Call me quirky, but one of my joys in life is discovering a new desk that I like. The CommClad – Offices To Go desks that I’ve found are a bit spartan, but I like them because they’re affordable and, for all their simplicity, they have some really well thought out design features. Finding out that the manufacturer is also a good steward of the environment is just the icing on the cake.
CommClad is a division of Global Total Office, an award winning Canadian company founded in 1966. Their first product was an executive chair that sold for just $68 - a couple hundred dollars less than anything else on the market at the time. Their mission continues to be offering office furniture of world class design that the average person can afford, and in my opinion they’ve managed to hit the mark with their CommClad line of desks.
Good For The Office
The clean lines and lustrous Mahogany and Cherry laminate finishes of the CommClad desk line are well suited to professional offices. Desks such as the CommClad L-Shaped Desk Suite and CommClad Bow Front Desk Suite with Optional Hutch manage to hint at a more traditional look even with their minimalist style. These desks don’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but they are well suited to setting up functional work stations at an affordable price.
Nothing is more disappointment than a nice looking desk which starts to chip off at the edges, or scratches easily. That’s why I particular like the fact that these desks stand up to use. Offices To Go uses an all new “Superior Laminate” desking system (manufactured exclusively in a certified factory) and their desk surfaces feature the “Super Edge” 3mm PVC; a stronger and more durable option than the edging found on most similar desks.
CommClad offers a wide range of component pieces so that most styles can be used as stand-alone desks, or expanded into L- or U-shaped work stations. Case in point is the CommClad Rectangular Desk Shell. I find this line a good fit for larger offices, as they with complementary storage pieces such as hutches, drawer pedestals, bookshelves and filing cabinets for complete office set up.
I wouldn’t recommend them for home office users, who frequently need a more all-in-one style desk/storage system, but I would definitely look at them if outfitting a professional office. A growing firm would do well with these desks, along with a CommClad Reception Desk Shell to unify the look of the entire office. This line is easily expandable to accommodate additional employees, or to evolve a stand alone workstation into finished office space.
Good For The Environment
Global Total Office began setting their own standards for environmentally sustainable practices long before legislation forced a degree of compliance in the manufacturing industry. They are Greenguard and ISO14001 Certified and use some pretty ingenious “green” practices in their factories.
CommClad desks are manufactured with NO ozone-harming CFCs and HCFCs, and they’ve also patented a wood/polymer molding technology that diverts 7.3 tons of waste per day from the landfill. (That’s like not filling an Olympic size swimming pool with garbage each year!)
If this minimalist line meets your office needs, then knowing that the manufacture of the desk you’re choosing also had a minimal impact on the environment may just be the deal maker (and the 5 year warranty doesn’t hurt, either!). Take a look at my top picks for CommClad desks to find the right one for your office.
