GRVT – Engineered by Us, Designed for You

The best Ghent engineers bring you a new way to collaborate with clients. Standing, sitting, or writing, this new mobile collaboration hub has everything you need to make the best of your time.

GRVT (pronounced gra·vuh·tee, like gravity) is the first mobile collaboration hub combining a table, writing surface, seating, and power that is suitable for indoor and outdoor environments. GRVT's design breaks physical barriers, bringing people together like the force of gravity. This fosters natural collaboration inside and outside the building, empowering employees to tailor their work environment to their changing demands.

In a world where meeting in person is something close to a luxury, you hope to waste no time when you and another party finally meet. With the intuitive design of GRVT, it is simple to set up and break down, and the meeting can begin almost immediately no matter the environment. Below is information about GRVT that is as important as the relationships you will foster with this modern marvel.

How did you come up with the name GRVT?

The name is both functional and metaphorical, encapsulating the essence and definition of gravity; a force that attracts your body to the center of the Earth or toward another physical body having mass, such as this mobile collaboration board and easy seating setup. The mobile collaboration board also utilizes gravity to pull down the workspaces and keep them in place while you and other collaborators get to work, in addition to keeping the seating in place while transporting from one space to another.

What are the standout features of GRVT that you believe set it apart from other furniture designed for collaboration?

GRVT is the one stop shop for all your workstation and connectivity needs. The glass dry erase surface allows for quick notes and easy visualization while also functioning as a work surface for when those ideas lead to a breakthrough requiring a deeper conversation. Seating is readily available in front of you, allowing for comfort by eliminating extended conversations while standing.  Built-in batteries provide another advantage by bringing technology to the table no matter where you are, indoors or outside. Giving the user a chance to get fresh air and break free from the walls of their traditional work environment, creating moments of connectivity with nature and the environment around them outside, boosting individual creativity and cognitive function.

How do the design elements of GRVT contribute to enhancing user productivity and engagement?

When physical space or time constraints are hindering the chance at connection, GRVT eliminates these barriers and gives control back to the user. Making any space theirs at a moment's notice allows the user to take full advantage of the precious time they have in the office.

How did you balance aesthetic design with practical functionality in GRVT?

GRVT is comprised of counterweights, mechanisms, and visual appeal, setting the stage for a perfect pairing between engineering and design to work hand in hand on this product. Keeping in constant contact about what was required for functionality and frequent dialogue about what could be shaped, molded, or colored to retain an aesthetic that can blend seamlessly to an array of style trends or contemporary workspaces.

Can you tell us about the materials used in GRVT and why they were chosen?

The materials used to produce GRVT are based specifically on how we saw people using the product. First, we made sure the chosen materials would be weather resistant as we saw a desire to work outside and connect with nature. The lower framework is steel construction with an exterior grade UV resistance powder coat finish. The upper frame features a dry erasable powder coat finish, selected by watching users continue their ideas across the unit while in a table form. Due to its weather resistance, superior writability, and wearability as a worksurface, the writing surface is glass.

How does the choice of materials impact the durability and sustainability of GRVT?

Ghent analyzes any product we produce with a sustainable eye to ensure they fit within our green initiatives. The materials picked for their durability, recyclability, and environmental impact. Successfully making a product that is built to last for years eliminates waste that would be created by frequent replacements and the use of more resources. By using fewer materials, we can ensure that GRVT will recycle easily, and the product will withstand the environment that we see the product implemented in.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during the design and development of GRVT?

Mechanical considerations gave us quite the challenge during development, as designing a mobile, folding workspace that passes BIFMA testing was not a simple solution. GRVT employs a system of heavily researched and fine-tuned pivots, pneumatic pistons, and counterweights, creating a safe and reliable product that will function the way you need it to when you need it to.