Paoli Claims a Fresh Take on the Office Environment with New Chicago Showroom Location
The Mart, space #391 exemplifies how to flex furniture for the modern office.
Paoli opened the doors to a new showroom location in the Chicago Merchandise Mart this year for NeoCon 2017, the main trade show event for the contract interiors industry. The new space, centrally located on the third floor, marks another milestone in the company’s brand transformation as the 90-year-old company is on the fast track to setting a new standard for affordable, design-forward furniture solutions for small to mid-size businesses.
Paoli partnered with Chicago-based firm Whitney Architects bringing their vision to life with new brand colors and thoughtfully selected materials that speak to both the natural beauty of wood, a core element of Paoli’s history, and the aesthetic trends of today’s workplace.
“Paoli has a tradition of sophisticated casegood products with elegant veneers and finishes. However, as the workplace has evolved, so too has Paoli,” said Nora King, Project Architect from Whitney Architects. She added, “the new showroom space offers a unique opportunity to reintroduce Paoli as a multi-faceted company. Paoli is the same great brand combined with fresh products, aesthetics, and capabilities.”
The new showroom exemplifies the layout of a modern office and how furniture can adapt to the ever-changing demands of the work environment, such as the need for casual “touchdown” spots and height adjustable work surfaces in a variety of applications. Mimicking a modern office, the showroom includes reception, offices, conference, cafe, open workstations and a variety of breakout/lounge options outfit with products that work together in both function and aesthetic. Customers who visit the showroom can easily envision how Paoli products will translate to their own space.
The new showroom celebrates both the rich history and exciting future of Paoli. The rich history is represented with the classic Paoli blue branding color and an elegant and neutral aesthetic which accent the new casegood products. The visitor will also experience playful niches with pops of bright Paoli branding colors and correlating lounge pieces which hint at the exciting future and evolution of Paoli.
The featured product in the showroom is Paoli’s flagship casegood series Kindle One, a comprehensive series designed for visual continuity and countless applications. Kindle One is featured in several areas throughout including the reception area, open plan layouts, and two private offices, all complete with Paoli seating.
Other featured products include the coffee-house inspired CO|HO seating and tables, a curvy-fun sofa configured from modular lounge series Tribe, and a classically gorgeous veneer Universal conference table.
Also featured are various art installations that reflect the company’s evolving materials palette. Paoli’s partnership with Momentum fabrics is highlighted with a gradient of warm toned Momentum fabrics of various colors and patterns. A similar installation is visible in the conference room with Paoli’s current offering of veneers displayed in a gradient of vertical planks. Paoli’s exclusive Salt, Sun, and Smoke veneer finishes – inspired by the East Coast (Salt), Midwest (Sun), and West Coast (Smoke) regions – are displayed on veneer clocks as a play to their inspiration, where each clock displays one of the regional time zones and is finished in the respective color.
“Exciting transformations are taking place at Paoli and our Chicago showroom is just one of our new resources evolving to better meet the needs of our customers,” commented Paula Schmidt, Director of Marketing for Paoli. “We wanted this space to reflect our legacy while being relevant for today’s work environments. And Whitney Architects fully captured this desire. The end result is not your conventional display of show pieces, but rather a destination to see firsthand the ease of integrating Paoli products to reflect aesthetic needs, foster collaboration, and increase productivity.”
Paoli promoted a “Fresh” theme during NeoCon 2017 to fully embody the reintroduction and future of the brand. Along with the fresh space, fresh products and fresh materials, Paoli’s 2017 show featured a “fresh perspectives” photo contest on social media (awarding the grand prize winner a “fresh destination” $1,500 Delta Vacations gift card), themed re”fresh”ments throughout the week, and a “fresh event” cocktail party Monday evening featuring “fresh sounds” of a live duet performance by highly-acclaimed musicians singer/guitarist Matthew Santos and violinist Chihsuan Yang.
About Paoli
Paoli, LLC, is a division of the HNI Corporation. Established in 1926, Paoli owns a longstanding tradition of craftsmanship and authentic service. The brand is focused on driving value and simplicity for its key partners, providing straightforward service and smart product options relevant to the market. Paoli supports sustainable initiatives by offering SCS Indoor Air Advantage™ and BIFMA Level® certified product that is produced in a nationally-recognized clean and safe work environment. To learn more about Paoli, please visit paoli.com
About Whitney Architects
Made up of a diverse group of architects and interior designers, Whitney is a design firm built on the fundamental belief that our work can change people’s lives for the better. We develop innovative, personalized solutions through focused listening and creative problem-solving. Above all, we listen. We are proud of our reputation for providing what our clients want and, more importantly, helping to define what our clients need.
