2015 YEAR IN REVIEW

 

In our annual Year in Review special feature, we take a snapshot look at what kept our industry busy and bustling in the past year. 2015 was another engaging year in the world of workplace design, and we at officeinsight had a fantastic time reporting on it!

Ongoing advances in evidence-based research, sustainability and wellness initiatives, and technology continued to expand the tools and resources available to designers. New generations joining the workforce, the co-working movement, and a learning- and cloud-based way of working are presenting remarkable opportunities and challenges. As the economy continues its shift from industrial to knowledge-based, the nature of work is focused more on people, and the corporate clients of designers are increasingly recognizing the important role of good design in attracting and retaining top talent.

Office furniture trends include expansion of height adjustability and power/data configuration options, plus reconfigurable or mobile furniture that offers users more flexibility in adapting the work environment to changing workflows. There is also renewed interest in helping companies create the right balance between the open plan concept and the availability of quiet places. In the design process itself, 3D modeling and virtual reality are becoming useful tools for communicating with both clients and builders. More powerful information technology resources are improving data analytics for research-based design as well as market research for better decision-making by manufacturers, designers, and end users.

Here we present a month-by-month summary of some of the key news highlights of the year, as reported by officeinsight contributors as well as press release submissions to officenewswire. The chronological list does not include all of our feature interviews with top designers during the year, including Joe Sultan of Chilewich [6.8.15]; Geraldine Blanchot and Kristen Dettoni of Pattern Pod [7.20.15]; Brian Graham of Graham Design [8.3.15]; IIDA Distinguished Achievement Honoree Tom DiRenzo of San Francisco Herman Miller dealer CRI [8.31.15]; Justin Champaign of Most Modest [9.14.15]; and others who shared their design philosophies and observations of the latest design research and trends.

Environmental psychologist Sally Augustin, Ph.D., in addition to her weekly Research Design Connections report, contributed a wealth of insights through her Concurrents – Environmental Psychology column. Topics in 2015 were: Cutting Down on Sitting While Working [1.19.15]; Mining (Your) Big Data [2.2.15]; The Year of…Listening [2.16.15]; Color Science [3.2.15]; Tuning In To Light Color [3.9.15]; Informed De-Cluttering [3.23.15]; Take a Walk! [4.6.15]; Make it Change [4.20.15}; Empathetic Design [5.4.15]; [Awe]some! [5.25.15]; Derailing Determinism [6.8.15]; Cognitive Science and Workplace Design [6.29.15]; Deflecting Dissent [7.13.15]; Home at Work [7.27.15]; Eye Contact, or Not [8.10.15]; Standing Sight Lines [8.24.15]; Designing for Monitoring [8.31.15]; Groups Need Privacy Too [9.14.15]; Locating [9.28.15]; Young Architecture Connoisseurs [10.12.15]; Supposedly Irrelevant Factors [10.26.15]; Communicating via Design [11.9.15]; Getting the Conversation Rolling [11.23.15]; and Understanding the Irrational [12.7.15]. Dr. Augustin’s consulting firm, Design With Science, integrates insights from environmental and design psychology as well as other social and physical sciences, to inform the design of places, objects and services. [Spotlight feature, 7.20.15]

Cheers to 2015, and to another great year for the inspiring A&D community in 2016!

JANUARY

>AIA awarded the Architects’ Gold Medal, its highest honor, to Moshe Safdie, and its Firm Award to Ehrlich Architects. This year’s medalist, Moshe Safdie, is hard to categorize, especially considering his triple citizenship in Israel, Canada and the U.S. His career sprung to life with a landmark project in 1967, continued for decades with many solid though less spectacular commissions, then recently regained worldwide attention for some very high-profile works. [1.12.15]

>Lynn Utter Resigned as President and Chief Operating Officer of Knoll Office, effective April 10, 2015. Ms. Utter led the Knoll Office division through an extraordinarily difficult period for the company, the industry, and in fact the whole country. While 2008 was a banner year for Knoll, 2009 saw the company lose 30% on the top line the impacts of the Great Recession brought our entire industry to similar levels of decline. “Lynn managed our business during a challenging period and thanks to her leadership, Knoll has developed new initiatives that support our commercial, government, healthcare and education clients,” noted CEO Andrew Cogan. [1.19.15]

>Acoustical solutions manufacturer BuzziSpace continued to expand its business in 2015 with a focus on simple, sustainable and acoustically driven products. BuzziSpace has always had a subjective take on their product offerings to the commercial market; Overflowing with a youthful energy and informal look, BuzziSpace is gaining popularity in this country by evolving into a company that makes a range of products resonating most with Millennials in the workplace. [1.19.15]

>Mark Skerik became the new president at Edelman Leather. Mr. Skerik is a seven-year Knoll veteran with prior upholstery/seating operations experience at a luxury brand. Since 2007, he had served as the marketing director of KnollStudio, at the epicenter of its sourcing, operations, sales promotion, customer service and brand initiatives, as well as at the helm of product introductions such as the David Adjaye Collection. [1.19.15]

>The AIA 2015 Honor Awards for Architecture and Design were announced. This year’s jury reflected a strong strain of sobriety in the projects selected; no stunning swoops or dazzling geometries for whole buildings, though there were a few complex curves among the interiors, where they’re not quite so costly. All of the recent juries have shared the same apparent concerns for environmental responsibility, conservation of resources, social contribution and response to context. [1.26.15]

>The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced the 126 finalists in its Knight Cities Challenge, a competition that calls for ideas to make the 26 communities where the Knight Foundation invests more vibrant places to live and work. Officeinsight published a selection of the competition finalists to bring a small slice of community engagement efforts to the table of office design – to challenge how workplace interior professionals might bridge their work inside offices with the communities and environments that lie outside through more mainstream efforts. [1.26.15]

>3M expanded the options of its 3M™ DI-NOC™ Architectural Finishes and 3M™ FASARA™ Glass Finishes to include dry-erase Whiteboard Finishes. These surfacing films are durable, lightweight and easy to install on a range of surfaces, including glass, and they were developed to nearly eliminate ‘ghosting,’ thereby leaving a clean, mark-free board even after many rounds of erasing. [1.26.15]

>Architecture for Humanity’s board of directors announced Jan. 22 that the organization will be filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. All staff was laid off as of Jan. 1, and the physical office in San Francisco has been closed. Also as of Jan. 1, the organization stopped accepting donations. In a statement from Board Chair Matt Charney, posted on its website, Mr. Charney noted that “while Architecture for Humanity as a 501c3 company is filing for bankruptcy, many of the international chapters of Architecture for Humanity, while they share a common name, are separate legal entities and will continue their work without pause. Additionally, the U.S. based chapters of Architecture for Humanity are all managed by volunteer directors, and those directors have vowed to continue the work of the organization, though it may be under a different name.” [1.26.15]

>IFMA’s Workplace Evolutionaries and the IFMA Foundation published a workplace strategy guide, “Applying What Scientists Know About WHERE and HOW People Work Best” by Dr. Sally Augustin. Workplace strategies are a frequent topic of lively debates rooted in strong opinions. This comprehensive repository of research organizes the tremendous body of empirical study that has been conducted in the social and physical sciences which is applicable to workplace managers and designers. [1.26.15]

Configura released CET Developer, a new platform that allows programmers and developers to create their own CET Designer Extensions. It enables manufacturers to have complete control over all of their content, from the beginning of the project to the release and maintenance of the finalized Extension. Through the cloud-based Developer Center developers and manufacturers can access the developer documentation and handle all billing information, user permissions, release notes and Marketplace information for their Extension, from anywhere in the world. [1.26.15]

>On Jan. 30, more than 600 industry notables traveled from all over the globe to celebrate the 36th edition of Contract Magazine’s annual “Interiors Awards Breakfast” and this year’s winners at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York. David Mourning, AIA, FIIDA, founder of IA Interior Architects, was honored with the prestigious Legend Award. Previous Legend Award winners include Michael Graves (2013), Carl Magnusson (2012), Art Gensler (2010) and Moira Moser (2008). Designer of the Year honors went to Martin Lesjak, CEO and creative director at Graz, Austria’s INNOCAD Architecture, and co-founder of 13&9 Design. [2.16.15]

 

FEBRUARY

>BIFMA hosted its 2015 BIFMA 360 Leadership Conference in Miami. Conference attendees, most leaders at their respective companies, enjoyed a curated list of speakers around this year’s conference theme, “Make It,” while enjoying the Florida sunshine on the pristine grounds of the Trump National Doral Resort. Top speakers included Adam Davidson, columnist for The New York Times Magazine, co-founder and co-host of Planet Money on NPR, and a business and economics expert; data analytics expert Thomas Davenport; biomimicry expert Jay Harman and of course, BIFMA Executive Director Tom Reardon. [2.2.15]

