Comments Off on Henry Street Settlement (Office + Clinic)
We first connected to the Henry Street Settlement (HSS) through our work and longstanding relationship with the Lower Eastside Tenement Museum, for which we designed and produced office furniture as well as retail fixtures and displays for their museum store. After years of negotiating with the city, Henry Street Settlement was able to add the Firehouse to their headquarter row on Henry Street. Working with Renee Epps, Facilities Manager at HSS, and a team of architects from Beyer Binder Bell, we developed and produced workstations and meeting room furniture for the four floors of the Firehouse. Because groups of workstations are clustered in relatively small and tall spaces, we worked with a sound engineer to limit the level of sound by adding Sound Soak panels and translucent Acrylic panels to our standard partition wall.
Individual single-pedestal workstations have partition installed on two or three sides, allowing for workers to see and be seen at their choosing. Individual areas feel open yet enclosed. The Milder Partitions can stand alone or can be mounted to our workstations allowing for flexible floor layouts that vary from area to area. Also, research has shown that that people do their best work in environments that allow for both social buzz while also providing them with boundaries (separation). The integrated Soundsoak acoustical wall panels absorb 50% to 90% of the sound striking the surface – reducing noise within a space and reducing noise transfer between areas.
We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to be part of this project team and are excited that the Firehouse has been put back into service for this amazing/historical neighborhood organization.
Hope, growth, change, recovery are the guiding tenets. Hope, growth, change, recovery are the guiding tenets at the Henry Street Settlement’ Community Consultation Center (CCC). CCC opened in 1946 as one of the first public clinics to provide psychiatric care to the community.
The Architecture program at Tulane University was looking to replace roughly 250 desks in its studios, and they turned to AOS, a local Knoll dealership for help. After not being able find existing product to fit their needs, AOS worked with Milder Office to, together with students, faculty and administrators, develop a custom solution for the project.
After the initial design phase, Milder Office produced a prototype for Tulane. Some revisions were made to the design based on feedback during the review phase. With all stakeholders on board, Milder Office then produced the order.
The resulting workstation and mobile pedestal combination offered improvements over the old studio furniture (see last photos) including increased privacy, integrated task lighting (under the overhead storage shelf), cutting matte surface, pin-up surface, and flexible individual storage (pedestal). Tulane also specified Milder Markerboards for the space.
The order was shipped flat to the AOS warehouse where it was assembled and delivered to the Tulane campus.
The renovation was well received, and Tulane University has placed an order for more workstations for summer 2019.
Do you have a project that would benefit from a participatory design process?
Let us share our knowledge and experience with you to develop products that respond to your/you client’s specific needs. Contact Us.
Photo credit for photos 1, 2, 5, 10, and 11 to AOS Interior Environments.
Comments Off on Parsons School of Design Making Center
Client: Parsons School of Design Architect: Rice + Lipka Architects
The Parsons School of Design Making Center, spanning 2 floors and 35,000SF, is a sprawling, dynamic hub for students to work side by side on projects as diverse as fashion, product design, architecture, print making – with the goal of “fostering a new generation of creators”. Milder Office worked closely with the Parsons School of Design team to develop furniture solutions that are durable, attractive and adaptable. Serving as both studio and classroom, with on site training and technical support for a wide range of tools, the Making Center is sure to inspire collaboration across disciplines.
Re-designed for a shop and maker environment, our Maker Series offers a robust reboot of the Milder Furniture System and includes tables in a variety of finishes including butcher block and Trespa, tool carts and mobile storage partitions units. All types are mobile, and the spaces are re-configured throughout the day, at will, by both students and instructors as they like, offering a truly adaptable learning space.
The aptly named Tool Cage is a central storage depot for hand tools and materials, where students can sign out equipment or pick up toolkits for their class. The Milder tool carts provide a convenient way to store and transport the tool laden wire baskets throughout the Making Center.
Some two dozen oversized Mobile Storage Partitions are dispersed throughout the Making Center, providing a convenient whiteboard and display surface for instruction and class presentations. Some of the units serve as temporary storage for student projects and materials, while others are used by the instructors to store their class supplies securely. Despite their size, the MSP units are easy to move and are sometimes ganged to create temporary walls.
