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Articles by: David Cleasby

systems millwork desk
David Cleasby Modular Furniture

“Systems MillWork” – What it Means and Represents

David J. Cleasby, a veteran of commercial woodworking, introduces “Systems Millwork,” a transformative approach to casework design that blends modularity, standardization, and sustainability. Drawing on 45 years of experience, Cleasby advocates integrating his modular furniture systems into architectural practices via Building Information Modeling (BIM) and 3D modeling program (SketchUp). His goal is to streamline construction, enhance flexibility, and deliver long-term value to building owners, particularly in healthcare, education, and office settings.

systems millwork desk

From Hobby to Industry Pioneer

Cleasby’s journey began in Omaha, Nebraska in 1979, where he turned a woodworking hobby into a thriving business. Specializing in modular office furniture and casework, he served diverse sectors—hospitals, banks, schools, and offices—designing products that integrated technology and adapted to unique functional needs. In 2001, he sold his manufacturing operations but continued innovating, outsourcing production and adopting advanced 3D design tools. After rejoining an Architectural firm for a couple of years in 2007, he was challenged to reform their casework specification processes and proposed “Systems Millwork” as a solution. 

What is Systems Millwork?

Systems Millwork redefines casework as a dynamic, modular system of pre-engineered components—cabinets, workstations, and storage units—designed for flexibility and efficiency. Unlike traditional casework, which is often static and custom-built, Systems Millwork offers:

Interchangeable Components: Bolted assemblies that can be reconfigured or relocated with minimal effort, enabling owners to adapt spaces as needs evolve.

Standardized Designs: Fewer cabinet sizes and universal components simplify inventory and renovations, ensuring consistency across facilities.

Construction Efficiency: Modular installations reduce floor penetrations, consolidate wiring, and speed up processes like carpet and wall finishing, cutting time and costs.

Sustainability: Optimized material use, recyclable components, and green products align with environmental goals.

BIM Integration: A library of “smart” components, with static (e.g., hinges) and variable (e.g., finishes) elements, embeds precise specifications into 3D models, enhancing design accuracy.

Bridging Design and Manufacturing

Cleasby highlights a disconnect between the woodworking industry and architectural design. While woodworking spans artisanal craftsmanship, traditional job shops, and high-tech panel processing, architectural specifications often rely on outdated AWI standards. Systems Millwork leverages precision manufacturing (e.g., 32mm metric systems) and software like Autodesk Inventor to create data-driven, modular solutions. By integrating these into 3D models, architects can design functional, adaptable spaces from the outset, reducing reliance on fabricator interpretations.

Implementation and Impact

Cleasby proposes more development of  his extensive design library to new customers and pursuing marketing of the modular assembly or conventional processes being practiced.  His modular nurse and reception stations, bank teller stations structures are designed as wire chase systems, exemplify the approach: they centralize wiring, simplify equipment upgrades, and allow relocation without disrupting finishes. Benefits include:

  • Owners: Cost-effective modifications, durable components, and aesthetic consistency.
  • Architects: Streamlined coordination, precise specifications, and creative freedom within standardized frameworks.
  • Contractors: Faster, less invasive installations.
  • Environment: Reduced waste and sustainable material choices.

Overcoming Resistance

Modular design has historically faced skepticism, perceived as flimsy or overly proprietary. Cleasby counters that properly engineered systems, using modern fasteners and precision manufacturing, overcome these concerns. He urges architects and designers to embrace BIM’s and 3D potential, moving beyond vague drawings and embracing detailed, flexible casework specifications. This shift, he argues, is essential to meet owners’ demands for adaptability in today’s fast-changing environments.

