bfi News

The Surprising Benefits of Sit-to-Stand

2013-05-21T16:45:00.000-04:00

When the facility where Ron Reeves works was redesigned recently, there was only one thing he insisted on: a sit-to-stand desk. Although only 32, Reeves has three herniated discs and arthritis, something he discovered when he injured his back playing basketball.

Suddenly, sitting all day wasn’t an option. Not that he’d ever liked doing that, anyway. Reeves served in the Navy before going to college, and in both settings, constant movement was a way of life. He also played basketball and football and worked out regularly during those years.

“To come into an office setting and suddenly be so sedentary was daunting,” Ron says. He fidgeted his way through the morning and “by lunch I’d literally be bouncing off the walls.”

He knew that Herman Miller made sit-to-stand desks and requested one. It was awkward at first to be the only one standing as he worked, but it took only a week to get used to it.

Being able to switch from sitting to standing throughout the day helps Ron manage his back pain and release some energy. That makes it easier to focus. His role in corporate communications involves a lot of time on the phone, and much of the time he takes those calls on his feet.

The only thing Reeves doesn’t prefer to do while standing is heads-down writing. On a typical day, he splits his time pretty evenly between sitting and standing. But there are some days where he sits most of the day. He chooses based on his energy level and level of back pain. And when he does sit, he’s lucky enough to be in one of Herman Miller’s high performance work chairs, Embody.

Sit-to-stand desks aren’t only for the super active or those who are hurting. Herman Miller is an advocate of health-positive work environments—environments that help you stay healthy, instead of just addressing injuries when they occur.

Dustin Verbeek, an e-marketing project manager at Herman Miller, doesn’t have any health problems; he just likes the postural variety that the sit-to-stand desk provides. He’s found it has other surprising benefits, as well. “Working standing up gives you a different perspective and helps spark creativity,” he says. “I’ve found that I also have more impromptu meetings. It seems like people find you more approachable when you’re standing up.”

A look at Ron's day:

7:00 a.m.: Ron arrives early, the best time to “get real work done,” and sits while setting his priorities for the day and responding to email. 4:00 p.m.: Ron also spends the last hour of the day sitting while he wraps up his work.

10:30 a.m: Phone calls, lots of them! But being able to move around as he talks improves his focus.

2:30 p.m: On the phone—and on his feet—again. In an open design like this, standing increases visibility and eye contact. Is it awkward? “Not for me, but I can see where it would be at first for others. You get used to it and you quickly see how it increases communication.”

CBS News On Herman Miller and the History of the Work Place

2013-05-20T11:24:00.000-04:00

Richard Schlesinger visits Herman Miller, the creator of iconic chairs and furniture, as well as the dreaded work cubicle. So what's in store for the workplace going forward?

Study suggests sitting is the new smoking

2013-03-19T12:00:00.000-04:00

A recent study published in The Globe and Mail states that the sedentary life is killing us. The researchers found that the least active, essentially those who sit all day, had a:

147-per-cent increased risk of heart attack or stroke;
112-per-cent increase in the risk of developing diabetes;
90-per-cent greater risk of dying from a cardiac event;
49-per-cent greater risk of premature mortality.

Read the article here and watch the video, Sitting is the New Smoking.

bfi client wins World's Coolest Office award for Inc.Magazine

2013-03-19T11:35:00.000-04:00

Pinnacle Foods, a producer and distributor of grocery store staples from labels including Duncan Hines, Birds Eyes, and other specialty brands, based in Parsippany, New Jersey was awarded a Coolest Office Award by Inc. Magazine. Click to see some photos of this office that bfi furnished.

Concrete Waffle Ceiling Stuns at New OFS Showroom

2013-03-18T11:58:00.000-04:00

At the opening of the new OFS Brands showroom in New York last week, guests were floored by, well, the ceiling. The space accommodates four of the company's divisions—OFS, First Office, Carolina and Loewenstein. See photo highlights from the opening event hosted by Interior Design. +read article

The Untold Story of how the Aeron chair was born

2013-02-06T12:29:00.000-05:00

FastCompany posted this very good article on how the Herman Miller Aeron chair was born.

"Almost everyone knows the Aeron chair as a high-tech design classic. But few people know that its true origins lie in a 10-year effort to create furniture for the elderly."
Read the article here.
http://www.fastcodesign.com/1671789/the-untold-history-of-how-the-aeron-chair-came-to-be

The Nala Patient Chair

2013-01-24T13:31:00.000-05:00

When given the opportunity to design a better chair for patients, Herman Miller spoke with caregivers, patients, and other support personnel to find out what works and what doesn’t. They also consulted with ergonomists, physical therapists, and gerontologists to understand the recovery process. The result? The Nala Patient Chair by Nemschoff.

