TFM Product of the Month: SeatTable®

The SeatTable® by SMARTdesks

by Brian Kraemer, New Products Editor

Problem: Providing useable, convenient desk space in an auditorium or conference room

Solution: A simple new chair that functions both as a comfortable chair and a ready to use desk.

The SeatTable is a multifaceted new chair that turns from a chair into a desk easily and quickly. Now, instead of taking illegible notes on a legal pad or on a laptop precariously balanced between the back of a seat and two unstable knees, users have a better way. With one quick pull, the seat back transforms into a broad desk that easily manages legal pads or laptops. Instead of holding meetings or lectures in halls where the extra seats remain empty and unused, a hall outfitted with the SeatTable can transform vacant seats into functioning desks.

The SeatTable was created by Ilian Milinov, and the concept for the chair came from thinking about multifunctional rooms. “The major thing which concerned me was how to change the number of seating places and work tops easily. For two years, we developed over 10 prototypes, implementing different transformation principles, but having one and the same end result—transforming a chair into a table and vice versa.”

Designed with ergonomics in mind, the chair is crafted out of durable plywood. The 21” wide seat provides space for both large adults and pre-teens. Meanwhile, the contours give back support and allow for comfortable sitting for long periods of time. Once converted from chair to table, the SeatTable is designed so chair and table can be brought close together, creating a comfortable, spacious work area. Unlike normal desks, there is no preference given to left-handed or right-handed people; both are able to work in a convenient space.

Constructed of 7/16” bar steel, the frame of the chair is solid and durable. The sled style base provides a wide and stable foundation which, when combined with the overall weight of 20 pounds, makes for a chair that is easy to move, but not easy to overturn.

The hinge is made from a polycarbonate nylon mix and has a full steel hinge that runs through it. “It’s like a hinge on a door,” says Jeff Korber, vice president of sales for SMARTdesks of Lutherville, MD. “It snaps down into a locked position which keeps it in place.”

The hinge, like the SeatTable itself, serves a dual purpose. In addition to locking, it also acts as a handle, allowing the user to pick up the chair and move it to a new location, then unlock it and convert it to whatever use is needed.

As laptops become smaller and lighter, they become more prevalent at meetings and conventions. Designers at SMARTdesks kept this in mind when creating the chair. The broad workspace provided by the SeatTable lends itself to setting up laptops in small spaces.

Designed with armrests that are comfortable as elbows rest, the armrests become innocuous when a user is working on a laptop. Now, instead of worrying whether or not there will be an easy place to sit and operate a laptop, the user has solutions to both problems in a single piece of furniture.

In the past, the only way for a facility manager to set up large meetings or conferences was to use both chairs and tables. This meant the facility had to rent chairs and tables or had to have them on hand, and if they were on hand, then the tables and chairs had to be taken out of storage and configured. This meant someone has to be paid to do the job. Either way, an expense was incurred.

The SeatTable addresses these concerns in two ways. First, it removes the need for storing desks. Rather than having to use valuable space to keep desks on hand, a facility manager can convert that space from desk storage into something more useful. Second, the cost of labor is reduced. A small army of expensive workers is no longer needed to haul and set up desks, because the SeatTable fulfills both functions.

“We reached out to facility managers first, because we felt they were the people responsible for the total functionality of the site,” Korber says. “In less than one minute per chair, facility managers can take 100 different seats and put them in 100 different configurations, then change that configuration to a room with 50 seats and 50 desks in less time than it takes to flip a coin.” Instead of paying rent or buying chairs and tables (and paying again for staff to set them up), a facility can purchase both chairs and tables in a single product.

