KI Europe, a local manufacturer of high quality furniture for workplaces and educational institutions has recently supplied large orders to Leigh University Technology College, Quest Academy and University College Birmingham
KI brings together good design, advanced engineering and sustainable resources, KI’s products are durable, flexible and offer excellent value. KI Europe is headquartered in London and is part of one of the world's largest independent furniture manufacturing groups.
KIhave supplied Leigh UTC over 600 Maestro chairs and 205 Postura+ laboratory stools for the UK’s future engineering and computer science workforce.
The Leigh UTC is one of the first of its kind in Kent which focuses on computer sciences and engineering alongside core subjects. This is part of a new scheme aimed at forging closer links between education and local businesses. The school will accommodate up to 600 pupils, up from the 170 pupils who have joined the new school in Years 10 and 12 this year.
Adam Goodayle, Senior Project Designer of Red Apple Designs commented:
“Red Apple Designs were the FF&E consultant for this project. Working with the client we specified the KI Postura and Maestro chairs for Leigh UTC. KI products were the best option because they are a well-known manufacturer of commercial and educational furniture which are of the highest quality and durability. KI delivered a total of 600 Maestro chairs and 75 of these also had tablets added to them. We selected different shades of Maestro chairs, so that they complemented the rest of the colour scheme chosen for the school hall. We also specified 200 Postura laboratory stools, all the stools are 700mm high fitted with plastic seats and sled base metal frames.”
KI’s Maestro chairs were specified for the main hall in black, blue grey and cottonwood (white) polypropylene colours. Maestro is a contemporary, light and comfortable stacking chair making it a fitting choice for this particular space; its sleek appearance and colour choice makes an interesting and striking contrast against the backdrop of yellow and slate black colour scheme of the main hall.
Postura+stools were specified for the college workshops/laboratory. They’re lightweight yet tough making it easy for students to come together for practical group work and class demos, the seats are easy to clean and highly durable.
KI have also recently supplied hundreds of Postura+ and Maestro chairs to Quest Academy in Croydon.
Quest Academy is a three storey, new build, Academy for 900 pupils of age ranges from 11 through to 16 years old, with a 215 capacity sixth form facility located alongside the existing school. The new academy is arranged around a three story hub which includes innovative & flexible learning spaces, a state-of the-art theatre and hi-tech IT facilities. There is also a new sports hall which is also open to the community. The client selected 132 KI Maestro Chairs in deep blue colours for the school hall and 893 Postura + Chairs in slate-grey colours were specified for classrooms.
Kate Rees Director of Portsdown Office Ltd commented:
During the Consultancy period we engaged with the school and recommended the Postura+ Chair for its market tested warranty and ease of use. The Hall requires a high density stacking chair to enable the space to be used by both the school and third party lets – Maestro fitted the bill perfectly and was within budget offering excellent colour-ways with minimum storage capacity required when not in use. KI delivered to the programmed dates and quickly replaced a damaged chair supporting our reputation for excellence in customer service.
Next, KI have provided over 900 Strive high density stacking chairs to University College Birmingham.
The chairs have all been tailored to suit the clients’ requirements with upholstered seat pads in a dark fabric with chrome.The client required a large volume of KI Strive chairs for the 7,592 sq. metre building spread over four floors which accommodates for 2,500 students as well as staff.
The building, located on Charlotte Street and Holland Street has a wide range of small and large teaching rooms featuring the latest audio and visual learning technology, two lecture theatres designed to seat 125 persons including a 250 person lecture theatre. There is also a dedicated Postgraduate centre 24 hour flexible learning centre and a 200 seat café with outdoor seating. Students can interact and enjoy much more social learning & breakout spaces around the building as well as the external landscaping.
Jo Coldicott, Design Director of Arucana Ltd commented:
“KI’s Strive chair collection fits UCB’s requirements perfectly, performing in all budget, aesthetic, and functionality criteria’s. McIntyre House is such an innovative building for a very forward thinking university, so the furniture specification needed to compliment. KI has done a great job in helping to achieve this!”
The stackable Strive seating collection from KI, designed by Giancarlo Piretti, is a wide family of simple, elegant, comfortable chair designs which are also available in a wide choice of polypropylene colours.
All have a unique, flexible back with a wire rod inserted into the polypropylene to encourage movement and relaxation. The back curve provides lateral support and the contoured seat dissipates pressure points.
For further information please visit the KI Europe website at www.kieurope.com