Leap Drafting Chair by Steelcase

Steelcase History

“Design isn't just about style. It's about integrity of materials, functional integrity and intent.”
— Glen Oliver Löw, designer of the Think chair

At the turn of the 20th century, steel construction was making building exteriors less flammable, but office interiors were still crowded with wooden furniture, and still heated and lighted by open flame appliances. Smoking presented another fire hazard because ashes were often dumped in wicker wastepaper baskets. Beginning in 1912 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, The Metal Office Furniture Company (renamed Steelcase in 1954) had just 15 employees and a single product — a fireproof, metal wastepaper basket named the Victor!

Co-founder Peter M. Wege, a designer who had received several patents for sheet metal structures, was well aware of the fireproof benefits of metal office products. Wege and Chris Stone designed a metal office desk which won a bid for a federal contract, and thus the company began manufacturing office desks.

During the 1930s, Metal Office collaborated with world-famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright to produce furniture for the S.C. Johnson & Sons in Racine building, which Life magazine called “the most inspirational office building of the 20th century.”

During World War II, the company designed steel shipboard furniture for the U.S. Navy. A piece of Steelcase naval furniture was used for the historic signing of the surrender documents ending World War II.

Beginning in 1975, Steelcase launched a series of advanced office chairs, including the Sensor chair that adapted to the body's movements; the Leap® chair (1999), which addressed the correlation between back pain and worker productivity; and the Think™ chair (2004), an intuitive, mid-priced and environmentally sustainable product. Still newer ergonomic task chairs include Amia® and Cobi®, both offering the comfort and support of higher-priced chairs. Today, Steelcase, Inc. supplies thousands of products worldwide, including metal and wood office furniture, systems furniture, seating, computer support furniture, desks, tables, credenzas, filing cabinets, and office lighting.