Whirlyball, a cross between bumper cars and lacrosse, lasts only eight minutes and certainly brought the playful nature out in everyone on the bauhaus team as we played game after game.

Don’t think we take our fun lightly, Beth Anderson and Allyson Stark both agree, “It was a ton of fun, but our knees are bruised from all the bumping!”

Beth Ann Kessel claims, “I haven’t had that much fun with co-workers in a long time!”

With yummy snacks catered from Blue Mesa, we spent the afternoon indulging in queso and taquitos and colliding on the court with our colleagues. Ray Garfias and Mike Alva agreed … “Awesome times”

Thank you to Leanne Kane, Vikki Bean, Dani Veeder, and Malcolm Sheedy for this fantastic great event!

Visit our Facebook page to view all the photos from this fun event!

bauhaus is excited to welcome Laura Chancellor to the bauhaus family.

The architectural and design community is paramount to our success in providing modern workplace furniture solutions to both local and national corporations. As bauhaus continues to grow, we want to ensure our relationships with the individuals who comprise the architectural and design community are nurtured and well cared for, which is why we are excited to offer the A&D community a single bauhaus contact who is dedicated to serving this important community.

As the new Architect and Design Relations contact at bauhaus, Laura will assist the bauhaus sales and design teams as well as our architect and designer partners in providing total modern workplace furniture solutions for our projects.

About Laura Chancellor

A North Texas native, Laura graduated from Texas Tech University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Interior Design and a minor in Architecture. A licensed interior designer since 2011, she has a wide array of both design and sales experience, including corporate office, healthcare, and education projects.

Laura is active in the real estate and interior design communities in Dallas and serves on committees for both The Real Estate Council (TREC) and International Interior Design Association (IIDA). Laura is also a member of the Junior League of Dallas.

What is your favorite Knoll piece?

The Barcelona Chair. I made a promise to myself that I will save to get one, which is of course much easier said than done!

What is the first concert you attended?

Pat Green at the Starplex. Yes I called it Starplex. I was a late first concert goer at 19!

What is your favorite Dallas restaurant?

Stephen Pyles … hands down.

What is your favorite color?

I love a mix of blue, aqua, and turquoise.

What do you enjoy doing for fun?

I want to say I enjoy running, but that would be a lie! I enjoy reading, painting, and photography.

What is your favorite aspect of being involved in design in Dallas?

Dallas is such an exciting city for design. There are so many amazing designers here, and you never know what you are going to see!

What is something most people do not know about you?

I might be the only Texan who absolutely hates both rice and beans.

What is your greatest accomplishment to date?

Passing the NCIDQ!

Please join us in welcoming Laura to the bauhaus family! Email her here.

In keeping with their brand slogan, Modern Always, Knoll has launched a new website that is as modern design as it is functionality. The layout, colors, graphics, and functionality allow for an exciting and informative user experience.

Here at bauhaus, we are particularly excited by how much the new Knoll site complements our website! One of our favorite “bonus” features is how great our favicons look together.

Another favorite function is the Shop section. Simply select the piece of furniture you are interested in and change the finish to meet your design needs. You can view your piece of furniture in various angles, as well as in various environments.

Be careful … you could lose hours of your work day building your dream modern workplace! The new site is like sithowyouwant.com on steroids!

Knoll has gone all out with their new Mediabank. Not only are there seemingly countless photos and renderings of all their furniture, but you can view by detail shots, installations, textiles, or seamless images with white backgrounds.

The images are large and easy to scroll through quickly. It is like Christmas, Valentine’s Day and your birthday for any modern designer!

Stop by Knoll, and let us know what you think!

The Chelsea Collection is an energetic and vibrant patterned textile collection. The colorways expressed on each textile in this collection are bold and bright, making this collection an ideal choice for furniture designed to attract attention. The bauhaus design team will definitely implement this textiles collection in modern workplace solutions that call for pop and personality.

