 2009, a record number of submissions were received by The Chicago Athenaeum ranging from a Mars Landing Rover designed for a 2030 NASA Mars Space Mission to a simple water purification system for rural South African villages. With this award, Kimball Office | Interstuhl joins the ranks of several top international corporations and organizations including, 3M, Apple, Dyson, Microsoft, BMW, NASA, Nestle, Siemens, and VW. The 2009 awards program also saw the largest-ever corporate participation, with entries from several Fortune 500 companies.

    "GOOD DESIGN is the singular, international design awards program the entire design and corporate world waits for each year," said Christian K. Narkiewicz-Laine, museum president, The Chicago Athenaeum, "GOOD DESIGN has immediate public recognition for the best new design produced worldwide. For the public, it's the seal of approval."

    Now in its 59th year, the Museum's historic Good Design program was founded in Chicago in 1950 and remains as the oldest and the world's most recognized program for design excellence. Submissions were received from the best and foremost design firms from over 40 countries. For a complete listing of the 2009 Awards, visit the Chicago Athenaeum's website at www.chi-athenaeum.org.

    Fit seating
    About Fit
    Fit is deceptively simple. It consists of "intelligent mesh" stretched over a cantilevered steel frame. However, the end result is an exceptionally comfortable chair that automatically conforms to even the slightest movement. The secret lies in the woven mesh fabric, which produces firmer and softer seating zones. Learn more about Fit



    Hero. Just for You. seating
    About Hero. Just for You.
    Heavy, light, tall, short: Hero. Just for You. uses multiple technologies to provide a personalized sit for individuals of all sizes and statures. Its autofit tilt mechanism senses the sitter's weight and automatically tensions the seat and backrest, while an integrated fine adjustment allows preferred resistance levels to be calibrated. Learn more about Hero. Just for You.

  • Yes, Paul, there really is a Santa Claus!
    Tradeshow attendee, Paul Rich, wins a Silver Highback Executive Chair Read More 
    Paul Rich, a Gensler Architect pursuing registration, is the recent winner of a Kimball Office | Interstuhl Silver highback executive chair.

    Learn more about Silver , the newest Kimball Office seating line from the Kimball Office | Interstuhl partnership.

    Kimball Office attended NeoCon East, IIDEX Canada, IFMA World Workplace, Corenet Global Summit, and Greenbuild International Conference and Expo this fall, where attendees to these shows were directed to enter via the Kimball Office wabsite for a Silver highback executive chair. Following the close of the fall 2009 tradeshows, Paul Rich was selected as the winner of the Silver prize.

    Paul's comment about Silver, after seeing it in person: "I hadn't had the pleasure of seeing a Silver Chair prior to Kimball's presentation in our office. It photographs very well, but is simply stunning to see in person."

    When Rich was asked how his co-workers like his new Silver chair, Paul responded: "They don't like it, only because they are not sitting in it. Everyone has had the same reaction, a truly beautiful design. This week while on site I received several different photographs of co-workers posing in the chair - their attempt at being funny."

    Congratulations Paul!

    Find out more about the stunning Silver seating line

  • Upcoming Industry Events
    View the list of upcoming industry events and see where Kimball Office is exhibiting Read More 
    Don't miss the next big industry event! Update your schedule with this helpful list of major shows where Kimball Office exhibits.

    Date Event Location
    May 2 - 5 VHA Leadership Conference Orlando, FL


  • Kimball Office | Interstuhl encourage getting Fit for 2010
    Orders now being accepted for all Kimball Office | interstuhl lines Read More 
    A popular New Year's resolution is to shape up, slim down and get fit. Just in time for the New Year, Kimball Office is offering a way to get "fit" that doesn't involve sweat, exercise or diet plans.

    Without calorie counting or ditching sweets in 2010, home and business owners alike can be fit - or at least own a Fit chair, one of the most talked about seating solutions on the trade show circuit this past year, and winner of the NeoCon Innovation award. At first look, the Fit chair is deceptively simple and flat, but the woven mesh easily envelopes the sitter. Available in four functional colors, the Fit and five other Kimball Office | Interstuhl products, Silver, Mitos, Hero. Just for You., Xantos and Axos, are available to order on December 15, 2009.

    If the Fit is not your style, and if you're more fond of metallic finishes, or a special 25 year anniversary is on the horizon in 2010, the Silver chair is the perfect way to mark the occasion. Most recently featured in the newest James Bond movie, "Quantum of Solace," and the latest "Star Trek", Silver sets the bar for innovation in form, function and design.

    "Each Kimball Office | Interstuhl chair is designed and engineered around the natural features of human movement," said Jeff Fenwick, vice president and general manager of Kimball Office. "Each was created with hours of thought and design precision; our new seating options are like nothing else in the market." In June, Kimball Office entered into a partnership with interstuhl seating, making Kimball Office responsible for marketing and selling interstuhl brand products throughout North America. The products are co-branded as: Kimball Office | Interstuhl.

    "The response to the Kimball Office | Interstuhl lines has been tremendous," said Fenwick, "We are proud to be partnered with such a reputable seating manufacturer, and provide seating solutions that are both inspirational and innovative." The Kimball Office | Interstuhl chairs can be ordered by contacting a Kimball Office dealer or visiting a Kimball Office showroom. To locate the closest dealer or showroom, visit the Where to Buy section of our website or call 800.482.1818.

    Kimball Office Interstuhl seating


    Kimball Office | Interstuhl Seating Lines


    Fit
    Fit is deceptively simple. It consists of "intelligent mesh" stretched over a cantilevered steel frame. However, the end result is an exceptionally comfortable chair that automatically conforms to even the slightest movement. The secret lies in the woven mesh fabric, which produces firmer and softer seating zones. Its open mesh weave also allows air to circulate and prevents body heat from building up. Fit is available in four mesh colors - black, grey, red, and green.

    Silver
    Winner of Best of NeoCon 2005, the international Red Dot Design Award in 2008 and features an elegant and unmistakable aluminum monocoque design with twin casters and precisely tailored upholstery. Silver's ergonomic controls - synchronous recline mechanism with weight regulation, backrest lock and pneumatic seat-height adjustment - are perfectly integrated into the design, offering adjustment with instinctive certainty.

    Mitos
    Mitos delivers a sitting experience unlike that of any office chair thanks to its revolutionary "transmotion" mechanism. As the sitter reclines, the entire seat moves on an arc-shaped curve to the rear and downward, embracing the back with exceptional support and comfort. In addition, the headrest moves forward when the sitter leans back, relieving shoulder and neck tension in even the most reclined position. Mitos was awarded Best of NeoCon Gold in 2006. The collection has low-, mid- and high-back models, 4-leg and cantilever guest chairs, and Mitos Mobile, a versatile piece that quickly transforms from a footrest into a laptop stand, lectern, mobile workstation or visitor's chair.

    Hero. Just for You.
    Heavy, light, tall, short: Hero uses multiple technologies to provide a personalized sit for individuals of all sizes and statures. Its autofit tilt mechanism senses the sitter's weight and automatically tensions the seat and backrest, while an integrated fine adjustment allows preferred resistance levels to be calibrated. Hero also features a ribbed mesh technology that gives more supportive elasticity than conventional mesh; lumbar, seat-depth and pneumatic seat-height adjustments; headrests; and armrests that adjust in any direction.

    Axos
    Designed around the idea that "The next position is the best position," Axos translates seating technology into the leanest possible form. An innovative "transmotion" mechanism with weight regulation, pneumatic seat-height adjustment and head/neck rest give sitters maximum support and comfort in every position from upright to fully reclined. Designed for use throughout the executive suite, Axos features clean lines, precisely crafted leather and chrome and easy-to-adjust controls. Axos won a Best of NeoCon Gold award in 2007. The series features executive, conference and cantilever guest chairs.

    Xantos
    Xantos office chairs are a harmonious blend of performance and aesthetics. Easy-to-use comfort controls adjust precisely to fit people of all sizes and postures. These include adjustable lumbar support; synchronous recline; weight, seat-depth and pneumatic seat-height adjustments; and height-adjustable armrests. Xantos also features a graceful frame and balanced proportions that allow it to blend into any workplace setting, from offices and conference rooms to reception areas and training facilities.

  • Hum single-sided option now available!
    Minds hum as Kimball Office reveals one-sided solution for Hum. Minds at Work. Read More 
    Kimball Office recently announced an addition to the innovative Hum. Minds at Work line - a one-sided station for added office space flexibility.

    "The single-sided stations were designed using the same design objectives as the original Hum, but this new application utilizes space along walls and can form walkways between workstations," said Jeff Fenwick, vice president and general manager of Kimball Office. "With this addition, Hum is even more flexible and adaptable to the needs of many organizations."

    The one-sided station option provides both a personal and collaborative workspace with a height-adjustable, convex tabletop, as well as terraces for personalized organizing and prioritizing. The popular See Me screens, or central screens, are also available to divide space or continue the aesthetic of existing Hum stations. One-sided surfaces also include undersurface modesty screens.

