JUNE
>NeoCon® 2016 organizers, in their post-show wrap-up, reported that registration was up 6% from last year, drawing 53,000 enthusiastic professionals from around the world. The 100% occupied NeoCon showrooms, five of which were new additions, were buzzing all three days. Those in attendance were the first to experience theMART’s newly designed public spaces. The transformative $40 million dollar renovation included a striking new Grand Stair opening up to a large multi-purpose space on the second floor, a modernized urban food hall, an expanded riverfront park with alfresco seating and more. Also bustling with activity was the newly redesigned 7th Floor Exhibit Hall. Insightful and robust programming and a wealth of special events, parties, awards ceremonies, and inspiring exhibits made for a productive and fun show. Keynote sessions were filled to capacity. [7.4.16]
>The Best of NeoCon 2016 competition of contract furnishings products recognized 88 products by 56 companies in 42 categories. The honors included 10 Innovation Awards and four Editors’ Choice Awards. Teknion won Best of Competition with Zones, Gold Award winner in the Furniture Collections for Collaboration category and also Gold Award winner in Seating: Benches as well as Silver Award winner in Conference Room Furniture. Teknion also won Gold in Task/Desktop Lighting for Teknion Sanna by Pablo and in Technology-Integrated Solutions for Tek Pier, for a total of six awards – four Gold, one Silver, and Best of Competition. Andreu World received seven awards – five Gold and two Silver. Bernhardt Design won six awards – one Gold, three Silvers, one Innovation, and one Editors’ Choice. Steelcase and subsidiary Designtex together received five awards – two Gold, one Silver, and two Innovation. HNI Corp. subsidiaries won four awards: Gunlocke received a Gold, Allsteel received a Silver, HBF won Editors’ Choice, and HBF Textiles won a Gold. Tarkett won two Gold Awards and two Innovation Awards. Davis Furniture also won four awards – three Silvers and one Editors’ Choice. [6.20.16]
>3form was Best of Competition and Small Showroom category winner in the IIDA/Contract Magazine Showroom and Booth Design Competition at NeoCon. KI was the winner in the Large Showroom category, Universal Fibers was the winner in the Large Booths category for the third year in a row, and Benjamin Moore was the winner in the Small Booths category. [6.20.16]
>Delights of NeoCon 2016: Continuing a long-standing tradition, officeinsight staff and contributors shared personal favorites of this year’s show. From the snazzy elevators and expanded outdoor areas to the Grand Staircase and copious amounts of stunning lounge and eating spaces, the enhancements made it so much easier for people to simply hang out at the Mart. Which is amazing, but we also had a lot of showrooms to visit! [6.27.16]
>48 Years of NeoCon: This year’s edition was the 48th NeoCon. For many of us one of the best things about it is the chance it provides for renewing old friendships and acquaintances. Last year we thought it would be fun to start an officeinsight tradition of getting a few of our friends with significant industry tenure to share some of their thoughts about NeoCon over the years. Here is year two of that tradition. [7.4.16]
>officeinsight contributor Amanda Schneider spoke with Todd Heiser, design principal at Gensler and Contract Magazine’s 2016 Designer of the Year, who shared his views on five of the most significant metatrends of NeoCon 2016: -There’s a focus on focus in the open plan, whether they need more privacy or more collaboration. “I was blown away by Knoll with their Rockwell Unscripted collection and the ability it gives people to focus, collaborate and socialize,” said Mr. Heiser. -Furniture is becoming a replacement for architectural elements, in part because leases are getting shorter. Buzzispace product is a great example of this with its artful sound dampening solutions that also help to divide space. -Color is coming back to the workspace. “Walking through the Haworth showroom, for example, we saw an incredibly interesting atmosphere of colors on workstations,” said Mr. Heiser. “Many manufacturers have embraced color that people seem to have been afraid of for a while.” -Wellness is turning our focus to people. “We are seeing height adjustability infiltrate all components of the office,” said Mr. Heiser, “even in conference tables.” -Luxury is returning. For example, several textile manufacturers were exploring handmade, luxury materials. When asked what he felt was missing from this NeoCon, Mr. Heiser cited several ideas including reception furniture, personal storage, power, and lighting. [7.25.16]
>IIDA named Perkins+Will in Chicago as the Best of Competition winner of the 43rd annual Interior Design Competition for its project, the Newell Rubbermaid Design Center in Kalamazoo, MI. The announcement was made June 12 at COOL, the annual IIDA black-tie gala in Chicago. [6.20.16]
