Facilities and Operations has developed and released comprehensive furniture design guidelines, standardizing and simplifying the furniture procurement process for projects at Columbia's Morningside and Manhattanville campuses.
The Furniture Program – developed by the Planning and Capital Project Management Department – offers a curated selection of furniture from Steelcase that emphasizes functionality, durability, and sustainability while ensuring design consistency across the University. Furniture options support a range of work and learning environments, including offices, conference rooms, classrooms, collaborative spaces, lounge areas, and more.
The revised standards were developed with the following criteria:
- Space Efficiency: Slimmer dividers and a narrower desk return allows for an increased workstation footprint to feel less constricted; less filing space provides more legroom
- Sustainability: Contributing to less waste with purposeful and functional components
- Modern Aesthetics: Warmer and welcoming finishes that evoke the feeling of comfort
- Cost Conscious: Decreased cost for the basic option; wiser investment of an ergonomic option for the price of the previous standard module
In line with Columbia’s Plan 2030 sustainability goals, nearly all furniture available in the program have LEVEL® certifications from Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA), with most products meeting higher LEVEL 2 and LEVEL 3 standards. LEVEL is the foremost sustainability certification program that measures the environmental, material health, and social responsibility impacts of furniture products in the built environment.
For more information and detailed specifications on the Furniture Program, please visit the Design Requirements page on Columbia’s Design and Construction website.