Nala’s function and materials meet the specialized protocols of patient-care environments. Incorporating ergonomic principles and innovative technologies from groundbreaking Herman Miller work chairs, Nala chairs deliver superior comfort and support.

Less Effort and More Rest

The patient can move with little effort and can rest at any point through the generous recline range. The back and seat tilt motion of the Nala Harmonic Tilt chair mimics the natural movement of the patient’s body. The backrest and seat pan open up as the patient reclines and tilt around the pivot points at the ankle, knee, and hip. Correct body support is maintained in all positions, regardless of the weight of the patient.

Comfort is King

For extend periods of sitting – the firm, flexible suspension is enclosed in a soft outer foam layer for responsive and even support over the entire chair. A sacral support keeps the patient’s lower back area relaxed and prevents slumping.

The durable, fully extended arms and soft front seat edge help patients guide and stabilize themselves when they are moving into or out of the chair. A barrier-free foot area provides enough space for the patient to stabilize him- or herself when getting up.

Healthcare-Friendly Fabrics

Nala chairs offer durable, antimicrobial, moisture-repellent, and easily cleaned fabrics that meet the performance and durability standards of healthcare environments. Instead of an institutional look, the fabric choices bring a contemporary, residential look and feel to patient rooms. Designers have five choices for combining textiles and colors so the fabrics are appropriate for medical patient rooms, surgical patient rooms, and in-patient rehabilitation patient rooms. Seat and back upholstery are designed to be field replaceable.

Useful Choices

The Nala Fixed Back chair is also available. It provides a comfortable 15-degree back angle. An integral handle in the chair back, as well as rear casters, can be specified to make moving the chair easier. An optional headrest pillow adjusts up to 9 inches; the edges curve outward to hold and support the patient’s head. An ottoman supports up to 350 pounds and is sturdy enough to use as a seat for guests or family.

Worker office space to drop below 100-sf in five years

2013-01-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

Are you seeing small work spaces in your office? This article says you will. Agree or disagree? Post your comments below.
http://www.bdcnetwork.com/worker-office-space-drop-below-100-sf-five-years

8 Must-know Trends in Office Fitouts

2013-01-21T10:39:00.000-05:00

Enabled by wireless technology, laptop and handheld computing devices, and high-tech tools like Skype, GoTo Meeting, and WebEx, today’s knowledge workers can work from anywhere, anytime. On any given day in a typical office environment, many workers are off site, their office workstations lying empty. Employers are capitalizing on this trend to trim office square footage and real estate costs.

Why sitting too much is hazardous to your health

2013-01-16T17:12:00.001-05:00

Video on msnbc.com: Doctor James Levine, who treats obesity at the Mayo Clinic, says Americans are sitting more than ever, and a daily workout isn’t enough to curb the effects of being chained to your chair. Levine says that...

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/rock-center/50428556#50428556

Good for You. Good for Business Too.

2013-01-08T10:16:00.002-05:00

When you give your body the support it needs to thrive, a funny thing happens: it can help your business thrive, too. Research shows that ergonomics have a real financial impact on you and your clients' business.

Read More about how a successful ergonomics strategy can impact your clients' bottom line.

Herman Miller Ergonomic Seating Ranks 1st

2012-12-20T12:22:00.000-05:00

For the second year in a row, Herman Miller ergonomic work seating ranked first in the annual Brand Report survey conducted for Contract Magazine.

The survey consists of a random sample of subscribers and asks that they identify the top 3 manufacturers in 32 product categories. All responses were unaided, and no brand name, prompts or lists were provided to elicit unbiased responses.

Further proof that people who sit at work appreciate a great chair - and that's one of the things that we do best.

Contract Magazine Brand Report Link

Ultimate Guide to Good Posture at Work [Infographic]

2012-12-12T11:58:00.000-05:00

Get health and fitness tips at Greatist.com

Happy 12-12-12

2012-12-12T09:34:00.001-05:00

You won't ever see this date again in your lifetime.

Happy Halloween from your friends at bfi.

2012-10-31T14:11:00.003-04:00

We hope that all who have been affected by the storm are safe and that you are able to have a nice Halloween!

