While NeoCon 2011 may already seem like ancient history, the discoveries and accordant accolades keep rolling in yet, some six weeks after the fact—a testament to the size and scope of the largest contract furniture fair this side (and perhaps any side) of the Atlantic. Today’s laurels go to contract manufacturer Paoli, who debuted the Diverge Management Collection, an exciting line of versatile workspace seating.

Diverge Management Seating. Manufactured by Paoli.

Diverge Seating Conforms to Divergent Tastes and Varied Demands

Of course, everyone knows that the very notion of a workspace has become fluid in conception—changeable in both the abstract and the concrete. The Diverge Collection responds to this new reality by offering multiple seating incarnations: lounge, desk, and management.

This variety supports the contention by Paoli VP of Marketing Kent Robbins that Diverge is “the most comprehensive seating collection in the Paoli offering today.” The poster child, if you will, of the line was in prominent display at NeoCon. Sporting the modern look and ergonomic functionality of a contemporary task chair, Diverge also features a number of aesthetically-appealing options. These include bases in wood or aluminum with a variety of finely-tailored fabrics/upholstery options and three arm configurations including loop, cantilevered and loop-cantilevered.

About the Manufacturer: the name of manufacturer Paoli may make it sound as if they’re Italian—and the furniture they manufacture may occasionally appear as same—yet they’re American through and through. Established as a maker of wooden furniture in the early mid-century, Paoli garnered a reputation for high-quality handmade seating from the start. With a manufacturing facility in Orleans, Indiana and showrooms in the Merchandise Mart and D.C., the company is a consistent force in the U.S. A&D scene–and internationally, for that matter, especially since they’re one of the few contract manufacturers who routinely build with solid wood: “Chair frames are crafted from select, high-grade hardwoods. End panels on casegoods have lumber cores. Modesty panels on desks feature solid wood base rails. Even the pieces we use to reinforce joints are crafted from wood.”