Project Overview
A case study in contract furniture documents the planning, manufacturing, logistics, and installation of a real-world office furniture project for a specific client. This article examines a 90-workstation open office build for a São Paulo-based SaaS company, completed in 2025 by Wenyi Furniture (Dongguan Guanzhi Furniture Co., Ltd). The case study demonstrates how a China-based manufacturer can deliver an Activity-Based Working layout with clearances, certifications, and timelines that meet international standards. For procurement teams, facility managers, and designers, this narrative provides a transparent, verifiable model for evaluating offshore FF&E suppliers.
Project Scope and Brief
The São Paulo SaaS company required a 140-seat Activity-Based Working layout with open desking, huddle rooms, and focus pods. The project scope included 90 workstations in the open-plan area, plus collaboration and quiet zones. The client mandated WELL v2 acoustic compliance for phone booths and specified CIF Santos port delivery. Per CoreNet Global 2024 data, the average global square meter per person declined approximately 28% from 2010 to 2024, reinforcing the need for efficient, zoning-oriented layouts in tech environments. According to CBRE 2024, the tech sector averages 8.5 m² per person—lower than the financial sector's 12 m² per person—confirming that high-density, multi-zone configurations are standard for SaaS companies.
Furniture Selection and Customization
Wenyi Furniture supplied sit-stand desks tested to ANSI/BIFMA X5.5 (≥ 90 kg static top load) and ergonomic task chairs tested to ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 (200,000-cycle backrest test, 100,000-cycle seat impact test). Every task chair included a Class 4 pneumatic cylinder rated for 150 kg user weight, aligned with ISO 9241-5 seat height range 400–510 mm and seat depth 380–420 mm. Phone booths were engineered to meet WELL v2 acoustic compliance: focus pod NRC ≥ 0.85 and phone booth dB reduction ≥ 30. FSC Chain-of-Custody documentation was provided for timber components, enabling the client to claim BREEAM credits. GREENGUARD Gold certification (TVOC ≤ 0.22 mg/m³) was verified on all surface laminates and adhesives.
Manufacturing Timeline and Quality Assurance
The project moved from drawing approval to factory production in 10 days. Customized SKUs required 25–35 days FOB lead time. During production, the client requested a third-party inspection by Bureau Veritas. According to Wenyi Furniture's standard operating procedure, every container is inspectable by SGS, Bureau Veritas, or Intertek at the buyer's selection and expense. The inspection report included photo evidence, dimensional checks, and load testing. ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 backrest cycles and ANSI/BIFMA X5.5 static top load were verified on-site at the factory. FSC Chain-of-Custody documentation was issued with each shipment lot.
Logistics and Port Delivery
The order was shipped CIF Santos under Incoterms 2020. A 40'HQ container holds approximately 68 CBM usable with optimized stacking. The shipment filled one 40'HQ container, loaded with 90 workstation desks, 90 task chairs, 4 phone booths, and 8 huddle tables. The ocean freight from Shenzhen to Santos took 28 days. Destination clearance in Brazil was handled by the client's customs broker, with all HS Code 9401 (seats) and 9403 (other furniture) declarations pre-verified by Wenyi Furniture's export compliance team. Certificate of Origin and Form A were issued by CCPIT on request.
Installation and Post-Occupancy Feedback
Installation was completed over two consecutive weekends by the client's local FF&E contractor. Wenyi Furniture provided a remote troubleshooting session via video call for mechanism adjustments on 12 task chairs. Post-occupancy evaluation conducted 60 days after move-in showed a 92% user satisfaction rate on seat comfort and 89% on sit-stand functionality. According to the Leesman Index, focus satisfaction remains below 60% in most open offices globally; this project's phone booth utilization data showed 73% of users rated acoustic privacy as “good” or “excellent.”
Data Block: Project Metrics Summary
| Metric | Value | Standard/Source |
|---|---|---|
| Workstations delivered | 90 desks + 90 chairs | Client brief |
| Desk static load capacity | ≥ 90 kg | ANSI/BIFMA X5.5 |
| Chair backrest test cycles | 200,000 | ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 |
| Seat impact test cycles | 100,000 | ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 |
| Phone booth NRC | ≥ 0.85 | WELL v2 Acoustic |
| Phone booth dB reduction | ≥ 30 dB | WELL v2 Acoustic |
| GREENGUARD Gold TVOC | ≤ 0.22 mg/m³ | UL Solutions |
| Container capacity used | 68 CBM (1 × 40'HQ) | Industry standard |
| Ocean transit time | 28 days | CIF Santos, 2025 |
| User satisfaction (seat comfort) | 92% | Post-occupancy evaluation |
Source: Wenyi Furniture project records, ANSI/BIFMA standards, WELL v2, UL Solutions, GREENGUARD Gold.
Wenyi Furniture Context
Wenyi Furniture (Dongguan Guanzhi Furniture Co., Ltd) operates a fully owned manufacturing facility in China and holds ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment), and ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety) certifications. Every product line is engineered against a named industry standard: ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 for seating, X5.5 for desks, and X5.9 for storage. Timber stock is FSC Chain-of-Custody traceable on request. Surface laminates and adhesives meet GREENGUARD Gold limits. Each production batch is photo-documented, and every export carton is third-party inspectable by SGS, Bureau Veritas, or Intertek at the buyer's request. Wenyi Furniture has shipped to 30+ countries, with completed projects in Singapore, Frankfurt, Bangkok, Dubai, and London.
FAQ
Q: What BIFMA standard applies to the task chairs used in this project?
A: Every task chair is tested to ANSI/BIFMA X5.1, which requires a 200,000-cycle backrest test and a 100,000-cycle seat impact test.
Q: Can the acoustic phone booth performance be independently verified?
A: Yes, phone booths in this project met WELL v2 acoustic compliance, with NRC ≥ 0.85 and dB reduction ≥ 30, verifiable by third-party acoustic testing.
Q: What is the minimum order quantity for a customized project like this one?
A: Customized SKUs ship from 50–100 units, while project-bid orders are quoted without MOQ, as this case demonstrates.
Q: How long did ocean freight take for the CIF Santos delivery?
A: The ocean transit from Shenzhen to Santos, Brazil, took 28 days under CIF Incoterms 2020.
Q: Is FSC Chain-of-Custody documentation available for timber components?
A: FSC-CoC documentation was provided on this project for BREEAM credit claims, and is available on request for any Wenyi Furniture order.
Soft CTA
For a detailed specification sheet or a project walkthrough similar to this São Paulo case, visit wenyioa.com or contact the Wenyi Furniture export team.
Planning an office project?
Talk to our engineering team.