This Thursday, April 15 the entire SoHE population will get a chance to see and test proposed seating for the new SoHE building. The Chair Fair will take place in Sterling Hall, rooms B101 and B611. There will be guided sessions at 8 and 10 am, at 12 noon, and at 2 pm. You'll get to try chairs – classroom chairs, office chairs, lounge chairs, guest chairs, all types of seating - under consideration and fill out evaluation forms. Additionally, most of the chairs will remain on site until around April 26 for further viewing and testing.
Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information please contact Professor Roberto Rengel, rjrengel@wisc.edu
+(2).jpg)
Some days it all comes down to support, comfort, cushion and cradle. Yes, it's all about the chair. Can I sit for hours at my desk without cramping? Does it make me look thin? Is there a swivel in case I am in a boring meeting and get antsy? Will it have wheels for quick room configuration? 
Is this an iconic piece and if so, why is it important for SoHE?The project team has asked these questions and about a thousand more in preparation for the upcoming Chair Fair. Questions like "will the arms slide under the table...'cause I hate it when the arms bump" or "how easy is it to clean?" and about lumbar support. The team drilled manufacturers reps about the "green" story, and discussed how a certain piece may look in the historic part of the Dean's suite in the existing building.
And let's not forget the importance of excellent design. Each piece will be evaluated for its esthetics as well as function - how does it look by itself and in concert with other elements in the space. But, the twin workhorses for the project are classroom chairs and office chairs. SoHE employs hundreds of people - faculty, administrators, staff, research assistants, preschool teachers -and that adds up to hundreds of chairs and lots of body types. The same goes for classroom and studio chairs - students come in all shapes and sizes so chairs must be forgiving.
Take a bit of time and attend the chair fair - your feedback is super important.
