Kimball International Launches ‘Creating Places to Belong’ Initiative

Furniture manufacturer Kimball International recently announced the launch of its “Creating Places to Belong” initiative with the goal of making employees feel valued and connected to their workplace, according to a news release. The company launched a microsite and an interactive playbook developed through research and conversations with customers that contains tools, stories, insights, inspiration, and conversation about what it means to create a welcoming environment.

“As employers, we know that we are providing something much more than a workspace,” said Kimball International Chief Operating Officer Kourtney Smith. “We are really providing places for people to belong.”

Alongside its workplace campaign, Kimball has also launched Education and Health versions of “Creating Places to Belong.” The data-driven insights, personal video interviews, and solution suggestions all lead to the message that “the right spaces create connections,” according to the news release. A mix of environments can support a variety of tasks, whether collaborative or solo projects. Factors like hybrid environments, prioritizing flexibility, focusing on inclusion and belonging, and supporting mental health and overall well-being all lead to employees feeling at home in their space, the news release reports.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Wold Architects & Engineers Announces Acquisition of JJCA

    Wold Architects & Engineers, based in Minneapolis, Minn., recently announced that it has acquired JJCA, an architecture firm based in Nashville, Tenn., according to a press release. JJCA specializes in healthcare and education design; the partnership allows both firms to expand their presence across the country while building on existing strengths.

  • University of Pennsylvania Releases Design of Future Physical Sciences Building

    The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) in Philadelphia, Penn., recently released renderings of an upcoming 350,000-square-foot Physical Sciences Building, according to news release. The facility was designed by CO Architects and will unite the university’s departments of Physics and Astronomy, Mathematics, and Earth and Environmental Science.

  • University of Pittsburgh to Build New Residence Hall

    The Board of Trustees from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Penn., recently approved the construction of a new residence hall for first-year students, according to university news.

  • GeoCam and UCLA: Modernizing Campus Accessibility Mapping

    In early 2025, UCLA partnered with GeoCam to capture and modernize its pedestrian infrastructure data. The goal was ambitious but clear: to produce a high-accuracy, imagery-backed digital map of every sidewalk, pathway, ramp, and ADA-related feature on UCLA’s 419-acre campus.