KI Europe’s iconic Postura+ chair’s popularity continues to grow from strength to strength, almost 20 years since its introduction to the UK market in 1996. The classroom chair of choice for the UK’s leading schools,Postura+ chairs are used by millions of students every day - including the girls at the RIBA Stirling Prize-winning Burntwood School in South London.
Established in the 1950s, the school’s recent £40m transformation was designed by leading architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM). Constructed over a three-phase process beginning in 2011, the distinctive new facilities now host some 2,000 pupils and 200 staff.
Working with Portsdown Office Furniture, KI Europe delivered over 2,500 locally manufactured Jet Black Postura+ chairs in two sizes. Howard Jackson, Deputy Principal, Burntwood School comments: “We had already been using Postura+ chairs in our classrooms for a few years, so we were confident they would be ideal in our brand new buildings”
After the majority of the works were completed and budget could be allocated to procure new seating for the school’s main hall, the choice was easy. Burntwood’s Site Manager for over 40 years, Kenneth Medlycott comments: “When we needed new chairs for our school hall, we ordered more of the Postura+ chairs that we use in our classrooms. The students find them comfortable. They are durable, easy to set up and re-arrange; and stack neatly when not in use. We are really happy with them.”
The stunning new facilities include six new buildings featuring sculpted concrete facades, set amongst a mature, park-like landscape. The new buildings are set across four 4-storey teaching pavilions, a new sports hall and a new performing arts building, which are placed amongst a number of retained buildings (including two by Sir Leslie Martin) to form a complete and coherent campus, with lawns, squares and a central pedestrian spine.
Each pavilion is made up of wide corridors combined with big windows allowing natural light into the building. The regularity of each plan is followed through to the elevation with faceted, precast concrete panels that correspond to a 7.5 metre structural and classroom module; a development of the prefabricated façade work seen at AHMM’s Dagenham Park Church of England School.
Portsdown were appointed to carry out the procurement of both the loose and fixed furniture for the new Burntwood School. Working closely with the school, contractor and architect, Portsdown developed the initial design scheme produced by the FFE consultant. The school interior design strategy was integrated with the colours and finishes of the loose furniture to create a harmonious FF&E scheme.
Marie Rush, FFE Project Manager for Portsdown Office Ltd, explains: “KI’s Postura+ chair was selected for the Burntwood School project for its durability, aesthetic and warranty attributes. We were pleased to specify such a historically well performing chair, we feel the Postura+ chair is one of the leading educational chairs on offer in the UK.”
KI Europe is a local manufacturer of high quality furniture for workplaces and educational institutions. Bringing 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, KI (Krueger International, Inc.).
Please visit the KI Europe website atwww.kieurope.com