The name
Steelcase isn’t exactly synonymous with high design. The company is more famous for its innovations in the field of office furniture. So why would we be interested in talking about an office furniture manufacturer on the Swank Lighting blog? Two reasons. They don’t just do office furniture, and the office furniture they created in the height of the Mid-Century is drop-dead gorgeous and sought out for interiors today.
In a lot of ways, Steelcase helped pioneer a sort of industrial Mid-Century Modern look. Their catalog of furniture is full of amazing variety: task chairs and cubicle office furnishings, desks of all shapes and sizes, filing cabinets, credenzas, side chairs, bookshelves, room dividers, storage and more. They experimented with many materials over the years, from plastics to upholstery to lots and lots of metals of all colors. Because they are a large company, they’ve had many people design their furniture over the years, so it’s hard to pin down an exact “look” or style, but rest assured if you find a good-looking Mid-Century Modern industrial-looking filing cabinet with style to spare, there’s a good chance it’s a Steelcase.
Founded in 1912 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Steelcase was originally known as “The Metal Office Furniture Company.” Specializing first in filing cabinets and safes, it slowly moved on to other furniture pieces, changing its name to Steelcase in 1954. In recent decades, Steelcase has taken a strong stance as not only an office furniture leader, but as a technology and sustainability leader. Steelcase frequently invests in eco-friendly ventures, like in 2008 when it committed to financially supporting a US wind farm by purchasing green power from it. Many of Steelcase’s manufacturing processes also receive certifications and awards, like the MBDC Cradle to Cradle and LEED. As far as technology goes, Steelcase is inspired by innovation, and majority-owns the design consultancy company IDEO—known for their innovative ideas in a number of different fields.
In a lot of ways, Steelcase helped pioneer a sort of industrial Mid-Century Modern look. Their catalog of furniture is full of amazing variety: task chairs and cubicle office furnishings, desks of all shapes and sizes, filing cabinets, credenzas, side chairs, bookshelves, room dividers, storage and more. They experimented with many materials over the years, from plastics to upholstery to lots and lots of metals of all colors. Because they are a large company, they’ve had many people design their furniture over the years, so it’s hard to pin down an exact “look” or style, but rest assured if you find a good-looking Mid-Century Modern industrial-looking filing cabinet with style to spare, there’s a good chance it’s a Steelcase.
Founded in 1912 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Steelcase was originally known as “The Metal Office Furniture Company.” Specializing first in filing cabinets and safes, it slowly moved on to other furniture pieces, changing its name to Steelcase in 1954. In recent decades, Steelcase has taken a strong stance as not only an office furniture leader, but as a technology and sustainability leader. Steelcase frequently invests in eco-friendly ventures, like in 2008 when it committed to financially supporting a US wind farm by purchasing green power from it. Many of Steelcase’s manufacturing processes also receive certifications and awards, like the MBDC Cradle to Cradle and LEED. As far as technology goes, Steelcase is inspired by innovation, and majority-owns the design consultancy company IDEO—known for their innovative ideas in a number of different fields.
Though the look of their furniture pieces has changed pretty rapidly over the years, they were one of the largest manufacturers of sleek professional furnishings for quite some time, and continue to be a powerhouse. And their gorgeous Mid-Century Modern furnishings look darn good as industrial accents in homes and offices today! 
