The days of the uncomfortable metal classroom chair are dead. In today’s learning environments, flexibility and comfort are key. Steelcase “went back to school” in order to learn what educators and students wanted most in a classroom chair, and the result is Node. Designed “ for quick, easy transitions from one mode to the next,” Node Chair responds to the different ways that contemporary classrooms operate: from lectures to collaborative projects, discussion groups to workshops. This makes Node Chair a great fit for classrooms at all levels, from grade school to college.

Node Chair. Manufactured by Steelcase.

Comfortable and Colorful Classroom Chair

Steelcase certainly did their homework, as Node’s features illustrate. The classroom chair comes equipped with a swivel seat, personal worksurface, roomy base, flexible seat, and casters. The swivel seat allows students to turn to face the professor, each other, or a projector screen. It is also convenient for students who like to move around. Node’s worksurface is large enough to accommodate laptops and notebooks but small enough that it doesn’t get in the way if the chairs are positioned across from each other for groupwork. The base of Node Chair is roomy, allowing students to pile their stuff inside; and the flexible seat is comfortable, responding to the different body types of its users. The casters are simply the icing on the cake, since they make changing positions quick and easy.

Steelcase also offers tons of options for the Node Chair. It comes as a height-adjustable five-star chair or stool (good for science labs). The classroom chair can also be used without a personal worksurface, in case its intended classroom already has tables. If you don’t like casters, Node Chair is also available with glides. My favorite option is the cupholder, which fits anything from a hot cup of coffee to a water bottle. Node Chair also has two fantastic features: colorful style and Cradle to Cradle Silver certification. Get the chair in any of 12 seat colors, with a worksurface available in five colors and a base available in three colors. Best of all, schools, teachers, and students can be proud that Steelcase designed Node Chair to achieve a Silver Cradle to Cradle rating.

About the Manufacturer: For nearly 100 years, Steelcase has been manufacturing “a comprehensive portfolio of workplace products, furnishings and services.” Globally accessible through a network of more than 650 dealers, Steelcase has its headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan. With three core brands— Steelcase, Turnstone and Coalesse—as well as specialty sub-brands like Nurture, their healthcare division, Steelcase offers a comprehensive line of products.