    Hum. Minds at Work can be ordered by contacting a Kimball Office dealer or visiting a Kimball Office showroom. To locate the closest dealer or showroom, visit the Where to Buy section of our website or call 800.482.1818.
  • The Ultimate Rivalry: Army vs Navy!
    Kimball Office avoids divided loyalties serving both military branches Read More 
    Next Saturday's nationally-televised battle (December 12th) between the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy is a continuation of one of the longest-standing gridiron rivalries in college sports, not to mention the premiere inter-service rivalry in the armed forces. While the annual Army-Navy game pits the loyalties of two diehard fan camps against each other, Kimball Office, a manufacturer and marketer of fine office furnishings, will be cheering for both sides. After all, the company is a major supplier to both U.S. military branches.

    "Kimball understands that the support element is mission critical to the special needs of our military", stated Bob Price, Marketing Director, Kimball Office, and former Major in the U.S. Army. "We serve our customers without personal bias," said Price, before interjecting "Beat Navy!" Drew Andrews, Director, Government Sales, Kimball Office, and proud U.S. Navy veteran, noted "Kimball serves with products that provide functional support and aesthetics to improve the daily working environment of our service men and women in different operational cultures." Added Andrews, "Beat Army!"

    Thankfully, the greatest challenge in supporting both Army and Navy is channeling the patriotic enthusiasm and competitive spirit of internal sales staff while never dropping the ball for either customer.

    "While some of our folks have an underlying personal loyalty to either Army or Navy, we are unflinching, proud supporters of both teams," said Dirk Manning, Vice President, Sales, Kimball Office.

    Today's global challenges require even more support services to keep the nation's military functioning efficiently. Kimball Office has demonstrated its capabilities to both the Army and the Navy with office furniture solutions that effectively allow the inter-service rivalries to take a seat, figuratively and literally.

    Among typical office challenges facing the military are heavy support requirements for technology-intensive areas, comfortable, ergonomic seating for extended periods on duty, open planning and accessible teaming environments, and flexible configuration work stations to support changing roles or functional missions.

    The series of renovations and new construction Kimball Office has supplied to the Army includes such notable locations as: Department of the Army, Red River Army Depot, U.S. Army Central Command, Army Medical Command, Army Engineering & Support Center, Army Corps of Engineers, Army Test Command, Army Security Assistance Command, Army Criminal Investigations, Army Space & Missile Defense Command, and U.S. Army Research & Development Command, as well as numerous Army bases, including Fort Hood, Fort Leavenworth, Fort Polk, Fort Bragg, Fort Lewis, Fort Belvoir, Fort Meade and of course, the U.S. Military Academy, West Point.

    Projects furnished by Kimball Office for the Navy include Department of the Navy, Naval Special Warfare, Office of Naval Intelligence, Naval Air Warfare Center, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Naval Network Warfare Command, Naval Research Laboratory, Naval Medical Center, Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Sea Logistics Center, Patuxent Naval Air Warfare Center, Navy Public Works Center, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Navy Personnel Command, Naval Hospital Cherry Point, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Navy Public Affairs Center, the U.S. Navy Band, as well as the Naval Postgraduate School and the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis.

    "Kimball Office has established a reputation for quality and performance among procurement officers from all the military branches and their civilian support personnel who design and develop administrative offices. We know their challenges and we are committed to supporting their service," says Manning.

  • Kimball Office Announces 2009 IIDA Scholarship Winner
    And the winner is.... Read More 
    Kimball Office is a proud supporter of diversity within the interior design industry. 2009 marks the third year of "The Kimball Office Scholarship", a scholarship award of $4,000 to a senior year student pursuing a degree in interior design at the college/university level. Participating schools are invited to nominate a student of African, Asian, Latin or Native American heritage who combines academic excellence with promising talent.

    2009 Kimball Office Scholarship Fund Recipient
    The Trustees of the IIDA Foundation are pleased to announce the 2009 recipient of the Kimball Office Scholarship Fund:
    Horacio Hernandez, Student IIDA
    Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City

    "Horatio's portfolio showcases a perfect combination of design ability, technical skills and flair for presentation. From initial design process to project completion Horatio is able to convey his design intent and solution with incredible depth, clarity and appeal well beyond the ability of most students at his level."
    --The 2009 IIDA Kimball Office Scholarship Review Committee

    View Horatio's design portfolio

  • San Francisco Showroom named a Top Ten LEED project
    Kimball Office San Francisco Showroom Recognized by Interiors & Sources Magazine Read More 
    Kimball Office's San Francisco, Calif., showroom was recently named one of Interiors and Sources Top 10 LEED Projects for its sustainable design strategy and features. The showroom received the prestigious Gold level LEED-CI certification with 34 points from the USGBC (United States Green Building Council) in recognition of the facility's energy efficiency, water conservation and environmental stewardship.

    "Kimball Office strives to build environmentally-friendly, sustainable products and showrooms to demonstrate our commitment to green building," said Jeff Fenwick, vice president and general manager, Kimball Office. "This particular showroom illustrates the environmental initiatives taking place in San Francisco and throughout the country."

    To achieve LEED's high standards in the 5,000 square-foot showroom, Kimball Office partnered with Huntsman Architectural Group to install innovative green features such as a water-recycling system, low-flow fixtures that reduce water consumption by 76 percent, energy-efficient lighting, office equipment and appliances that use 20 percent less electricity, and architectural wood elements that are 100 percent Forest Stewardship Council-certified. The showroom's most unique element is the floor, which uses reclaimed oak stair posts stained to achieve a rich, dark finish - creating a unique architectural detail that reflects Kimball Office's wood legacy.

    Other green attributes of the showroom's design and construction include:
    • Keeping 94 percent of construction waste out of landfills
    • Using locally manufactured, recycled and rapidly renewable materials where possible
    • Employing multiple measures to improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality
    • Installing day-lighting controls that react to the needs of the space and availability of natural light
    Additionally, the showroom is used as part of Kimball Office's educational program to give clients insight into sustainable building designs and solutions to commonly experienced renovation problems.

    The San Francisco showroom is the seventh Kimball Office facility to receive LEED certification, joining its Jasper, Ind. showroom (Gold); Atlanta, Ga. and Chicago, Ill. showrooms (Silver); New York, N.Y. showroom (Certified); Corporate Headquarters (Silver); and Research and Development team rooms (Certified).
  • Kimball Office exhibits productive solutions at IFMA World Workplace
    Fluent allows for office flexibility while Interstuhl provides ergonomic comfort Read More 
    Kimball Office is showcasing two new lines - Fluent and Interstuhl - at this year's IFMA World Workplace in Orlando. Built on the principles of inspiring productive and environmentally-responsible design, Kimball Office products provide freedom and flexibility to any workspace.

    "Kimball Office's Fluent and Interstuhl lines give the workplace functional solutions that are both stylish and innovative," said Jeff Fenwick, vice president and general manager at Kimball Office. "These products address the demands of today's private and collaborative spaces while providing flexible furnishings."



    Fluent

    Developed by David Allan Pesso and the Kimball Office Design Team, Fluent comprises coordinating work surfaces, tables, storage elements, and privacy screens for the most productive office space solutions. Components of the system can be configured in a number of ways, including singles, doubles, reception stations, and private or open offices, and for a variety of work modes, including knowledge sharing, exchanging ideas, conferencing, and multi-tasking to name a few.

    Fluent desking system



    Interstuhl

    In June, Kimball Office announced its partnership with one of Germany's leading seating companies, Interstuhl Büromöbel GmbH. Co-branded as Kimball Office | Interstuhl, the new line of six, unique chairs is designed and engineered with natural human movement in mind. For Kimball Office, the partnership broadens its seating solution portfolio to include a line of chairs known worldwide for innovation, quality, design, and ergonomic comfort.

    Kimball Office | Interstuhl Seating

    Silver - Winner of Best of NeoCon 2005 and most recently seen in the latest "James Bond" and "Star Trek Enterprise" movies, Silver sets the bar for form, function, and design innovation.

    Mitos - Mitos delivers a one-of-a-kind sitting experience thanks to its revolutionary "transmotion" mechanism. As the sitter reclines, the entire seat moves on an arc-shaped curve to the rear and downward, providing exceptional comfort and back support.

    Hero. Just for You. - Designed with all statures and sizes in mind, the Hero. Just for You. line senses the sitter's weight and adjusts the tension in the seat and backrest for maximum support.

    Axos - Winner of Best of NeoCon Gold 2007, Axos is designed around the idea of "the next position is the best position." An innovative "transmotion" mechanism with weight regulation, pneumatic seat-height adjustment, and head/neckrest give sitters the ultimate support and comfort in every seated position.

    Xantos - Xantos chairs feature unmatched performance and aesthetics, which allow it to blend into any work setting, from offices and conference rooms to reception areas and training facilities.

