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Well, while your desk's unspecified size may be an outlier, a typical adjustable height desk is about $1500.

I'm not the parent but thought I'd chip in - I bought a steelcase leap chair when I started working from home.
It set me back $1000 (more expensive in Europe) and was one of my best investments ever. The improvements in terms of fatigue and back ache were intantaneous, I got more productive on day 1 of owning that chair.
Now, I'm not trying to say that this specific brand and model is perfect, I'm not affiliated: just that this is the price range you should be looking at - from $500 to $2000.

As for standing up to the use, my chair is now 5 years old, and depite seeing a lot of use and abuse it is still in perfect working order. It's warranted for 8 years and I expect it will last even more.

Now companies can get a lot of fat fucking desk jockeys to work from a treadmill/stairmaster via iPad.

This is a nonsense argument; it's easy to put a full wired workstation on a treadmill.

I'm serious. If people are going to be there for long periods of time, they should get a little exercise.
I'm not talking about running, just a leisurely ~1mph walk.
Standing and walking are probably the absolute best options for maintaining good ergonomics.

The office furniture company Steelcase makes one.

I'm not saying to ban chairs, keep them as backup and for people who physically can't stand for extended periods of time.

Treadmill desks exist! called the Walkstation http://store.steelcase.com/go/products/detail/A7T/

I've done jogging, which can be pretty encouraging because it gives you good-looking muscle tone as well as weight loss. But as one gets older, jogging typically gets more painful. Also, bad weather (including winter) can derail you from a jogging routine, and make you get off the wagon.

I find that until you run out of good content, Netflix + a home treadmill is a pretty good combination. I found that walking 8 miles/day takes about 2 hours and burns one pound of fat. 4 miles/day is still pretty good, and unless you eat like a glutton, should do great.

There's also the walkstation, which might be an awesome solution if you can put it in your workspace.

Those are nice.

For people who are a bit bigger the Criterion Plus is nice.

It's a 'big and tall' chair (basically a massively oversized and overstuffed version of the regular criterion task chair) from Steelcase, but for someone like me, who is just a little bit big and tall, its like a couch chair.

It's insanely sturdy and tough, thick padded armrests, hugely overstuffed seat with high density foam, and a tall back.

The seat and armrests are wide enough that I can really slouch and spread out if I want, and the armrests are farther out than most chairs.

Would be too much for a skinny 5'8" person, but for someone who is 6'2" and not thin, its a great chair.

Seconded. I have owned an Aeron at home for 7 years now, it had been the best chair I had ever used.... Now, at work, I have the Steel Case Leap, and this chair is much better than the Aeron. Honestly, my old Aeron hasn't held up that great over the years, but also, adjustment wise, the Steelcase is better. http://www.steelcase.com/na/leap_products.aspx?f=11852

http://www.steelcase.com/na/think_products.aspx?f=11845 http://www.steelcase.com/na/amia_products.aspx?f=24934 the Aeron is ugly. i ordered a Think today actually. friend raved about it.

http://www.steelcase.com/na/think_products.aspx?f=11845 http://www.steelcase.com/na/amia_products.aspx?f=24934 the Aeron is ugly. i ordered a Think today actually. friend raved about it.

The Aeron chair has lots of wonderful things about it, I used one for many years. However, the biggest problem it has is the plastic ridge that suspends the mesh that you sit on. That plastic strip is what your thighs will rest on and I found that it reduced blood circulation because it was such a sharp line moving from the soft, comfy mesh to the hard, plastic rim. After my Aeron died, I picked up a Steelcase Think chair and I love it. Very comfy.

I sat in an Aeron chair for about 3 years and it was a nice chair but it pinched my hamstrings just above the kneecaps because the mesh was so soft that the frame was cutting into the back of my leg. This is back when I weighed 140 lbs.
I have a think chair from steelcase. It's da bomb. I'm not sure how much they are retail but I got mine for about $400. It's very comfortable and multi adjustable. They are also fairly green materials-wise. I'd highly recommend it.
The leap chair is a nicer one they have (i think it's nicer anyway). They have some cool chairs.

I sat in an Aeron chair for about 3 years and it was a nice chair but it pinched my hamstrings just above the kneecaps because the mesh was so soft that the frame was cutting into the back of my leg. This is back when I weighed 140 lbs.
I have a think chair from steelcase. It's da bomb. I'm not sure how much they are retail but I got mine for about $400. It's very comfortable and multi adjustable. They are also fairly green materials-wise. I'd highly recommend it.
The leap chair is a nicer one they have (i think it's nicer anyway). They have some cool chairs.

