Chair Lab – Furnishings and Design | The University of Alabama

In coordination with the campus wide efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, the Chair Lab is currently conducting virtual appointments. The first step is to fill out the Chair Lab Form in its entirety. You will then be contacted by one of our designers to schedule a virtual chair lab meeting. During the meeting we will make suggestions and show you how to access videos and instructional information on the available chairs and will assist you in making the best decision possible. When you have made your selection, Furnishings and Design will work with you to obtain a quote for the new task chair. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us, at furnishings@ua.edu.

- Access Videos and Instructional Information
- Chair Lab Form

About

The Furnishings and Design department offers a complimentary Chair Lab service to match employees with ergonomic task chair options. Most task chairs are made to accommodate a range of body types. Your task chair is the hardest working piece of furniture in your office, it is important to “test drive” a chair to make sure it will be a good fit for you. The chairs in our lab have been vetted for quality, performance and durability and have warranties covering all parts.

Planning Your Visit

The Furnishing and Design department is excited to help pair you with the best suited task chair. The Chair Lab is located in the Procurement Services Annex on the University Services Campus. Chair Lab consultations with our dedicated interior designers are by appointment only. You can request an appointment by filling out the Chair Lab Appointment Request Form. Please fill out the information in its entirety. The information provided will help the interior designer pull the best suited chairs for you to test during your visit. A budget is imperative in the selection process so we can show you a task chair within the appropriate price range. To determine your budget, you should consult your department’s purchaser.

Once the appointment request form is received by the Furnishing and Design department, our office assistant will reach out to you to schedule a time and date for your visit. Appointments are usually scheduled for 30-minute durations.

Making Your Selection

The interior designer will demonstrate the features and options available on the chairs that have been selected for your visit. If you have any concerns or questions that were not noted on the application form, please, take this time to discuss them with your assigned interior designer. Many people that visit the chair lab feel confident making a task chair selection that same day. If you need more time to “test drive” your chair, we offer trial chairs from the Chair Lab to use on loan. Furnishings and Design will have Logistics deliver the trial chair to your office. Due to the high volume of Chair Lab requests, sample chairs can only be on loan for one week. You will keep your current chair until the new chair arrives. Furthermore, Furnishings and Design actively tracks where chairs are located, and Furnishings and Design must be notified immediately if the location of a sample chair changes. Departments are responsible for returning the chair in a reusable condition, and a lost or damaged chair will be charged to the responsible department.

Ordering and Delivery

Once the final chair selection has been made, the Furnishings and Design department will obtain a written quote from UA’s contracted furniture dealers. The quote will be emailed to you, and the quote should be forwarded to your department’s purchaser, who should contact the vendor directly to order the task chair via P-Card. Task chairs take four to eight weeks to be delivered. They will be delivered directly to the end-user as noted on the quote.

For questions about appointments and directions to the Chair Lab, please email the Furnishings and Design department at furnishings@ua.edu.

Chair Pricing and Seating Options

Pricing below is based on standard features and options and are subject to change. Commercial furniture is a significant investment for the end-user’s health. Your professional task chair will include a comprehensive warranty and quality materials that are held to performance and fire rating standards.

$ - $350-450
$$- $451-650
$$$- $651-850
$$$$- $851 and more

Available Seating Options

Chair Lab Appointment Request