Researchers worked with designers to inform a new approach to helping people move, think and feel better. The solution: Mackinac (pronounced MAK-uh-naw) is a total re-envisioning of the work environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile creating Mackinac, we thought about how to support collaboration, focus and respite all in a compact footprint – making it easier for people to move from one type of work to another,\u201d said Bill Bennie, Steelcase industrial design manager. \u201cWe wanted to help people balance<\/a> intense work with periods of rejuvenation and balance our needs for privacy with needs to connect with others.\u201d<\/p>\n Mackinac contains a series of \u201cmicrozones\u201d \u2014 making it simpler for people to shift from individual work to group work and providing the privacy people need to get away for a bit and rejuvenate. The height-adjustable cantilever worksurfaces and shelving towers can combine in a variety of ways to support these different types of work either in a closed office or the open plan.<\/p>\n Mackinac creates microzones that easily support the transition between working alone to working with others, or a quick moment of respite \u2013 reducing the time people spend looking for just the right place to work. (Seen here: Focus, respite<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t Shelving towers provide people much-needed visual separation to minimize distractions and allow for moments of respite during a busy day. (Seen here: Focus, respite<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t The cantilever worksurface unique to Mackinac makes it ideal for collaboration settings in a small footprint. By removing the legs typically found under most desks, designers literally were able to remove a physical barrier \u2014 letting more people easily gather and work together. (Seen here: Collaboration<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t Today\u2019s leaders need to be visible within their organization while still highly productive. Designers created Mackinac to be beautiful and high performing. A broad range of material options include finishes that can create a sophisticated and luxurious aesthetic. (Seen here: Focus<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t The cantilever worksurface, with an expanse of up to 72 inches, creates a visually lighter aesthetic in the open plan. Shelving towers give people a way to personalize their space \u2014 displaying objects that express themselves. (Seen here: Focus<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t By removing the typical legs found underneath a worksurface, Mackinac provides people with an open end to their personal space, making it easy to invite someone to approach and collaborate. In addition to a display area, shelving towers provide shielding in the open plan. (Seen here: Focus<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t People are working longer hours and getting pulled in lots of different directions. Mackinac makes it easy to navigate the transitions between times of focus, collaboration and respite. (Seen here: Focus, respite<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t Leaders need to toggle between being visible and being able to step away. Mackinac supports a variety of settings within a private office. (Seen here: Focus, respite<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t Some visual barriers can make people feel boxed in or claustrophobic, and physical barriers can be obstacles to collaboration. Mackinac\u2019s shelving towers are designed to create needed psychological and visual privacy while maintaining an open environment for collaboration. (Seen here: Respite<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/steelcase-res.cloudinary.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,dpr_auto,q_70,h_656,w_1166\/v1531248155\/www.steelcase.com\/asia-en\/2018\/07\/10\/18-0105275.jpg\")
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