The SeatTable® by SMARTdesks by Brian Kraemer, New Products Editor Problem: Providing useable, convenient desk space in an auditorium or conference room Solution: A simple new chair that functions both as a comfortable chair and a ready to use desk. The SeatTable is a multifaceted new chair that turns from a chair into a desk easily and quickly. Now, instead of taking illegible notes on a legal pad or on a laptop precariously balanced between the back of a seat and two unstable knees, users have a better way. With one quick pull, the seat back transforms into a broad desk that easily manages legal pads or laptops. Instead of holding meetings or lectures in halls where the extra seats remain empty and unused, a hall outfitted with the SeatTable can transform vacant seats into functioning desks. The SeatTable was created by Ilian Milinov, and the concept for the chair came from thinking about multifunctional rooms. “The major thing which concerned me was how to change the number of seating places and work tops easily. For two years, we developed over 10 prototypes, implementing different transformation principles, but having one and the same end result—transforming a chair into a table and vice versa.” Designed with ergonomics in mind, the chair is crafted out of durable plywood. The 21” wide seat provides space for both large adults and pre-teens. Meanwhile, the contours give back support and allow for comfortable sitting for long periods of time. Once converted from chair to table, the SeatTable is designed so chair and table can be brought close together, creating a comfortable, spacious work area. Unlike normal desks, there is no preference given to left-handed or right-handed people; both are able to work in a convenient space. Constructed of 7/16” bar steel, the frame of the chair is solid and durable. The sled style base provides a wide and stable foundation which, when combined with the overall weight of 20 pounds, makes for a chair that is easy to move, but not easy to overturn. The hinge is made from a polycarbonate nylon mix and has a full steel hinge that runs through it. “It’s like a hinge on a door,” says Jeff Korber, vice president of sales for SMARTdesks of Lutherville, MD. “It snaps down into a locked position which keeps it in place.” The hinge, like the SeatTable itself, serves a dual purpose. In addition to locking, it also acts as a handle, allowing the user to pick up the chair and move it to a new location, then unlock it and convert it to whatever use is needed. As laptops become smaller and lighter, they become more prevalent at meetings and conventions. Designers at SMARTdesks kept this in mind when creating the chair. The broad workspace provided by the SeatTable lends itself to setting up laptops in small spaces. Designed with armrests that are comfortable as elbows rest, the armrests become innocuous when a user is working on a laptop. Now, instead of worrying whether or not there will be an easy place to sit and operate a laptop, the user has solutions to both problems in a single piece of furniture. In the past, the only way for a facility manager to set up large meetings or conferences was to use both chairs and tables. This meant the facility had to rent chairs and tables or had to have them on hand, and if they were on hand, then the tables and chairs had to be taken out of storage and configured. This meant someone has to be paid to do the job. Either way, an expense was incurred. The SeatTable addresses these concerns in two ways. First, it removes the need for storing desks. Rather than having to use valuable space to keep desks on hand, a facility manager can convert that space from desk storage into something more useful. Second, the cost of labor is reduced. A small army of expensive workers is no longer needed to haul and set up desks, because the SeatTable fulfills both functions. “We reached out to facility managers first, because we felt they were the people responsible for the total functionality of the site,” Korber says. “In less than one minute per chair, facility managers can take 100 different seats and put them in 100 different configurations, then change that configuration to a room with 50 seats and 50 desks in less time than it takes to flip a coin.” Instead of paying rent or buying chairs and tables (and paying again for staff to set them up), a facility can purchase both chairs and tables in a single product.
	Article reprinted with permission. Go to Today's Facility Manager. The Source for Building Owners and Facility Executives.
	The simulated leather padded seatcover is available from SMARTdesks with 1" and 2" foam, and in a variety of fabrics, too. The padded seat maintains the integrity of Illian Milinov's modern design while providing added comfort for all-day conferences.
	Learn more about SeatTable® Click on these links for more information and how to order SeatTable now. SeatTable by SMARTdesks iQuote: Stacking and Tablet Arm Chairs

	Storage is just as easy. Instead of having to find room for both desks and chairs in a facility, SeatTables can be stored on one trolley. The SeatTable can be stacked 12 high with the footprint of a single chair. 96 chairs on eight trolleys can be stored in approximately 43 square feet of space. This allows for easy breakdown and rearrangement, unlike a normal combination of chairs and desks. “If you rent folding tables and chairs, your set up is fixed.” Korber continues. “But with SeatTable, you can have a half an hour test, then break it down, and in the next half hour have a square dance. Then you can come back another half an hour later and have a conference.” Keeping in spirit with the adaptability of the product, SMARTdesks is already looking ahead to perfect the design for the SeatTable. The only complaint that has consistently surfaced is that the seat is too uncomfortable to sit on during an all day conference. With that in mind, designers created a seat cushion. The cushion comes in two thicknesses. A 1” thick seat cushion is intended for brief meetings. Meanwhile, a 2” cushion is intended for all day meetings or seminars. The SeatTable offers a wide range of options to facility managers. From setting up conference rooms to turning a lecture hall into a comfortable place to take a test, this new chair is able to handle all of these requirements. “For the facility managers who are in charge of conference facilities or meetings, this is a perfect non-permanent solution,” Korber concludes.