We're Having Some Serious Weather in Jersey

2012-10-29T17:51:00.000-04:00

Already 70 mph wind gusts around my home in NJ. Still have power, and Lady Liberty is hanging tight, too. Sandy is set to land now at 6PM in Atlantic City, with major effects being felt in NYC, NJ, and CT (especially along coast). Be safe!

Sitting in Style at Mission Control

2012-10-25T10:27:00.001-04:00

Mission Control at the Red Bull Stratos World Record Freefall

Cool picture of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates

2012-10-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

Can you identify what chair Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are sitting on?

Have Fun on the Spun

2012-10-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

Have you seen the Spun chair? Spun—a chair shaped like a spinning top that tilts and turns with the sitter’s movement. We have one in our Parsippany office so come on by and take the Spun for a spin!

Herman Miller Aeron Chair Trivia

2012-10-18T14:48:00.002-04:00

Did you know that the Herman Miller Aeron chair is made every 17 seconds?
http://www.fastcodesign.com/1669397/an-american-made-miracle-how-your-aeron-chair-gets-built-in-17-seconds

bfi Furnishes BASF's LEED Double-Platinum North American Headquarters

2012-08-30T12:57:00.001-04:00

Great article on a project we did for BASF's new North American Headquarters in Florham Park, NJ. This new building which opened in May has already earned a LEED Double-Platinum Certification by the US Green Building Council making it one of just five buildings across the nation to receive such a designation. We will post photos soon. http://www.reforum-digital.com/reforum/20120708#pg83

Peter Geoghan Rejoins BFI

2012-08-09T14:46:00.003-04:00

BFI-New York is pleased to announce that Peter Geoghan has rejoined our New York Sales Team as a Sales Executive. Peter brings years of solid business experience within the contract furniture industry servicing multiple vertical market segments on both the East and West coasts. During the course of his career, Peter has serviced a variety of companies and institutional customers in multiple markets with wide variety of product solutions and professional support services. Peter resides in the City of New York and will report to Bruce Stone, Vice President.

Herman Miller Brands Recognized with Multiple Awards at NeoCon 2012

2012-06-19T12:49:00.000-04:00

Herman Miller, Inc. is celebrating multiple honors this week at the NeoCon 2012 World’s Trade Fair In Chicago, June 11-13. NeoCon is North America’s largest exhibition of contract furnishing for the design and management of the built environment. The annual gathering of design professionals, corporate end users, and furniture dealers recognized the company with seven awards including a sweep in the Conference Seating category.

The annual Best of NeoCon awards for product, juried by interior design and facility management professionals who reviewed more than 350 entries, acknowledged Geiger’s Clamshell Chair Collection with the Gold award in the Conference Seating category, and Herman Miller’s Setu Conference Stool with the Silver award.

Geiger also received a Silver Award for their Tuxedo Lounge Collection in the Sofa/Lounge seating category, and were rewarded with an Editor’s Choice award for Textiles/Upholstery for Ensemble.

Herman Miller earned an Innovation award for their complete re-engineering of the Eames Aluminum Group chairs with new materials and finish options suitable for the outdoors. The new Eames Aluminum Outdoor Group utilizes a PVC-free Outdoor Weave with new powder coat finishes to return the iconic design to its original intent.

Herman Miller Healthcare continues to be recognized as Nemschoff’s Steps™ was awarded the Silver award in the Healthcare Seating category. This marked the third consecutive year Herman Miller Healthcare has received an award.

The company’s alliance partner Luxo continued its excellence in lighting design and manufacturing with a Gold award in the Task/Desktop Lighting category.

The best of NeoCon awards, now in their 23rd year, are sponsored and organized by Contract magazine, Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc., The International Interior Design Association (IIDA), The International Facility Management Association, the McMorrow Report.

bfi is one of the largest Herman Millers office furniture dealers in NJ. To speak to a sales representative in New Jersey contact bfi.

bfi Furnishes Global Investment Office for Aflac in NYC

2012-06-14T12:22:00.002-04:00

bfi helped Aflac create their first global investment office in the US; a new concept for Aflac.
Read More...

bfi Furnishes Polo-Ralph Lauren New York Office

2012-05-11T14:55:00.002-04:00

bfi-New York recently completed a project for Polo-Ralph Lauren in a boutique 5,500 square foot specialty office space located at 601 West 26th Street. Products and services included custom mill-work in designated areas, custom glass doors, new workstations, new conference furniture and seating, new bookcases and shelving.

CLICK TO SEE PHOTOS OF THIS PROJECT