Found the urls for the other 2 chairs.

http://www.steelcase.com/na/leap_products.aspx?f=11852

and

http://www.steelcase.com/na/think_products.aspx?f=11845

Both with all options. The 'Think' chair took the longest to get used too, and I'm still pretty unsure of it.

Both steelcases cost around $900, and the Aeron was $1,200.

Found the urls for the other 2 chairs.

http://www.steelcase.com/na/leap_products.aspx?f=11852

and

http://www.steelcase.com/na/think_products.aspx?f=11845

Both with all options. The 'Think' chair took the longest to get used too, and I'm still pretty unsure of it.

Both steelcases cost around $900, and the Aeron was $1,200.

I bought a SteelCase Think chair with all the bells and whistles

http://www.steelcase.com/na/think_products.aspx?f=11845

Its designed to adjust automatically to the user so it only has minimal adjustments. I didn't really notice how nice it was until I fractured one of my vertebrae this winter. Sitting in it actually made my back feel better. With everything I wanted accessory wise it cost me the same amount as an Aeron but it was well worth it.

http://www.steelcase.com/na/leap_products.aspx?f=11852 It's what I'm sitting in right now. They have a bunch of these at my girlfriend's med school, set up in the study centers, and everyone absolutely loves them. Very comfortable, lots of little options to tailor to your sitting desires. They can run a bit expensive, (namely the higher end models), but you can also find them on ebay, and the like. My GF got hers for about 300 on ebay, worth every penny.

http://www.steelcase.com/na/uno_products.aspx?f=12279

While Herman Miller gets the press (and looks cool) The SteelCase Leap chairs are quite cozy and incredibly well built.

I think what I have is the Leap, and I have to say that while I think it's a very well built chair that could be comfortable, I made a mistake buying it. Basically, it's not made for shorties like me. Even at its minimum height, the lumbar support is jabbing into the middle of my back. But outside of that it's so adjustable and built with good contours so I think it would be fine.

I'm hoping to pawn it off on a friend and go out and buy an Aeron. :)

It's so much simpler and cost effective than the Aeron. The chair moves with you,
the seat pan, the lower lumbar support, it's great. It's arm rests are fully adjustable, vertically, forward/back, and side to side. The lower back support actually works and doesn't feel like someone stuck a piece of wood behind your back. You can adjust it's height and it's depth. I've owned one now for 2 years now and have no regrets. I have back problems and this is the only chair I can sit in without being miserable when I use a computer.

http://store.steelcase.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=LEAPV2

If you really want to go all out, get the forward tilt option. The only
reason I didn't is that the lead time was an extra 1-2 weeks. I should also
mention that it was really easy to setup. It came in one big box and in two parts, the seat and base. All I had to do was drop the seat onto the base and it was ready, no tools were necessary.

I have a Think chair by Steelcase. I've had it for the past 18 months including 6 months of working from home. It is very comfortable.
http://www.steelcase.com/na/think_products.aspx?f=11845

At Steelcase largest maker of those cubicle systems, even the CEO is in a cubicle.

You can get some good layout ideas from Steelcase Planning Ideas.

As an architect in training ... But "interior designer" is just a newer word for interior decorator. Basically, an architect tells them to put a couch in the lobby, and the interior designer will suggest a brand and color.

You need some more training before you make a fool of yourself when it counts. I suggest talking to SteelCase, or HermanMiller or any other major office furniture company. Just about every Fortune 500 office is laid out by an Interior Designer working for a distributor for one of those companies. Say something like the above in front of an ASID or IIDA member and you'll promptly regret it.

Chair: Steelcase Leap

IMHO, the Leap is better than the famous Herman Miller Aeron for most purposes. It may not be as sexy, but it is more adjustable and more comfortable in long term use. In particular, the lumbar support of the Aeron is poorly thought out and uncomfortable, whereas the Leap has extremely adjustable and well designed lower back support. The one advantage of the Aeron is the breathable mesh. Whether this is important or not depends on the air conditioning in your office, and maybe whether you are prone to a sweaty ass.

You can buy the Leap chair online, but I recommend finding a local dealer. You get to sit in the chair, you get more options, more color and fabric choices, and to my suprise it was actually cheaper (at OneWorkplace in Milpitas, CA).

Desk: Ikea Jerker

The Jerker is a cheap ripoff of the fantastically expensive AnthroBench style technical workbenches. Either one provides flexible, configurable workspaces with space for everything you need in easy reach. They also let you choose your desk height for better ergonomics, even standing height if that's what you prefer. If you're spending your own money, the Jerker I believe has a much better price/performance ratio. It's cheap but well designed and well built. It holds up to office use. Of course we'll see what I think after the next earthquake.