    Fit - Simple yet complex, Fit consists of "intelligent mesh" stretched over a cantilevered steel frame. The secret - the Trevira mesh fabric -provides firmer and softer seating zones and allows greater airflow to keep a body cool.
  • Fluent series wins Silver Award at IIDEX/NeoCon Canada
    Kimball Office recognized for environmentally-friendly and forward-thinking designs Read More 
    Kimball Office's new Fluent line was awarded silver at the 2009 IIDEX/NeoCon Canada Innovation Awards held Sept. 24, in Toronto. The innovation awards celebrate the industry's leading manufacturers and suppliers within the fields of design and architecture, and recognize outstanding achievements in new product design.

    "This award reaffirms Kimball Office's commitment to developing environmentally-friendly and innovative products," said Jeff Fenwick, vice president and general manager at Kimball Office. "Fluent's clean, modern design gives it the ability to configure to any floorplan - making this offering both stylish and functional."

    Fluent  developed by David Allan Pesso and the Kimball Office Design Team, comprises coordinating work surfaces, tables, storage elements and privacy screens for the most productive office space solutions. Components of the system can be configured in a number of ways, including singles, doubles, reception stations and private or open offices, and for a variety of work modes, including knowledge sharing, exchanging ideas, conferencing and multi-tasking to name a few.

    Fluent  is environmentally responsible. It was designed using EPA Design for the Environment (DfE)   standards and LEED protocols. The entire line is certified to meet the USGBC LEED Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)   requirements and features Pura, Kimball Office's proprietary UV finish. The line also is certified to BIFMA level, a holistic and transparent standard specifically developed for the furniture industry. Fluent has an available option of FSC certified wood in support of USGBC LEED MRc7 for certified wood.

  • Hum and Fluent and Interstuhl, Oh My!
    Kimball Office Exhibits Three Lines at Interior Design-Focused Canadian Trade Show Read More 
    TORONTO (Sept. 23, 2009) - Kimball Office is showcasing three lines - Hum. Minds at Work, Fluent, and Interstuhl - at this year's IIDEX/NeoCon Canada Expo and Conference in Toronto. Built on the principles of inspiring productive and environmentally-responsible design, Kimball Office products bring freedom and flexibility to any workspace.

    "Kimball Office's Hum, Fluent and Interstuhl lines present functional workplace solutions manufactured with sophisticated and stylish design," said Jeff Fenwick, vice president and general manager at Kimball Office. "The company's people-centered answers to the demand for both private and group work spaces, provide flexible furnishings, which help promote both coworker collaboration and individual focus all in one."

    Hum. Minds at Work.

    Hum is the sound of productivity in a group collaboration or individual work setting. The collection has an open plan solution designed to fit all office needs and offers the flexibility to change and adapt to meet work space requirements. The Hum. Minds at Work. line includes desks, filing and storage systems, and accessories made of mixed materials for total flexibility.

    Hum. Minds at Work.

    Fluent

    Developed by David Allan Pesso and the Kimball Office Design Team, Fluent comprises coordinating work surfaces, tables, storage elements, and privacy screens for the most productive office space solutions. Components of the system can be configured in a number of ways, including singles, doubles, reception stations, and private or open offices, and for a variety of work modes, including knowledge sharing, exchanging ideas, conferencing, and multi-tasking to name a few.

    Fluent desking system



    Interstuhl

    In June, Kimball Office announced its partnership with one of Germany's leading seating companies, Interstuhl Büromöbel GmbH. Co-branded as Kimball Office | Interstuhl, the new line of six, unique chairs is designed and engineered with natural human movement in mind. For Kimball Office, the partnership broadens its seating solution portfolio to include a line of chairs known worldwide for innovation, quality, design, and ergonomic comfort.

    Kimball Office | Interstuhl Seating

    Silver - Winner of Best of NeoCon 2005 and most recently seen in the latest "James Bond" and "Star Trek Enterprise" movies, Silver sets the bar for form, function, and design innovation.

    Mitos - Mitos delivers a one-of-a-kind sitting experience thanks to its revolutionary "transmotion" mechanism. As the sitter reclines, the entire seat moves on an arc-shaped curve to the rear and downward, providing exceptional comfort and back support.

    Hero. Just for You. - Designed with all statures and sizes in mind, the Hero. Just for You. line senses the sitter's weight and adjusts the tension in the seat and backrest for maximum support.

    Axos - Winner of Best of NeoCon Gold 2007, Axos is designed around the idea of "the next position is the best position." An innovative "transmotion" mechanism with weight regulation, pneumatic seat-height adjustment, and head/neckrest give sitters the ultimate support and comfort in every seated position.

    Xantos - Xantos chairs feature unmatched performance and aesthetics, which allow it to blend into any work setting, from offices and conference rooms to reception areas and training facilities.

    Fit - Simple yet complex, Fit consists of "intelligent mesh" stretched over a cantilevered steel frame. The secret - the Trevira mesh fabric -provides firmer and softer seating zones and allows greater airflow to keep a body cool.
  • Hum Research Book Receives "Red Dot" Design Award
    International Sign of Excellence in Communication Design recognizes Kimball Office Read More 
    JASPER, Ind. (September 8, 2009) - Kimball Office recently received a distinguished Red Dot "Best of the Best" award for the company's Hum research book.

    The 40,000-word Hum research book, written and produced by the ALT Group, describes the creative development of the Hum. Minds at Work. furniture solution. The innovative and award-winning workspace system was designed by Formway, which is sold in the United States by Kimball Office.

    Kimball Office is one of more than 6,000 participants from 42 countries that submitted material for consideration in one of the world's most prestigious design awards, only 471 works successfully passed the critical assessment of the international jury of experts. The Hum research book was presented with one of 56 Red Dot "Best of the Best" awards, ranking Kimball Office in the top 1 percent of all participants.

    "As one of the top finishers in the Red Dot Design contest, we have poised Kimball Office and the Hum line at the forefront of international design," said Jeff Fenwick, vice president and general manager at Kimball Office. "Our strong brand presence coupled with our successful communication design positions Kimball Office as an industry expert now more than ever."

    As a Red Dot "Best of the Best" recipient, the Hum research book has been nominated for the Red Dot "Grand Prix" award. The winner of this award, which is only open to "Best of the Best" recipients, will be announced during the festive awards ceremony on Dec. 9, 2009, at the opening of the Red Dot Design Museum in Essen, Germany. The museum will display this year's prize-winning works, including the Hum research book, from Dec. 10, 2009 - Jan. 2010.

    The Hum. Minds at Work. line is unique in its ability to eliminate context shifting and provide the workplace with an environment conducive to natural interactions and flexible workspace. The collection offers a clear definition of personal space while simultaneously encouraging a seamless transition to focused, collaborative work and meetings.

    Beyond its most recent award achievement, the Hum research book has won five additional awards, including: Graphis Awards', Gold Award, United States; AIGA 365 Year in Design, Selection Award, United States; Best Awards, Gold Award, New Zealand; AIGA Awards, Distinction Award, Australia; and Design Week, Finalist Award, United Kingdom.

    About Kimball Office

    A recognized leader in fine workplace furnishings, Kimball Office has been building its reputation on quality and integrity of design for more than 35 years. The company is a business unit of Kimball International, Inc., a corporation that provides a vast array of products from its two business segments: Furniture and Cabinets, and Electronic Contract Assemblies. Based in Jasper, Indiana, the publicly traded company (NASDAQ: KBALB) had sales of $1.3 billion in 2008. To learn more, please visit www.kimballoffice.com.
  • Kimball Office and IDEC partner at IIDA Trade Fair
    "NeoCan't" show encourages senior-level designers to be industry educators Read More 
    SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Aug, 27, 2009- To encourage senior-level designers to participate as industry educators, Kimball Office and the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) are partnering at the 2009 International Interior Design Association (IIDA) NeoCan't Trade Fair.

    Information at the Kimball Office/IDEC booth is intended to inspire upper-level interior designers to become more involved in educating their entry-level counterparts. Denise Homme, director of interior design at the Design Institute of San Diego (DISD), will be at the booth to meet and greet designers and discuss ways to become more involved in the design education community.

    "There is a great need in the industry for senior-level designers and NeoCan't is the perfect platform for us to promote accelerated interior design education," said Jeff Fenwick, vice president and general manager at Kimball Office. "By reaching out to today's dedicated and talented designers and asking them to take an active roll in education, we are assuring the next generation of successful and well-trained interior designers."

    The NeoCan't one-day event showcased new products from more than 40 different manufacturers and rep groups.

    About IIDA

    The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) works to enhance quality of life through excellence in interior design and to advance interior design through knowledge, value and community. IIDA is a professional networking and educational association of 13,000 Members in ten specialty Forums in 29 Chapters around the world. Additional information is available on IIDA's website iida.org.

    About IDEC

    The Interior Design Educators Council's mission is the advancement of interior design education and scholarship. For more information, please visit idec.org.