>The planets have aligned for the rise of analytics, according to Thomas Davenport, a speaker at the BIFMA 360 Leadership Conference. A combination of powerful IT, critical data mass, tech skills sufficiency, and a need for better decision-making has companies investing in analytics, and for good reason. Mr. Davenport noted that welcoming analytics as a major focus requires buy-in from the top, and he rated most companies in the office furniture industry as “analytically impaired” or performing minor “localized analytics.” He cited the following reasons for this analytical impairment: the industry’s use of dealer distribution limits its access to customer data; the primary focus is often on workplace changes, product innovation and sustainability – all things that are difficult to quantify; and while many giants will have the means to gather good transaction data, many of the smaller manufacturers don’t. [2.16.15]

Design enthusiasts around the world could once again enjoy New York’s Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, which reopened in December 2014 after a renovation project that kept it closed for three years. As the only U.S. museum devoted to design of all periods from pre-history to the present, it is a precious resource. Now, it has 16,000 square feet of exhibition space, up from 10,000, all of it designed to current standards. Perhaps the most significant change for visitors is the extensive installation of interactive digital devices. [2.2.15]

>National Office Furniture’s newest seating collection, Essay™, is student-inspired and student-designed. It came to fruition through a partnership between National and Purdue University, where National hosts an annual furniture design competition for Purdue Industrial Design students. The initial design concept for Essay was submitted by student Sasha Mahan-Rudolph, who was selected by National to work with the design team as an intern to develop her product, including market testing and validation. Essay includes a student chair, task chair and stool. [2.2.15]

>MIT launched a new Master’s track in Integrated Design & Management offered through the School of Engineering and the Sloan School of Management. The program targets early- to midcareer professionals. IDM’s core curriculum will be taught in the Integrated Design Lab, a design studio environment complete with state-of-the-art tools like 3D printers and robotic arms. Working in interdisciplinary teams, students will practice the human-centered design process on a range of projects. The backgrounds of IDM’s student body and faculty will be composed of equal parts engineering, business, and design professionals. [2.2.15]

>IA Interior Architects opened a new office in Portland, OR, and introduced the leadership team. The office is located at 1120 NW Couch Street, Suite 450, Portland, OR 97209. Richelle Nolan IIDA, CCIDC, recently joined the firm as managing director. With more than 15 years of experience, her primary focus is on building the office and practice, and developing IA’s presence in the Portland market. [2.2.15]

>IIDA convened a select group of design, manufacturing and corporate real estate experts for the 18th Annual IIDA Industry Roundtable. The Roundtable addressed employee wellbeing as a necessary component in workplace design strategy and provided manufacturers and designers with new perspectives on human-focused design. IIDA released the Roundtable report in early spring. [2.2.15]

>The IIDA New York Chapter became a member of Be Original Americas, a nonprofit organization committed to promoting the value of genuine design and eliminating counterfeit practices in the design industry. As the first chapter of the IIDA to participate in this initiative, IIDA NY joins the ranks of brands such as Herman Miller and Bernhardt Design, as well as a host of media partners, including Interior Design, Metropolis and Dwell, that are working together to protect designers’ original work and support the future of the industry. [2.2.15]

>KI corporate was recognized as a Gold Fit-Friendly Worksite by the American Heart Association in conjunction with its “My Heart. My Life.” initiative. The award honors KI for making the health and wellness of its employees a priority and serves as a catalyst for positive change in the workplace across America. [2.2.15]

>Findings of a Teknion-sponsored study conducted by Canada’s most eminent kinesiologist, Jack P. Callaghan, PhD, reverses the conventional sit-stand wisdom of a three-to-one sit-to-stand ratio. Instead, Dr. Callaghan’s team found, you should stand for three and sit for one. The study observed individuals over multiple four-hour time periods while working at a sit-to-stand desk performing a variety of typical office tasks. They were wired with infrared light-emitting diodes on their thighs, feet, pelvis, spine, trunk and head that were tracked by cameras to record their posture and movement. Electrodes attached to their bodies

recorded muscle activity. The data, combined with subjective scores of pain reported by the participants, revealed that an eight-hour workday should ideally break down to two hours of sitting and six hours of standing, or 15 minutes of standing for every five minutes of sitting. Teknion has a history of serious study of the workplace, and it has taken a number of steps to improve its ability to disseminate what it is learning, starting with hiring Jennifer Busch, the well-known and widely respected former editor of Contract Magazine, to the position of vice president of A&D. [2.2.15], [2.9.15]

>Business Interiors by Staples and Metropolis Magazine announced the winners of their Workplace of the Future 2.0 contest. The contest asked architects and designers around the world to envision what work life would be in the coming 10-15 years. From the 150+ design concept submissions, the following themes emerged as “key drivers in the future of the workplace”: shift toward adaptable furniture systems; creating mobile pods; inserting infill environments; designing wellness spaces; and staying connected to technology. [2.9.15]

>The IIDA hosted a townhall meeting at IIDA Headquarters in the Merchandise Mart in Chicago to shed light on the proposed Illinois Design Practitioner Act. Four panelists addressed interior designers, architects and students in the field regarding the proposed legislation, a practice act set to enter the Illinois state senate in 2015 and state house in 2016. The legislation seeks to support the legal recognition of interior designers who work in the code-impacted environment. [2.9.15]

>DIRTT entered into a strategic collaboration with Corning Inc. that will bring Corning® Willow® Glass to DIRTT’s suite of interior construction solutions. 30 times thinner and lighter than standard 6 mm soda lime glass, 200 μm Willow Glass is an ultra-thin, flexible, display-grade glass that enables DIRTT – for the first time – to apply a pristine, durable glass surface to a wide range of next generation products. Willow Glass is chemically durable, scratch resistant, bendable and easy-to-clean. [2.9.15]

>Asure Software, in a new global survey, found that about one third of organizations have a workspace hoteling program in place and another one third are considering it. Asure conducted the survey to assess the prevalence of hoteling, its perceived benefits, and how it is being executed. The online survey received 154 responses from organizations in the United States, as well as Australia, Canada, India and the UK. More than one third of respondents said 25% or less of their workforce is virtual and almost a quarter of respondents said that more than 25% of their workforce operates virtually. [2.9.15]

>IFMA’s facility management credential program earned accreditation and seven commendations from the American National Standards Institute. ANSI, which oversees thousands of standards and guidelines that directly impact businesses in a range of sectors, accredited IFMA for the Facility Management Professional® and Sustainability Facility Professional® credentials. [2.9.15]

>Herman Miller, Inc. earned the 2015 Work-Life Seal of Distinction from World-at-Work Alliance for Work-Life Progress (AWLP). This award is a mark of excellence designed to identify organizational success in work-life effectiveness. Herman Miller is one of the 77 organizations honored at a Gala Awards Dinner at AWLP’s 2015 Future of Work Forum on Mar. 18 in Nashville. [2.9.15]

>M Moser Associates’ recent top-to-bottom redesign of Nike’s almost 20-year-old Taipei offices precisely captures the Nike lifestyle. A few brands have permeated the fabric of our culture to a point where we can’t imagine the world without them. Nike is certainly one of those brands, now as much about the “Nike lifestyle” and technology as it is about shoes and sports. The new space is a reflection of M Moser’s close collaboration with the Nike Workplace Design team and Nike end users to energize and inspire its employees to work together and apart in more valuable ways. The new Nike Taipei offices feature a clever design consisting of three basic work zones: ‘hot’ and ‘warm’ for communal and enclosed collaboration, and ‘cool’ work area ‘neighborhoods.’ Weaving these zones together is a ‘running track’, a circulation route featuring the hardwood flooring typical of a basketball court. [2.23.15]

>With his first forays into height adjustable furniture, Apple engineering alumnus and Stir Kinetic Desk Founder and CEO JP Labrosse is intent on bringing increased value to contract furniture solutions by combining furniture with tech to create a physical and emotional experience for end users. The Stir Kinetic F1 and M1 height adjustable tables champion experience-oriented design. Where the F1 table has a more midcentury design and a private office price tag, the M1 is a bit more than half the price of the original and features a curved organic shape and gently sloped front edge. Both tables are powered by a built-in app that works off of a hot-swappable device implanted on the worksurface. By swiping to the left or right on the touchscreen, users can customize the desk, see how many calories they’ve burned, and log how much they have moved over the course of time. Stir aims to create desks that sense the presence of individuals and wakes up when they arrive. Using Bluetooth technology, the desk can detect a FitBit or similar device and pulls individual preference settings and data from cloud-based technology. [2.23.15]