>At the BIFMA Breakfast, as the Annual Membership Meeting is affectionately known, there was a rather larger than usual changing of the guard. After briefly reviewing BIFMA activities during his tenure, BIFMA president, Dan Tuohy thanked departing members, announced that his term was concluded and introduced incoming president of the board, Sylvain Garneau of Groupe Lacasse, who introduced several new members of the board. The featured speaker, Contract magazine’s 2016 Designer of the Year, Todd Heiser of Gensler Chicago, presented an overview of Live, Work Play in 2025, Gensler’s latest research publication. [7.4.16]
>David Rockwell Keynote Address at NeoCon 2016: There are few people who would motivate the NeoCon masses to get up at the crack of dawn to hear before a full day of showroom visits, but one of them is certainly David Rockwell. His Tuesday morning keynote speech was full of compelling projects that connected into larger themes well worth NeoCon attendees’ time. The discussion set a prevailing positive tone over the rest of the show. [7.11.16]
>Gensler interior architects and workplace strategists Sven Govaars and Dean Strombom, served up a superb seminar presentation at NeoCon 2016. Registration for “The Free Range Workplace: People Experience, Freedom,” filled up so quickly they were asked to present twice. Free range is a new lens on mobility; it’s boundary-less and fluid, and time and place almost become irrelevant when doing work. Designers can build free range spaces by questioning paradigms, breaking down sacred spaces, and creating activity-based spaces. Free Range spaces rely heavily on three core things, according to Messrs. Govaars and Strombom: People, providing meaning, purpose and experience; Technology, providing technology process, policies, and governance; and Place, providing mobile, resident and third place spaces. Components of Free Range include Focus (individual work – both open and enclosed workspaces), Collaborate (group work – open, enclosed and semi-enclosed meeting spaces), Socialize (flexible community layout that can transition to event space), Learn (features that support continuous reinvention and learning), and Rejuvenate (areas that support resting, re-charging and re-energizing). [7.4.16]
>At NeoCon 2016, we attended a seminar, led by dealer consulting and research firm SolomonCoyle, that shared five ways that dealers can boost their bottom line. It’s critical that furniture dealers understand how the current industry climate is affecting their business. But understanding the challenges dealers face is also something professionals from the A&D community can benefit from as well. [8.8.16]
>In addition to debuting a few new products at NeoCon 2016, Herman Miller presented the results of its most rigorous research effort within the past 25 years – one centered around using Living Office. We caught up with Joseph White, director of workplace strategy at HM, to understand the thinking behind the brand’s NeoCon 2016 showroom, the results of its Living Office research, and how designers can actually use Living Office most effectively in their projects. [7.11.16]
>DIRTT unveiled the first-ever demonstration of ICEreality™ – mixed reality technology for design and construction. Mixed reality overlays virtual reality with the real world. Users see the physical world around them, including people, while experiencing and manipulating virtual objects. In ICEreality, based on DIRTT’s software platform ICE®, the 3D design of a proposed interior space is placed into real environments. Designers and owners walk through the design making changes and keeping track of the budget while creating new iterations in real time. The cloud-based system simultaneously produces the construction directions for DIRTT to build it to the decimal point of a millimeter. [6.20.16]
>OFS Brands, Inc. and Visual Magnetics entered a strategic collaboration to leverage respective capabilities and the potential impact of co-product development. Visual Magnetics offers a range of products such as magnetic dry erase wall coverings for the workspace. Its Dynamic Spaces line features the Polarity Collection, a line of accessories that work in tandem with its writable wallcoverings and are designed by New York-based industrial design studio Visibility; and the Workspace Collection™, a series of writable background and layer options. [6.27.16]
>Interface announced its new sustainability goal, called Climate Take Back, at NeoCon 2016. We spoke with Interface Executive Creative Director Chip DeGrace about the brand’s sustainability vision and its newest collection, World Woven. [7.18.16]
>Herman Miller and naughtone formed a strategic partnership. naughtone’s complementary product offer enables Herman Miller to provide customers with a more complete furniture package to support its Living Office concept. Based in Harrogate, Yorkshire, naughtone has grown rapidly in the collaborative market, becoming known for high quality manufacturing as well as innovative products such as the Hush wingback chair, Trace table, and the Always chair range. [6.20.16]
