Furnishing in the Face of Disaster

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When floods ravaged the Nashville region last May, the face of the disaster became the image of Lighthouse Christian preschool floating down the local highway.
 

In need of a new facility — one that would meet updated technology needs — the school was chosen to be rebuilt on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” featuring furnishing from The HON Company, an Iowa-based office furniture designer and manufacturer.
 

The company furnished the classrooms — preschool through 12th grade — with its SmartLink line, which includes a full line of furniture designed to organize classrooms in way that focuses on technology, flexibility, comfort, and visual coordination, according to officials from the company.
 

Responding to the show’s call, The HON Company stepped up to provide classroom furniture, along with seating for students, instructors and aides for four classrooms, a lounge, reception area and administrative offices.
 

The company also contributed Vicinity desks and storage units, and chairs from its Ignition seating series.
 

The makeover project was completed the in September and aired on the Nov. 7 episode of the Emmy Award-winning program, which is now entering its 8th season.
 

“When the call came for us to provide what was needed, we were empathetic and willing to commit,” said Shelley deSilva, vice president of marketing at HON. “As an Iowa-based company, our own community knows firsthand the tragedy Mother Nature and floods of this proportion can inflict.”
 

Part of the reason the company was selected was it was able to provide the full solution, beyond the classroom, according to said John Bann, product business manager of education at The Hon Company.

“That was a just a wonderful opportunity for us to be able to help that organization and part of our vision to be a good corporate citizen,” he said. “We felt that that was a very worthwhile endeavor for us to get involved in.”
 

The line features teacher stations, student desks, storage space and whiteboards, and aims to accommodate individual, group or teacher-centered learning environments. The student desks, referred to by the company as the “stars of the SmartLink furniture series,” were designed for modern teaching tools, such as laptops.
 

 The furnishing were developed after extensive market research, Bann said.
 

“We tried to identify a number of key requirements for products to be very adaptable in the classroom today,” Bann said. “Teachers and administrators are looking for products that are flexible, can change frequently, are not tied into one specific location or arrangement within the classroom because with all the different teaching styles. They’re looking for a great deal of flexibility.”
 

Based on research gathered from educators, school administrators and others involved in the education process, the company created mobile teacher stations, student desks, versatile modular storage, a wall rail system, white boards and other accessories.

Teacher stations, ideal for teachers who prefer a smaller desk, can be used as a computer workstation or workspace. Their small size makes it highly mobile and perfect for laptops, according to a company statement. The station also provides standard three-inch smart grommets with wireway cover and integral cable and power management to organize computer products and accessories.
 

In addition to accommodating technology, the mobile teacher stations are designed so teachers aren’t restricted to just one area. The company’s storage cabinets are also mobile and can be used to create different zones or learning areas within the classroom, giving teachers flexibility in how they want to lay out their classrooms.
 

“A lot of the solutions out there were just a student desk and chair — no one had really taken a more holistic approach, so that was a key requirement,” Bann said. “We really wanted to provide a solution that works together — not just visually and aesthetically — but from a functional perspective.”