>Lamin-Art introduced 30 solid color laminates with its new Solid Colors Collection. Ranging from cool blues and lively grays to muted neutrals and zesty warm colors, the new laminates are available in two new finishes: Diamond, a polished, high-gloss finish, and Vellum, a parchment-like, matte finish that is soft to the touch. [2.23.15]

>Rosanne Somerson was named the 17th president of Rhode Island School of Design. Prior to her appointment as interim president, Ms. Somerson served as provost from 2012–14, leading the effort to hone and rearticulate RISD’s academic vision. She was instrumental in the creation of the college’s current strategic plan, Critical Making | Making Critical, which articulates a comprehensive vision for educating and preparing artists and designers for a changing world in ways that respect RISD’s founding ideals and contemporary character. [2.23.15]

>The Illinois Registered Design Practitioners Act, Illinois SB 1270, was introduced to the General Assembly by State Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford (D-4th District). The bill allows licensure for registered design practitioners to stamp and seal drawings for nonresidential projects and also establishes a Registered Design Practitioner Licensing Board. ASID is working closely with the Illinois Interior Design Coalition and the ASID Illinois chapter to push this bill through the legislature. IIDA Illinois Chapter is also working to support the legislation. [2.23.15]

MARCH

>Steelcase Inc. was recognized by Fortune magazine as one of its 2015 “World’s Most Admired Companies” in the Home Equipment and Furnishings industry sector. In the Fortune survey of executives that ultimately determine the rankings, Steelcase scored high in categories including Innovation, Social Responsibility, Quality of Management and Quality of Products/Services. [3.2.15]

>Joel Feldberg, son of Global Group founder Saul Feldberg, was named the new CEO of Global Group. Global Group, headquartered in Toronto, is one of many privately owned, commercial furniture manufacturing companies. Founded in 1966, it has thrived under the extraordinary leadership and vision of its founder Saul Feldberg for these many years. “My leadership style is more about building an outstanding team of leaders and empowering them to make most of the day-to-day decisions,” said Mr. Feldberg. [3.9.15]

>The Design Center at the Merchandise Mart’s first annual Outdoor Design Conference Mar. 19-20 featured a keynote presentation by Gensler and Motorola Mobility. Attendees got an exclusive inside look into the collaboration and design of the largest commercial outdoor space in Chicago – the Motorola Mobility Rooftop at the Mart. [3.9.15]

>The Pritzker Prize honored Frei Otto of Germany. Mr. Otto’s most famous works were grand swooping canopies that sheltered a national pavilion at the Montreal Expo of 1964 and the sports venues of the Munich Olympic Games of 1972. This year’s award turned out to be a posthumous one. After the jury had decided on the 2015 recipient, who must be “a living architect,” and Mr. Otto had been informed of the honor, he died on Mar. 9, a few months short of his 90th birthday. The public announcement of the prize, scheduled for Mar. 23, was advanced to Mar. 10, the day after his death. [3.16.15]

>The Windhover Contemplative Center at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA, was designed by Aidlin Darling Design and Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture as a spiritual retreat for students, faculty and staff. The one-story, 4,000sf building and surrounding landscape is “a space where art, landscape and architecture come together to replenish and invigorate the spirit.” Nestled in Silicon Valley, the contemplative center represents a curious cutout in a tech-defined universe. A standout project in the year 2015, the Contemplative Center received many awards, including the awards competitions from Interior Design Magazine, the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture & Design, the IIDA, the Society of American Registered Architects, the AIA, and the American Society of Landscape Architects. [3.16.15]

>Michael Graves, 80, died Mar. 12 at home in Princeton, NJ, of natural causes. Well-known as one of the founders of postmodern­ism, but perhaps as famous for his product design as his buildings, Mr. Graves was beloved of this industry for his furniture and showroom de­sign as well as his advocacy for smart healthcare design. As a popular speaker at de­sign events, he was never one to hold back on his critical view of the state of architec­ture and interior design. His pithy presentations will be missed, as will his contribu­tions to the fields of archi­tecture, interior design and product design. [3.16.15] In January, Mr. Graves received the 2014 AIA Presidential Citation. This award is given to those individuals or other entities that are believed to merit acknowledgement for outstanding contributions to the profession of architecture. [1.19.15] In May, the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum announced that he won the National Design Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. [5.11.15]

>OFS Brands, Inc. agreed to purchase Highmark, Inc., a seating manufacturer specializing in mid-market seating in the workplace, hospitality, healthcare and educational market segments. Founded by Chuck Loeb in 1993 and based in Huntington Beach, CA, Highmark emerged as a leader in the mid-market sector by delivering innovative seating products and bringing the company’s Body Balance weight sensing ergonomic technology to the marketplace. The company is also known for its “Simple Sell, Simple Service, Simple Design Value Proposition,” which promises customers a smooth and transparent experience from product design to production to service. [3.16.15]

>New research from Knoll Workplace Research and RKTL Associates explored the evolution of employee health from the corporate wellness initiatives of the 1970s to the holistic wellbeing programs organizations are now embracing. As the economy continues its shift from industrial to knowledge-based, the nature of our work, in the U.S. and many other countries, is more focused on people. Rather than machines, a company’s people are its primary, and oftentimes only, performing assets. The new design theory research discussed what makes or allows humans to perform at their optimal level. [3.23.15]

>Reesie Duncan, creative director of Shaw Contract Group, was named a recipi­ent of the Women in Manu­facturing STEP Award by The Manufacturing Institute. The STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Awards honor women who have demonstrated excel­lence and leadership in their careers and represent all levels of the manufacturing industry. [3.23.15]

>Swedish design software company Configura gathered furniture industry competitors for its spring Partner Meeting and conjoining Developer Conference in Grand Rapids, MI. The gathering of office furniture industry competitors Steelcase, Haworth, Teknion, KI, Inscape and others discussed and received confidential software updates from Configura. The quirky Swedish company continues to push forward their product, making it more seamless, more cutting edge and more approachable. [3.30.15]

>Julio Braga, Stanford Hughes, Susanne Molina and Joey Shimoda are the 2015 inductees to IIDA’s prestigious College of Fellows. [3.30.15]

APRIL

>The New York Eleven Plus (NY11+) annual interior design student exhibition, this year titled, Interior Design: Counts for New York State, opened in Albany’s Legislative Office Building on Apr. 13. It remained on display there until Apr. 17, after which it was then on display in the Lapicida NYC showroom Apr. 22–28. NY11+ was founded in 1997 by Ruth Lynford, FASID, IIDA, CID, AIA Assoc. as an exhibition of work from prestigious New York State educational institutions, all offering four-year programs or more in interior design. More than a dozen schools join together each year in efforts to reach the general public, legislators and the design community through student work. The exhibition has raised awareness of the complexity and responsibilities of the interior design profession as it applies to the health, safety and welfare of the public. [3.9.15, 6.8.15]

>New Research from Interface and Human Spaces: The Biophilic Side of Wellbeing Design. Lying within the circle of wellbeing design are several sub-areas, including active design, holistic ergonom­ics, social and emotional design strategies, and biophilic design. The last of these, biophilic design, or design inspired by nature, and was the focus of a recent global research study by Human Spaces: “The Global Impact of Biophilic Design in the Workplace,” commissioned by Interface, the sustainability pro of flooring manufacturing. [4.6.15]

>Steelcase brand turnstone created the new Shortcut stool and chair for short-term sits such as conference room meetings or impromptu brainstorms around the kitchen. Customizable and ergonomically designed to support the modern worker, it is available in two heights – standard and high stool. Features include a back cutout designed to allow for seat flexibility and support; elbow rests; adjustable height via a pneumatic handle; and the option of specifying two colors in one chair with various cushion options. [4.6.15]

>“Making Distance Disappear,” an article in Steelcase’s 360° research publication, dove deep into all things video conferencing, which it credits as the technology with the best chance of eliminating “presence disparity.” Video conferencing technology has been a great option for multi-location teams on a for-the-masses scale since the 1990s. It’s also an excellent example of a potential technological game-changer that never quite reached its full potential, failing to evolve and grow into something new that continues to serve its users’ evolving needs. [4.13.15]

>IIDA New York’s 2015 Design This! student challenge was a high-intensity one night competition hosted by IIDANY’s Student Mentorship Committee. It was a rare opportunity for students to gain on-the-spot exposure to fast-paced design work with the potential for real-world execution of their designs. This year’s competition was inspired by IIDA member Hana Getachew, founder and creative director of bolé road textiles. Ms. Getachew challenged participants to create patterns inspired by her two new collections, bolé road to Brooklyn, influenced by urban culture, and Modern Take, a line that reinterprets traditional Ethiopian textile patterns for a modern setting. [4.13.15]

