LTC 269-2003 CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No.
To:
From:
Subject:
Mayor David Dermer and Date: November 14, 2003
Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez
City Manager
PURCHASE OF CHAIRS FOR THE MIAMI BEACH REGIONAL LIBRARY
The furniture design for the Miami Beach Regional Library, performed by Robert A.M. Stem
Architects specified the Arne Jacobsen Ant Chair as the choice for the facility's multi
purpose room. The Ant chair is a classic design originating in 1952 as the first and one of
the best-known designs of Danish architect and Professor Arne Jacobsen.
The sole source purchase of 204 Ant Chairs at a total cost of $49,530, or $242.79 per
chair, was placed on the City Commission agenda for approval at the October 15, 2003
meeting. Resolution No. 2003-25360 was adopted and amended to direct the
administration to try to find comparable chairs of a similar design which would not be a sole
source in order to obtain a better price.
City staff requested that Robert A.M. Stern Architects research alternatives to the Ant Chair
and issue a recommendation. Several chairs of lesser cost were reviewed by the architect,
including the West Elm t-chair, which retails for $129. Upon completing such research, the
architect found no alternative chair that would complement the architecture, remain within
the design aesthetic and please the client based on cost, warranty and build. The
architect's recommendation was hence to proceed with the originally specified Ant Chair.
City staff contacted the Miami Beach Regional Library, who expressed their satisfaction
with the architect's recommendation to proceed with the Ant Chair.
F:\CAPl~$all~vlauro\Letters\LTC - Ant Chairs.doc