Conclusion

Systems Millwork is more than cabinetry—it’s a philosophy that prioritizes functionality, efficiency, and sustainability. By embedding modular, standardized components into commercial work spaces and design, Cleasby envisions a future where buildings are not just constructed but designed to evolve. His call to action challenges architects to rethink casework as a critical “spoke” in the design wheel, delivering spaces that are as adaptable as they are enduring.

a bank teller station remodeled in one weekend
David Cleasby Banking Furniture

How to Renovate Your Bank Interior Over a Weekend with Modular Furniture Group

Transforming your bank’s interior doesn’t have to mean weeks of downtime or costly disruptions. With the right approach, you can revamp your space in just one weekend, creating a modern, functional, and welcoming environment for your customers and staff. At Modular Furniture Group (MFG), we specialize in custom modular furniture solutions that make quick, seamless renovations a reality. Here’s a step-by-step guide to renovating your bank interior over a weekend, inspired by MFG’s proven process.

a bank teller station remodeled in one weekend

Why Choose a Weekend Renovation?

Banks are busy places, and closing for an extended period isn’t always an option. A weekend renovation minimizes operational interruptions, allowing you to keep serving customers without missing a beat. MFG’s modular furniture systems are designed for rapid installation, combining custom craftsmanship with efficiency to deliver high-quality results in record time. Our tagline, “renovate in a weekend,” reflects our commitment to fast, hassle-free transformations.

Step 1: Plan and Design with Precision

The key to a successful weekend renovation is preparation. Start by collaborating with MFG’s design team to create a tailored plan for your bank’s interior. Whether you need custom wood workstations, sleek reception counters, or flexible teller stations, MFG uses 3D digital drafting and pre-engineering to ensure every piece fits your space perfectly.

Assess Your Needs: Identify areas that need updating—perhaps outdated teller desks, cramped workspaces, or an uninspiring lobby.

Customize Your Furniture: Choose finishes, materials, and configurations that align with your brand and functional requirements. MFG offers natural woods and durable designs built to last.

Pre-Engineer for Speed: MFG preassembles components in our factory, so everything arrives ready to install, cutting on-site work to a minimum if at all.

By finalizing your design in advance, you set the stage for a smooth installation process.

Step 2: Coordinate for Seamless Execution

A weekend renovation requires tight coordination, and MFG excels at making it happen. We work closely with your contractor or facilities team to ensure every detail is covered, from delivery to setup.  Best of all, MFG offers a “turn-key” process that gives you the freedom to deal with one company to complete the change over procedure.

Schedule Strategically: Plan the renovation to begin after closing on Friday and wrap up before opening on Monday.

Preassemble for Efficiency: MFG’s furniture arrives premeasured and partially assembled, reducing on-site labor. Our workstations and cabinets are designed for quick setup, with features like bolt-together systems for easy integration.

Minimize Disruption: MFG’s turnkey installation process means your bank doesn’t need to shut down during regular hours. Our team coordinates electrical, data, and security integrations to keep your operations intact.

This streamlined approach ensures your renovation stays on track and on time.

a photograph of teller stations remodeled in 1 weekend

Step 3: Install with Expertise

On renovation weekend, MFG’s professional installers or your chosen contractors bring the design to life. Our modular furniture is built for rapid assembly, allowing us to transform your bank in hours, not days.

Friday Evening: Clear the space and prepare for installation. MFG’s team delivers preassembled components to the site.

Saturday: Install workstations, desks, and cabinets. MFG’s “old school” craftsmanship, paired with modern technology, ensures precision and durability.

Sunday: Complete final touches, such as wiring for computers and devices, and adjust furniture as needed. Our grid wall system makes it easy to integrate tech seamlessly.

By Sunday evening, your bank’s new interior is ready for a final walkthrough.

Step 4: Enjoy a Modern, Functional Space

When Monday arrives, your bank will look and feel brand new. MFG’s custom furniture not only enhances aesthetics but also improves functionality, with flexible designs that adapt to your evolving needs.

Boost Customer Experience: Sleek teller stations and inviting reception areas create a professional, welcoming vibe.

Empower Your Staff: Ergonomic workstations and modular layouts improve workflow and comfort.

Future-Proof Your Space: MFG’s furniture is built to be rearranged or expanded, so your bank can grow without needing another overhaul.

