Rome Free Academy Interior

        To handle student population growth and replace an outmoded building, the Rome City School District built a new facility for grades 9-12. “The new building was designed to provide quality education,” says Fred Sestito, District Plant Engineer. “It’s a contemporary facility and we wanted furniture to complement it.” “During the selection process, we put the Intellect desks and chairs together in different configurations,” explains Amy Lefevre, Interior Designer. “The teachers took onelook and just loved it. We later met with the teachers to discuss their individual needs. We wanted to customize each teaching area.”

     For greater classroom flexibility teachers use KI All Terrain mobile tables with Torsion on the Go! chairs. For art classes, the Venue C tables provide larger work areas, look great when adjoined and complement the Intellect chairs. “The Intellect chairs also fit larger students and are still comfortable,” says Lefevre. “The stackability makes the custodians’ jobs easier.” Sestito agrees, “The way the chairs slide onto the desks is so much easier to handle than the traditional upside down chairs on desks.” “Prior to the beginning of school, we gave orientation tours of the new facility,” he adds. “We pointed out that the chairs are difficult for students to tip back (risking falls and injuries). From a safety standpoint we really like that.”

     From classrooms, to the impressive lobby, to offices, cafeteria, break room and gymnasium, KI provides innovative furnishings. The lobby features Logix modular furniture and Tempe planters. “We wanted to use curved shapes,” says Lefevre. “The fabric was chosen to hide dirt yet still reinforce the school colors of black and orange.” 

    In the dressing room behind the stage area, Promenade benches and 600 Series stools provide the
seating. According to Lefevre, “The benches have a nice wide seat and are heavy enough not to walk around the building.” “What we really liked about the KI furniture is that the entire collection could have the same metallic finish,” says Lefevre. “We could carry the color theme throughout the building. It’s easier for the designers and better for the customers when furniture is purchased from a single manufacturing source,” she adds.

    “Throughout the building, we avoided fixed furniture to ensure more versatility,” says Sestito. “In the cafeteria we chose loose chairs and tables for easier rearranging of the room.” In an area that serves many purposes, easy movement of furniture is a must. Matrix chairs stack up to 45 high and Barron rectangular tables fold and stack. In the teachers' break room, AGI Jessa and Versa chairs are covered in matching fabrics, making a comfortable area to rest, work or dine. “We chose the tablet arm chairs since all the teachers use laptops,” explains Lefevre. “Now they can bring their laptops to the lounge and continue working.” “The functionality of the KI furniture interested us from the very beginning,” says Sestito. “It simply does what we need it to do.”

Description from architect.