Comments Off on Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
Client: Maryland Institute College of Art
The renowned art and design university offers its students learning environments that are responsive to variety of teaching methodologies. Some departments encourage group work by providing a open plan studio setting with furniture that is easily reconfigured to suit different modalities. To that end, the Critical Studies Department relies on our T-partitions (mobile whiteboards), mobile storage partition units, and worktables.
Other programs, for example illustration and graphic design, foster individual development, and need to provide their students with private work spaces.
Milder Office also furnished office spaces for MICA faculty and administrators.
Credenzas are configured in widths up to four modules at desktop height. Our tall credenza features a double top for additional storage. Pedestals can be outfitted with drawers, doors, open storage and files in letter, legal, and lateral formats.
Have a more than four pedestals in mind? Credenzas can be built to your preferred size.
Client: Burgiss Group
Architect: Demetri Sarantitis Architects
This project exemplifies the range of design and engineering support Milder Office can provide its clients. For the Burgiss Group, a developer of investment tools, we provided distinct workstation products including quads workstations, hoteling stations for transitional workers, reception area, library and private offices.
We routinely develop new solutions that respond to the way our clients work. For Burgiss Group we developed a long banks of shared workstations for their traders (image 2). The stations have staggered seats and low partitions to facilitate communication between the analysts while keeping their screens private.
The architects asked us to develop a glass partition system that would integrate some of the existing site finishes while maintaining the overall look of the Milder Furniture System. Cherry sills and frosted glass elements were matched in the final partition design.
Comments Off on Urban + Transdisciplinary Design Studio
Client: Parsons The New School for Design
The Urban and Transdisciplinary Design Studio is reconfigured throughout the day by students and faculty for different courses and studios. All Milder Furniture in this dynamic space is mobile and responsive to small and large group settings.
The Mobile Storage Partitions support project classwork, and can be ganged and partition the space when needed. Tables are easily reconfigured to support large and small team meetings.
Client: New York Public Library
Architect: 1100 Architects
The Children’s Library and Discovery Center in Queens, New York, is a two story, 22,000 sq ft space that is part library, part discovery museum. Milder Office installed worktables and computer stations to suit individual and group pursuits.
Milder library shelving and book displays were customized to integrate whiteboard displays, pin surfaces, and benches as part of the interactive science displays.
The area includes our library display shelves, that are open to both sides, with (custom) integrated bench.
Library tables with built in power and data ports are installed throughout the library, as well as
book carousels, and periodical display stands (with built in storage).
Comments Off on The Library at Art Building West, University of Iowa
Client: University of Iowa
Architect: Steven Holl Architects
Milder Office furnished the study spaces in the much lauded School of Art & Art History Library designed by Steven Holl Architects. Reading rooms offer Milder Library Tables with overhead spot lighting, while private study areas are furnished with the Milder Library Carrels complete with lockable storage for students ‘camping out’ for much of the day. Carrel options include lighting, storage, and power and data ports. The height of the (three sided) partition can be modified to increase or decrease sight lines. The units can be used to partition the open space plan.
Milder Office also provided side tables for the lounge area that overlooks the surrounding pond and forest.
Comments Off on MIT Linguistics + Philosophy Library
Client: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Architect: Map Lab
The Department of Linguistics and Philosophy library is a small, practical space furnished with Milder Office Library Shelving and offering study and lounge spaces for reading and study. A clever mix of single and double sided shelving was used to partition the space.
Durability is especially important in high traffic installations such as libraries, our Library Shelving has full length aluminum pipes to protect edges and corners.
Reading nook with side table. A bridge connects two library shelves to serve as counters (custom).
Lockable storage keep rare books secure but accessible.
Double sided library shelving feature a back stop.
Client: New York Public Library
Architect: 1100 Architects
TimeOut Magazine selected the Battery Park Library as one the best libraries for New York City kids, writing that “Like the rest of the branch, the spacious children’s room is both ultramodern yet classic and comfortable.”
The children’s section includes long banks of computer tables as well as reading tables through. The adult reading room features library tables with power and data options.