Plus, with MFG’s 10-year warranty and dedicated service team, you can trust that any issues will be resolved quickly, ensuring long-term satisfaction.

Why Modular Furniture Group?

For nearly four decades, MFG has been helping banks, businesses, and institutions renovate with ease. Our unique process combines:

Customization: Tailored designs that reflect your brand and meet your needs.

Speed: Pre-engineered components and expert installation for weekend transformations.

Quality: Eco-friendly materials and craftsmanship that stand the test of time.

Service: End-to-end support, from design to post-installation care.

Whether you’re updating a single branch or multiple locations, MFG makes it possible to achieve a high-end look without the high-end hassle.

a photo of a bank lobby remodeled in one weekend

Ready to Renovate?

A weekend is all it takes to give your bank a fresh, modern interior that wows customers and supports your team. With Modular Furniture Group’s custom solutions, you can renovate quickly, affordably, and sustainably. Visit  to explore our portfolio and start planning your transformation today. Let’s make your bank shine—by Monday morning!

Ready to Transform Your Bank?

Contact Modular Furniture Group at (402) 289-0309 or via email at info@modularfurnituregroup.com to discuss how they can help you renovate your bank interior over a weekend. Their team is ready to assist you in creating a functional and aesthetically pleasing environment for both your employees and customers.​

Don’t let a lengthy renovation process hinder your operations. With Modular Furniture Group, a refreshed and efficient bank interior is just a weekend away.​

a newly installed reception area by Modular Furniture Group
David Cleasby Business Furniture

Transform Your Reception Area in Just One Weekend: Custom Workstations by Modular Furniture Group

Your reception station is the first impression visitors get of your business, so keeping it functional, stylish, and modern is key. With Modular Furniture Group’s custom wood workstations and efficient process, you can transform your reception area in just one weekend—without disrupting your operations. Here’s a step-by-step guide to make it happen, inspired by the expertise at Modular Furniture Group.

Why Renovate Your Reception Station?

A dated or cluttered reception area can send the wrong message. Modular Furniture Group specializes in creating sturdy, eco-friendly, and customizable workstations that blend “old school” craftsmanship with modern technology. Their tagline, “renovate in a weekend,” means you can upgrade your space quickly with minimal downtime, perfect for banks, offices, schools, or medical facilities.

a newly installed reception area by Modular Furniture Group

Step 1: Plan Your Design

Start by assessing your current reception station. What’s working? What isn’t? Maybe you need better wiring for computers, more storage, or a layout that maximizes space. Modular Furniture Group offers tailored solutions, like their vertical bolt-together “grid wall” system, which acts as a hollow wire chase for easy device integration.

  • Action Item: Visit modularfurnituregroup.com and browse their reception station options. Note features like adjustable shelving, custom finishes, or computer kiosks that fit your needs.
  • Pro Tip: Contact their team for a consultation. They’ll help you design a station that matches your specs, ensuring it’s pre-engineered for rapid installation. Aim to finalize your design that Modular Furniture Group creates in 3D models. Be able to see your design criteria in a high tech CAD model showing you exactly what you will see your concepts materialize.

Step 2: Order Pre-Engineered Components

Modular Furniture Group’s 40+ years of process shines here. Their workstations are pre-engineered and custom-finished to your project’s specifications, meaning no long wait times. Once you’ve chosen your design—say, a sleek administration reception station with eco-friendly wood finishes or custom laminates—they’ll preassemble it in their factory.

  • Action Item: Place your order after you are satisfied with the 3D model. Modular Furniture Group’s rapid turnaround means components can be ready to ship quickly. Confirm delivery for a weekend or day that will keep your timeline tight.
  • Why It Works: Their furniture is built to last, combining natural woods and laminates with modern durability. You’re not just renovating—you’re investing in a long-term solution.