    About DISD

    The Design Institute of San Diego is devoted to a single purpose: profession education in interior design. As a private, independent four-year college, offering a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, DISD has trained interior design students for 30 years. For more information about DISD, please visit disd.edu.

    More Information

    For photos and event coverage, please visit us on flickr.com and on the Kimball Office Blog.
  • Kimball Office Achieves LEED-CI Gold for San Francisco Showroom
    Green project dovetails with Bay area's environmental initiatives. Read More 
    JASPER, Ind. - July 16, 2009 - Leading by example, Kimball Office has earned LEED-CI Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its San Francisco showroom at 330 Pine Street.

    Designed by Huntsman Architectural Group, the 5,000-sq. ft. facility reinforces the company's nearly half-century heritage of environmental stewardship. Overall, the showroom received 34 points from the USGBC, most notably for its water conservation, energy efficiency, environmentally responsible materials and indoor air quality.

    "This space mirrors the environmental initiatives unfolding in the Bay area," says Jeff Fenwick, Vice President and General Manager, Kimball Office. "Green-building, reduced carbon emissions, zero waste, water conservation and energy efficiency are issues of regional, state and national importance. We wanted our San Francisco showroom to demonstrate measurable leadership in these areas, as well as a substantial commitment to this city's and all cities' long-term well-being."

    The design team, led by Huntsman Design Principal, Mark Harbick, and Design Director, Bill Puentz, installed innovative green features such as a water-recycling system and low-flow fixtures that reduce water consumption by 76 percent; energy-efficient lighting, office equipment and appliances that use 20 percent less electricity; and architectural wood elements that are 100 percent Forest Stewardship Council-certified. For the showroom's dramatic floor, the team used reclaimed oak stair posts and baked them to achieve a rich dark finish, creating a unique architectural detail and reflecting Kimball Office's wood legacy.

    Other green attributes of the showroom's design and construction include:
    • Keeping 94 percent of construction waste out of landfills
    • Using locally manufactured, recycled and rapidly renewable materials where possible
    • Employing multiple measures to improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality, including day-lighting controls that react to the needs of the space and availability of natural light
    • Sharing the project as part of an educational program to give clients insight to sustainable building design and solutions to commonly experienced renovation problems
    The San Francisco showroom is the seventh Kimball Office facility to receive LEED certification. The others are the Jasper showroom (Gold), Atlanta and Chicago showrooms (Silver), New York showroom (Certified), Corporate Headquarters (Silver) and R&D team rooms (Certified).

    A member of the USGBC, Kimball Office demonstrates environmental leadership by eliminating pollution generated at the source, using renewable materials, and reclaiming and recycling materials to minimize adverse impact on the environment. The company's sustainability accomplishments include developing PURA™ , a proprietary UV wood finishing process; registering its manufacturing facilities to ISO 14001:2004 standards; and achieving SmartWay certification for its transport / shipping fleet.

    About LEED-CI

    LEED-CI (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Commercial Interiors) is the recognized standard for certifying high-performance "green" interiors that are healthy, productive places to work, are less costly to operate and maintain and reduce environmental footprint, according to the USGBC. In the office furniture industry this is particularly important because it provides measurable guidelines for addressing clients' requests for sustainable products and office-place solutions. LEED-CI offers four levels of certification: baseline certified, followed by silver, gold and platinum certification, each level being predicated on specific design and environmental criteria.

  • Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy See Me Screen contest
    Budding designers found at Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy Read More 
    Mrs. Kethcum, a teacher at Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy (Coeur d'Alene, ID), was looking for a way to introduce her art students to careers that highlight art and design skills. The students were given "homework" to design See Me Screens for Kimball Office's Hum. Minds at Work product line. They were given the same criteria as the recent Kimball Office See Me Screen Design Competition for professionals. The excitement was overwhelming as 83 entries were turned in.

    Kimball Office's Bruce Nitteberg and Jodi Lizotte of Post Falls gave students an upbeat, age-appropriate introduction to the career of Industrial Design and the HUM product line. They also hosted the students for a manufacturing plant tour. Post Falls employees were asked to vote for the best design and also built the awards that were given to the winners. The designs were cut into mini metal screens and given to the winners for trophies.


    Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy See Me Screen contest


    Heather Ketchum of Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy handed out the awards to the winners and had this to say, "It created quite a stir among the crowd to hear that Kimball Office got involved with our students! About five hundred attended the award night, including Mayor Sandy Bloom and State Representative Frank Henderson. The student's were thrilled to see their artwork turned into an award with the mini See Me screens and loved to get the professional feedback. Parents were highly impressed and teachers and administration were overwhelmed that our students had the opportunity to do a real world project through Kimball Office! This has turned out to be one of the most successful projects we have done with the art program, and has really brought the field of Industrial Design to the attention of the students! Thank you for creating this extraordinary opportunity for the students. It has created lasting memories for our students! Please thank everyone involved in making this project such a success!"

    Of the 83 entries, 4 designs took the top 5 awards.

    Tribal TidalTribal Tidal by Alyssa Kim, took two 1st place honors: Kimball Office Manufacturing AND Kimball Office Marketing Best Design Popular Vote. Alyssa's design is based on "rolling curves meant to imply the melodic movement of crashing waves."

    Palm Grove The Palm Grove by Makenna May (age 14) won Kimball Office Manufacturing Best Design Popular Vote, 2nd place. Makenna was inspired by the Hawaiian sunset, making a design that would "bring a sense of calm and peace to the work space."

    Sakura Sprigs Sakura Sprigs by Monica Bushling (age 16) won Kimball Office Manufacturing Best Design Popular Vote, 3rd place. Monica was inspired by the Sakura, or cherry blossom, tree because "they have long been regarded as a near-sacred element of Asian culture, renowed for both their delicate charm and mystical ambiance."

    Ocean Currents Ocean Currents by Caitlin Southern (age 17) won Formway Best Industrial Design, 1st Place. Caitlin based her design on "the smooth, organic shapes created by currents and waves in an ocean."
  • Kimball Office Products level Certified
    Company among first to achieve certification for entire product portfolio Read More 
    Living up to its heritage of environmental stewardship, Kimball Office has earned level™ certification for its entire product portfolio - one of the first in the industry to do so.

    A LEED-like program for the contract furniture market, level verifies conformance to BIFMA's e3 sustainability standard through a recognized third-party certifier. For Kimball Office, it is Scientific Certification Systems (SCS). In addition to achieving certification, Kimball Office played a leading role within the diverse group involved in developing e3 with BIFMA.

    The e3 standard ensures a comprehensive and impartial assessment of a product's environmental and social impact. It also gives customers an easy way to understand how products contribute to their sustainability goals. The new standard applies to all business and institutional furniture, including movable walls, systems furniture, desking systems, casegoods, tables, seating and accessories, and materials and components manufactured by suppliers to furniture manufacturers.

    With the exception of Bingo seating and Aspire tables, all of Kimball Office's current products are certified to level 1.

    "No other sustainability standard is as all encompassing for office furniture as e3 is," says Jeff Fenwick, Vice President/General Manager, Kimball Office. "Unlike many standards, e3 assesses the entire manufacturing process from beginning to end and across a broad spectrum of attributes, both internally and with our suppliers. That's a real breakthrough for our customers, their workplace environments and the natural environment."

    As part of its organization-wide sustainability commitment, Kimball office is dedicated to eliminating pollution generated at the source, use of renewable materials, and reclamation and recycling of materials to minimize adverse impact on the environment. The company's environmental accomplishments include developing PURA™ , a proprietary UV wood finishing process; registering its manufacturing facilities to ISO 14001:2004 standards; achieving SmartWay certification for its transport / shipping fleet; and certifying its showrooms and corporate offices to LEED-CI standards.

    About BIFMA
    Established in 1973, BIFMA's mission is to lead, advocate, inform and develop standards for the North American office and institutional furniture industry. As a not-for-profit organization, BIFMA provides an effective forum for members to cooperate and collaborate on appropriate industry issues. BIFMA develops voluntary product and industry standards that support safe, healthy and sustainable environments; publishes key industry statistics; advocates for legislation and government regulation that have a direct impact on the health of the industry; and facilitates meaningful dialog and education to support the core services and the industry it serves.
  • Kimball Office Achieves LEED-CI Certification for Atlanta Showroom
    Renovated showroom demonstrates sustainable solutions Read More 
    JASPER, Ind. - July 9, 2009 - Kimball Office has earned LEED-CI Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its Atlanta showroom at 3445 Peachtree Road in the city's Buckhead/Lenox neighborhood.

    "Our Atlanta showroom is a place for customers to experience Kimball Office and see how affordable it can be to create workspaces that are functional, attractive and friendly both to the environment and their employees," says Jeff Fenwick, Vice President / General Manager, Kimball Office.

    Partnering with Kimball Office on the design of the 5,676-sq. ft. space was idea|span, one of Atlanta's top 25 interior design firms.