>The 35th China International Furniture Fair (CIFF) in Guang­zhou attracted more than 900 exhibitors and overwhelming crowds again this year. Officeinsight contributor John Sacks attended the show and reported, “The creativity and innovation that seemed to be blossoming at 2014’s show was sadly less in evidence this year…There was less breakout furniture on show than in previous years but there were plenty of examples of other western trends, such as wood-effect legs and felt upholstery on seating and screens.” [4.13.15]

>Scott Hierlinger, IIDA, LEED AP, design direc­tor, Nelson is the new IIDA president for 2015-2016. Marlene Liriano, IIDA, LEED AP IDC+C, vice president and director of Interior Design, HOK, is president-elect. Also elected to the board are Edwin Beltran, IIDA, Assoc. AIA, principal, NBBJ, Jeff Fenwick, Industry IIDA, president and COO, Tarkett North America, James Ker­rigan, IIDA, design principal, Jacobs, and Doug Shapiro, Industry IIDA, director of A +D & central region manager, OFS. [4.13.15]

>Space planning and design firm MKDA pushed legacy into the future with its YMCA Retirement Fund project in NYC. Few organizations embody the word ‘legacy’ more than the YMCA. Legacy entities become legacies in the first place because of their ability to weather decades of both triumph and strife, continuously keeping themselves relevant and successful. For the YMCA Retirement Fund, a pension fund for the YMCA established in 1922, MKDA designed the new offices on a tight budget but with a bold design approach. [4.20.15]

>Pratt Career Night 2015 was hosted by Jon Otis, owner of Object Agency and professor of the Exhibition Design Intensive Program at Pratt Institute. He was joined by Stone Source Direct Senior Vice President Diane Barnes at the New York Stone Source showroom. This introduction to the business of networking between students and senior design professionals is now in its 12th year. [4.20.15]

>ASID named five designers who will receive the title of Fellow, the Society’s highest honor. The 2015 ASID Fel­lows are: Edward Bottomley, ASID, a partner at CAMA, Inc.; Trudy Dujardin, ASID, LEED AP+D+C, founder of Dujardin Design Associates and a passionate educator on environmental issues; Joan Kaufman, ASID, IIDA, LEED AP, principal of Inte­rior Planning & Design, Inc., Naperville, IL; Jean Pinto, ASID, CID, a self-employed interior designer who has consistently been committed to advancing the profession through ASID; and Patrick Schmidt, ASID, RID, senior interior designer at J. Baker Interiors LLC, Carmel, IN. [4.20.15]

>The Techstyle Haus, cre­ated by students from Rhode Island School of Design, Brown University, and the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt, Germany, opened at Do­maine de Boisbuchet in Lessac, France. The zero-energy structure features roof and walls made not of wood or metal, but almost entirely of durable, high performance textiles. It was first unveiled at the 2014 Solar Decathlon Europe last summer. The stu­dent team, which spent two years designing and building the Techstyle House, wanted to give it a life after the competition at Versailles. At Domaine de Boisbuchet, the site of annual interdisciplinary art and design workshops, the structure will serve as student housing, and the team will continue to monitor the house so that future iterations can be further improved. [4.20.15]

>TWO, a new division of the longtime Bay Area Steelcase dealer One Workplace, was created to be “hyper responsive” to today’s clients’ needs, and to work with designers and end users in a thoroughly co-creative manner. Officeinsight contributor Julia Peppard visited the TWO offices in San Francisco’s historic gold coast district to understand what it was that drove TWO partners Brian Wilson and Brian Buhl to create what they see as an entirely new model for a dealership. They’ll often bring clients and their designers to the flea market to find unique furniture, then re-upholster and re-finish the pieces, upcycling them to add charm and whimsy to workspaces. Recognizing the domestication trend of the workplace, they aim to create entirely custom options for clients, employing many local San Francisco manufacturers and industrial designers. [4.27.15]

>The 2015 Active Design Excellence Awards expanded its focus on innovation in research. Last year’s inaugural Center for Active Design: Excellence Awards began as an effort to recognize and bring awareness to the transformative role that the design of buildings and public spaces plays in addressing the ongoing chronic disease epidem­ic. This year’s Excellence Awards expanded to recognize the essential role of evidence in active design. [4.27.15]

>The pre-built “Tech Loft” is becoming the commercial landlord and architects’ key to sophisticated interior designs for “TAMI tenants.” Once, commercial office tenants leased empty office space and had it customized. Then, landlords offered tenants offices that were generic in design and inexpensively pre-built: a series of private offices, an area for cubicles and a conference room. Now, a new trend has taken hold. Not only are office spaces offered for lease completely pre-built; these days they match the quality and attractive, contemporary design of custom corporate interiors. [4.27.15]

>A number of companies and firms celebrated the 45th Earth Day with creative initiatives: Eastman Companies celebrated Earth Day 2015 by planting flowering cherry trees at Eisenhower Corpo­rate Campus in Livingston, NJ; National Office Furniture donated 2,000 trees to the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its employees and dealer partners; Perkins+Will New York celebrated 20 LEED-certified projects that the office has designed over the past decade, ranging from healthcare and educa­tion buildings to workplaces and labs; and Trendway released its first annual Corporate Sustain­ability Report. [4.27.15]

>BIFMA’s 2015 Chemicals Summit in Chicago offered encouraging guidance for chemicals transparency in the supply chain. Diverse stakeholders – suppliers, manufacturers, the A&D community, and end users – are collaborating to navigate the complex web of building and product standards. [5.4.15]

MAY

>Cherryman’s new idesk brand, under the design direction of Carl Gustav Magnusson, features selective designs covering a large spectrum of furniture applications. The impressive product scope includes benching, desking, conference and height adjustable tables, a media center, storage, seating for all areas, a lounge seating system, and LED lighting. [5.4.15]

>Kimball Office completed the redesign and renovation of its Washington, DC, showroom. Designed by Perkins+Will, it features functional private and collaborative spaces, lush and textured upholsteries with pops of color, and minimal use of partitions that allow and encourage views through the space. [5.4.15]

>KI joined forces with IIDA to host a revealing discussion on human sustainability and wellbeing in the workplace in their new showroom at the New York Design Center. Leading active design practitioners from firms and the Center for Active Design provided their insights into the latest research and design trends. [5.11.15]

>Teknion Textiles Creative Director Suzanne Tick looked back at the progress of the new division since its formation two years ago and ahead to the future. She noted that while the fabrics have been well received, “our biggest challenge is getting the market to understand that these are not just textiles for use on Teknion products – that we intend Teknion Textiles to be a standalone textile supplier with all that implies.” [5.11.15]

>Shigeru Ban Architects and Voluntary Architects’ Network (VAN) launched a three-phase project to assist victims of the April 25 earthquake in Nepal. The first phase, as an emergency response, is delivering tents for use as shelters and medical stations. The second phase will supply temporary houses using local materials available in Nepal. The third phase will focus on long-term disaster recovery with development of permanent housing for people in need. [5.11.15]

>At the 2015 IIDA Leaders Breakfast in New York, the keynote speaker was Paola Antonelli, senior curator of Architecture & Design and Director of Research & Development for MoMA. She focused her talk on many new frontiers the discipline of design is examining. Her curatorial perspective on the ways design impacts the daily lives of all of us came across as equal parts analyst and humanist, thinking and feeling. [5.18.15]

>Magnuson Group has carved a niche market in sustainability and what it calls “support furnishings.” Ancillary furnishings and other support accessories often find themselves neglected while other furniture categories steal the show, but designers have the opportunity to more fully shape a space through these smaller details. [5.18.15]

>London-based office furniture consultant John Sacks reviewed Clerkenwell Design Week. Hosted in the colorful, mixed-used district of Clerkenwell just north of the center of London, the 2015 show reflected optimism in the steady expansion of the UK market. [5.25.15]

>Gensler-designed LPL Financial in San Diego earned LEED Platinum. The new space, believed to be the largest net-zero energy commercial office building in the country, embodies the balance between sustainability-and human-centered design. [5.25.15]

>NELSON signed a letter of intent to join operations with Atlanta-based interior design firm VeenendaalCave, Inc. With projected revenue of $12 million for the 2015 calendar year and an annual net fee revenue growth of 12%, VCave will represent NELSON’s largest acquisition to date. [5.25.15]

>The new Prouvé RAW Office Edition made its North American debut at Vitra Store New York. The 10-piece range includes seating, desking, storage and lighting solutions based on Jean Prouvé’s original 1940s designs for the offices of French industrial companies. [6.1.15]

>Brookfield Property Partners unveiled DesignHive, a collection of six dynamic office spaces designed by six leading L.A. design firms: Gensler, Rottet Studio, IA – Interior Architects, SAA, Wolcott, and Unispace. The incubator-like project is the result of a design competition Brookfield hosted to foster creative high-rise office design in downtown Los Angeles. [6.8.15]

