Victor, a fireproof, steel wastebasket was introduced in 19…
Victor, a fireproof, steel wastebasket was introduced in 1914, and quickly became a top seller for Metal Office Furniture Co. Due to the low manufacturing costs achieved by the company's process of bending steel at right angles, Victor is an affordable item for the office and hotel industries.
Steelcase
In 1915, Metal Office Furniture Co. debuted its first desk,…
In 1915, Metal Office Furniture Co. debuted its first desk, the 601 (shown). Designed for the Customs House Tower, Boston's first skyscraper, the steel desk met the U.S. government's new specs for office furniture made of metal instead of wood.
Steelcase
The Metal Office Furniture Co.'s fireproof 621 steel d…
The Metal Office Furniture Co.'s fireproof 621 steel desk, which was released in 1924, could support a maximum of 6,000 pounds. It was the first desk the company offered in olive-green rather than a wood-grained finish.
Steelcase
Metal Office Furniture Co. patented suspension file cabinets in …
Metal Office Furniture Co. patented suspension file cabinets in 1934 and introduced double-wall drawers for added durability.
Steelcase
In 1937, Metal Office Furniture Co. (MOFC) manufactured the …
In 1937, Metal Office Furniture Co. (MOFC) manufactured the office furniture for Frank Lloyd Wright's S.C. Johnson Wax Building in Racine, Wis. As a result of the two-year design and production partnership with Wright, MOFC created task-oriented furniture, the foundation of the modern workstation.
Steelcase
In 1946, Metal Office Furniture Co. released the Multiple 15 des…
In 1946, Metal Office Furniture Co. released the Multiple 15 desk, which was designed on 15-inch dimensions to improve space planning in open office environments. By 1960, the 15-inch system would be a universal standard in the industry.
Steelcase
In 1953, Metal Office Furniture Co. (MOFC) expanded it…
In 1953, Metal Office Furniture Co. (MOFC) expanded its color palette with Sunshine Styling, colors inspired by a company co-founder's trip to Arizona. MOFC changed its name to Steelcase in 1954.
Steelcase
The 860 Series Broadsides Lateral Files was released in 196…
The 860 Series Broadsides Lateral Files was released in 1966.
Steelcase
Steelcase's Series 9000 was introduced in 1973, and would go on …
Steelcase's Series 9000 was introduced in 1973, and would go on to became the world’s leading systems furniture line.
Steelcase
Steelcase launched Pathways in 1998 as a portfolio of produ…
Steelcase launched Pathways in 1998 as a portfolio of products that integrate furniture, worktools, technology and interior architecture.
Steelcase
Steelcase's LiveBack seating technology for Leap, a hi…
Steelcase's LiveBack seating technology for Leap, a high-performance task chair introduced in 1999, supported the user's upper and lower back separately.
Steelcase
Steelcase launched the Think task chair in 2004. The 99-percent …
Steelcase launched the Think task chair in 2004. The 99-percent recyclable chair, which was developed and assembled by Steelcase employees on three different continents, became Steelcase's first global product. In 2005, the Think chair was the first Steelcase chair to be Cradle to Cradle certified.
Steelcase
Steelcase launched a set of collaborative solutions in 2009,&nbs…
Steelcase launched a set of collaborative solutions in 2009, including Media:Scape (shown), C:Scape, i2i, and Cobi. The products were designed to help people connect with each other and technology in a team-focused environment.
Steelcase
The Node chair, a collaborative effort between Ideo and Steelcas…
The Node chair, a collaborative effort between Ideo and Steelcase, was introduce in 2010 as the first product from Steelcase Education Solutions. The chair enabled mobility and reconfiguration for collaborative or individual study.
A metal trashcan helped launch Grand Rapids, Mich.—based Steelcase from a local product manufacturer into an internationally recognized name in office furnishings. The fireproof Victor wastebasket, introduced in 1914 by the then-named Metal Office Furniture Company, addressed the issue of employee safety in an era when smoking in the office—and the fire danger that can ensue from smoldering ashes near piles of paper—was commonplace.
Since its founding in 1912, the company has continued to research, design, and develop innovative office furnishings and products. The metal desk, standing file cabinet, and lateral file system are just a sampling of products that have become office mainstays. A comprehensive timeline of landmark products—including the more recent Leap Chair and Media:Scape collaborative systems—and company milestones is available on Steelcase’s website.
To recognize its centennial anniversary, Steelcase launched its “100 Dreams, 100 Minds, 100 Years” initiative, a website that includes thoughts and ideas from notable individuals such as Paola Antonelli, Stefan Behnisch, William McDonough, and Toshiko Mori.
