(MUSCATINE, IA – JUNE, 2016) – Allsteel Inc., a leading workplace furniture manufacturer, introduces Clubhouse, the latest addition to its collection of solutions for today’s openplan, activity-based office. Developed in partnership with Designworks, a BMW Group Company, and HOK Product Design, Clubhouse is a freestanding structure comprising soft seating on a low plinth framed with translucent screens. Optional features include worksurfaces, media walls, console and storage units and electrical integration. Functioning as a room within a room, Clubhouse provides a self-contained, semi-private space where individuals or small groups, free from the distractions of the open office, can undertake the type of work that requires deep, uninterrupted focus.
“Distraction and the inability to focus are big challenges to productivity in the modern collaborative workplace,” said Darren Keele, Senior Product Portfolio Manager at Allsteel. “Small teams on deadline typically go to a conference room for two to three hours of intense, heads-down work. Clubhouse offers them an alternative space and opportunity for the necessary privacy and focus and added choice in their work environments. And because it’s a semi-private enclosure, Clubhouse signals to other people that the team is hard at work and should not be disturbed—something that would be less apparent in a regular open workspace.”
Clubhouse instantly provides a sequestered microenvironment without the disruption and added investment of drywall construction. Since it is a complete, standalone unit, Clubhouse does not interface with HVAC and sprinkler systems, making it easy to install and relocate as needed. The low plinth and sturdy extruded-aluminum frame, which is finished in attractive super-matte paint, give Clubhouse a strong structural profile—one whose crisp, clean design communicates the unavailability of its occupants while shielding them from external distractions. Thanks to the translucency of the enclosing screens, the interior is light and airy, an inviting retreat in which the soft seating not only remains comfortable for long periods of time but also allows for a wide choice of fabrics.
Clubhouse is available in two heights, each offered in seven different configurations. Optional features include full support for power and technology, which can be routed in unobtrusively at any convenient point in the unit’s broad footprint, and the addition of a media wall that turns Clubhouse into a meeting room alternative. Open storage in an extensive choice of laminates and partially or fully upholstered consoles are among the other available options. The product is ordered as a single unit, which simplifies specification.
Clubhouse’s flexibility of placement makes it ideal for introducing an element of delineation in large shared open spaces, including cafés and less formal areas. One or more units can be used to indicate work neighborhoods or to separate one department from another within the open plan. In addition to office environments, Clubhouse is suitable for use in higher education, hospitality, airport and other settings.
“In essence, Clubhouse is a room within a room that is cost effective and real estate savvy,” said Susan Grossinger, Senior Vice President and Director of Product Design at HOK. “There is no need to construct and deconstruct conference rooms at considerable cost and use of resources when a viable furniture solution is available for small group meetings.”