Top Office Furniture Vendors to the Federal Government

From the pages of the Monday Morning Quarterback, the office furniture industry's trade publication, comes the top suppliers of office furniture to the federal government (based on 2009 sales).

(all figures in millions)
1. Knoll $121.5
2. Federal Prison Industries $103.4
3. Herman Miller $94.4
4. KI $91.3
5. HNI (Allsteel, HON, Gunlocke) $71.7
6. Haworth $70.1
7. Steelcase $63.1
8. Kimball $44.2
9. Misc. Foreign contractors $27.2
10. Teknion $25.1

In addition to the list, the article also pointed out that the annual purchases by the federal market had nearly tripled over the past decade. Growing from $515 Million in 2000 to $1.3 Billion in 2009.

Red-White-Blue & Green: GSA hires first Chief Greening Officer

Anyone who doubted that Sustainability and the Green movement are here to stay doubt no more, as the United States General Services Administration (GSA), has officially established the new position of Chief Greening Officer.

GSA, which manages over $500 BILLION in federal assets, including 9,500 government-owned or leased buildings, has been given an Executive Order by President Obama to, "lead by example in the greening and modernizing of the nation's infrastructure.

The new Chief Greening Officer will "accelerate our momentum to drive sustainability by aggressively seeking out and incorporating proven greener, more efficient building technologies and practices throughout our entire inventory of 1,500 owned and 8,000 leased buildings" said Robert A. Peck, Commissioner of Public Buildings.

This is a serious effort on behalf of the government that will pay dividends for the commercial interiors segment in a couple of ways.

1. Obvious: This focus on sustainability helps reduces the strain we are putting on our environment, and creates healthier workplaces (which equals happier government workers which we all can appreciate).
2. Not so Obvious: Increased jobs for "green tech" and "clean tech" companies, increased jobs for architects designing or re-designing LEED certified spaces, and increased purchases of quality furniture that can help contribute toward achieving LEED certification.