Steelcase: Over a Century of Workplace Research, Translated Into Office Furniture

Steelcase was founded in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1912 — originally as the Metal Office Furniture Company, producing steel wastebaskets as a fire-resistant alternative to the wooden ones common in offices at the time. Over the following century, the company grew into one of the largest office furniture manufacturers in the world, developing a reputation built on applied research into how people work and how physical environments affect that work.

That research focus is genuinely central to Steelcase’s identity. The company maintains its own research division, publishes workplace studies, and uses that research to inform product design decisions. It’s an approach that has shaped some of the most widely adopted ergonomic seating products in the commercial furniture industry.

Steelcase’s Seating Line

Steelcase offers one of the broadest ergonomic seating portfolios of any commercial manufacturer. Their most commonly specified chairs in corporate environments include:

• Leap V2 — Steelcase’s flagship task chair, featuring LiveBack technology that allows the chair back to flex and adjust with the user’s spine. Widely regarded as one of the most adjustable task chairs available.
• Gesture — Designed around the way people interact with multiple screens and devices; features 360-degree arm movement to support a wider range of postures than traditional task chairs
• Think Chair — A lighter, more visually minimal option with a flexible backrest; common in conference rooms and secondary seating roles
• Amia — A mid-range ergonomic task chair with a self-adjusting LiveBack system and height-adjustable lumbar support
• Series 1 — Steelcase’s accessible ergonomic entry point; widely used in large-scale office deployments
• Karman — Steelcase’s newest task chair, featuring a mesh seat and a fully reclinable back mechanism
  
  

Steelcase’s Workstation and Systems Portfolio

Beyond seating, Steelcase makes a wide range of open-plan and systems furniture that’s extensively deployed in New York corporate environments:

• FrameOne Benching — A height-adjustable benching system common in tech and finance offices
• Answer Panel System — A modular open-plan cubicle system; one of the most widely installed Steelcase systems in large corporate offices
• Flex Collection — A newer, more agile furniture system designed for activity-based and hybrid work environments
• Migration Tables — Height-adjustable individual and collaborative tables
  
  

Steelcase and Sustainability

Steelcase has made significant environmental commitments across its manufacturing operations and product design. The company has reported on sustainability metrics annually since 1994, and many of their products carry environmental certifications including GREENGUARD and Cradle to Cradle. Their Circular by Steelcase program allows certain chair models — including the Leap, Gesture, and Think — to be refurbished to near-new condition, extending their usable life.

When Steelcase offices are decommissioned, Phoenix Furniture Group is well-versed in handling their full product range — from individual task chairs to complete open-plan installations.