>Dan Chong joined HBF as the company’s new president, leading both the HBF and HBF Textiles brands. Mr. Chong is widely recognized in the A&D industry as a collaborative, strategic thinker, an outside-the-box innovator and industry expert, and an exceptional brand leader. He first became a player in the contract furniture industry working at Metro in 1993. There, he climbed the ranks and achieved the position of President and CEO. He participated in the transition of the Steelcase Design Partnership into Coalesse, and following this shift, he was named vice president, design community strategy at Steelcase. In 2010, he founded architxture LLC, an independent contract furnishings dealership in Orange County. Prior to making his move to HBF, he was the Vice President of Sales for Allermuir North America. [6.20.16]
>Perkins Eastman pledged to apply EDGE, the green building certification system for emerging markets, to at least five of its clients’ projects in the next year. EDGE, which stands for Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies, is an innovation of the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group. The partnership agreement was signed between Perkins Eastman and IFC in Washington, DC. Through the partnership, the entities will work together to promote sustainable design practices in emerging markets, with an emphasis on India and China. [6.27.16]
>NCARB, following its Annual Business Meeting in Seattle, made a number of major announcements impacting the architectural industry in North America, as well as globally. First, NCARB announced updates to the path to certification for architects who do not hold a degree from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). The new streamlined path, which will be available beginning in 2017, requires three years of continuous licensure in one jurisdiction, plus documentation of professional experience and/or education. Second, NCARB announced a new Mutual Recognition Arrangement between the architectural licensing authorities of the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, which will enable architects to earn reciprocal licenses abroad. Third, NCARB announced a partnership between NCARB and the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) for the 2016-2017 school year. NCARB is supporting AIAS and its Freedom by Design program through a series of grants and mentorship opportunities. [6.27.16]
>NCARB’s new Architectural Experience Program® for aspiring architects took effect on Jun. 29. The program—which was previously called the Intern Development Program—is designed to guide professionals through the early stages of their career, and required for licensure in most U.S. jurisdictions. Updated to reflect current architectural practice and terminology, it now requires licensure candidates to document 3,740 hours of experience in six simplified areas that cover all phases of architectural practice, rather than 17 experience areas. [7.4.16]
>Linda Foa, a Manhattan A&D industry luminary, died on June 17. Ms. Foa was the long-time executive director of Designer’s Saturday, which was considered strategically important to the furniture design community. Ms. Foa and Brooke Astor were also founders of Furnish a Future, which still gives furniture and household items to families that are homeless and moving into unfurnished housing. As the director of marketing for the Architects and Designers Building for 12+ years, Ms. Foa is given much credit for increasing occupancy from 70% to 100%+ for the building’s 35+ luxury brand furniture showrooms. Ms. Foa was also an important editor at Fairchild’s Home Furnishings Daily and HFN. She co-authored “Kids’ Stuff,” the definitive furnishings guide to children’s furniture and home environments (Pantheon/Random House); and wrote the book “Furniture for the Workplace” (PBC). [6.20.16]
JULY
>The International WELL Building Institute™ and ASID partnered to engage the interior design community to accelerate the integration of health and wellness in the built environment. The collaboration will help advance the profession by demonstrating design’s impact on the human experience, and position design professionals at the leading edge of industry practices through co-developed research, education, and training opportunities around the WELL Building Standard™. As part of the partnership, ASID has pledged to educate its members in preparing for the WELL Accredited Professional (WELL AP™) program with a goal to significantly grow the number of practitioners who become accredited. [7.4.16]
