Knobbe Martin Case Study Of Office Furniture

By Author: Larry Tang
Total Articles: 507
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Custom Designs No Challenge for MAiSPACE
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the U.S., recently moved into its 140,000 square foot corporate headquarters in Irvine, California.

MAiSPACE was there, dressed as custom cherry veneer workstations for 212 administrative personnel.

MAiSPACE dealer/distributor Vertex Business Interiors, Tustin, CA, teamed with Knobbe Martens' Newport Beach-based architectural and design firm Gensler in creating the custom designed workstations to blend in with walls, bookshelves, and other furnishings throughout the 6 floors of office space.

Quality construction and the ability to accept customized tiles, together with a very competitive price and guaranteed delivery made MAiSPACE the leading contender in this project, said Vertex president Tom Harold. Our requirements included providing 1600 book-matched cherry veneer tiles finished on both sides for workstations and end panels on storage units for files and binders.

Gensler vice president Sandi Warneke said that the client's request for book-matched veneer tiles ...
... finished on both sides was to provide a smooth visual impression, rather than a patchwork of grain patterns, along office aisles and corridors. "Tiles finished on both sides will, in the long run, prove beneficial for two reasons," she said. "Panels get damaged. Mail carts and maintenance equipment can cause scratching or more serious damage, no matter how carefully handled. If a tile is damaged, it can be reversed, and the continuous grain pattern is restored. Moreover, were tiles ordered later as replacements, there is a risk that colors and grains will not be the same as the original order."

Although the wood tiles were critical in the overall design, other features of MAiSPACE were important considerations for this demanding client.

MAiSPACE quality is far superior to that of other systems within its price range, said Vertex's Tom Harold. Framing is constructed of 16-gauge cold-rolled steel to provide strength and rigidity when in use and remain distortion-free during installation as well as any subsequent moves, adds or changes. He noted that the system's knockdown and ready-to-assemble (RTA) framing components equipped with self-leveling connections simplified moving elements into and throughout the building and contributed substantially to meeting tight deadlines while reducing installation costs. Should Knobbe Martens wish to alter workspace configuration, the system's off-modular design allows flexibility in workspace size, configuration and in locating bins, shelves, and divider panels, he said.