The Biscayne, Glider, and Soon textiles in this collection were all designed by artist and illustrator Alejandro Cardenas who previously collaborated with textile designer Proenza Schouler. The Soon textile, designed by Alejandro Cardenas, is a digitally printed upholstery inspired by a song of the same by one of Cardenas’ favorite bands — My Bloody Sunday. Shannon Vass, bauhaus’ Dallas KnollTextile representative, told us that Cardenas, “really took inspiration from the repetitive, geometric shapes of this structure and the stark, angular shadows.”

Ultra modern and super fun, The Chelsea Collection brings together timeless patterns, clean, clear color and high performance to the modern workplace.

 Activity spaces are the new “go to” spaces for focused, shared or team tasks, assembly spaces for larger group meetings or training, and community spaces for socializing or casual work.

Offices are becoming more collaborative and driven by innovation and efficiency and enabled by technology. Activity spaces are a solution for workspaces to provide multiple opportunities for collaboration among individuals and groups, across a broad spectrum of formality, flexibility, privacy and scale. Activity spaces all share the following commonalities — they are a flexible space and they complement both the culture and design of the workplace. To be effective, an activity space must have proximity, privacy and support for collaborative technology. Activity spaces may be cohesive in design with the primary workspace or they may have a deliberate contrast.

There are five main “genres” of activities spaces, each serving a distinct goal:

+ Refuge spaces

+ Enclave spaces

+ Team meetings spaces

+ Assembly spaces

+ Community spaces

Refuge activity spaces are “get away” rooms that allow for focused and/or confidential work. These rooms are typically small with an enclosed workspace of 50 square feet and are designed for only one to two people. Refuge spaces may include video capabilities, wall mounted whiteboards and agile furniture.

The Knoll D’Urso Swivel with Saarinen Table above is an example of a refuge space. The Jospeh Paul D’Urso Swivel Lounge chair by KnollStudio has adjustable seating and allows for 360-degree swivel movement, an excellent chair for “a place of refuge.” The Eero Saarinen side table, a Knoll classic, pairs well with most chairs in the KnollStudio and Classic collection.

Enclave activity spaces are “get together” rooms designed for a group of three to four people to collaborate in seclusion. Enclave rooms generally have a small open or enclosed space of about 100 square feet and are equipped with a desk height or lower table, wall mounted whiteboards and a video display.

The enclave space shown above features Knoll’s MultiGeneration chairs and Antenna Media Enclave. Comprised of Antenna components, Media Enclave enables small groups to connect and share information and readily adapts to changes in technology. This activity space solution is easily configurable to any size and adaptable to multiple configurations for individual or group settings.

Team meeting activity spaces are collaborative “get together” spaces designed for a team of four to eight to gather and work on a specific project. Team meeting spaces are typically 200 square feet. The floor plan may be open or fully enclosed with a large table or a cluster of small tables. A mobile and wall mounted wallboards and flexible seating options complete the space.

The team meeting activity space shown above features Toboggan “all-in-one” workstation that is ideal for a variety of activity spaces. Toboggan by Antenna can be clustered together for an impromptu brainstorming session, a casual meeting, included in large community areas or even between workstations for quick collaborations. Designed for comfort and flexibility, the curve of the back and seat allow users to shift 360 degrees. The back can serve as a backrest, armrest or tablet work surface for front, side and rear-facing postures. Also featured is the KnollExtra®  Scribe™ Mobile Markerboard — a mobile and versatile complement to any type of activity space that encourages interaction and collaboration. Scribe mobile markerboards allow for creative brainstorming, easy sharing of ideas or simply holding onto a thought. Scribe fits into any space while also serving to define boundaries within the open plan.

Assembly activity spaces are usually large (approximately 400 square feet or more), enclosed group spaces for planned interaction. Assembly rooms are equipped with multiple display surfaces (tackable, whiteboard and video), credenzas for storage and tables for refreshments. Examples of assembly room spaces are conference rooms sized for 10 or more people and training rooms.

