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The
Create Office Platform from Three H
 The Create idea stemmed from the fact
that Three H has a lot of midsized clients that need, for
example, 10 open plan workstations and three to four manager
suites.
When
Three H launched its MultiStations as platform a few years
ago, the company knew it was onto something. The company
learned a lot from the product that could help it achieve its
goal of seamless office design - a universal system that not
only could be used for open plan, but for private offices as
well.
From
that learning, the Create Office Platform was born and was
introduced this year at NeoCon. "We had just come off the
launch of MultiStations OS and we were hearing from clients
that they loved it," said Gary Hierlihy. vice president sales
and marketing. "But they also wanted to integrate the private
office into their designs. The evolution (from MultiStation OS
to Create Office Platform), took on its own life. It came from
where designers wanted to go - executive suite right through
to benching."
 Create Office Platform is one simple,
intelligent platform on which four applications are built that
are defined by the work activity. The applications include:
Club, Studio, Forum and Park - words used to describe
activities supported by Create.
Club
is a new approach to the traditional executive suite. Studio
is used to describe creativity in both the private office and
open space. Products that are part of studio have a lower
profile, fewer elements that are lighter in scale. and a new
kind of privacy screen; the same screen that provides solitude
in an open space also functions well as a backdrop in the
private office. Forum is the furniture and space used in an
office for interaction, with multiple people sharing ideas and
storage space. The need for a dedicated workspace still exists
but all the action is in the common area. The furniture can
accommodate work for small groupings of two or large clusters
of eight. Park is, as the name suggests, a place to go for a
temporary work or relaxation, a place to touch down as the
user would a park bench. Long surfaces abound and
the storage is open. It is an area where workers can come
together for collaboration and then go their separate ways.
 "Our design challenge was to create a
single platform from which designers could create a variety of
designs for all applications in the complete office," said
designer Jean Bourassa. "From the elegance of an executive
suite to the spirited collective work areas, Create is the new
way forward in integrated office design."
The
Create system canfully integrate with casegoods, panels and
storage from existing Three H lines including the
MultiStations as collection. With Create Three H and Bourassa
worked on the very basics and established new standards on
which to build. The design strategy was carefully mapped out.
Much had been learned in the creation of MultiStations as and
this knowledge became foundational in the development of
Create. Create Office Platform is defined by integration and
layering. From the baseline of a single platform components
are added to shape the environment spanning the classic layout
to the contemporary landscape.
 Three H is also known for its one inch
increment sizing. Create is no exception. The product is
designed with "stretchable" components. This product will
accommodate any size requirement and live up to the
"made-to-order" design philosophy and production process at
Three H. Every piece is made to order at Three H, Hierlihy
said. "It is specified to the exact drawings of designers and
tailored exactly to the needs of the job,'" he said.
"To
achieve success in this new economy, it is critical to stay in
sync with the needs of the marketplace," said President Brian
Conlin. "That is why we continue our investment in product
R&D. Our goal is to be at the forefront of design in
office furniture in North America. Create Office Platform is
another example of our commitment to providing a beautifully
and creatively designed product that is accessibly priced."
While
Create forms useful office space on its own. its design
success comes from its attention to detail, said Hierlihy.
;'We are trying to align more with the A & D community.
Around
the Create platform, we wanted a new aesthetic
look." he said.
 Create uses a new knife leg design,
aluminum detail and a new pull designed for Three H to match
the edge. Create also allows for all of the company's wood
finishes to he used.
"Simple
is better for designers in a lot of ways," Hierlihy said.
"Designs of to day are very elegantly clean. Because of that,
we can do clean elements that are made to order. It also
allows us to keep the price point low. It is the
democratization of design. Mid-market customers can access
high value designs. That creates a better environmental story
and makes the product uncomplicated."
The
Create idea stemmed from the fact that Three H has a lot of
mid-sized clients that need, for example. 10 open plan
workstations and three to four manager suites. There are many
jobs out there that fit that profile, Hierlihy said.
"It
is a market niche we see our company fitting into" he said.
"The design community is looking at these mid-level companies
that want mid-level furniture with high design. They don't
want to put up a lot of walls. Instead, they want to keep
things fluid. They need to be creative in how to divide the
office up.
The
Three H showroom in Chicago shows all of the Create
"apps." The company also has a new showroom in Toronto. The
Toronto showroom is in Liberty Village, a trendy area of old
factories that has also attracted the likes of Knoll and
Allsteel. The Three H showroom also has the advantage of being
next to the office of the Interior Designers of
Canada.
Download
the Create Brochure | 
The 
Three H is a 35-year old family
company; an office furniture idea laboratory.
With a tradition of European
craftsmanship combined with innovative technology, Three H has
been crafting office furniture that bridges the gap between
custom and mass for more then 35 years.
Several years ago, the Harvard Business
Review published an essay about jerks at work that the author
eventually turned into a book called The No A**hole Rule. I've
never read the book, but it talks about how to avoid being a
jerk at work and how to deal with people who are acting like
jerks.