Sagus International
Encyclopedia
Sagus International is an American furniture manufacturer that has been the subject of nationwide news coverage regarding their charitable efforts toward improving classroom infrastructure. Sagus’ core business is the manufacture of furniture
and casework
for the educational, hospitality, health care and commercial sectors.
The three operating divisions of Sagus International focus on a few core markets:
Distribution to these markets are handled by authorized dealers and, in some cases, manufacturer's representatives.
most often specified by architects in America. LSI’s products are used throughout the educational, healthcare, industrial and government markets.
and hospitality
markets. Midwest has been located in Chicago
, IL, since 1947. Key product groups include mobile cafeteria tables with attached seating, folding tables, table and chair caddies, multi-level table and chair storage and handling systems, portable stages and risers.
high schools. In partnership with Legat Architects, Sagus donated its time and products to transform the science lab at Walter Payton College Prep and a social studies classroom at William Harper High School into more flexible and mobile classrooms that are easily reconfigurable for different teaching approaches. In recognition of its efforts on the project, Sagus was awarded the Chicago Public Schools' 2009 Outstanding Partnership Award.
In early 2009, South Carolina eighth-grader Ty’Sheoma Bethea wrote to President Obama about the dilapidated state of her school, J.V. Junior High School in Dillon, SC
, and she ended up sitting next to First Lady Michelle Obama during the President’s first Congressional address while he read aloud from her letter. Sagus CEO Darryl Rosser was one of those listening, and he decided to take action.
On May 5, 2009, after a weekend of removing all of the school’s old furniture and installing brand new, donated Sagus furniture, the students at J.V. Martin came back to a transformed school. Sagus’ donation totaled $250,000. Sagus also worked with partners who donated services: Nu-Idea School Supply Company for furniture installation, Landstar System, Inc. for transportation logistics services, Trinity Express Inc. for transportation logistics services and Facility Concepts, Inc. for painting, design and logo-development services for the cafeteria makeover.
Sagus CEO Darryl Rosser said of the project that Sagus had two choices: one, wait for the new facilities and hope that they would be built sooner rather than later, or two, try to provide some immediate relief for the school while they were awaiting the new school complex. The company chose the latter.
J.V. Martin remains a top priority for Sagus, which is working with the South Carolina Department of Education to plan and raise money for a new school facility. The Sagus furniture will then be transferred to the new school. To that end, Sagus helped organize the 21st Century Educational Campus Symposium, which brought together some of the best minds in education, architecture, sustainable design, technology, health care and government to discuss the rebuilding of J.V. Martin as a model 21st Century School.
Furniture
Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things...
and casework
Casework
-Standards:Casework is a term used to describe commercial grade cabinets. These cabinets differ from residential kitchen cabinets by their materials. Casework is made of plastic laminate or melamine. Institutional casework is specified in the health care and educational industries. Casework is not...
for the educational, hospitality, health care and commercial sectors.
Overview
Sagus International, Inc. was formed in 2001 and is privately owned. It has three divisions: Artco-Bell Corporation, LSI Corporation of America, and Midwest Folding Products. Sagus is headquartered in Oak Brook, IL, with manufacturing locations in Temple, TX, Minneapolis, MN, and Chicago, IL. Sagus has over 800 employees and operates more than 1000000 square feet (92,903 m²) of manufacturing and distribution space.The three operating divisions of Sagus International focus on a few core markets:
- K-12 public and private schools
- Colleges and universities
- Healthcare facilities
- Science research and laboratory facilitiesLaboratoryA laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
- Special events and conference facilitiesConvention centerA convention center is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typically offer sufficient floor area to accommodate several thousand attendees...
- Commercial sector
Distribution to these markets are handled by authorized dealers and, in some cases, manufacturer's representatives.
Artco-Bell Corporation
Artco-Bell has been located in Temple, TX, since 1962, the year it was founded by R.V. Hardegree. Artco-Bell designs and produces classroom furniture. Key product groups include seating products, student desks, combination chair desks, activity tables, computer tables, teachers’ desks and vertical files.LSI Corporation of America
LSI has been located in Minneapolis, MN, since 1968. The company manufactures and installs the laminate caseworkCasework
-Standards:Casework is a term used to describe commercial grade cabinets. These cabinets differ from residential kitchen cabinets by their materials. Casework is made of plastic laminate or melamine. Institutional casework is specified in the health care and educational industries. Casework is not...
most often specified by architects in America. LSI’s products are used throughout the educational, healthcare, industrial and government markets.
Midwest Folding Products
Midwest Folding Products manufactures furniture for the educationEducation
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and hospitality
Hospitality
Hospitality is the relationship between guest and host, or the act or practice of being hospitable. Specifically, this includes the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers, resorts, membership clubs, conventions, attractions, special events, and other services for travelers...
markets. Midwest has been located in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, IL, since 1947. Key product groups include mobile cafeteria tables with attached seating, folding tables, table and chair caddies, multi-level table and chair storage and handling systems, portable stages and risers.
Community
In 2008, Sagus began work on using their areas of expertise on improving classroom environments. One of the company's first community projects was to remake two classrooms in two ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
high schools. In partnership with Legat Architects, Sagus donated its time and products to transform the science lab at Walter Payton College Prep and a social studies classroom at William Harper High School into more flexible and mobile classrooms that are easily reconfigurable for different teaching approaches. In recognition of its efforts on the project, Sagus was awarded the Chicago Public Schools' 2009 Outstanding Partnership Award.
In early 2009, South Carolina eighth-grader Ty’Sheoma Bethea wrote to President Obama about the dilapidated state of her school, J.V. Junior High School in Dillon, SC
Dillon, South Carolina
Dillon, South Carolina, the county seat of Dillon County, was established on December 22, 1888. The name of the city came from James W. Dillon, who was a key component in bringing a railroad through this area of the state, which led to development and formation of the County. Dillon’s population...
, and she ended up sitting next to First Lady Michelle Obama during the President’s first Congressional address while he read aloud from her letter. Sagus CEO Darryl Rosser was one of those listening, and he decided to take action.
On May 5, 2009, after a weekend of removing all of the school’s old furniture and installing brand new, donated Sagus furniture, the students at J.V. Martin came back to a transformed school. Sagus’ donation totaled $250,000. Sagus also worked with partners who donated services: Nu-Idea School Supply Company for furniture installation, Landstar System, Inc. for transportation logistics services, Trinity Express Inc. for transportation logistics services and Facility Concepts, Inc. for painting, design and logo-development services for the cafeteria makeover.
Sagus CEO Darryl Rosser said of the project that Sagus had two choices: one, wait for the new facilities and hope that they would be built sooner rather than later, or two, try to provide some immediate relief for the school while they were awaiting the new school complex. The company chose the latter.
J.V. Martin remains a top priority for Sagus, which is working with the South Carolina Department of Education to plan and raise money for a new school facility. The Sagus furniture will then be transferred to the new school. To that end, Sagus helped organize the 21st Century Educational Campus Symposium, which brought together some of the best minds in education, architecture, sustainable design, technology, health care and government to discuss the rebuilding of J.V. Martin as a model 21st Century School.