JUNE

>NeoCon® 2015 organizers, in their post-show wrap-up, described the 47th annual edition of NeoCon as “a runaway hit.” Drawing more than 50,000 attendees from around the world, the show was buzzing all three days up until the very last hour. The show featured sold-out keynote sessions by superstars Patricia Urquiola and Martin Lesjak & Anastasija Sugic. [7.6.15]

>The Best of NeoCon 2015 competition of contract furnishings products recognized 79 products by 62 companies in 41 categories. The honors included nine Innovation Awards and five Editors’ Choice Awards. Tuohy Furniture Corp. was the big winner with its WorkStyles system, which received two Gold Awards (Furniture Systems and Case Goods), one Silver Award (Furniture Collections for Collaboration), one Innovation Award (Occasional Tables), and Best of Competition. HNI Corp. subsidiaries received seven Best of NeoCon awards; Andreu World won three Gold Awards and one Silver Award; Steelcase and subsidiary Designtex together received two Gold Awards, one Silver Award, and one Editors’ Choice Award; and KI also received four awards. [6.22.15]

>Bentley Mills, Inc., for the second year in a row was awarded Best of Competition honors and Small Showrooms category winner in the IIDA/ Contract Magazine Showroom & Booth Design Competition at NeoCon. Herman Miller was the winner in the Large Showrooms category for the third year in a row, and Universal Fibers was the winner in the Large Booths category for the second year in a row. Dupont Surfaces was the winner in the Small Booths category. [6.22.15]

>Delights of NeoCon 2015: Continuing a long-standing tradition, officeinsight staff and contributors shared personal favorites of this year’s show. In addition to the many workplace furnishing debuts of note, one major highlight was River Drive Park, a splendid new green space at the Merchandise Mart in the south drive-through. [6.29.15]

>30 Years of NeoCon: This year, we started a new tradition at officeinsight honoring those who’ve made a habit of attending NeoCon for 30 years or more. While we might make bounds and leaps between companies, the A&D and contract furniture industries have a storied history of retaining their members for the duration of their careers [7.6.15]

>BIFMA members turned out in force for the annual membership meeting held at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza across Orleans Street from the Merchandise Mart. Speakers at the breakfast included BIFMA Executive Director Tom Reardon; interim President of the Board Dan Tuohy of Tuohy Furniture Corp.; Designer Pages President Chris Taylor; Chief Information Officer at ClearArc Capital Mitch Stapley; and VP of Leasing at Merchandise Mart Properties Byron Morton. [7.6.15]

>Raymond James analysts, in their post-show summary of NeoCon, noted “a noticeable uptick” in new product introductions compared to last year. Last year, it seemed the main focus from companies was to integrate prior-year introductions and move toward “revenue generation” with these products. This year, the major focus was to expand prior-year introductions and to add more flexibility and additional options. “Height adjustability and power configuration were major areas of emphasis from all companies. In addition, after a big push towards the open office concept over the last few years, there seemed to be renewed interest in helping companies create the right balance between the open floor concept and the number of quiet places.” [6.22.15]

>Being Smart about Textiles: Amidst a sea of NeoCon seminars, this year we found a diamond in the rough at Tuesday’s “Smart Textiles for Modern Environments” session led by Deb Barrett, a leading window fashion design expert and trend strategist. Part I of our report focuses on the basics of fabric and fabric selection [7.20.15]. For Part II, we present a comprehensive guide to the newest cutting edge technologies being applied to create “smart” textiles [7.27.15]. And in Part III, we address sustainability issues specific to the textiles industry, including the complexities of “green” language, greenwashing, upcycling, and how to spec green. [8.3.15]

>NeoCon 2015 also played host to the debut of a fifth seminar by the inspiring Gensler duo Sven Govaars and Dean Strombom, titled Vuja De: Disruptive Workplace. This new chapter addresses the concept of a disruptive workplace, or one that empowers individuals to choose where, when and how they work by disrupting conventional thought of what the workplace is. New generations joining the workforce, the coworking movement, and a learning- and cloud-based way of working are presenting remarkable opportunities and challenges to the way we work. A proper change management strategy will help interior designers and their clients successfully maneuver these inevitable work environment changes. [8.10.15]

>A Random Walk: Design Thinking and The Disruptive Workplace: Officeinsight Founder Bradford J. Powell, Hon. FASID, offers commentary on Mssrs. Strombom and Govaars’ latest presentation (see above), and the workplace design professions’ need for paradigm shifts as an integral part of design thinking. [9.28.15]

>Be Original: Why Authenticity Matters: Shortly before NeoCon, the Herman Miller NYC showroom hosted an IIDA NY Chapter and Be Original Americas panel discussing several perspectives on the importance of originality and authenticity in design. [7.6.15]

>ASID’s Interior Design 2015/16 Outlook and State of the Industry report forecasted continued positive growth for the interior design industry. According to the report, indicators suggested that design has recovered from the recession of 2008. The number of designers and design firms was near or ahead of 2007 figures, the dollar value of sales and product specified was at record levels, and billings and inquiries were up with positive expectations into next year. In addition, ASID identified six macro-trends for 2015/16: Health & Well-Being, Technology, Sustainability, Urbanization, Globalization and Resiliency. [6.22.15]

>Interface and the Zoological Society of London announced expansion of the Net-Works™ program. Net-Works integrates fishing communities into the global carpet company’s supply chain as a source of recycled nylon. Following the successful pilot of two net collection hubs in the Philippines, a third Philippines collection hub was and another was being established in the Lake Ossa region of Cameroon. [6.22.15]

>Hunter Douglas Inc. donated $300,000 to Habitat for Humanity International to aid the people of Nepal following the two catastrophic earthquakes on April 25 and May 12. According to USAID, the quakes left nearly 9,000 Nepalese people dead and 2.8 million displaced, with almost 800,000 homes destroyed or damaged. Hunter Douglas matched donations from its employees on a two-for-one basis. [6.29.15]

>Bjarke Ingels Group unveiled the design of 2 World Trade Center. The 80+ story building being developed by Silverstein Properties will rise to 1,340 feet, framing the 9/11 Memorial Park alongside One WTC, 3 WTC and 4 WTC. 21st Century Fox and News Corp plans to occupy the lower half of the tower, housing more than 5,000 people under one roof. The design of 2 WTC is derived from its urban context at the meeting point between the Financial District with its modernist skyscrapers and TriBeCa with its lofts and roof gardens. [6.29.15]

>ThyssenKrupp installed the fastest elevators in North and South America at One World Trade Center in New York. The technology group also supplied stainless steel for the spire of the tower. The five elevators servicing the observatory, which opened Jun. 1, are able to travel at nearly 23 mph and climb to the 102nd floor in just 60 seconds. Altogether, ThyssenKrupp installed 71 elevators and 12 escalators in the building [6.29.15]

>Christen Sorensen, an industrial designer from Denmark, passed away on June 10 in Spain at the age of 93. He leaves behind a legacy of designs from the countries he called home. After studying under some of Denmark’s most famous architects and designers at the “Kunsthandwaerkerskolen,” Mr. Sorensen opened a furniture design and production studio in Copenhagen. His chairs were exhibited throughout Scandinavia as well as at the Triennale in Milan in 1955. He moved to Montreal in 1956 where he was involved in many design projects: airport interiors; three pavilions for Expo ’67; commercial interiors; and furniture. Keilhauer’s Respons chair, which Mr. Sorensen designed, was introduced in 1990 and is still in the company’s catalog. [7.20.15]

JULY

>Landscape Forms began three major facility projects and unveiled its new outdoor lighting and furniture showroom. A first for the industry, the outdoor showroom enables customers to experience award winning LED lighting products fully integrated with site furniture collections. Two new facilities will augment existing manufacturing at its corporate headquarters and 50-acre campus nearby. The third expansion project is a new production facility for Meldstone™, a proprietary composite for producing lightweight concrete products. [7.6.15]

>DIRTT Environmental Solutions recently made two public announcements that caught our attention. The first, back in May, was its 1Q 2015 business results, the contents of which were anything but routine. The second, in June, was the completion of a $43 million “bought deal” stock offering led by Raymond James. Officeinsight Publisher Bob Beck traveled to DIRTT headquarters in Calgary to catch up on the news and to learn all things DIRTT, including its most recent splash into the residential market. [7.13.15]

>Three years after massive flooding to WallGoldfinger’s Northfield, VT, factory from Tropical Storm Irene, the now 44-year-old company is in a 60,000sf, state-of-the-art, showpiece factory in nearby Randolph, VT. WallGoldfinger’s skilled handling of the disaster demonstrates how a jarring crisis can benefit companies and the people who work for them if guided in the right direction by the right leaders. [7.13.15]

