Allsteel has launched Admix, a light-scale table series suitable for the modern office. “We focused on the idea of bringing flexibility and adaptability to both end-users and specifiers,” said Chris Adamick, collection designer and frequent Allsteel collaborator.
Indeed, for Adamick, who explained that the initial concept took shape during the pandemic, the evolving nature of the workplace was at the forefront of his thinking. With employees no longer in the office every day to complete heads-down work, his goal was to create a versatile, user-centric line tailored to corporate settings.
The first-to-market interchangeable casters and glides allow ease of mobility. Admix tables are easily arranged and repurposed, which eliminates the need to replace or purchase new furniture when an organization’s requirements change. With telescoping legs and a wheelbarrow feature, there is a seamless transition between different applications rather than clunky movement. “When you have wheels they are inviting you to do something,” Adamick noted. “This promotes user agency and enables the tables to be relevant for a day, a month, and a year.”
There are so many tables to choose from, yet they are surprisingly limited, made to accommodate a specific function and remain static within a space. Prioritizing multifunctionality, Admix tables are ideal for today’s work environments where change can happen at a moment’s notice. “Every company has a version of a training table, but they are all really designed to do one thing. We wanted to make sure these tables would actually be used in these office spaces that we are paying so much for,” Adamick said.
The Satellite table in the line, for example, is a compact solution that provides outlets and integrated wire management, ideal in workspaces or schools where there are not enough places to power up, and cords are often found in a tangled mess. With a surface designed for a laptop and other items, it is a piece that maximizes form and function.
Admix conference tables are available in a range of top shapes, from Racetrack to Rounded Rectangle and Boat. These styles reflect the desire for furnishings that are reminiscent of the kind of pieces that we surround ourselves with in the home to create a welcoming vibe, rather than the angular options that were favored in the past. “The tables have curves instead of these severe shapes,” Adamick explained. “From a planning perspective it is super flexible.”
There is a move away from the long conference tables, where people are separate, to circular, organic designs. When envisioning the grouping, Adamick said that he thought about all of the tasks that happen in the workplace and how to make them less stressful. The Full Round tabletop represents the work-life balance that many people are trying to achieve. “I considered these high-value activities, and the object that best speaks to that is the dinner table. It is where we come together to share a meal or conversation, and it is just natural.”
Casual Friday is not just about clothing, but extends to the furniture we use, whether it is lounge seating or communal tables. Adamick wanted to capture this, even in the smallest details. “We’re no longer in full suits, we are wearing sweatpants and trainers,” he explained. “There’s texture and color everywhere, even in the office. The old school look and feel are gone. It is all softening.”
The Admix tops help to foster collaboration in a relaxed way, similar to day-to-day interactions in a residence. The Full Round top has a familiarity that resonates with the collective. “It is omnidirectional, but not in a traditional way,” Adamick noted. “We cut the center of it out, so it is a ring that sits lightly on the floorplate. It doesn’t cast a big, dark shadow in a room. It feels very new and fresh.”
Employees and managers, while appreciative of the flex schedules in place, are concerned about guaranteeing equity in the workplace for staff members, whether they are physically in the office or working remotely. Yet when video conferencing, the on-screen experience can be lacking for attendees, who may not see their colleagues. The V-Media table provides an easy sight-of-line to all participants—and ensures inclusion. “We have removed hierarchy, and really, static thinking with Admix. We are trying to move on from that to dynamic thinking and creativity,” Adamick added.