    To meet LEED-CI's rigorous standards, they implemented several strategies. These included:
    • Diverting more than 50 percent of onsite construction waste from landfills
    • Specifying locally manufactured, recycled and rapidly renewable materials
    • Using a green housekeeping service and products
    • Sharing the project as part of an educational program to give clients insight to sustainable building design and environmentally friendly products


    Other sustainable strategies involved:
    • Making daylight and window views available to more than 90 percent of occupants
    • Minimizing or eliminating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in materials specified for paints, adhesives, carpets and composite wood materials
    • Using Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood where possible in the architectural wood elements
    • Installing low-flow plumbing fixtures to increase water efficiency
    • Employing multiple measures to improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality
    Kimball Office is a member of the USGBC and operates several LEED-certified facilities, including its New York, Chicago and Jasper showrooms, along with its corporate headquarters and R&D team rooms.

  • Kimball Office Earns OSHA STAR Award
    Jasper Manufacturing Facility achieves highest safety status in OSHA program Read More 
    JASPER, Ind.- Kimball Office-Jasper's Cherry Street manufacturing facility in Jasper, Indiana, recently achieved STAR status as part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP).

    The Cherry Street facility becomes the fifth VPP STAR site within Kimball International. External auditors conduct a comprehensive three-day assessment process to determine if a business earns the coveted STAR status or not. Only about 60 businesses in Indiana have reached this milestone.

    "The VPP program is all about management commitment and employee involvement. STAR status cannot be achieved without these two elements," says Rhonda Scherer, Safety and Environmental Manager, Kimball Office-Jasper. "Our efforts moving forward are to continuously improve our safety and health practices and eliminate incidents and injuries."

    Employee health and safety are top priorities at all Kimball International locations, as is the collaboration and teamwork between employees and management that Scherer references.

    "Our management values a work environment that has high employee involvement. Our people are expected to offer ideas for improvement, and management is expected to listen so that processes and behaviors are adjusted for everyone's benefit," says Kathy Sigler, Director of Operations, Kimball Office-Jasper. "Our employees are very proud of our STAR distinction. They take great comfort knowing they come to a safe place to work each day."

    Other VPP STAR Kimball International facilities are Kimball Office-Jasper's 15th Street facility, Kimball Electronics-Jasper, National Office Furniture-Santa Claus, and Corporate Logistics Services-Customer Fulfillment Center-3.

    Through VPP, OSHA recognizes and partners with businesses and work sites that show excellence in occupational safety and health. Sites are committed to effective employee protection beyond the requirements of OSHA standards. VPP participants develop and implement systems to effectively identify, evaluate, prevent, and control occupational hazards to prevent employee injuries and illness, according to Indiana's Department of Labor Web site.

  • Chicago Event Silver Chair Winner - Laura Bordeaux
    The Chicago Showroom Event Silver Chair winner is..... Read More 
    Laura Bordeaux, with FX Design Inc. in Glastonbury, CT is the 2009 Chicago Showroom Event Silver Chair winner!

    Laura has been drawn the lucky winner of a Kimball Office | Interstuhl Silver chair, as part of the show's online registration for the Chicago Showroom Event. Laura joins Jeff Willinger, also a winner of a Kimball Office | Interstuhl Silver Chair. Jeff was selected as a Silver Chair recipient during a special drawing held only for attendees of the Monday evening reception event in Chicago.

    The Silver chair is one of the six new Interstuhl chairs that Kimball Office is introducing to the North American market. Silver has already been named the Best of Neocon 2005, and won the International Red Dot Design Award in 2008. Silver sets the bar for innovation in form, function, and design and has been featured in the newest James Bond movie "Quantum of Solace."

    The product line offers low-, mid-, and high-back office chairs; low-, mid-, and high-back conference chairs; an ottoman; a wooden-shelled visitor chair with dynamic rocker mechanism; a lounge chair with base plate and auto-return mechanism; coordinating lounge tables; and executive conference tables.

    Kimball Office | interstuhl Silver Executive Seating

  • Kimball International Receives 2009 "GREEN GOOD DESIGN" Award
    Corporate Showroom Noted for Sustainable, Environmentally-Responsible Design Read More 
    Jun. 17, 2009-- Kimball International, Inc#s flagship corporate showroom located in Jasper, Indiana, has been recognized by The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies together with The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, with a 2009 "GREEN GOOD DESIGN™" Award in the category of Architecture. The award reflects Kimball's continuing commitment to environmental protection and sustainability.

    The Kimball Corporate Showroom in Jasper, Indiana (USA) was designed in partnership with TVS Interiors, Inc. of Chicago and Atlanta. The completely renovated 35,500 square foot showroom was designed to present the three Kimball International furniture brands: Kimball Office, National, and Kimball Hospitality.

    Kimball and TVS Interiors implemented several sustainable strategies including recycling 96.5 percent of the project's waste materials, preserving natural resources through use of local, recycled, and rapidly renewable materials, utilizing natural light, reducing water consumption with low-flow plumbing, minimizing or eliminating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in construction materials, and installing GREENGUARD®-certified furniture from the Kimball Office and National brands.

    Previously, the Kimball Showroom earned the prestigious Gold level LEED-CI certification for environmentally responsible design from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), in recognition of energy efficiency and environmental stewardship. Kimball was the first company in Indiana to win LEED-CI certification.

    The GREEN GOOD DESIGN program is a specialized edition of the GOOD DESIGN program, founded in 1950 by architects Eero Saarinen, Charles and Ray Eames, and Edgar J. Kaufmann, Jr., former curator of the Museum of Modern Art, to promote and foster a greater public understanding and acceptance of Modern Design. Now, decades later, GREEN GOOD DESIGN aims to bring public appreciation and awareness for revolutionary design based on the ideals of energy conservation, reduction of toxic waste, and sensitivity for the depletion of the world's energy resources, with a focus on sustainability.

    Projects from more than 30 nations were awarded GREEN GOOD DESIGN 2009 recognition. From hundreds of submissions from over 40 nations, the winners were selected by The European Centre's International Advisory Committee, consisting of worldwide leaders in the design industry. A final total of 105 products, programs, environmental plans, and architecture were selected as outstanding examples of Green Design. In July, The European Centre will display an exhibition of award winners in Athens, Greece. To view all the GREEN GOOD DESIGN award winners, visit www.europeanarch.eu. To learn more about the original GOOD DESIGN program, visit The Chicago Athenaeum's website at: www.chi-athenaeum.org.

    Kimball was previously honored with GOOD DESIGN awards for its Hum. Minds At Work® desk system, its Scenario™ table line, and its Adagiato™ guest seating line.

    View the Kimball International Corporate Showroom video to see some of the highlights of the renovation.

  • OFDA Honors Kimball Office with Manufacturer of the Year Award
    Industry leader recognized for best of class performance and exceptional dealer support. Read More 
    JASPER, Ind. - June 18, 2009 - The Office Furniture Dealers Alliance (OFDA) recently presented Kimball Office with its prestigious 2009 Aligned Manufacturer of the Year Silver Award.

    "We're very honored and proud to receive this award," said Jeff Fenwick, Vice President / General Manager, Kimball Office. "It is especially meaningful to be recognized by our dealer partners, and shows a real appreciation of the talent and dedication of the people of Kimball Office, especially Bob Theodore, our Director of Dealer Development."

    The annual awards recognize manufacturers that deliver the most consistent and effective overall support to dealers. Winning manufacturers are determined by the results of a carefully structured, anonymous survey which measures ten functional areas of performance that are of greatest importance to a diverse cross-section of dealers throughout North America. These include product lines, service and support, sales and marketing, management, technology, and training.

    About OFDA
    The OFDA is the leading industry information resource for office furniture dealers and their trading partners. Founded in 1904, the Association provides vital research, information, government advocacy, training and networking services to office furniture dealers.

  • Silver Chair winner announced at Chicago Showroom Reception Event
    And the winner is...Jeff Willinger of RightPoint Consulting! Read More 


    During Monday night's special Reception Event in the Chicago Showroom, Jeff Willinger was drawn as the winner of the Kimball Office | Interstuhl Silver Chair. Architects, designers, office furniture dealers, and guests filled the showroom and were all entered to win the Silver chair. At the end of the reception, Jeff Willinger was drawn as the winner. The excitement was contagious as Jeff and the crowd errupted in cheers.


    Kimball Office | interstuhl Silver Chair Winner


    The Silver chair is one of the six new Interstuhl chairs that Kimball Office is introducing to the North American market. Silver has already been named the Best of Neocon 2005, and won the International Red Dot Design Award in 2008. Silver sets the bar for innovation in form, function, and design and has been featured in the newest James Bond movie "Quantum of Solace."

    The product line offers low-, mid-, and high-back office chairs; low-, mid-, and high-back conference chairs; an ottoman; a wooden-shelled visitor chair with dynamic rocker mechanism; a lounge chair with base plate and auto-return mechanism; coordinating lounge tables; and executive conference tables.

