Saarinen Model 72

At Winterthur there are currently over 70 Saarinen Model 72 chairs that feature a range of upholsteries and leg treatments. These chairs are still in use and continue to be a favorite among staff. Knoll continues to produce and sell the chairs today, and they can be found in offices around the country.

Knoll’s first major corporate commission came in May of 1956 when the General Motors Technical Center designed by Eero Saarinen opened in Warren, Michigan. The 710-acre campus showcased Saarinen’s design philosophy through architecture and furniture. The Knoll Planning Unit was selected by GM to furnish all of the interior spaces at their newly opened facility, and the Saarinen 72 chair was used throughout the sprawling campus. The leader of the Planning Unit, Florence Knoll, recalled the project as, “The first real event in using one of Eero’s designs in a big commercial establishment.” This important commission established Knoll as a national furniture manufacturer and design powerhouse.

The precise number of 72 chairs that were ordered for this project is unknown, but the commission solidified the 72 chair as one of Knoll’s most popular forms. Large scale commissions that demanded hundreds and even thousands of chairs became the foundation of Knoll’s business model. Through a slew of corporate commissions in the United States and abroad Knoll built their brand and spread their specific midcentury modern design philosophy.