A Year For the Books
HON made a meaningful impression at EDspaces 2024, the largest education furniture tradeshow in the United States, held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas, from November 12-14. The event provided an opportunity to showcase solutions designed to create spaces where students thrive and teachers feel supported.
Our exhibit highlighted HON’s diverse product portfolio, demonstrating how thoughtful furniture solutions can enhance educational environments. By curating spaces for administrative offices, classrooms, and media centers, HON provided a comprehensive perspective of how our designs support the dynamic needs of schools.
“We’re truly invested in what ‘learning by design’ means,” said Misael Munoz, Director of Public Sector at The HON Company. “We’re committed to understanding exactly how students are learning and how teachers are teaching – and making sure that we’re creating spaces that support both. What we’re trying to achieve is not about the furniture. It’s about the student and the teacher. It’s about giving back.”
Supporting Education Professionals Throughout Their Day
One key theme of the event was supporting education professionals at every stage of their day. From ergonomic seating in classrooms to flexible modular furniture in administrative offices, HON showcased solutions that prioritize comfort, adaptability, and productivity for today’s educators. Highlights included Ignition 2.0 and Cofi task seating solutions, designed for long-lasting comfort, and SoCo soft seating, perfect for casual conversations away from your desk.
Above: Ignition 2.0, Cofi
Empowering Students, Supporting Educators
HON’s “Empowering Students, Supporting Educators” concept resonated deeply with visitors. The space displayed cohesive furniture designs for entire school ecosystems (think: those spaces outside the classroom). Storyline modular bookcases, Confetti floor lounges and cushions, and versatile Tangram seating configurations demonstrated how equitable learning environments can promote collaboration across different educational spaces – building community within schools.
Power of Colors, Materials, and Finishes
The importance of sustainable and durable fabrics and finishes in schools was highlighted through products like Class-ifi storage and Build Makerspace Tables – showcasing how thoughtful material choices enhance functionality and aesthetic appeal in education spaces. Attendees learned more about HON’s sustainable solutions, including the brand’s partnership with SEAQUAL Initiative to use reclaimed marine plastics in product fabrics, as well as designs certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). These features emphasized how schools can balance durability alongside a commitment to the environment.
Above: SEAQUAL
Looking Ahead
EDspaces 2024 highlighted HON’s dedication to creating education environments that prioritize the needs of students and teachers. By focusing on fostering school culture and designing comfortable, functional spaces, HON aims to support collaboration, creativity, and a sense of belonging. These efforts underline how thoughtful furniture design can positively impact both learning and teaching experiences.
“With a research-backed approach, HON is diving deep into understanding how everyone within a school moves – from the student and the teacher, to the principal and paraeducator,” says Munoz. “We strive to provide adaptable solutions that work to each person’s individual needs. And we are on a mission to make sure nobody in the school feels forgotten.”