>CEI Architecture, one of western Canada’s leading architectural practices, joined HDR. Leadership of the two firms cite opportunities for growth both geographically and within each firm’s respective market sectors as the reasons for merging its shared commitment to design innovation in a global landscape. [7.20.15]

>The 11th annual First Look at the New York Design Center in Manhattan attracted more than 1,650 industry professionals who came out to evaluate, discuss and scrutinize the latest product introductions. Kicking off the event was the first-ever collaboration between the NYDC and Interior Design Magazine. Editor-in-Chief Cindy Allen moderated a panel discussion with product visionaries Brad Ascalon, Jhane Barnes, Michael Vanderbyl and Ghislaine Vinas. An upbeat anticipation was in the air throughout the participating showrooms. [7.27.15]

>Since embarking on its rebranding journey two years ago, Bentley has purposefully returned to its roots. It is taking a wide-angle, big picture view of Los Angeles’ influence on its people and products through the lens of music and fashion, and immersing itself within the city center. While exploring its heritage, the company is also seeking the next evolution of its brand. [7.27.15]

>HWKN and Architizer celebrated the opening of their new offices located at One Whitehall Street in the heart of New York’s Financial District. The 4,600sf open plan office features sweeping views of lower Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge and the East River. Along with food, drink and music, guests enjoyed the skyline and experienced Allsteel furnishings in play: Clarity seating, Stride benching, Rise collaborative seating and Beyond architectural walls. [7.27.15]

>One World Trade Center was awarded the 2015 Best Tall Building Award for the USA from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Judges noted that the building “met and exceeded” its high design expectations. Its footprint starts square, but the corners are gradually cut away from the first office level until it squares off again at 145 feet, rotated 45 degrees. WSP served as structural engineer for the 104-story office tower on behalf of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. [7.27.15]

AUGUST

>At the helm of HBF Textiles for more than 25 years, Mary Jo Miller, VP of design and development, has guided the brand under the inspiration, “Bringing texture to life.” The past three years has seen HBF Textiles take a laser-sharp focus in solidifying its identity as an industry leader in high quality yarn textures. With guidance from New York-based boutique design consultancy firm 2×4, the textile company is now hitting its stride with a clear brand message of full yarns and depth of materials. [8.3.15]

>There was a new sense of confidence in the British office furniture industry. The dramatic aftereffects of the 2008 financial crisis when the market fell from $1.26bn in 2007 to $924m in 2011 seemed like ancient history, with 2015 industry sales forecasted to reach $1.49bn. [8.3.15]

>Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide’s new Starlab brand innovation studio in Manhattan’s Garment District is a creative hub for exploring and crafting the brand’s identity. It immerses both employees and visitors in the company’s latest two- and three-dimensional design work, guest technology, and brand programming. [8.10.15]

>NCARB by the Numbers: The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ “NCARB by the Numbers” report offers an inside look into the behavior of aspiring architects on the path to licensure, and into data behind the architecture profession as a whole. [8.17.15] In conjunction with the release of its report, NCARB has also been busy making key adjustments to many of the processes in licensure that it oversees for the profession. These include: -A program to help architectural professionals who have put their path to licensure on hold to earn full credit for valid work experience that occurred prior to five years of starting the process [6.22.15] -An agreement to simplify NCARB Certification for foreign architects [7.27.15] -A new Integrated Path Initiative offering pre-graduation integration of education, experience requirements, and the opportunity to take each of the six divisions of the new Architect Registration Examination® 5.0 [9.7.15] -A fully revised experience program for aspiring architects with an overhaul of the Intern Development Program [11.16.15] -An interactive tool to assist aspiring architects in transitioning from the current licensing exam (ARE 4.0) to the new version (ARE 5.0) debuting in late 2016. [11.16.15] -An initiative to enable students to complete requirements for architectural licensure while in school [11.16.15] NCARB also awarded more than $99,000 to architectural programs at three universities through the 2015 NCARB Award for the Integration of Practice and Education. [11.16.15]

> Dallas Does Metrocon 2015: While most shows are run by full-time professionals whose business is trade shows, Metrocon is run by the local members of ASID and IIDA, including a lot of participation by local “industry partner” members. Officeinsight Publisher Bob Beck offers his thoughts on the show, including potential improvements to its schedule that would allow suppliers to have a better experience in the future. [8.17.15]

>Henricksen, prominent furniture dealer in Chicago, recently set up offices in New York City and was on the lookout for opportunities to engage new, growing markets. Upon meeting Daniel Gutierrez, the owner of coworking spaces Wecreate NYC, Henricksen began a partnership to set up an “active showroom” – one with people actually working in it as their real-life office. This was accomplished with the help of contract furniture manufacturer Paoli and interior design firm Input Creative Studios. [8.17.15]

>The International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI) has a new office near the United Nations: IFI Secretariat – New York, 708 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA; T +1 (212) 884-6375; F +1 (212) 884- 6247. [8.17.15]

>Steelcase CEO Jim Keane shared his thoughts on how well corporate decision makers understand the link between workplace design and a company’s bottom line. Steelcase has long been a leader in gathering the evidence that “Space Matters” in the war for talent and employee engagement, and business leaders making their way to Grand Rapids to meet with Steelcase executives do seem to get it. However, while the importance of office design is intuitively obvious, it still remains difficult to prove. [8.24.15]

>Andreu World, winner of four Best of NeoCon 2015 awards, demonstrated that a small-scale company without a research budget can find gaps in product lines that research may have overlooked. As residential trends continue to move into the workspace, high design furnishings are becoming increasingly popular in commercial environments. Andreu World’s innovative approach to this demand has had phenomenal success. [8.31.15]

>George Graves, IFMA Fellow, founder and first president of IFMA, died Aug. 28 in Houston at age 90. After serving in World War II as a canine handler, he went to work for Texas Eastern Transmission Corp. in Shreveport, LA. In May 1980, he hosted a meeting in Houston to establish a formal organizational base for a facility management association. By the end of the meeting, the National Facility Management Association had a constitution, bylaws, temporary offices and plans to expand nationally. The name was soon changed to the International Facility Management Association to accommodate a growing Canadian membership. In 1983, the first IFMA Awards of Excellence were handed out and Mr. Graves received the Lifetime Achievement Award. [9.7.15]

SEPTEMBER

>Startup Hall at University of Washington: The renovation of Condon Hall by Seattle-based design/build firm SHED Architecture & Design transformed an outdated space into an incubator for innovation. The project was accomplished through an unusual public-private partnership bridging the gap between higher education and the Pacific Northwest’s thriving entrepreneurial community. [9.7.15]

>Knoll’s new research report “Powered Up: Characteristics and Priorities of the Modern Energy Workplace” offers a comprehensive designer’s guide to current and future workplace culture in the energy sector. While all markets have their complexities, energy firms today face an immensely heightened amount of internal and external factors impacting their work, sometimes on a strikingly immediate basis. [9.7.15]

>DIRTT Environmental Solutions filed claims against Allsteel seeking damages and an injunction for patent infringement. According to DIRTT, Allsteel’s Beyond reconfigurable wall products infringe its patent rights. [9.7.15]

>repurposedMATERIALS plays second life matchmaker, gathering used materials before they hit the landfill for sale to customers who can give those materials a second life in a new industry. Its creative business model attracts customers and participants from all industries and walks of life, as current ideas about sustainability, modernity and creativity are crossing paths in increasingly innovative ways. [9.7.15]

>Sixinch’s Grove collection walked away with a whole grove of Best of NeoCon Awards this year, and for good reason. Developed in collaboration with the Chicago office of Gensler Product Design, the collection brings Sixinch’s products outdoors and addresses a couple of issues of outdoor use that had been heretofore neglected by the market: shade and a way to recharge those always hungry electronic device batteries. [9.14.15]

>John Rouse, Contract publisher, received an Honorary Doctorate from NYSID at the school’s spring commencement. Mr. Rouse, Hon. IIDA, has been a publisher of leading professional interior design publications for more than two decades. He began his career at Interiors magazine and became its publisher in 1994. He joined Contract magazine as its publisher in 2001. In 2012, he and Editor in Chief John Czarnecki, Hon. IIDA, were named to the inaugural Public Interest Design 100, along with many notables including President Bill Clinton. Mr. Rouse also received the IIDA inaugural Legacy Award in 2014. [9.14.15]

>3M revealed plans for its new 3M Design Center, to be located at its headquarters in St. Paul, MN. The new facility, “an incubator for progressive ideation and the creative heartbeat at 3M,” will be a central hub for design professionals with multi-disciplinary expertise. Its open, multi-level studio environment will quadruple the size of the company’s current design space. Flexible spaces include a fast prototyping lab, materials library, brand labs and an interactive area known as the “Design Hive.” [9.14.15]