    Kimball Office | interstuhl Silver Lounge seating

  • Follow the Kimball Office Blog for up-to-date Chicago Event Happenings!
    The Kimball Office blog isn't really about us...it's about you. Read More 
    See what's new and happening with Kimball Office. Check out the Kimball Office Blog for current Chicago Event Happenings!

    A little more than a year ago, Kimball Office's leadership team took on the challenge to answer the question, What do we stand for? and What will make us relevant and valuable in the future?

    A lot of answers came out during those strategic discussions, and it always came back to our customers: how we engage them and how does our package of value serve the needs of businesses around the country?

    We made a promise during those discussions that we will structure our business and develop products to make it easy for architects, designers, facilities managers, and business executives to succeed.

    We believe strongly that we will be successful when your job is made easier. We want to make it easy to select, buy, install, and maintain high quality office furniture. We want you to have furniture that encourages collaboration and adjusts to your work environments, your teams' needs, and working styles. We want your installers and facilities management teams to easily install and maintain our furniture for the many years you have it.

    And we want you to come back to Kimball Office furniture in the future because we make it easy for you to do business.

    Why did Kimball Office start a blog? It wasn't to be cool, or because everyone is doing it. We're launching this blog to give you more insight into how we think, how we do business and to openly communicate with each of you so that we may learn from you what you need from us to make it easy.

    Because in the end, the Kimball Office blog isn't really about us. It's about you.
  • Kimball Office Forms Partnership with Interstuhl
    Alliance substantially increases Kimball Office's presence in the seating market Read More 












    Kimball Office and Interstuhl Büromöbel GmbH, one of Germany's dominant seating companies, have entered into a strategic alliance making Kimball Office responsible for marketing and selling the Interstuhl brand products in North America. Products will be co-branded as: Kimball Office | Interstuhl.

    The joint venture dramatically increases Kimball Office's penetration of the North American ergonomic seating market.

    "This alliance is an exciting and significant opportunity for both of our companies," says Jeff Fenwick, Vice President/General Manager of Kimball Office. "It combines Interstuhl's expertise in seating design and engineering with Kimball Office's established customer relationships and strong distribution base. Together, we're focused on giving our customers a whole new standard of ergonomic support and comfort with innovative seating solutions."

    About Interstuhl

    Interstuhl is a family business located in the village of Messstetten-Tieringen, Germany, a small town about 80 miles south of Stuttgart. The company traces its roots to a blacksmith shop founded nearly 400 years ago. It began producing office chairs in 1961 and introduced the Interstuhl trademark in 1967.

    Today, Interstuhl produces products under three brand names; contract seating and freestanding conference and training tables (Interstuhl brand), factory/laboratory seating (bimos brand) and seating for budget and mid-market distribution (prosedia brand). In the United States, the company distributes the Interstuhl brand products in selected markets through independent manufacturers' representatives who focus on the major architect and design firms. It has been a challenge for Interstuhl to establish a broader North American dealership base. By partnering with Kimball Office, the company instantly gains access to a sales force of more than 100 people and a nationwide dealer network. At the same time, Kimball Office can immediately offer clients multiple seating solutions that have earned a worldwide reputation for innovation, quality, design and ergonomic comfort.
  • Kimball Office and Interstuhl Announce Product Offering
    Six seating families will be available by early 2010! Read More 
    Six Kimball Office | Interstuhl seating families will be available by early 2010. Each is designed and engineered around the natural aspects of human movement.

    Kimball Office | interstuhl Silver Lounge seating

    Silver: Winner of Best of Neocon 2005, the international Red Dot Design Award in 2008 and featured in the newest James Bond movie, "Quantum of Solace," Silver sets the bar for innovation in form, function and design. It features an elegant and unmistakable aluminum monocoque design with twin casters and precisely tailored upholstery. The line comprises low-, mid- and high-back office chairs; low-, mid- and high-back conference chairs; an ottoman; a wooden-shelled visitor chair with dynamic rocker mechanism; a lounge chair with base plate and auto-return mechanism; coordinating lounge tables; and executive conference tables.



    Kimball Office | interstuhl Mitos seating

    Mitos: Awarded Best of NeoCon Gold in 2006, Mitos delivers a sitting experience unlike that of any office chair thanks to its revolutionary "transmotion" mechanism. The collection has low-, mid- and high-back models, 4-leg and cantilever guest chairs, and Mitos Mobile, a versatile piece that quickly transforms from a footrest into a laptop stand, lectern, mobile workstation or visitor's chair.



    Kimball Office | interstuhl Hero seating

    Hero. Just for You: Hero uses multiple technologies to provide a personalized sit for individuals of all sizes and statures. Its autofit tilt mechanism senses the sitter's weight and automatically tensions the seat and backrest. The line includes mid-back office chairs and high-back executive chairs with choice of fully upholstered seat/back or mesh back/upholstered seat combinations; and stackable cantilever guest chairs with mesh or upholstered back.



    Kimball Office | interstuhl Axos seating

    Axos: Axos translates seating technology into the leanest possible form. An innovative "transmotion" mechanism with weight regulation, pneumatic seat-height adjustment, and head/neckrest give sitters maximum support and comfort in every position from upright to fully reclined. A Best of NeoCon Gold award winner in 2007, this series features executive, conference and cantilever guest chairs.



    Kimball Office | interstuhl Xantos seating

    Xantos: With adjustable lumbar support, synchronous recline, seat-depth and pneumatic seat-height adjustments, and height-adjustable armrests, Xantos office chairs are a harmonious blend of performance and aesthetics. The line includes mid- and high-back office/executive chairs, conference chairs, and stackable 4-leg and cantilever guest chairs.



    Kimball Office | interstuhl Fit seating

    Fit: This deceptively simple chair consists of "intelligent mesh" stretched over a cantilevered steel frame. The end result is an exceptionally comfortable chair that automatically conforms to even the slightest movement. Its open mesh weave also allows air to circulate and prevents body heat from building up. Fit is available in four mesh colors - black, grey, red, and green.

  • Kimball Office Announces New Product Lines
    Fluent desking, Talent lounge, and Beo tandem seating take the stage Read More 
    It's an exciting time at Kimball Office! New desking and seating introductions and previews will be unveiled in Chicago the week of June 15th. Following is a preview of those products:



    Kimball Office Fluent desking system

    Fluent Desking System

    Private office presence. Open plan functionality. People-centric adaptability. Developed by David Allan Pesso and the Kimball Office Design Team, Fluent satisfies diverse needs across the organization. It utilizes a platform of interchangeable parts to address evolving brands, rapidly changing footprints and teams, smaller workspaces, and the differing preferences of a multigenerational workforce. Fluent was designed using EPA Design for the Environment (DfE) standards and LEED protocols. The entire line is fully IAQ compliant, even the wood components, which are sealed inside and out with Pura, Kimball Office's proprietary UV finish.



    Kimball Office Talent lounge seating

    Talent Lounge Seating

    Sculptural curves and studied proportions highlight Talent seating from Kimball Office. Combining design versatility with application flexibility, this lounge series comfortably performs in a wide variety of applications. Talent is SCS certified and may contribute to LEED® credit 4.5. The line includes fully upholstered one- and two-and-a-half seat models, a bench and an ottoman - all available in a rich palette of fabrics and leathers. Beautifully crafted, Talent is an enduring interpretation of the club chair's iconic form.



    Kimball Office Beo tandem seating

    Beo Tandem, Bariatric, Lounge, and Bench

    These new additions to the Beo line feature the same performance characteristics as the original side seating - a supportive, contoured frame, webbed seat suspension, wall-saver back legs, wipe-away seats, and SCS certification. They also share the same aesthetic details - sleek wood frame, choice of back styles, and decorative reveal on the arm/leg joint. The entire collection is available in a broad palette of upholstery choices and wood finish colors.

  • Hum receives Australian International Design Award
    Formway Furniture's Design Studio honored with prestigious award Read More 
    Formway Furniture's Design Studio has been honored with a prestigious Australian International Design Award. The award, presented at a gala event in Melbourne last week (Friday 29 May), went to Hum. Minds at Work, released by Kimball Office and Formway last year.

    The work system was designed in response to an overwhelming desire in the business community to have collaborative workspaces that would increase performance in the work place. Hum is the sound of productivity and a team working well together.

    The Australian International Design Awards, a division of Standards Australia, is recognized by the Australian Government and the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design [ICSID] as Australia's peak design assessment and promotion body. It also plays an important role in fostering a culture of design and innovation in Australia.

    Formway CEO Alan Buckner is delighted with the award and its contribution toward Formway's growing global reputation. "Formway Furniture is proud to have achieved this significant recognition from our peers in the Australian design industry. We have a long and important history in Australia, and this award enhances our reputation for being a design-led business, with meaningful insight and understanding of workplace environments."