>ASID moved into its new corporate headquarters in downtown Washington, DC. The 8,500sf office space, designed by Perkins+Will, incorporates health, wellness, well-being, and sustainability as a central philosophy. The headquarters is registered for the WELL Building Standard and LEED and is on target to achieve platinum level for both certifications. Its circadian lighting system mimics the daily cycle of natural light along with fully automated shades that adjust height based on solar positioning. Sit/stand desks are unassigned to encourage mobility and collaboration. Biophilic design strategies are throughout the space to maintain employees’ connection with nature to reduce stress levels and increase cognitive activity. ASID incorporated features using the seven principles of the WELL as a benchmark. [7.4.16]
>Roger Martin-Fagg, a leading economist in the UK, shared his opinion concerning the root causes of the June 23 Brexit vote, as well as some of the likely longer term effects. “I suspect there are many who voted leave, with no expectation that it would actually happen; they just wanted to give the toffs a bloody nose. Regrettably it will be the working poor who will get the bloody nose over the next few years…. My personal view is this event will prove to be a mistake.” [7.4.16]
>CBRE, Colliers International, JLL, and other global leaders in commercial real estate posted numerous reports exploring potential implications of the Brexit. CBRE’s UK office published “The Long Goodbye,” noting that many of the immediate issues facing the UK will be political rather than economic, as the EU’s two-year “Article 50” process for exit won’t start immediately, and Brexit will likely take more than two years. Of all commercial real estate sectors, the office market in the UK will feel the greatest impact, with financial services, professional services, and ‘tech’ industries most likely to be affected. [7.4.16]
>Seven Designtex textile designs were accepted into the permanent collection of the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. These join two Designtex wallcoverings already in the museum’s collection. [7.11.16]
>The FLOS OK lamp by Konstantin Grcic was awarded the Compasso d’Oro Prize. This award recognizes an object that presents the evolution of an icon while maintaining its traditional elegance. OK completes the evolution of Parentesi, designed by Achille Castiglioni and Pio Manzù in 1971, which was winner of the Compasso d’Oro in 1979. It features a flat circular shape with a wire that works like a rail and runs from the ceiling to the floor. Mr. Gric redesigned the original light bulb of Parentesi as an ultra-flat LED surface with edge-lighting technology, directable over 360 degrees. [7.11.16]
>officeinsight contributor Peter Carey offers a behind-the-scenes look at the changing landscape of resource libraries and how they can be used strategically to support their design firms. A design resource library is a home for concentrated amounts of knowledge, along with product samples; but it can also act as a social hub for many design firms, and needs to be a source of inspiration and ideation for the company in which it’s situated. [7.18.16]
>Results of Gensler’s 2016 Workplace Survey, released Jul. 12, revealed a direct link between optimal workplace design and organizational innovation. The survey involved more than 4,000 workers across 11 industries and included questions focused on innovation, leadership, and creativity to determine an “Innovation Index” score. Gensler then compared responses scoring in the top 25% to those in the bottom 25%, and found that the most innovative employees have the option to work in a wide variety of spaces to meet their needs – from individual space to focus, to conference rooms for brainstorming or training, to social spaces to interact with co-workers. [7.18.16]
>Gunlocke, working closely with Rochester, NY-based brand experts Truth Collective, is updating its image to reflect its evolution as a company. Founded in 1902, the high-end contract furniture manufacturer has moved from being the “safe, sturdy furniture maker” to one that offers designs that are forward-facing and capture attention. [7.18.16]
>Inscape partnered with Workspace Interiors by Office Depot, a newly branded interiors solution provider. It offers businesses of any size comprehensive support through every stage of an office renovation, from concept to completion. Services include space planning, furniture specification, project management, and reliable installation. [7.18.16]
>Teknion Corp. received LEED Platinum certification for two of its showrooms. Its new Boston showroom is the company’s first in the U.S. to be awarded LEED for Commercial Interiors 2009 Platinum by USGBC; and the Canada Green Building Council has conferred the rating of LEED Canada Platinum to the Teknion Montreal Showroom. Designed by Vanderbyl Design, with tvsdesign as the architect of record, the 7,900sf Boston space reflects Teknion’s latest thinking in workplace design. It blends multiple workplace planning styles from the casual and modern appeal of an open, fluid landscape, to more conservative, formal footprints. The showroom was designed to support health, wellbeing and sustainability – key factors in creating warm, welcoming and productive workplaces inspired by principles of ethonomics. The 7,000sf Montreal showroom, by Vanderbyl Design and with Kiva Design as project manager, is a vibrant, light-filled space inspired by the French culture of Montreal. [7.18.16]
