When evaluating furniture for educational environments such as classrooms and administrative offices, there are factors other than pricing that must be taken into account. For example, consideration should be given to the Life Cycle Cost and the value added by purchasing the furniture system. In this paper,we draw upon years of field experience and successful installations with satisfied clients to explore the factors that affect the decision to purchase furniture.
Maximum Utilization of Floor Space
Floor space is expensive, and maximization of thatspace is an integral part of making an educational facility more efficient.This applies to every area ofan educational institution, from student areas to
administrative and support environments. Furniture companies should be able to custom design and manufacture furniture to effectively maximize any given space. For example, furniture can create a
significant cost savings or added value by creating additional student positions in a classroom.
Furniture that Accommodates Current and Future Technology Needs
Do your IT or maintenance people like the furniture that you are considering? Have you asked them? An efficient and easy to use wire management system can mean fewer labor/maintenance hours in the future and affects the true ownership cost of thefurniture. Involve your IT or maintenance people in the furniture evaluations.
Lifetime Warranty
Is your facility receiving a lifetime warranty?You should be able to purchase furniture thatwill withstand years of daily use. Look for a qualitysystem from a quality company that comes with a lifetime warranty.
Task Consideration in Workstation Design
The right workstation design is comfortable, ergonomically correct and designed for the tasks being performed.This includes factors such as the size of the station, height of panels and furniture accessories.The proper ergonomic accessories, combined with proper training, can result in a great investment.The “people investment”, any investment made in the stations/equipment to make the employees more comfortable or productive, is a sound investment with an excellent return.
Wide Variety of Color Selections
Aesthetics are very important in educational institutions.Your facility’s aesthetics affect parent confidence,student behavior and teacher satisfaction. A wide selection of colors and the ability to duplicate existing laminates allows for a coordinated and cohesive appearance throughout the campus.
Exceptional Customer Service
Look for a company that provides you with timely and accurate information about your furniture quotations and orders.A company should be able to electronically file everything pertaining to an order, from the point of an initial quotation through the installation/servicing of an account.This will save time and money if a space needs to be reconfigured, because previous orders can be easily reviewed and changed.
Specialized Educational Furniture Design
When you purchase from a furniture company that specializes in educational environments, you will notice the difference in every step from the initial space planning to delivery. Educational institutions have special needs that differ from traditional commercial environments.