Step 3: Prep Your Space

On the scheduled install date, clear out your existing reception area. Remove old furniture, declutter, and clean the space. If structural work (like electrical or data wiring) is needed, Modular Furniture Group can coordinate with your contractor to ensure everything’s ready.

  • Action Item: Measure your space to confirm the new station will fit perfectly. Modular Furniture Group’s designs are premeasured for seamless setup, so double-check your layout.
  • Quick Tip: Keep your business running by scheduling this prep after hours. Their process minimizes disruption, so you won’t need to close.

Step 4: Install Your New Station

This is where the magic happens. Modular Furniture Group’s workstations arrive in prefabrcated and ready to assemble. The MFG team (or your contractor) can set everything up in hours, not days. The bolt-together system makes assembly fast, and features like pop-off removable access panels simplify wiring for computers or security systems. You will be impressed with the tidy and clutter free foot space the wire chase walls provide.

  • Action Item: Coordinate with Modular Furniture Group’s installation team for installation. They’ll handle everything from delivery to assembly, ensuring your station is functional by day’s end.
  • Standout Feature: Their “turnkey” installation means your reception station is ready to use immediately. No loose ends, no delays.

Step 5: Final Touches and Quality Check

Once installed, add personal touches—think plants, signage, or branded decor—to make the station feel welcoming. Modular Furniture Group’s service team will follow up to ensure you’re satisfied, backing their work with a 10-year warranty on hardware, workmanship, and finishes.

  • Action Item: Test the station’s functionality. Plug in devices, adjust shelves, and confirm everything works as planned. If issues arise, their team is ready to fix them fast.
  • Bonus: Their designs are rearrangeable, so if your needs change, you can tweak the setup without starting over.
a reception area under construction in our warehouse

Why Choose Modular Furniture Group?

Unlike mass-produced furniture, Modular Furniture Group delivers custom, high-quality solutions built for longevity. Their process—pre-engineering, factory preassembly, and weekend installation—means you get a professional-grade reception station without the hassle of a long renovation. Plus, their eco-friendly materials and “old school” craftsmanship ensure your space looks great and stands the test of time.

Ready to Transform Your Reception?

A weekend is all it takes to elevate your reception station with Modular Furniture Group. Start planning today by visiting modularfurnituregroup.com or contacting their team for a custom design. With their expertise, your business will make a stellar first impression by Monday morning—no stress, no fuss.

Disclaimer: This guide assumes coordination with Modular Furniture Group’s team for timely delivery and installation. Always confirm timelines and contractor availability in advance.

David Cleasby Medical Furniture

How to Select the Best Medical Office Furniture

Choosing office furniture isn’t easy. Does the aesthetic make sense? Is it comfortable? Can we easily move it as we grow? Now, take into account medical office furniture and that list of questions expands exponentially. 

  • Are you patients able to access all areas?
  • Are surfaces easy to clean?
  • Are the furniture pieces long-lasting and durable?

The furniture you choose (whether modular or not) needs to fit all of these criteria and more. Here are some tips and extra thoughts to consider when the time comes for you to furnish your medical facility.

Considering Comfort

From layout to colors and style, how your furniture looks and feels can make all the difference in ensuring your patients are comfortable. Especially in a health or medical setting, visitors to your office should feel safe, secure, and reassured that your facility is top-notch and caring. 

Other things you should consider:

  • Is there enough space to move comfortably?
  • Does the office layout allow you to interact with patients easily?
  • Does your office allow for space to gather information with sufficient privacy?
  • Is there lockable storage available for clinical records, marketing material, and medications?

Taking Sanitation into Account

As members of the healthcare industry, you must be vigilant when it comes to germs and cleanliness. Whether you are operating a doctor’s office, a hospital, or another practice, you want to eliminate all of the germs you possibly can from furniture and surrounding areas. 

