Kwalu is pleased to announce the Caterina Guest Collection received the prestigious Nightingale Gold Award for Guest/Lounge seating at the annual Healthcare Design Expo and Conference. Presented by Healthcare Design and Contract Magazine in partnership with the Center for Health Design, the Nightingale Awards recognize contributions to the healthcare built environment through product design and innovation that actually aid in healing.

Nightingale winners were selected by a jury of seasoned healthcare design professionals and healthcare facility managers, based on the product's contribution to a healing environment, its functionality, quality, durability, aesthetics and style, pricing and innovation. The winners were announced at HCD 2016 in Houston, Texas on November 16th.

Meet the Caterina Seating Collection by Kwalu – the frames are chemical proof, graffiti proof and bed bug proof. Kwalu has found a way to redefine clean design by integrating smooth solid surfaces with modern design. The Caterina chairs are available in slat back and fully upholstered back designs.

The Caterina won on a number of fronts. It was selected for its aesthetics and durability. The solid surface ⅛" thick finish of the chair is indestructible, backed by the industry's only 10 year warranty on finish, so it is guaranteed to look like new 24/7. The collection was also chosen for its unparalleled ease of cleaning potentially reducing cross-transmission of pathogens. Sanitizing solutions commonly used in healthcare environments can be used to clean the chairs - including 100% bleach – without degrading or compromising the finish. The guest chairs are purposefully-designed for use throughout any healthcare environment. The frames look like wood but are actually made from a ground-breaking, solid surface, high-impact-resistant polymer which means they don't have any of the drawbacks of wood. The frames are moisture impervious, graffiti-resistant, easy to clean, maintenance-free, and are available with optional UV protection.

Kwalu CEO Michael Zusman is proud that Kwalu is being recognized for what the company has researched on a daily basis for decades. Kwalu makes furniture that addresses the ‘real' healthcare issues facing patients and families who enter healthcare environments every day. He says, "This award is very special indeed. The Caterina line was designed by putting the health of the user at the forefront. The Caterina product can help the quality of healthcare by providing a seating solution that maintains its visual allure, while supporting hospitals' infection prevention protocols with furniture surfaces that are easy to clean, year after year."

The collection was designed by Alison Jones and Kathy Isogai, LeVino Jones Medical Interiors, Inc. Alison explains, "We wanted to design a seating and occasional table collection with a fresh aesthetic for Kwalu that could be used throughout a hospital or outpatient facility: waiting areas, chapel, clinical spaces, exam rooms, dining areas, administration offices and medical offices. Additionally, this collection includes a care-specific Behavioral Medicine chair and bariatric option of the same design. The entire collection meets and exceeds the rigorous standards for infection control, cleanability, sustainability and durability required for a healthcare environment."

Kwalu is the leader in the design and manufacturing of healthcare furnishings including, seating, tables and casegoods and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Over 30 years of business experience has done little to dim our entrepreneurial spirit or our passion for innovation. It's who we are and what we do. Kwalu, Redefining Clean Design™