    Hum stemmed from four years of research and development which included voice of the customer research, prototyping, and input from external experts. The project set out to deliver a product that would compete in the international furniture market. Hum is licensed for manufacture and distributed in the United States through Kimball Office and has been bought by a range of high profile clients in the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

    The Australian International Design award is the latest in a remarkable run of recognition that Formway Design has received for Hum. This includes a Good Design Award from the Chicago Athenaeum, Best Product design and Best Environmental design at the BeST Awards in NZ and a Stringer, the highest recognition for outstanding design in New Zealand.

    About Formway

    Formway is privately owned and operates one of the largest furniture design studios in Australasia. Developing empathetic insights into human behavior is central to Formway's user-centred design culture. Coupled with a rigorous design process and sensitivity to aesthetic and environmental considerations, these insights create the platform for new-to-the-world innovation. As a result, the company enjoys a reputation as a world leader in workplace product design.

    Products are distributed through a network of showrooms, agents and distribution partners in New Zealand, Australia and South East Asia.

  • ASID Design Excellence Award
    Atlanta showroom recognized with Gold in retail category Read More 
    JASPER, Ind. - April 28, 2009 - The American Society of Interior Designers - Georgia Chapter (ASID-GA) recently honored the Kimball Office Atlanta showroom with a Gold Design Excellence Award in the retail category. It was designed by idea|span, one of Atlanta's top 25 interior design firms.

    "We are very excited by this award," says Mona Hoffman, vice president of marketing for Kimball Office. "We wanted a showroom that would be an inspiring and memorable experience for every person who walks in. idea|span did an exceptional job helping us realize that goal. This award is a good measure of our shared success."

    Located in the heart of the city's vibrant Buckhead/Lenox neighborhood, the 5,676 sq. ft. space serves as a resource to help customers bring their ideal offices to life. It demonstrates furniture layouts and workspace ideas specific to the Atlanta and Southeast region.

    The showroom also features a hands-on design center with a white, 10-foot round table for rolling out drawings and sharing ideas; a backlit story wall showcasing images of client projects layered; and a glistening white reception desk in front of a wall woven of creamy bleached nabone. Honey-stained wood floors, pale straw carpeting, and amber-colored doors add texture and warmth to the predominately white color scheme.

    Like all Kimball Office showrooms, the Atlanta space was designed utilizing LEED-CI guidelines. It is currently under consideration for LEED certification.

    The ASID Design Excellence Awards competition recognizes outstanding projects by design professionals throughout Georgia. Winners in 17 categories were selected on the basis of scale and proportion, color and composition, design creativity, function, and solutions appropriate to the design criteria, materials and patterns.

    ASID is the oldest and largest professional organization for interior designers. Through education, knowledge sharing, advocacy, community building and outreach, the Society strives to advance the interior design profession and, in the process, to demonstrate and celebrate the power of design to positively change people's lives. Its more than 38,000 members engage in a variety of professional programs and activities through a network of 48 chapters throughout the United States and Canada.
  • BIFMA Announces "level" Product Certification Program
    Various Kimball Office products meet standard's requirements Read More 
    Grand Rapids, MI June 1, 2009 - BIFMA International, the trade association for the commercial furniture industry, representing the leading firms in the contract furniture market, today announces the premier of the product certification program, level™.

    level will verify conformance to the first fully transparent, multi-attribute furniture sustainability standard addressing material utilization, energy and atmosphere impacts, human and ecosystem health and social responsibility.

    Manufacturers evaluating products to the BIFMA e3 sustainability standard and undergoing an independent, third-party certification process can achieve the level conformance mark. NSF International and Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) are the first third-party certification bodies to be recognized under the level certification program. The standard is modeled after LEED with specific prerequisites, optional credits, and three conformance levels, with level 3 certification being the highest.

    "For the past three years we have been following the ANSI process, working with stakeholders and experts from inside and outside the industry to create a standard that can be used by all furniture producers," said Tom Reardon, BIFMA Executive Director. "We also understand the importance of an independent evaluation and conformance verification process and invite additional certification bodies to participate in the program. We have to give our customers a simple and comprehensive way to understand how products contribute to green buildings and sustainability as a whole," he added.

    BIFMA member firms Allsteel, Gunlocke, Hon Company, Herman Miller, Kimball Office, National Office Furniture and Steelcase have products that meet the standard's requirements and have received third party certification by either NSF or SCS. Each firm will be showcasing their level certified products at NeoCon this year.

    For more information, visit www.levelcertified.org

    About BIFMA

    Established in 1973, BIFMA's mission is to lead, advocate, inform and develop standards for the North American office and institutional furniture industry. As a not-for-profit organization BIFMA provides an effective forum for Members to cooperate and collaborate on appropriate industry issues. We develop voluntary product and industry standards that support safe, healthy and sustainable environments; publish key industry statistics; advocate for legislation and government regulation that have a direct impact on the health of the industry; and facilitate meaningful dialog and education to support our core services and the industry we serve.

  • Kimball International Ranks in FDM 300's Top 20
    Commitment to excellence keeps company at the forefront of furniture manufacturing. Read More 
    JASPER, Ind. - April 16, 2009. Kimball Office parent company Kimball International has again been named to the annual FDM 300, a listing of the 300 largest woodworking companies in North America. The industry heavyweight continues to dominate furniture manufacturing in this national ranking, advancing from 20th in 2008 to 16th in 2009.

    Dan Miller, Executive Vice President and President of the Furniture Segment, credits the top 20 ranking to an unwavering commitment to excellence in all areas of the company's operations. "Through good times and challenging times our company and our employees stay focused on what's important, providing exceptional solutions and services to our customers," Miller says.

    Kimball designs, manufactures and markets furniture for the office and hospitality industries through its three furniture business units - Kimball Office, National Office Furniture and Kimball Hospitality.

    FDM covers the woodworking industry ranging from small and mid-sized shops to large production plants. Companies listed in the FDM 300 are qualified by the editors through questionnaires and telephone interviews. Products made by the companies include cabinets, fixtures, architectural millwork, furniture for office and residential use, as well as other refined wood products.

  • Kimball Office Announces Brochure Builder
    Going digital has never been easier...Learn more about the new Brochure Builder Read More 
    Kimball Office is pleased to announce the new Brochure Builder. This tool enables any website visitor to selectively choose which information about a particular product series is the most relevant, and display those pieces of information in their viewable or self-printable brochure.

    Information used in the brochure includes photos/images, features and options for the product series, accessories for the series, applicable surface materials, and other products which complement the product being viewed. Brochures can be easily printed or emailed as needed.

    Case studies featuring installations of Kimball Office furniture are a great way to see how product solutions have solved challenges faced by other companies and organizations. While creating your customized brochure, you can also include case study information to enhance your brochure.

    Your customized brochure is available for use for seven days from the time of creation to allow you to re-use it at a later time.

    To get started, Browse Furniture and select your favorite product series, add it to the brochure builder, then customize the brochure to fit your needs!

  • See Me Screen Design Winner
    Kimball Office Announces Winner of See Me Screen Design Competition Read More 
    Choosing the winner of the See Me screen design competition wasn't easy. The field was international. The competition fierce. And the criteria demanding. But in the end, only one entry was deemed outstanding by the judges. And the winner is...Katherine Conti, senior interior design student at Maryville University in St. Louis, MO.

    "Katherine did a great job of connecting the cognitive sciences with a screen design that plays on the brain's neuron activity," says Sandy Horton, director of market intelligence for Kimball Office.

    The juried contest gave professional and student designers from around the world an opportunity to create a new See Me Screen design for Kimball Office's awarding-winning Hum. Minds at Work. office system. Judges included the Hum design teams at Kimball Office and Formway Design in Wellington, New Zealand.

    Hum utilizes four core components to facilitate easy shifts between individual and group work. The most visually compelling of these is the See Me screen, which uses an openwork pattern to filter distractions while still allowing colleagues to interact with each other.

    "Minds at Work made me think immediately of neurons firing. I just took the concept and ran with it," explains Ms. Conti. "I am so pleased that the judges felt my design satisfied the established criteria not just on an aesthetic level, but on a conceptual and a functional level as well."

    Kimball Office representatives surprised Ms. Conti with news of her winning entry while they were on campus for the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) conference. In front of her teachers and classmates, they presented her with a $5000 check, an expense-paid trip to Chicago, and a prototype of her design.

    "Katherine's strong concept and professional execution resulted in a beautiful design," says Darlene Davison, director of Maryville's interior design program and associate professor. "We are extremely proud of her accomplishment."

    As is Kimball Office's Dealer Sales Manager in St. Louis, Michele Helsel, "I'm very pleased for Katherine and Maryville University. It's an honor and a thrill to have the winner of this contest represented in my hometown."

    Ms. Conti's screen design will be on display in the Kimball Office Chicago showroom at 325 North Wells Street during the week of NeoCon, June 15-17.

  • NYC Putt Putt Golf Event
    NYC Design Firms Transform Kimball Office Showroom into Mini-Golf Course (February 27, 2009) Read More 
    The putting edge collaboration raises $12,000 for the Robin Hood Foundation

    NEW YORK, NY - February 27, 2098 - New York's A&D community enjoyed a double dose of putt-putt fun designing and competing in the second annual Kimball Office Open, Manhattan's favorite furniture-inspired miniature golf tournament.

