Founded in 1964 by John Geiger as a hand-crafted woodworking business, Geiger International eventually “set new international standards.” The company believes in working well on work worth doing. In 1999, Geiger joined the Herman Miller family. With its main facility in Atlanta, Geiger also has locations in Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington DC.
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Saya
Named for an Afro-Bolivian dance, Saya is a curvaceous chair that “surrounds the sitter with an embrace of innovative woven mesh upholstery.” This round shape works in conjunction with the angular seat and splayed legs, creating a lovely juxtaposition of curves and lines. Intended for commercial, retail, and residential settings, Saya fits in many spaces due to its modest footprint. Saya is the work of David Ritch and Mark Saffell, principals of 5D Studio.
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Sotto
In 2011, the Sotto Executive Chair was awarded the Best of NeoCon Silver Award. The chair gets its name from the Italian phrase “sotto voce,” meaning quiet or private. This understated piece is the creation of George Simons Jr., who practices “human-centered, objective and responsive” design that balances “function, emotion and relevance.” Equal parts sculptural object and comfortable work chair, Sotto has become an object of desire in the contemporary workplace. With midback and highback options, upholstered or aluminum arms, Sotto is elegant in all its forms.
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Tuxedo
As refined and tailored as the item of clothing for which it was named, the Tuxedo Component Lounge is one member of a series of simple base elements that add up to a spectrum of configurations—“from an ottoman and club chair to a full-size corner sectional.” Sitting on tall steel legs, Tuxedo almost looks as if it’s floating: “In my architecture, I strive to make buildings appear as light as possible," says designer Craig Bassam of BassamFellows. Scott Fellows, the second half of BassamFellows, is a strategist/creative director who believes in bringing back craftsmanship to contemporary furniture.
Geiger International has “a clear vision of our place in the world of tomorrow.” This vision translates into the company’s Perfect Vision 2020 initiative, which outlines the following sustainability targets: “zero landfill, zero hazardous waste, zero air and water emissions, LEED Silver construction and 100 percent green energy.” In 2010, Geiger reached two of these goals—zero landfill and 100 percent green energy. The company uses veneers from suppliers who practice sustainable forestry, and 60 to 80 percent of their veneers are domestically grown.
