Kimball Office Co-Develops Breakthrough Innovation Lab In Partnership With Philadelphia 76ers
Kimball Office, in partnership with the Philadelphia 76ers, recently announced plans for the Sixers Innovation Lab Crafted by Kimball. The Lab will be housed inside of a state-of-the-art Training Complex, which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2016.
“The only way we can keep pace with accelerating change and drive innovation is to be very strategic with our partnerships and focus on creating synergy that’s difficult to duplicate,” stated Mike Wagner, President of Kimball Office. The Sixers and Kimball Office have amassed an impressive group of partners to help guide the entrepreneurs who will occupy the Lab, including leadership from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Techstars, Nextstage Capital and Dreamit Ventures. Wagner also stated, “Besides our association with these world class partners, and being a founding member of the Lab, we plan to use this space as a sandbox to gather data and gain insight into (what we believe is) the ultimate workplace environment. This will be our proving ground to help build out a smart eco-system that truly optimizes effectiveness in today’s high energy workplace.”
The leadership of the 76ers are well known for their willingness to think differently, challenge norms and disrupt for success,” stated Wendy Murray, Director of Marketing for Kimball Office. “We share these same values, and we’re proud to be part of the first-of-its-kind, breakthrough B2B partnership in the sports entertainment industry.”
Philadelphia 76ers CEO Scott O’Neil said, “Included in this effort, we have some of the world’s most brilliant, innovative, and sought-after minds in the media, sports, technology, finance, and consumer world. Now we can truly say that we are building an organization that will be best-in-class in both basketball operations and business, as we shift the paradigm of what sports innovation, partnerships, and community engagement can be.”
The Innovation Lab will be the ultimate representation for the workplace of the future. The smart interiors will seamlessly connect people with space, enabling more effectiveness of the people who occupy the space, including the advisors who will provide consulting and mentoring to the entrepreneurs who are selected for the program.
Murray finished by saying, “Our effort toward creating systemic innovation is really starting to pay dividends, so stay tuned, as we have another exciting announcement scheduled within the month.”
Applications to participate in the Sixers Innovation Lab Crafted by Kimball will be accepted between April 15 and September 30, 2016. For more information on the Sixers Innovation Lab Crafted by Kimball or to apply, visit http://www.sixersinnovationlab.com/.
About Kimball Office
Kimball Office has been transforming workspaces for 45 years with an ever-widening breadth of relevant, sustainable office furniture solutions. As one of America’s most respected environmentally-conscious contract office furniture manufacturers, Kimball Office provides architects, designers, facility managers, and employers with open plan system solutions, both modern and classic desking, and a range of conference and seating options. The company is a brand unit of Kimball International, Inc., (NASDAQ:KBAL), a publicly-traded company headquartered in Jasper, Indiana, and a recipient of Forbes magazine’s “America’s Most Trustworthy Companies” designation in 2013, 2014, and 2015. For additional information about Kimball Office, visit www.kimballoffice.com.
About The Philadelphia 76ERs
The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the most storied franchises in the National Basketball Association, having won three World Championships, earning nine trips to The Finals and making 47 playoff appearances over 66 seasons. The team is owned by an investor group led by Managing Owner Josh Harris.