The assembly activity space shown above features Propeller Training Tables and Regeneration Chairs. Knoll’s Propeller Training Tables are the ideal desking solution for training applications. The modern design paired with its gang managing of wires capabilities make this an ideal assembly activity table solution. At a moment’s notice, the Propeller Training Tables can be set up for meetings and configured lengthwise or widthwise, then reconfigured again as desks with shelves, and with screens for mounted privacy.

Community activity spaces are the “town center” spaces. These spaces are open to all and encourage unplanned interaction. Commons and café spaces are examples of large multipurpose spaces available for social events or improvisational interaction. Ad hoc spaces range from informal seating and small tables, to lounge furniture groupings, to standing height counters with stools.

The community activity space above features the Stromborg Table Collection by Knoll designer Daniel Stromberg and Olivares Aluminum Chairs by Knoll designer Jonathan Olivares. The Stromborg Table Collection is ideal for cafes or casual meeting spaces, — both indoors and out. Stromborg Tables offer a playful design with a splash of color. Offered in a broad palette of top materials and paint finishes, the tables are versatile and pair well with Knoll’s Spark chairs, MultiGeneration by Knoll or Olivares Aluminum Chairs. The Olivares Aluminum Chair brings agility and an artful personality to indoor and outdoor community spaces. The Olivares Aluminum stacking chairs are meticulously executed with efficient form that allows the sitter to rest and collaborate comfortably.

+ + +

No matter the “genre” of the activity space, effective activity spaces of all types must have consistent elements that facilitate face-to-face and virtual interaction that include these three key stages of the collaborative process:

+ Attract: Proximity, a sense of privacy, and above all, technology are the elements that attract people to an activity space. However, comfortable furniture, access to power, food and sensory appeal, whiteboards and displays are other important elements that must not be overlooked.

+ Adapt: Furnishings and technology provided for activity spaces must be adjustable for each individual user in order for each person to obtain the necessary level of comfort to actually be collaborative.

+ Engage: Multiple means to communicate, express ideas and document the results are key to the activity space’s success. Large video displays on adjustable arms, whiteboards, chalkboards and tackable surfaces are all tools that facilitate collaboration.

Once a luxury, activity spaces are becoming an essential component to the collaborative workspace. If you want to bring more innovation and collaboration to your work environment, contact bauhaus to learn more about custom activity workspace solutions.

When Steve H. Durham relocated Americas Strategic Holdings, L.L.C., a merchant banking and investment firm, to Reagan Place at Old Parkland Campus, he called on bauhaus to help create a modern workplace environment as the perfect juxtaposition for the Georgian architecture inspired by Jeffersonian designs that artfully compliment the historic buildings on the Old Parkland Campus.

Reagan Place at Old Parkland Campus

The modern interior of Durham’s workspace is an expression of how history forms the foundation for the future, a mission of the Old Parkland Campus. Rooted in geographical and architectural history, Reagan Place features working fireplaces, a two-story rotunda lobby and beautiful, hand-scraped wood floors. Having the opportunity to partner with Durham on this architecturally important campus, was both an honor and a delight for the bauhaus design team.

Inside Steve Durham’s Modern Workspace
Durham’s Reagan Place office is a long, narrow, yet open space. With no walls to divide the room into specific work areas, we used the furniture to create different zones within the office space. The space is perfect for collaborative areas such as this breakout space.

Saarinen Collection

As depicted above, Durham has an impressive and unique art collection. One of his most unique is titled “Dicks and Dictators,” the piece features Richard Gere, Jozef Stalin and Richard Simmons. Can you name the rest?

In keeping with the historic foundation of the building’s architecture, we selected classic modern pieces to maintain the integrity of the Campus’s expressed hope that those who office in its buildings will carry tradition forward with a commitment to innovation and community. The bauhaus team carefully selected pieces that reflect the beautiful architecture and quality craftsmanship in both design and materials that pay homage to the building’s architecture and the Old Parkland Campus heritage.

Autostrada Workstations

Reff Profile Workstations

Florence Knoll Sofa

Flat Bar Brno Guest Chairs

While all the pieces selected are very classic and beautiful, Durham has expressed that it is his Generation Chair he most loves. We think this speaks to his personality.

