EXHIBIT 5.2

                                                February 22, 2002



Steelcase Inc.
901 44/th/ Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49508

       Re:    Steelcase Inc.
              Registration Statement on Form S-4

Ladies and Gentlemen:

       We have acted as special counsel to Steelcase Inc., a Michigan
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the public offering of
$250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 6.375% Senior Notes Due
2006 (the "Exchange Notes"). The Exchange Notes are to be issued pursuant to an
exchange offer (the "Exchange Offer") in exchange for a like principal amount of
the Company's issued and outstanding 6.375% Senior Notes Due 2006 (the "Original
Notes") under an Indenture dated as of November 27, 2001 (the "Indenture"),
between the Company and Bank One Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the
"Trustee"), as contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of
November 19, 2001 (the "Registration Rights Agreement"), by and among the
Company, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Salomon Smith Barney Inc., Banc of America
Securities LLC, Banc One Capital Markets, Inc. and BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

       This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of
Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Act").

     In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon originals
or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the
Registration Statement on Form S-4 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") on the date hereof (the "Registration Statement");
(ii) an executed copy of the Registration Rights Agreement; (iii) an executed
copy of the Indenture; (iv) the Form T-1 of the Trustee to be filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement; and (v) the form of the Exchange Notes.



Steelcase Inc.
February 22, 2002
Page 2


We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to
our satisfaction, of such records of the Company and such agreements,
certificates of public officials, certificates of officers or other
representatives of the Company and others, and such other documents,
certificates and records as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis
for the opinions set forth herein.

     In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of natural persons,
the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted
to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents
submitted to us as facsimile, electronic, certified, conformed or photostatic
copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. In making
our examination of documents executed or to be executed, we have assumed that
all parties thereto, including the Company, had or will have the power,
corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and
have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or
other, and execution and delivery by such parties of such documents and (except
to the extent we have opined on such matters below with respect to the Exchange
Notes) that such documents constitute valid and binding obligations of such
parties. We have also assumed that the Company has been duly organized and is
validly existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Michigan and
that the Company has complied with all aspects of Michigan law in connection
with the transactions contemplated by the Exchange Offer. As to any facts
material to the opinions expressed herein which we have not independently
established or verified, we have relied upon statements and representations of
officers and other representatives of the Company and others and of public
officials.

     Our opinion set forth herein is limited to the laws of the State of New
York that, in our experience, are normally applicable to transactions of the
type contemplated by the Exchange Offer and, to the extent that judicial or
regulatory orders or decrees or consents, approvals, licenses, authorizations,
validations, filings, recordings or registrations with governmental authorities
are relevant, to those required under such laws (all of the foregoing being
referred to as "Opined on Law"). We do not express any opinion with respect to
the law of any jurisdiction other than Opined on Law or as to the effect of any
such non-opined-on law on the opinions herein stated. We have relied as to
matters of New York law on the opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
LLP dated the date hereof and addressed to us. Sheila C. Dayton, Vice President,
General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of the Company, may rely on this opinion
in rendering her opinion dated the date hereof and to be filed as Exhibit 5.1 to
the Registration Statement.

     Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the limitations,qualifications,
exceptions and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that when the
Exchange Notes (in the form examined by us) have been duly executed and
authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and have been
delivered upon consummation of the Exchange Offer against receipt of Original
Notes surrendered in exchange therefor in accordance with the terms of the
Exchange Offer, the Exchange Notes will constitute valid and binding obligations
of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms,
except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar
laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights generally and (ii)
general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered
in a proceeding at law or in equity).



Steelcase Inc.
February 22, 2002
Page 3


     In rendering the opinion set forth above, we have assumed that the
execution and delivery by the Company of the Indenture and the Exchange Notes
and the performance of the Company of its obligations thereunder do not and will
not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under any agreement or
instrument to which the Company or its properties is subject, except for those
agreements and instruments which have been identified to us by the Company as
being material to it and which are listed under Item 21(a) in Part II of the
Registration Statement or listed as exhibits to the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 23, 2001, pursuant to Item 14(c)
thereof. With respect to any agreement or instrument reviewed by us, that by its
terms or otherwise is governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the
laws of the State of New York, our opinion herein is based solely on our
understanding of the plain language of such agreement or instrument and we do
not express any opinion with respect to the interpretation, validity, binding
nature or enforceability of any such agreement or instrument, and we do not
assume any responsibility with respect to the affect on the opinions or
statements set forth herein of any interpretation thereof inconsistent with such
understanding.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our
firm under the caption "Legal Matters" in the Registration Statement. In giving
this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of
persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and
regulations of the Commission.


                                           Very truly yours,

                                           /s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher
                                               & Flom (Illinois)