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Frost-Barber wants to make a difference. Locally owned and operated for 78 years, their services extend beyond merely supplying commercial furniture. They are a consultant and partner in the design process.
That’s particularly true of their work in the educational market, where they’re actively assisting architects, interior designers, project managers and school districts to promote a more immersive educational experience. “We’re on a mission to improve education for our children in the state,” says Elizabeth Beyer Carter-Thibodeaux, VP of Sales and Business Development. “We’ve done half a dozen projects in East Baton Rouge Parish, and we have now expanded into multiple school districts.” To back it up, they’ve opened the largest educational furniture showroom in Louisiana, which will soon double in size. “In the process, we ensure that what we’re putting into our school facilities is something that is going to enhance education for the children,” she adds.
AT A GLANCE
Top executives: Doug Jehle, President & CEO; Mary Jehle, Managing Director/Principal; Elizabeth Carter-Thibodeaux, Vice President of Sales and Business Development; John Toups, Vice President of Design
Phone: 225.926.5000
Address: 9322 Interline Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Website: frost-barber.com
Recently, they took it a step further at McKinley Elementary School when they met with the teachers, architects and project manager after the completion of a project. “We broke everyone into groups and led a tour of the school to inform the teachers of why we had made the selections we did, and how they could use the furniture to enhance the learning experience,” Carter-Thibodeaux says.
Essentially, the furniture is becoming part of the learning process. Tables and desks come in a variety of shapes that can be pushed together for student collaboration. Teachers also have mobile white boards and podiums that move with them for small group learning. There are also special adaptive seating items for students with ADHD, allowing them to fidget, while still keeping their eyes on the teacher.
