Allseating has launched Res, a seating solution designed to elevate active learning in higher education environments. Brought to life by the design studio team at modus ID, Res brings together research, resolution, resolve, and responsibility to meet the priorities of educational furniture through thoughtful, modern aesthetics and a variety of adaptable features.
“Educational institutions are increasingly veering toward a learning experience that is based on the principles of active learning, with schooling in multipurpose rooms and small group settings becoming widespread,” said Paul Vendittelli, President of Allseating. “Res offers a unique hybrid design that combines elements of comfortable lounge seating with that of focused elements in seating to meet the needs of today’s modern student while being mobile and adaptable to provide a more flexible seating option that the traditional, lecture-based format lacks.
Res comes with two base options and can be selected with glides for more permanent environments or casters for ease of mobility. Two back heights are offered to suit the needs of various body types for optimized comfort and support.
“Higher education is often an afterthought for product designers, with colleges and universities struggling to find seating solutions that accommodate collaborative spaces, complement the existing design, and are sophisticated enough for mature students,” said Nick Gillissie, Industrial Designer at modus ID. “Res was collaboratively designed through conferring with numerous experts and users in the higher education field, which allowed the identification of significant gaps in the market and informed key built-in features for storage, cleanability, and versatility.”
Rather than the more basic options available for K-12 institutions or the specialized seating crafted for corporate settings, Res was uniquely designed between the crosshairs of the two sectors to be functional and accommodate the thousands of different students that use them for diverse purposes in lecture halls, labs, study rooms, and dorms. Providing intelligent storage solutions for students, Res comes with a lower shelf that frees up the work surface from phones, stationery, chargers, drinks, and other small items, making the workspace less cluttered and enabling improved active learning that is both easier and more enjoyable. The seating solution also includes a cup holder for most beverage sizes and an optional coat hook. Furthermore, front access storage in the base of the unit provides a secure location for personal belongings.
Res was designed for improved cleanability and features unique shallow ribbing around the base to deter graffiti and make it simple to clean. In addition, the under-mount storage component is easily vacuumable and wipeable. To accommodate more students’ needs, a 90-degree rotating tablet surface can be added and specified to suit either a left or right-handed work surface. In addition to being uniquely designed for colleges and universities, Res also inspires increased productivity and collaborative thinking in both conventional and modern corporate settings as its adaptable functionality makes it a seamless fit into a variety of space types like lounges, common areas, libraries, learning spaces, and in-between spaces.