    Jointly sponsored by Kimball Office and its New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia dealers and suppliers, the recently held event raised $12,000 for New York's Robin Hood Foundation, which has been fighting poverty in New York City for more than 30 years.

    "Robin Hood finds, funds, and creates programs and schools that generate measurable outcomes for families in New York City's poorest neighborhoods. These groups save the lives and change the fates of those who battle education failure, joblessness, teen pregnancy, abuse, AIDS, hunger, and homelessness," explained Heather Janoff, Manager of Corporate and Foundation Relations for Robin Hood. "On their behalf, I thank Kimball Office and everyone who contributed to this unique event for their support and generosity."

    Nearly 350 golfers pitted their putting skills against the riotous course set up in Kimball Office's Park Avenue showroom. The 17th hole designed by Perkins + Will won the "Favorite Hole Design" award by popular vote. The par 3 hole recreated the "Miracle of the Hudson" crash landing. Golfers had to navigate their ball through the sinking airliner and down its wing to reach the orange, inflatable raft "hole."

    Other crowd-pleasers included a 10-foot pinball green from Ted Moudis Associates; a classic King Kong scene à la Gruzen Samton Architects, which wowed players with its replica Empire State Building and Roosevelt Island trolley with terrified passenger faces in the windows; and a remorseless Bernie Madoff obstacle designed by TSC Design ensnared players' golf balls.

    "This was our best event yet," said Chuck Gould, Regional Manager, Kimball Office. "The showroom was packed and everyone had a blast playing the course. We wanted to give NYC a good time during these challenging times, and I think we succeeded."

    Putt-putt whiz Peter Lynch of Univision Communication,Inc., couldn't agree with Chuck more. "This was a great event. I got a couple of holes in one!"

    The evening teed off and wrapped up with drinks on the links and hearty cocktail fare. In addition, awards were presented to the three top-scoring teams. Meridian Design swung past the mini-golf hurdles to land first place, winning the coveted Kimball Office cup. Spacesmith putted into second. And T|P|G Architecture took third.

  • Corporate HQ LEED Certification
    Kimball Office Achieves LEED-CI Certification for Corporate Headquarters (January 30, 2009) Read More 
    JASPER, Ind. - January 30, 2009 - Kimball Office has earned LEED-CI Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its recently completed corporate headquarters.

    Kimball Office is a business unit of Kimball International. The company's Gensler-designed space brings the Kimball Office team together in one central location within Kimball International's main site in Jasper, Indiana.

    "Creating sustainable facilities anchors our design criteria, as it does for many of our clients," says Mona Hoffman, Vice President of Marketing, Kimball Office. "Using the LEED-CI guidelines helped us improve the environmental performance of our corporate offices and gave us an effective model for demonstrating green strategies and solutions to commonly experienced renovation problems."

    Several notable details qualified the 41,160-sq. ft. space for LEED-CI Silver. These included:
    • Diverting more than 80 percent of onsite construction waste from landfills
    • Specifying locally manufactured, recycled and rapidly renewable materials
    • Using green housekeeping products
    • Sharing the project as part of an educational program to give clients insight to sustainable building design and environmentally friendly products
    Other sustainable strategies involved:
    • Making daylight and window views available to more than 90 percent of occupants
    • Providing centrally located recycling collection areas
    • Minimizing or eliminating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in materials specified for paints, adhesives, carpets and composite wood materials
    • Retrofitting plumbing fixtures to increase water efficiency
    • Employing multiple measures to improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality
    Kimball Office is a member of the USGBC and operates several LEED-certified facilities, including its New York, Chicago and Jasper showrooms. The company's San Francisco and Atlanta showrooms are applicants for LEED certification.

    LEED-CI (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Commercial Interiors) is the recognized standard for certifying high-performance "green" interiors that are healthy, productive places to work, are less costly to operate and maintain and reduce environmental footprint, according to the USGBC. In the office furniture industry this is particularly important because it provides measurable guidelines for addressing clients' requests for sustainable products and office-place solutions. LEED-CI offers four levels of certification: baseline certified, followed by silver, gold and platinum certification, each level being predicated on specific design and environmental criteria.

    Learn more about our Sustainability Initiatives

  • Hum Good Design Award
    Kimball Office Recognized with Good Design Award for Hum. Minds at Work.® (January 7, 2009) Read More 
    JASPER, Ind. - January 7, 2009 - The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies has distinguished Kimball Office with a Good Design® Award for its Hum.Minds at Work.® furniture line. The Good Design program honors products, designers, and industry leaders for excellent, competitive and enduring design.

    "We are really proud to receive this prestigious award," says Mona Hoffman, Vice President of Marketing, Kimball Office. "It reflects our growing reputation as a leader in problem-solving design and workplace efficiency. It also validates our disciplined development process, which includes actively listening for and responding to the needs of the marketplace."

    Designed to address the global demand for collaborative workspaces, Hum is the result of a multi-disciplined study into how people work - continually shifting between concentration and collaboration - and what they need to work at their best. It uses four unique components to facilitate easy shifts between individual work and teams, and back again - without changing place or losing context.

    • Personal Workspaces are height-adjustable convex tabletops that enable smooth transitions from solo to group work.
    • See Me™ Screens use an openwork pattern to filter distractions without isolation, ensuring timely and appropriate interactions between teammates.
    • Terraces are raised, horizontal planes that give people the means to organize work and share information in ways that make sense to them.
    • Meet Me™ Spaces are positioned where two Personal Workspaces abut, creating a natural point for teammates to exchange ideas without missing a beat.
    Hum's aesthetic is largely informed by architectural influences. Floating planes, cantilever and negative space are key visual elements. The sleek leg structures leave the system feeling light and open while still providing easy height adjustability.

    Designed with the environment in mind, Hum contains significant recycled content, uses rapidly renewable materials, can be refurbished, is easily taken apart for end-of-life recycling, and meets LEED indoor air quality standards.

    The Chicago Athenaeum received hundreds of submissions from more than 30 nations. Good Design is one of the oldest and most important design competitions in the world, founded in 1950 by Edgar J. Kaufman, Jr., with some of America's most influential designers, including Charles and Ray Eames, and Eero Saarinen.

    Hum was designed in coordination with Formway Design Studio, New Zealand.

    Read more about Hum

  • Hum BeST Design Award
    Hum. Minds at Work. Sweeps BeST Design Awards 2008 (October 16, 2008) Read More 
    Hum. Minds at Work. has been distinguished with the highest honors at the 2008 BeST Design Awards sponsored by the Designers Institute of New Zealand. The awards celebrate the country's best achievements of the past year in product, interior, and graphic design.

    Hum received Gold awards in the Furniture Sustainable Product Design categories, as well as the coveted Stringer Award for outstanding achievement among all category entries.

    Stringers are not always presented - only six were awarded for product design in the past 11 years. But the judges praised Hum as a standout winner in the furniture category, noting they were impressed not only with its design resolution, but also the thorough and sophisticated research process used in its development.

    Hum is manufactured and distributed in the United States by Kimball Office and designed in partnership with Formway Design, the award-winning design studio based in Wellington, New Zealand.

    "We are thrilled over this outstanding recognition for Hum," said Mona Hoffman, Vice President of Marketing, Kimball Office. "It is proof positive of how well we listen and respond to the needs of our customers and the A&D community. It is also a significant endorsement of the talent and commitment shown throughout the Hum teams at Formway Design and Kimball Office."

    Designed to address the global demand for collaborative workspaces, Hum is the result of a multi-disciplined study into how people work - continually shifting between concentration and collaboration - and what they need to work at their best. It uses four unique components to facilitate easy shifts between individual work and teams, and back again - without changing place or losing context.

    • Personal Workspaces are height-adjustable convex tabletops that enable smooth transitions from solo to group work.
    • See Me™ Screens use an openwork pattern to filter distractions without isolation, ensuring timely and appropriate interactions between teammates.
    • Terraces are raised, horizontal planes that give people the means to organize work and share information in ways that make sense to them.
    • Meet Me™ Spaces are positioned where two Personal Workspaces abut, creating a natural point for teammates to exchange ideas without missing a beat.
    Hum's aesthetic is largely informed by architectural influences. Floating planes, cantilever and negative space are key visual elements. The sleek leg structures leave the system feeling light and open while still providing easy height adjustability.

    Designed with the environment in mind, Hum contains significant recycled content, uses rapidly renewable materials, can be refurbished, is easily taken apart for end-of-life recycling, and meets LEED indoor air quality standards.

    For further details regarding the Hum product, go to Hum. Minds at Work.

  • Media Contact for Kimball Office
    For media relations, please contact Paula Schmidt at 800.482.1616. Read More 
    For media relations, please contact Paula Schmidt, Director of Market Communications, Kimball Office at 800.482.1616.

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