Photo – courtesy of Steelcase ©
Steelcase (NYSE: SCS), a global leader in design and workplace innovation, has teamed up with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to launch the Frank Lloyd Wright Rockford and Galesburg Collections. This collaboration brings Wright’s iconic midcentury, Usonian designs back to life, reinterpreting them as elegant, modern furniture for both homes and workplaces.
The new collections reflect Wright’s philosophy of “organic architecture,” which emphasizes using accessible materials like wood, glass, concrete, and plywood. This approach allowed Wright to create designs that were not only functional but also widely available to the public, while still being tailored to meet the unique needs of his clients.
The Rockford Collection, inspired by the Laurent House—Wright’s 1952 creation for veteran Kenneth Laurent in Rockford, Illinois—brings back a rail-backed lounge chair and a series of companion pieces like polygonal plywood tables and movable seating. Each piece is accessible from all sides, designed with the freedom of movement in mind, especially for Laurent, a wheelchair user. Wright’s forward-thinking, human-first design approach considered accessibility long before it became a widespread architectural focus.
Meanwhile, The Galesburg Collection draws inspiration from Wright’s built-in banquettes found in Usonian homes throughout Parkwyn Village and The Acres in Galesburg, Michigan. These pieces feature Wright’s signature three-dimensional forms and meticulous linear detailing, resulting in a modern, luxurious feel. The collection, which includes a sofa, sectional, and lounge chair, is based on Wright’s earlier sketches of a tuxedo-style sofa—a design that was one of the first to be made widely available to the public. This echoes Wright’s mission to expand beyond custom-built pieces, making his work more accessible to anyone seeking to create an inspiring space.