We could not be more thrilled with this project, but it is Durham’s delight we are most pleased with. He absolutely loves his modern workplace and has complimented the quality of the materials and the craftsmanship of the furniture.

]]> http://bauhausinteriors.com/blog/bauhaus-project-profile-steven-h-durham/feed/ 0 http://bauhausinteriors.com/blog/the-playful-side-of-bauhaus/ http://bauhausinteriors.com/blog/the-playful-side-of-bauhaus/#comments Thu, 04 Apr 2013 19:55:42 +0000 admin http://bauhausinteriors.com/?p=1363 READ MORE >> ]]> What do Google, LinkedIn and bauhaus all have in common? We all understand the value of play in the workplace. At Google, employees enjoy beach volleyball, bowling, rock wall climbing and more at the main campus in California. LinkedIn employees play foosball or ping-pong together when their brains need a break from emails, phone calls and meetings. At bauhaus, we take our monthly team-building play dates as seriously as we take our work because we know creativity does not happen in a vacuum. According to Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play, play lowers stress, boosts optimism, increases motivation to perform well professionally and enhances creativity.

How do we get our play on? In early January, four bauhaus employees were chosen at random to plan one to three events of their choosing for each quarter of the year. The first team — Ben Gaar, Ray Garfias, Anna Latson, Alex Wiseman – gave us a fun-filled first quarter, and we are excited to experience what the other teams have in store us. The bar has been set pretty high so far! Yes, a little playful competition is inevitable!

Event One. Held at the Renaissance Hotel Restaurant, Asador, our first team-building event was a “Guess your bauhaus colleague” happy hour, complete with a signature cocktail and food-tasting menu. Prior to the event, we all submitted facts about ourselves that not everyone would know, and we put together a slideshow at random. Come to find out, we are a secretive bunch because the winner only guessed 7 of 21 correct. Beth and Brandon took 1^st and 2^nd prize. We did have a tiebreaker between Ron and Mark, but Ron provided the tiebreaker questions beforehand … so he took home 3^rd.  

Event Two. Our second team-building event was a good ole-fashioned tailgate party on the bauhaus front lawn prior to hiking over to the AA Center for a Mavericks game. We have an awesome greenbelt outside the showroom, and we want to enjoy our little unpaved paradise before a parking lot is plopped down! Okay … we do need the extra parking spaces! Ray Garfias grilled burgers and even a couple veggie burgers. We sat on the VERY top row of the stadium, but they were still great seats! The Mavs played Milwaukee Brewers that night and even though they lost right at the end, a good time was had by all.

Event Three. Our third event was as hilarious as it was fun … and it was very creative! We divided up into four teams with “team leads” to build a Knoll Studio piece out of balloons. The teams were: Barcelona with Ron Welch as the team lead, MR Lounge with Beth Anderson as the team lead, Wassily with Mark Boothby as team lead, and Platner Side Chair with Jay Hefner as the team lead. Each team had one hour to build a full-scale chair. The biggest challenge we all experienced was to create a freestanding chair. We were all in separate parts of the office, so each chair was pretty unique in the techniques used. The only materials we had to work with were balloons, pipe cleaners, wire, cardboard and lots of tape!  The Barcelona team took first prize with the Platner team at a close second.

A big THANK YOU to Team One for such a fun-filled first quarter. We all had a blast! Word on the street is that Team Two already has their events in the works — we can’t wait to get our play on!

Now back to work!

At bauhaus, creating the perfect modern workplace solution is everything. We offer one convenient source for space planning, product solutions, support and services as well as the expertise to put it all together. Our client partnerships are our most valued asset, and therefore, we will do whatever it takes to meet our clients’ workspace needs.

If your corporation is considering updating their workplace furnishings, relocating or expanding, hop on over to our Full-Service Solutions page to explore the many ways bauhaus can bring modern design and modern.

Meet the bauhaus team in the video below.

bauhaus: commitment to full-service solutions from bauhaus on Vimeo.