Check this page out to see how various people have pimped out their Jerker desks:

http://adam.pra.to/content/jerker/

Martin

Try steelcase:

http://www.steelcase.com/na/products.aspx?f=12247#

First off, sorry about all those who choose not to answer the question as stated. I'm suuuuuure they are all highly experienced M.D.'s and not clueless idiots.

Do NOT get the Steelcase Leap chair. They got them for us at work and it is impossible to adjust this chair to be comfortable, even though it has more adjustments than most people would think possible on a chair. The back adjustment is childlike in its simplicity and the designer must have thought everyone must have the same back as his.

I did what another poster did--I went to my local Sam's club, found a chair with a back that goes up and down and in and out (the most important part) and has the 3 lever control for the rest. $100 and I was starting to look at $600 chairs like you.

Oh and there is enough padding for a long sit, unlike the Leap.

I spend a lot of time in a Steelcase Sensor (high-back with adjustable arms (try this link)). It's fairly comfortable for my 6'2" frame.

Although I would have probably gone with the Leap if I had the option three years ago.

Just because your company went with the lowest bidder for your office system doesn't mean that its all has to look like that. A lot of planning and esthetic design goes into office systems.. Check out some real office systems manufacturers ..

Not All cubes look like the cookie cutter cubes that your're used to...

KNOLL

Herman Miller

STEELCASE

Haworth

Designation: Commercial office buildings in the U.S. are often designated as "Class A", "Class B", or "Class C". Generally, if you can afford not to, you don't want to rent class C space. B is cheaper than A, but the differences between A and B can be subtle and the only way to tell what's right for you is to visit the space and ask lots of questions.

HVAC: Make sure you have adequate localized control over the heating/cooling environment. Many leased office spaces have too few thermostat circuits per floor (sometimes only one), which means that everyone either freezes or roasts. Remember that computers and people generate a lot of heat. This is something you want to discuss in detail with the building manager. Many buildings turn off the air conditioning system on nights and weekends to save money, but it can make the building uninhabitable if you have lots of heat sources.

Security: How secure is the building? How secure is your suite/floor within the building? Do you want security guards at the front desk 24/7? How about keys/access codes, etc. Make sure your suites lock separately. Ask if the cleaning crew and the delivery people have access to your suite. If there is a common mailbox area for all tenants, request to see it and make sure it's secure. Ask if any mailboxes or suites have been broken into within the last 6 months. Make sure your employees can have convenient after hours access without sacrificing security.

Parking is important.

Mass transit: Is the building close to mass transportation (bus or subway or commuter rail lines)? This is important to some companies.

Power: Ask about the power capacity of the office space. Realtors often tell you they don't know the answers ("All that amperage and voltage stuff is gibberish to me, I'm just a realtor."). If the realtor doesn't know, have them put you in touch with the plant maintenance folks. You really do want adequate power for your suite and specifically you want to look at the power circuit layout, so you know whether you can put a sufficient number of computers in without constantly tripping circuit breakers.

Physical network infrastructure: Most modern office spaces are pre-wired for at least 100mbit Ethernet. But you want to make sure you can wire each department into their own subnet, etc. Make sure you ask for detailed information on the physical network infrastructure (how easy will it be for you guys to set up your T1, do they use Cat5 cable or something better (or worse)).

Telephone infrastructure, unless you are using VoIP./

Furniture: Aeron chairs look cool but they are way overrated in terms of comfort. Look at Steelcase instead (they are not cheap). People tend to be very picky -- it's best if you can offer a choice of 3 different chairs to everyone.

Server room: Make sure you have an adequately sized, separately cooled, securable server room.

In the workspace, lighting is often overlooked. Comfortable ambient lighting is one of the best ways to go, and have been impressed with Steelcase's.
Steelcase.com

There are also some chairs that provide back support there too. Spending money on these items does increase productivity, and if i remember correctly, there are some good case studies at steelcase.com as well.

Good Luck.

Currently my azz is molded into one of these in black from Steelcase. Please buy more Michigan products, help our offshore friends keep their jobs!

I used to lust after those, until they gave me one.

We also have several HON chairs (Model #6542) around the office. They are very different from the Leap, and not nearly as adjustable, but they are very comfortable.

I have found that many chairs don't fit my back very well, but these do. Of course, YMMV.

