US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

Each competing team must design, build, and operate solar-powered, net-zero-energy houses that are not only energy-efficient but also hyper-functional and cost-effective. What better way to achieve this than with transforming furniture? Resource Furniture and CLEI were major sponsors of the collaborative efforts of six collegiate teams including:

• Arizona State University and The University of New Mexico
• University of Louisville, Ball State University and University of Kentucky
• Norwich University
• Southern California Institute of Architecture and California Institute of Technology
• Queen’s University, Carleton University, and Algonquin College
• University of Southern California

For instance, Arizona State University and the University of New Mexico (Team ASUNM), installed a number of multifunctional solutions from Resource Furniture and CLEI: the LGM Tavolo “wall bed” (once known as a “Murphy bed”), the Ito sofa wall bed, a Goliath console that expands to become a full dining table, and several other space-saving products, which allow the interior flex space — a large living area — to morph seamlessly into a bedroom at night, an office during the day, or a movie theater for 20. The separate bedroom, complete with the wall bed, is also used as a TV room and living room during the day. The console table quickly expands to accommodate a large dinner party of ten.