>National Office Furniture unveiled its new headquarters. The 50,000sf facility, located on the Kimball International campus in Jasper, IN, was designed, renovated and outfitted by Gensler and National’s internal design team. [9.21.15]

>Perkins+Will Focuses on Best Practices for Law Enforcement Facilities: Behind such projects as the New York Police Academy, the Toronto Police Service Training Facility, and the Los Angeles Rampart Station, the firm is positioning itself as a global authority on the underlying issues within law enforcement facilities, as well as best practices for these spaces. [9.21.15]

>CIFF – the China International Furniture Fair – is a show held in two parts. At the end of March in Guangzhou and this September, for the first time, in Shanghai at the new Foster-designed National Exhibition and Convention Center, which at 1.47 sq. m., is claimed to be the largest single block building and exhibition complex in the world. [9.21.15]

>JESCO Lighting Group completed a major headquarters move and company expansion. Situated on a four-acre site in a modern industrial park in Port Washington (Long Island), NY, the contemporary-design, two-story, 70,000sf steel-framed brick and glass existing structure was architecturally renovated and enhanced by SDG Design architects and professional interior designers of Lindenhurst, NY. [9.21.15]

>London-based Arney Fender Katsalidis recently completed a 160,000sf regional headquarters space in Montreal for renowned professional services firm Deloitte. Aside from gorgeously provocative aesthetics and a seemingly endless number of workspaces to choose from, the design inspires Deloitte employees and clients alike to take part in a progressive workplace strategy with ambitious goals. [9.28.15]

>Ruth Lynford, icon in the interior design field celebrated her 91st birthday with the launch of a new documentary, “My Life in Design, the Ruth Lynford Story.” The launch event was hosted by NYSID and attended by many well-known interior designers including Mario Buatta, Jamie Drake and others. NYSID President David Sprouls introduced the producer of the film, Tami Bradshaw. Ms. Lynford also autographed books for interior design students who attended. [9.28.15]

>Herman Miller celebrated the launch of the Herman Miller Collection in Europe with an exhibit during the London Design Festival, “Ward Bennett: The Essence of Everything.” Held at designjunction Sep. 24-27, the exhibit featured many of the late designer’s most iconic pieces, including his I Beam table, Sled Chair, Envelope Chair, Rolled Arm Club and Scissor Chair. A largely self-educated polymath, Mr. Bennett (1917-1983) drew inspiration from a range of eras and disciplines. [9.28.15]

>Meadows Office Interiors held the grand opening of its new state-of-the-art showroom. Located on the 29th floor of Manhattan’s iconic Lipstick Building, the new space displays the recently rebranded company’s floor to ceiling capabilities in an authentic working environment. It features a full suite of furniture and services from height adjustable desk systems by Haworth to digital collaboration tools configured in-house. [10.5.15]

OCTOBER

>Robert Goldman, founder and CEO of Carnegie Fabrics, passed away at 90 years of age on Oct. 2. A born and bred New Yorker, Mr. Goldman graduated from Dee Witt Clinton High School as its Salutatorian at 16 years of age. He enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17, serving during WWII in North Africa, Europe, and the Pacific. He founded Carnegie in 1950, and the company continues to be a vibrant family-run business 65 years later. In 1971, he created the category of textile wallcoverings, which became a signature product for Carnegie. From this foundation, he launched Xorel in 1981, and in 2013 another huge leap forward was taken when biobased Xorel was launched. Mr. Goldman also steered Carnegie towards being the first PVC-free company in the industry. [10.12.15]

>Starting a Brand: West Elm Workspace with Inscape: Critical to launching a new brand are a clear creative focus, aesthetic and functional product design, and a strong selling strategy, not to mention favorable press coverage and a certain amount of industry “buzz” that can be difficult to nail down. In the few short months since NeoCon 2015, West Elm Workspace with Inscape has been busy at work doing all of those things and more. [10.5.15]

>ONE Workplace in Silicon Valley hosted “ONEder” – a weeklong event designed to re-ignite the importance of collaboration. The event was conceived by Mark Anderson, industrial designer by trade and graphic designer best known for his work with Apple, and Julie Jarvis, executive vice president of ONE Workplace. The idea was to gather stimulating people and innovative products in an atmosphere of surprise and delight, to share stories and inspire designers and end users. [10.5.15]

>Product Specs by the Click: Officeinsight contributor Stephen Witte reviewed Designer Pages, ecoScorecard, KONTOR, and SpecSimple’s Virtual Library. He also spoke with a manufacturer about its strategy in using these services. [10.5.15]

>The inaugural Chicago Architecture Biennial celebrated the city’s leadership in architectural excellence, past and future. The multifaceted three-month event opened to the public on Oct. 3. [10.12.15] Up All Night with Architecture at the Chicago Cultural Center on Oct. 30 included an art and architecture PechaKucha with presenters from wildly divergent perspectives. [11.2.15]

>Mino Vernaschi’s Wales-based Orangebox furniture manufacturer opened a factory in Grand Rapids, MI. The company plans to begin by producing just a small portion of its European product offerings stateside, including the well-received Orangebox Air Pod. Orangebox Creative Director Gerard Taylor and Wellness Director Jim Taylour were featured speakers at ONEder. [10.12.15]

>IFMA’s latest workplace strategy survey revealed both an increase in employees using unassigned space and a decrease in allocated space for unassigned staff. The survey found that in order to help achieve their goals, more organizations are employing a “growth without growth” strategy when it comes to workspace allocation. “Distributed Work Revisited, Research Report #37” also noted that facility managers and real estate professionals are playing an increasingly important role in high-level workplace decisions. [10.12.15] HOK, a major collaborator on this report, shared some of additional highlights. [12.14.15]

>IFMA, in partnership with JLL, also released a new white paper exploring the C-suite perception of facility management and how to improve it. The paper, released during IFMA’s World Workplace 2015 Conference and Expo in Denver, offers a compelling case for facility management professionals to take a more active role in informing and achieving organizational goals. [10.12.15]

>IA Interior Architects, in designing SAP’s new Palo Alto R&D center, found an informed client with unusual goals in direct contrast to typical engineering work styles. Instead of “flexibility,” SAP was looking for “fluidity.” The successful end result, a collaboration between IA and SAP engineering leaders, transformed three buildings into giant “scrum rooms” in constant flux with moveable whiteboards, high-mobility furniture, and bare-essential aesthetics. [10.19.15]

>Unika Vaev, long known for its high-quality textiles, over the last few years has also gained a reputation for its acoustic solutions for architectural interiors. A hallmark of many of the products is the high degree to which they can be customized. [10.19.15]

>Gensler launched its new Professional Practice Case Study Series. The suite of case studies, based on real-world projects developed by Gensler design teams, aims to help architecture students transition from the world of academics to the real world of their chosen profession. Each case study dovetails with topics covered in the AIA Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice. . [10.19.15]

>Moroso, in partnership with Adam Branscum of BD Home, held the grand opening of its new 2,000sf showroom in Houston. This is Moroso’s second branded showroom in the U.S.; its NYC flagship in the SoHo Design District opened in May 2007. [10.19.15]

>Tratto, a newly introduced leather architectural screening system by Spinneybeck, is a smart, fresh innovation from the storied leather company. Tratto, meaning traction or stretch in Italian, exudes a sophisticated yet playful aesthetic, lending a polished quality to space divider options. [10.26.15]

>The 2015 IIDA NY Color Invasion in NCY took place for the second year in a row at the former Tunnel dance club in West Chelsea. Attracting 1,500 lovers of color, this event returned to its roots in communicating a fundamental realization of the color spectrum throughout the quarter-mile long party space. [11.2.15]

>Last year, the NeoCon organizers at MMPI, now rebranded as “The Mart,” made a risky decision to move NeoCon East from Baltimore to Philadelphia. Officeinsight Publisher Bob Beck traveled to Philly to gauge exhibitor and attendee interest, and happily found positive feedback from both sides. [11.2.15] Winners of the IIDA/Contract Magazine Booth Design Awards at NeoCon East were Kimball Office for Large Booth and Bentley Mills for Small Booth. [11.2.15]

>Configura’s 8th annual CET Designer User Conference hosted a record number of attendees. Nearly 300 people from the Americas and Europe – including contract furniture manufacturers, dealers, interior designers, and IT professionals – participated in the two-day conference, held at the Renaissance SeaWorld at Orlando. All three founders of Configura – Sune Rydqvist, Johan Lyreborn (CEO) and Göran Rydqvist – were in attendance. [11.9.15]

NOVEMBER

>M Moser Associates used laser scanning, 3D modeling, and virtual reality in designing a new business continuity site for financial institution CLS Bank International. A&D firms everywhere could benefit from putting these technologies into practice. [11.9.15]