How important is this? Studies from the CDC have shown that 1 in 25 patients acquire an infection while being within a hospital care setting. Here are some things you should look for when it comes to picking medical furniture:

  • Minimal crevices and with areas that are easy to disinfect
  • Smooth, finished countertops, desks, and side tables that are easy to wipe down
  • Non-porous furniture made of material such as vinyl or polyurethane
  • Couches and chairs with removable cushions or parts make for convenient disinfecting and repairing
  • Furniture that is made to last and easy to replace

Safety and Compliance

Your patient’s safety should be the top priority. In order to accomplish this, thinking of how your furniture functions is critical so that it accommodates those with special needs. This means adhering to ADA compliance rules regarding spacing, width, ramps, and bathroom accessibility.  

Another instance is ensuring that falls and injuries that could happen are at a minimum. Here’s how you can be sure the furniture you choose provides the safety you need:

  • Providing different levels of seating
  • Adequate armrests for added support
  • Sturdy and durable 
  • Rounded edges and no sharp areas

There’s 3 ways you can ensure your medical office furniture caters to both your staff and patients. Need help designing furniture that fit your needs? Contact us today to see how Modular Furniture Group can transform your space for the better!

David Cleasby Modular Furniture

Understanding the Modular Furniture Manufacturing Process

When you think “modular furniture” you most likely think of companies like Amazon or Ikea – cheap, put-together-yourself type of furniture that doesn’t usually last long. At Modular Furniture Group we’re different, our modular furniture manufacturing process is like no other.

Our unique modular furniture manufacturing process ensures that you, as a customer, get the most out of your new piece of furniture. This means our items are sturdy and built to last but are also made with your specifications in mind. They combine the ease of being able to change things up to create new working environments with all natural woods and designs that stay around for the long haul – just like furniture should be.

Over the years, we’ve mastered the ability to do this and our process is unmatched. But, what is it exactly? In this article, we’ll outline the 3 steps we take to provide the best quality and service when it comes to the modular furniture manufacturing process.

Design

The look and feel of your space matters. Whether you are a business, bank, school, or medical facility we take the impact of your environment seriously. During the design process, we work with your contractor to ensure all custom wood workspaces meet your space, electrical, and mechanical requirements.

Some key elements we use to make this happen are:

  • Utilizing the state-of-art technology of Wood working machinery
  • Using precision machined parts ensuring accurate modular assembly
  • Building with accuracy and on time delivery
  • Pre-engineering component parts for rapid turn around, custom finished to each project’s specifications
  • Implementing “old school” craftsmanship with Computer Aided Manufacturing

Fabrication

A great design needs to still be made well and built to last as your business or facility changes. To make this happen, we pair old woodworking techniques with modern technology to get the best results. Based on your specifications, the custom wood workstations, desks, or cabinets are then preassembled in our factory and shipped to your destination. They come premeasured and ready for set up as soon as they get there – no need for any wait time!

We make sure you have the best quality by:

  • Utilizing the state-of-art technology of Wood working machinery
  • Using precision machined parts ensuring accurate modular assembly
  • Building with accuracy and on time delivery
  • Pre-engineering component parts for rapid turn around, custom finished to each project’s specifications
  • Implementing “old school” craftsmanship with Computer Aided Manufacturing

Installation

Our tagline is “renovate in a weekend”, and we mean!

Once your custom designed furniture is built and shipped we then reconnect with your contractor to coordinate the installation so when the time comes, the process is quick and seamless. Contractors are involved in the installation process to ensure the entire space is functional and put together correctly. Plus, this turn key installation means that your business doesn’t have to close – you can keep operating!

To ensure speed and efficiency we:

  • Assign a project manager that orchestrates the entire installation
  • Provide delivery to the job site
  • Coordinate electrical, data, security, and computer equipment personnel
  • Have on site tooling abilities for renovation adjustments

After the installation is complete, our service team works to make sure you are satisfied with the look, feel, and functionality of your new furniture. We promise quality customer service through each step of the process. Our service team will assist you with all warranties that assure that any problems with our product, hardware, workmanship, or finishes will be quickly remedied.

Want to put this process into action? Contact us today to see how Modular Furniture Group can transform your space for the better!