Designing Banquet Chairs & Tables for the Javits Center
MityLite works with interior designers to craft chairs & tables that match their décor.
Overview
Since it opened in 1986, the Javits Center has been an iconic facility built along the scenic Hudson River with a mission to support New Yorkers by providing new business and employment opportunities. The center played a critical role in New York’s recovery and resurgence, helping to create a safer and stronger future. As a leader in sustainability, security, and technology, the center sets a new standard for convention centers throughout the country. It’s one of the busiest convention centers in the nation, hosting more than 175 events per year, pre pandemic.
The Challenge
The Javits Center began a $1.5 billion expansion in 2017, and once the construction was ending, they needed furniture to fill the 1.2 million square feet of new meeting rooms and special event space.
The center hired di Domenico & Partners, architects and interior design specialists, to help them find the right products to furnish their space. They needed thousands of new banquet chairs that fit the décor while being comfortable and practical to move, set up, and store.
In addition, the center needed several new plastic folding tables and carts to transport the new chairs and tables.
“di Domenico + Partners is proud to be associated with the newly expanded Javits Center. With furnishings manufactured by MityLite and others, the Javits Center retains its standing as a world class meeting place. The new facilities, furnishings, and environments will be a catalyst in reopening New York and the Javits Center post-pandemic”
The Solution
The design team at di Domenico & Partners was looking for an upscale banquet chair that would be durable enough to withstand damage during the set-up process. Aside from the aesthetics and durability, it was important to find chairs that were stackable with ganging and good carts for storage.
They liked the waterfall seat and flex-back design which made the chair extremely comfortable. The design team were attracted to the upscale look with a modern flair as well as the sleek lines of the chair back.
Finding the right chair upholstery and frame finish was a huge endeavor. The design team was looking for a selection that accommodated the existing products and the décor at the center without being too overwhelming. The upholstery also needed to be durable and easy to clean. They selected a Tungsten Sand finish for the legs and Flicker Shadow upholstery.
When selecting tables, they were looking for tabletop finishes and powder coating that complemented the tables already at the center. The most popular tables for event rentals at the Javits Center are the ABS rectangle tables, cocktail tables, 60-inch rounds, and 72-inch rounds. Therefore, they selected more tables in those shapes and sizes for the new spaces. They chose a Black tabletop and a Black powder coating for the legs.
MityLite also offered good cart solutions with their standard table and comfort chair lines and XpressPort® collection. The team ordered 4-Wheel Comfort Seating Carts, Comfort Seating High-Capacity Carts, XpressPort Cocktail Carts, XpressPort Slant-Stack Carts, XpressPort Space Saver Carts, and Reveal High-Capacity Table Carts.
“We did look at products from other manufacturers, but Javits already had MityLite products in the building, so why mess with a good thing. The Encore chair is manufactured to be extremely comfortable. After sitting in that chair, it became the standard when comparing the other chair samples.”
How MityLite Made It Easy
MityLite made it easy to fill requests and get samples of the chairs as well as upholstery and finish swatches. They offered several options that match the décor at the Javits Center, so the products can be moved from space to space and look good in every room.
They were able to get feedback from their employees on the various samples before. It was also easy to send the samples back as soon as they were finished.
Once they were ready to place the order, the process went smoothly.
“It was exciting to be involved from inception with a big expansion project to help guide the client in what they needed and the look and feel they wanted for the building. This was a new experience for us.”
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