Our bodies definitely weren't designed to sit for 8 hours. But perhaps more importantly, they weren't designed to sit still for 8 hours (that's just awful for circulation). That's the design philosophy behind Humanscale's Freedom Chair. It encourages you to move around and change your position. I've had this chair for a year now, and I'm very sad when I have to sit in anything else.

I tried the Aeron, but didn't really like it. Yes, the mesh was nice in terms of support and ventilation, but it took endless tweaking to adjust, and I never could quite get it to fit me properly. (On second thought, the endless tweaking just might endear it to most /. readers...)

I also tried out the Leap (by Steelcase). The flexible back was interesting, but still too hard to adjust.

In contrast, the Freedom is incredibly simple. There are three settings to make it fit your size: seat height, seat depth, and back height. These controls are intuitively placed and easy to reach without looking while seated.

The only other two adjustable bits (back tilt and armrest height) don't have 'controls' per se. They just move with you. Push back a little bit, and the seat back tilts back until you stop pushing. When you stop pushing, it supports you. It's really uncanny. (They did some very clever counterweight thing so that this provides the proper support and control regardless of your weight.) The left and right armrests always adjust to the same height, no thought or effort required. You just pull either armrest (or both) up or down, they both move, and then they stay in position. (They also drop lower than your lap, if you want to get rid of them effectively.)

The ease of adjustability is what makes this chair encourage you to move. You don't have to think at all to change your sitting position. You just move.

I have no affiliation with Humanscale other than being very happy with my chair.

FYI: http://www.steelcase.com/products2/ - they have all kinds of cool stuff, from pre-designed modular offices to individual pieces. A great place to start redesigning your office. Or you can just go directly to the storage area of the site. http://www.steelcase.com/products/category.html?ca tegory=storage

FYI: http://www.steelcase.com/products2/ - they have all kinds of cool stuff, from pre-designed modular offices to individual pieces. A great place to start redesigning your office. Or you can just go directly to the storage area of the site. http://www.steelcase.com/products/category.html?ca tegory=storage

Disclaimer: My wife drafts for a local dealership. She's going to quit, but the propaganda is strong.

I've sat on an Aeron and while I enjoy it, I have found the SteelCase Leap to be much more comfortable and adjustable.

garc

steel case

here's a conference paper that has some of the ideas of the study...it is not merely limited to programmers though, but it is relevant and written by one of the authors.

Besides it was designed by IDEO so it looks really cool as well. Since having it, 5-6 people have sat in it and then gone out and bought their own.

.jonah

This spring I spent over a week studying and trying out chairs and ended up buying a Leap. I'm totally happy with it, many of my back, shoulder, arm problems went away! And 5-6 people have bought them just from sitting in mine.

I agree. Currently my desk consists of two cheap HomeDepot hollow core doors on top of filing cabinets. This setup makes for a massive expanse of deskspace. My 19" fits on it with keyboard room to spare and I am even planning to put a bookshelf on top of my desk to create some vertical storage space. To complete my uber-workstation I am currently eyeing the Details-worktools keyboard holders . They slide under your desk, rotate and auto adjust to a preset postion...for about 400 bucks. Very cool though, go check them out. The Steelcase Leap chair looks cool too. Anyone else design something good with computer users in mind? I want function not form. -HB

I have an aeron at work. they were the first ergo chair, hence their popularity. Frankly, I find them not so comfy. at home i have a steelcase LEAP chair, its REALLY comfortable and looks cool.
Steelcase LEAP site" only thing is when you buy, you have to choose everything: fabric, color, armrest style...
you get what you pay for, invest wisley. better chairs offer you better adjustability.

There are other chairs as comfy at a cheaper price. If you are shopping for a chair, I have a few tips to offer:
1. because a chair is expensive, it doen;t mean its good. i have seen crappy chairs at the office superstores far more expensive than a good 'designer' chair (aeron, leap, parachute etc...)

2. buddy up with an architect or interior designer. Get their old copies of Contract Interiors or similar trade magazines. Look at the pictures and the reviews. they don;t oftem have LAN type furniture, but use the ideas you see. there is no excuse to have a dumpy shack!

3. buy the said buddy pizza, beer, fifi coffees, whatever. the dirty little secret the a/e design profession has is that the dealers sell to the designers direct at like a 50%-60% discount, its a 'courtesy discount.' if your business card has the word 'engineer' on it, they might have them get the chair/table for you. realize that interior designers often buy the furniture and sell to their clients, its their business so don;t overdo the favor

good luck

Mind that space bar - it's a killer.

http://www.steelcase.com/corporate/leap.html

--John Riney
jwriney@awod.com