Marshall Furniture’s expertise as a technology furniture provider underscores a powerful advantage for AV integrators: flexibility in design build and customization. With Marshall Furniture as a partner, integrators can outfit spaces with furniture that not just suit the technology but also meet their clients’ requirements.
Here, Commercial Integrator chats with Michelle Wille, managing partner, and Tom Feldkamp, director of business development, to learn more about Marshall Furniture’s diverse offerings across different verticals.
Leaning Into the Corporate Space
Wille first explains that every space is unique which means no two projects have the same requirements. “Every space is not created equal and that requires adjustments in terms of technology functionality and aesthetics,” she reveals. However, these adjustments are precisely where Marshall Furniture can leverage its advantage. “This is where we truly shine because we’re able to pivot very easily and transition to whatever the requirements are whether it’s all the above or just one specific element,” says Wille.
According to Wille, in the corporate sector, outfitting the right AV furniture is paramount to ensuring meeting equity in the room. Here, she points to how conferencing/collaboration helps users connect seamlessly while improving the overall user experience. “With that comes the compatibility of furniture for not only the curb appeal, but the placement and accessibility of the gear,” she says. “For instance, we used to build a lot of standard depth credenzas, loaded with rack gear. Now, we are focused on low-profile credenzas as we see a variety of requirements with these.” According to Wille, the advantage of the low-profile credenza is that it can house compact AV gear as well as become a space-saving solution.
Similarly, with the advancement of camera and display technology in the media walls, Wille remarks that clients are really dressing up their spaces. “We are making media walls that either custom frames the display or allows for the display to be mounted to it,” she reveals. In either application, Wille says, the media wall allows for the cables to be hidden, and in many cases, they sit above a credenza when AV gear needs to be stored and secured. She declares, “This setup contributes to the investment of the space, providing a modern and inviting workspace that employees want to use.”
Feldkamp further credits Marshall Furniture’s success in the corporate space to its focus on sustainability. “We design the furniture to be adapted for future technology changes as well,” he says. “You wouldn’t lock yourself into just one configuration, especially as everything’s moved so fast with technology.” By providing sustainable, cost-effective solutions for its integrators and clients, Marshall Furniture thus ensures a return on investment for all its projects. As Wille states, “With high quality, comes the expectation that it’s going to last a long time, and that’s a huge return on investment for the decision-makers.”
Emphasis on Security and Live Events
Marshall Furniture not only has the ability to adapt its furniture according to the space, but it can also adapt to different verticals. Indeed, the manufacturer has also made its mark in the security sector. Here, Wille accentuates that the security industry is seeing mid-market spaces, such as police departments, schools and even businesses, require the same technology, albeit on a much smaller scale. “Security is at an all-time high,” she says. “And right now, a lot of these facilities were not originally as spaces with the intent of security which means the space has to be adapted to be used as a security center.”
To achieve this, Marshall Furniture provides consoles that can transition from a pre-engineered solution to simply add-on options or be custom built for the room, depending on the set up of the room and equipment requirements. “This includes adding options such as slat walls and ergonomic arms along with durable materials,” Wille says.
Feldkamp then draws attention to Marshall Furniture’s expertise in the live events and production environments. He remarks that the technology provider’s role is to make sure that the AV furniture is scalable to the space allotted. “There’s a lot of similarities between the production spaces and security spaces as our niche is to design around the space, while accommodating all the cabling needs and ensuring it is ergonomic for the user,” Feldkamp explains.
As an example, Wille points out how some of these spaces are being transformed into a multipurpose or live-event space. This means that the room’s original intended space cannot accommodate the required gear or furniture. “Evaluating these spaces for the new intent requires out-of-the-box thinking,” she says. “Sometimes, we provide configurable or mobile furniture, complementing the multipurpose spaces.” Wille adds that this is an easy fit where the furniture is not only scaled but also mobile. “Other times we provide fixed desks and consoles, designed to house large mixers and controllers,” she states.
According to Wille, studio spaces are another facet of thoughtful design. Some of these spaces require custom build-ins, shaped to the space. Others may not be as elaborate and require simple solutions such as mobile tables and rack credenzas. “Again, designing for the user intent is vital in this case, given the importance of the end-user experience,” she reiterates. “For us, making sure the gear fits along with proper cable management access and user comfort rank at top of the list.”
Final Thoughts
According to Wille, Marshall Furniture’s value proposition thus lies in understanding the room space, the technology driving the space, how aesthetics plays a role in it, and what the user expectations are to then determine the AV furniture for that environment. With Marshall Furniture as a partner, integrators can remain reassured of quality furniture and service offerings, no matter the vertical. As Wille proclaims, “Being flexible is what truly sets us apart — whatever the setup is, we have the solution.”
Visit Marshall Furniture at MarshallFurniture.com.
