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KI’S UNIVERSAL ARISSA COLLECTION SUPPORTS WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT AT NAVAJO NATION JUDICIAL FACILITY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2009
GREEN BAY, WIS. – The Dilkon District & Family Court features KI’s Arissa furniture collection as a key aesthetic element in its new facility on the Navajo Nation in Dilkon, Arizona. Selected for its universal design, Arissa allows participants in the peacemaking process to feel comfortable and welcome regardless of their size, weight or age. A video detailing Arissa and its use at the new facility is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3Kf9JXLRno.
“The Navajo Peacemaking Program is essential to preserving ongoing relationships and restoring harmony,” said Darlene LaFrance, Court Administrator of Dilkon Court. “Seating plays an important role in the process, and we needed furniture that was comfortable, supportive, and welcoming for all participants. The Arissa Collection solves this issue by providing a one-size-fits-all seating option that can accommodate virtually any individual, or even a parent and child. Most importantly, it has made the court space more inviting and less anxiety-inducing, thus enhancing the experience for participants.”
The Navajo peacemaking process—a Dine’ traditional form of dispute resolution that reinforces respect and promotes traditional planning and healing ways—seeks to foster equality and encourage all participants to find solutions to collaboratively resolve conflict. Judicial staff and designers sought to bring that spirit of inclusion to the design of the new facility through its space planning, with Arissa being the perfect solution.
The new 14,000-square foot multi-purpose judicial facility at Dilkon Court is comprised of three Navajo hogan courtrooms with log walls in addition to modern administrative offices. Traditional Navajo designs are prominent throughout the facility, with tiled floors emblazoned with chief blankets and log shades at the building entrances. The aesthetic design of the Arissa Collection—combined with high-performance upholsteries from Pallas® Textiles—pays homage to traditional Navajo culture, with chairs and ottomans reflecting patterns and colors that honor traditional Navajo culture, including brick red, black, grey, green, yellow and blue.
“Arissa fits perfectly with the design concept that the Navajo Nation desired,” said Monica Rios, LEED AP, Interior Designer, Aviar Design. “Our goal was to mirror the architecture with the overall aesthetic of the new facility. The result is a very organic design with no perpendicular lines. Also, the universal design of Arissa further upholds the peacemaking ideal of everyone being equal.” Rios talks more about the universal design of Arissa and the new judicial facility at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3Kf9JXLRno.
The Dilkon District Court serves the community of Dilkon as well as the surrounding communities of Birdsprings, Greasewood, Indian Wells, Leupp, Teesto, Tolani Lake, Whitecone and Jeddito on the Arizona portion of the Navajo Nation. The court will also provide space for the Arizona State Judicial System.
KI manufactures innovative furniture and movable wall system solutions for education, healthcare, government and corporate markets. The employee-owned company is headquartered in Green Bay, Wis. and operates sales offices and manufacturing facilities in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe and Asia. KI tailors products and service solutions to the specific needs of each customer through its unique design and manufacturing philosophy. For more information, visit www.kihealthcare.com.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact:
Brad Rye
Eric Mower and Associates
585-389-1810 |