>officeinsight Publisher Bob Beck traveled to the Savannah College of Art and Design to speak to students and faculty, and to learn more about the 36-year-old institution. SCAD, the nation’s most comprehensive art and design university, and the city fabric of Savannah into which it is carefully woven, is a study in both celebrating and preserving the past and pushing into the future of design. [11.9.15]

>CORT, a provider of transition services, shared results of a recent survey on the importance of workplace design and furnishings in recruiting top talent. The survey, conducted by CORT and Work Design Magazine, found that 81% of respondents consider workplace environment important for attracting top talent. Organizations that incorporated changes to their office space implemented more open spacing, natural lighting, adjustable workstations, sit/stand desks and new ergonomic furniture. [11.9.15]

>The City of Gwangju, South Korea adopted the IFI Interiors Declaration. In its short existence so far, the IFI Interiors Declaration has already gathered 118 city adoptions and/or proclamations across the globe, with several pending. [11.9.15]

>Human-centered design, more appropriately deemed as public interest design, is starting to take center stage. Illinois Humanities, in collaboration with the Chicago Architecture Biennial, hosted a series of panels and lectures on the topic “Designing for the Social Good: From Blueprint to Building. [11.16.15]

>With the creation of a furniture advisory services team in the Chicago market, CBRE is bringing transparency to the furniture buying component of corporate real estate. This new team works with clients to navigate the furniture bidding process by establishing a competitive environment and providing an in-depth cost analysis that delivers transparency, savings, and value. [11.16.15]

>Kontor.com, a visual network for commercial interior design unveiled in Beta version at NeoCon, launched to the public Nov. 11. Founded by a team of design-obsessed entrepreneurs, including Gilt Groupe and Business Insider Founder Kevin Ryan, Kontor’s platform connects visionary companies, great designers and innovative product makers in a global network focused on workplace design [11.16.15]

>officeinsight contributor Stephen Witte looked at offerings from companies leading the field of virtual reality and mixed reality in the A&D communities. Included are previews of upcoming releases from Autodesk, Configura and Trimble, along with examples of hardware to help make the technology a reality. [11.23.15]

>New IFI President Sebastiano Raneri, in his first “President’s Message” to the organization’s global membership, outlined IFI’s progress in its evolving role as the “UN of Interiors.” The IFI Board is focusing this term to strengthen its refreshed advocacy platforms – Health & Wellbeing, Environmental Stewardship, Social Responsibility, Resiliency, Universal Design, and Economic Viability.[11.23.15]

>Nemschoff won Best of Competition and two Gold Nightingale Awards at the Healthcare Design 2015 Expo and Conference in Washington, DC. The company’s Ava Recliner was named Best of Competition and also received the Gold Award for Patient Seating. Another new introduction from Nemschoff, Easton Multiple Seating, received the Gold Award for Guest/Lounge Seating. This is the second year in a row that the company received top honors in the Nightingale Awards. [11.23.15]

>Robert Allen announced the Interior Designer Color of the Year for 2016: Batik Blue. This moody blue beat out saturated Beet and subtle Mussel Shell in an online survey of more than 2,000 interior designers and design aficionados to win the title, coming out on top with 40% of the vote among the three colors. [11.23.15]

>Herman Miller, Inc. opened PortalMill, its new UK facility designed by leading British architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw. Located in Melksham, Wiltshire, the 170,000sf manufacturing and office space brings 200 highly skilled employees from several areas of the operation together under one roof, including wood processing, chair assembly, logistics, and research and development. [11.23.15]

>Arper launched its NYC showroom. Located at 476 Broadway in the trendy SoHo section of town, the brand’s new showroom complements its design philosophy of referring to a home or office lifestyle obliquely. The space was designed by New York-based architect Solveig Fernlund. [11.30.15]

>Elements of Lighting: The impact of lighting on a space is difficult to understate, and also difficult to successfully design. In a three-part series, officeinsight contributor John Copeland explores workplace lighting – basic issues of lighting to consider, recent trends and, finally, connections between light and health. [11.30.15, 12.7.15, 12.14.15]

>New library and learning center designs are social spaces with far more than just reading going on in them, which sounds a lot like what’s happening in workplace design. These open, expansive libraries have airy, light-filled aesthetics, seemingly less books and more gathering spaces; they’re becoming “hubs” that must be carefully designed to bring people together in ways that make sense. [11.30.15]

>Callison and RTKL joined forces as CallisonRTKL under the Arcadis umbrella. The new combined practice expanded its coast-to-coast workplace service capabilities with the addition of New York City, Seattle and Mexico City offices. Combining RTKL’s award-winning engineers and Callison’s expert architects, the merger creates a comprehensive mission critical design and consultancy group. [11.30.15]

>CBT (Childs Bertman Tseckares Inc.) won best in show at this year’s IIDA New England Fashion Show. The annual event brings together more than 1,500 Boston design professionals for a night of spectacular wearable runway fashion made exclusively from materials and finishes used in the interior design profession. This year’s theme was SENS-Esation, and CBT’s entry, SenseLESSness, explored the absence of the human senses with three stunning ensembles – Silence, Darkness and Numbness. [11.30.15]

>HDR’s Chicago architecture studio moved to the historic Inland Steel Building. Among the city’s defining commercial high-rises of the post-World War II era of modern architecture, the nearly 60-year-old, 19-story office tower was the first skyscraper built in the Chicago Loop following the Great Depression. [11.30.15]

DECEMBER

>IIDEXCanada 2015, held at the Metro Toronto Convention Center, serves as Canada’s National Design + Architecture Expo & Conference. The show seems to exist as a perfect middle ground between the gargantuan NeoCon and smaller regional trade shows in the U.S. This year’s show included an excellent lineup of keynotes, special events and feature exhibits, as well as three National Summits on inclusive design and accessibility, wellness and healthcare. The showroom floor was packed with people attending events, doing business and checking out booths. [12.7.15]

>Teknion hosted a big party in its new downtown Toronto showroom. Styled the “Collaboration Hub,” the space proved a perfect setting for a celebratory gathering of Toronto’s A&D community. Designed by Vanderbyl Design, the new space provides the Toronto design community with a highly accessible location in the city’s burgeoning Southcore Financial Centre. [12.7.15]

>ESI Ergonomic Solutions and Russell Research reported that employees on the West Coast spend an hour more sitting per workday than their Northeastern counterparts. The survey of almost 500 respondents analyzed preferences for office equipment, including laptops, desktops, tablets, and smart phones; and asked employees about factors affecting their productivity. Out of an 8-hour workday, workers on the West Coast reported an average of 5.4 hours sitting at their desks, while workers in the Northeast reported 4.4 hours. [12.7.15]

>Flos entered an agreement to acquire NYC-based Lukas Lighting. With this move, the talent of Lukas Lighting CEO Craig Corona and his 30-year experience in custom lighting is expected to give a great boost to the Flos growth in the North American contract market. [12.7.15]

>Office Resources, Inc., a leading Knoll dealer based in Boston, acquired fellow Knoll dealer Offices Limited, Inc., based in New York City. This acquisition enables ORI to expand its design and distribution capabilities to NYC and increase its annual revenue to $110 million, and the combined entities will become one of the top Knoll distributors in the country. OLI, a top contract furniture dealer for more than 40 years and a founding Knoll dealer, will be rebranded as Office Resources, Inc. [12.7.15]

>Pantone for the first time selected two colors as its 2016 Color of the Year: PANTONE 15-3919 Serenity and PANTONE 13-1520 Rose Quartz. “With the whole greater than its individual parts, joined together Serenity and Rose Quartz demonstrate an inherent balance between a warmer embracing rose tone and the cooler tranquil blue, reflecting connection and wellness as well as a soothing sense of order and peace,” said Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute. [12.7.15]

>Teknion relocated its Boston studio to a bigger space designed by Vanderbyl Design. The new, 7,900sf studio, located at State Street adjacent to the Long Wharf, showcases Teknion’s diverse product lines, encouraging conversation and collaboration among guests and staff members by replicating a contemporary office landscape of shared spaces. [12.7.15]

>Empire Office, Inc. announced an agreement with Florida Business Interiors, Inc., to purchase certain assets of its flooring and construction services division. The newly formed division, which will do business under the name Empire Construction Services, specializes in stone, marble, tile, wood, resilient and soft surface flooring distribution and installation as well as concrete moisture mitigation and construction furniture, fixtures and equipment. [12.14.15]

>After years of speculation, AIA is to confer the 2016 Gold Medal, its highest honor, to the Philadelphia designers Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown. To make this outcome possible, the Institute board had to cut through a thicket of policies, biases and design dogma. Partners since the late 1960s in both practice and marriage, Mr. Venturi and Ms. Scott Brown were pioneers of Postmodernism, with its controversial references to past styles, which peaked back in the 1980s. [12.14.15]