Composite panels go to work

TTIODAY'S fast-paced. cyber-conI nected marketplace has spawned a spirited new design direction for the contemporary workplace. And, composite panel products such as particleboard, MDF and agrifiber board are vital team players in these hip new home office offerings.

To keep stride with a fast-changing economy, businesses, telecommuters and at-home professionals alike are demanding high-style office set-ups that are not only efficient to install, but canbereadily rearranged. Furniture manufacturers are responding with a host of flexible, modular designs, using composite panels to produce mobile desks, files and walls as well as multi-purpose units that are easily regrouped for a client meeting or a private work space.

Once-staid office environments now feature brightly colored "playpens" for brainstorming sessions, "sleep tents" for re-energizing naps. and oversized Tic Tac Toe boards to get creative juices flowing.

A number of factors are driving the use of composite panels in trendy new office furniture, according to Chris Leffel, senior v.p., Composite Wood Council. "First," he says, "is cost. Using composite panels you can produce visually appealing products at a fraction of the cost of solid wood." dom to furniture designers' imaginations. Apple Computer's spare, brightly colored iMac computer influenced Haworth's "if" collection. with its combination of organic and geometric forms and colorful surface options.

The look of wood remains a drawing card on the office scene because of its warmth, according to furniture manufacturer Gunlocke, which has begun mixing cherry, maple and beech finishes for an appealing eclectic look.

Another driving factor, says Leffel, is "the diversity of panels available. The range of thicknesses and sizes is virtually unlimited."

SCULPTURAL workstation from Haworth showcases the versatility of composite panels.

The "if' line addresses key home office issues with a wide range of storage pieces, work tops, tables and screens that can easily be modified to individual needs and quickly moved from space to space. The collection's work surfaces are designed to rev up the home office: dynamic patterned Iaminates add visual interest and powder-coated accents in vivid shades of red, green and periwinkle to punch up the work area with vibrant color.

He notes that panels can be produced for specific applications by adding moisture resistance or flame retardancy, increasing or decreasing the density and weight, and producing custom sizes, thicknesses and finishes.

Laminate finishes, for example, are a boon to today's fast-changing work environment. When a growing home business requires additional employees, wood finishes can be difficult to match on new desks and work surfaces. Laminate finishes, on the other hand, guarantee consistency in color and tone, giving the expanding home office a seamless, polished ambiance.

Sauder Woodworking's sleek Parisian collection creates a versatile home office setting with its clean, uncluttered lines and natural bethel cherry laminate finish. The collection features modular styling that allows stand-alone pieces to be joined in multiple configurations to meet changing work space demands.

The panels' versatility gives free-

Another exuberant new home office collection, Creative Works by Creative Interiors, also caters to today's cyber-connected business world. The shapely desks, returns, storage and entertainment units provide versatility and flexibility for the home office. And the combination of a wood finish with stylish nickel hardware fits right into the 21st Century office landscape.

Durability is another prime consideration. Leffel explains: "Many people still have this old connotation about particleboard that it's cheap and falls apart in your hands. But it has come so far, in terms of its screw holding abilities, stiffness, and resistance to breakage."

Performance is just one reason why composite panels are helping to transform offices with boldness, color and unconventional designs.