About Richard Schultz
Richard Schultz studied at Iowa State University and the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. He joined Knoll in 1951 to work with Harry Bertoia during the development of Bertoia’s iconic collection of wire chairs. He later designed the Petal Collection to accompany the Diamond Chair. Florence Knoll asked Schultz to design a collection of furniture that could withstand the outdoors for her home in Florida, and he delivered on that request with the “Leisure Collection” (now sold as the ”1966 Collection“), which became an instant Knoll classic. In addition to his design work with Knoll, Schultz also designed an office system for Stow/Davis and taught design at the Philadelphia College of Art. His sculptures have been exhibited in a one-man show at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

In 1992, Richard Schultz and his son Peter launched a furniture manufacturing and design company, building an impressive line of outdoor furniture collections including Topiary and Swell. The pattern on Topiary was designed to mimic dappled shade, which is the pattern created by the sun casting shadows through leaves on trees. Swell was designed to complement the 1966 Collection. The Lounge Chair takes up the same amount of visual space as the Barcelona Chair.

Now, after 20 years, Knoll and Richard Schultz are together again, providing distinctive modern outdoor furniture — the Richard Schultz Collection. Though all of the Collection is made to weather the elements, many of the pieces can be utilized inside the modern workplace or even in residential applications.

Ready to take your modern workplace outdoors? Contact bauhaus for the perfect solution for your workplace environment. This month in our flex space, we will be showcasing other outdoor product offerings from Knoll. 

LEED, SMaRT, level and FSC
Third parties provide independent verification of environmental standards that are transparent and universally accepted. Participation and accreditation by third parties regulates standards and deepens organizational commitment to sustainable design and manufacturing, positioning the organization as a trusted brand amongst consumers.

Knoll’s Dallas Showroom

LEED Certification.The U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) green building rating system is the accepted benchmark in North America for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED offers a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: 1) sustainable site development; 2) water savings; 3) energy efficiency; 4) materials selection; and 5) indoor environmental quality.

Buildings have a tremendous impact on the environment, economy, health of humans and wildlife as well as human productivity. There are numerous benefits to building sustainably. Green buildings help to improve the health of those who work and live in them; are less expensive to maintain; enhance building and organizational marketability; and potentially increase occupant productivity due to the absence of toxic chemicals in the building materials. Read the LEED FAQs

SMaRT© Consensus Sustainable Product Standard. SMaRT (Sustainable Materials Rating Technology) is a set of consensus-based, quantified and global sustainable product standards that cover 80 percent of the world’s products, including building materials, fabric, flooring and carpet. SMaRT is to products what LEED is t o buildings. SMaRT products prevent unlawful greenwash. Read the SMaRT© FAQs

Knoll SMaRT Gold products

Level™. level is the certification program for the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association’s (BIFMA) furniture sustainability standard. BIFMA has established level™ as a common framework against which to evaluate the environmental and social responsibility of a variety of products. level is part of BIFMA’s ongoing development of voluntary product and industry standards that support safe, healthy and sustainable workplaces. Read the Knoll and level™

Knoll level 3 certified products

FSC® Certified Wood Standard. FSC, which stands for Forest Stewardship Council, is the international standard setting body for defining

and measuring a well-managed forest and providing traceability through chain-of-custody certification. FSC is the only wood certification

Knoll Reff Wood Edge

standard recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council. Through our partnership with Knoll, bauhaus has been affiliated with FSC since 1995. Unlike other wood certifiers, FSC is committed to actively promoting sustainability and upholds the most stringent standards by requiring applicants to meet demanding prerequisites, not just options, to achieve certification. Bauhaus clients can be assured that when they purchase Knoll furnishings, they are purchasing FSC certified wood is assured that is manufactured using legally harvested wood from forests managed to ensure high conservation values and protect the social equity of people living in the region. Read the LEED FAQs

A modern workplace is an environmentally sustainable workplace. The above third party certification programs play an essential role in creating a cleaner and greener planet.