>The 2016 edition of First Look was a genuinely good time. First Look is a quintessential New York event; other multishowroom events across the country may be larger or more elaborate, but First Look sets a cohesive baseline for good food, good networking and great products all coming together for one quick night. [7.25.16]
>IIDA New York Chapter hosted ICONNECT: The Generation Gap. Held at the Steelcase WorkLife Center at Columbus Circle, the well-attended forum featured a panel representing three of the most talked about generations: Millennials, Gen Xers and Baby Boomers. Discussing everything from social media to work expectations, the panelists explored the different styles and attitudes of each of the generations. [8.15.16]
>NELSON launched a new design practice dedicated to TAMI companies (Technology, Advertising, Media, and Information Businesses). According to NELSON, for the past two years, TAMI companies have been the fastest rising star in real estate markets across the country. Responding to the leaps and bounds in technological advances, these companies are converging in not only workstyle and space requirements, but disruptive innovation in their respective industries. [7.25.16]
>NELSON also published a new White Paper presenting the case for open office environments in law firms. Written by principal and firm-wide Legal Practice Co-Leader Marty Festenstein, the report notes that “In today’s legal workplace, hierarchical organization of office space, crowned by the ultimate reward of the corner office for the highest ranking attorneys, reigns supreme. But as is true for any static institution that doesn’t keep up with the changing times, a revolution is taking place. A growing list of internal and external pressures on law firms continues to build the case for more progressive approaches to occupancy.” [7.25.16]
>Inscape CFO Matthew Posno left the company on July 22 to pursue other opportunities. “Matthew has played a central role in the establishment of our growth agenda,” said CEO Jim Stelter [7.25.16] The company’s new CFO, Aziz Hirji, was appointed on Nov. 14. [11.21.17]
pressure of running a company. Photography courtesy Sina Pearson
> Momentum Group acquired Sina Pearson Textiles. It will operate as Momentum Group’s fourth brand alongside Momentum Textiles, Loomsource, and Textus. [8.1.16]
>Christopher Guy celebrated the official grand opening of its new Chicago showroom on Jul. 28. More than 300 guests attended the lavish event held in the 16,000sf space, located in the Chicago Luxury Furniture Centre in downtown Chicago. The CG showroom encompasses three floors in the 40,000sf, six-story building personally redesigned and owned by Midwest design entrepreneur Jim Denos. Other brands at the same address include Atelier and Clive Christian. At CG’s grand opening, guests enjoyed a red carpet welcome, ribbon cutting ceremony with Mr. Denos and CG brand creator Christopher Guy Harrison, and a champagne toast. [8.1.16]
>HDR launched a new wellness dashboard tool and also won the Champion for Change Award at the recent CleanMed conference in Dallas. The new wellness dashboard tool measures wellness design cost benefits in the built environment by providing hard metrics for clients during the early design stages. It analyzes the physical environment and overlays peer-reviewed research to determine the impact on an occupant’s stress, safety, effectiveness, quality of work, and overall behavior. The dashboard captures information on the quality of air and water, connections to nature, beneficial acoustics, fitness, and nourishment, for example. [8.1.16]
AUGUST
>Joshua Zinder, founding principal of Princeton, NJ-based architectural and design firm JZA+D, shared his insights about signage. Good signage is critical to doing good business. Signage can positively or negatively affect a city’s appeal, consumer and visitor behaviors, and overall local branding and ambience. [8.1.16]
>OFM partnered with five leading fabric companies to dramatically expand its upholstery options. Under the renewed textile Grade-In & COM Program, clients can select alternative textiles for all of OFM’s in-stock seating, choosing from a wide collection of fabrics by CF Stinson, Momentum Group, Mayer Fabrics, Culp Contract, and Douglass Industries. [8.1.16]
>Software development company Furniture Command Center designed its enterprise system specifically to meet the needs of commercial furniture dealers. While large “aligned” dealers mostly run their business on sophisticated enterprise software that was developed by or specifically for their main manufacturer, smaller and unaligned dealers may find FCC a valuable improvement over generic accounting programs such as Quickbooks. [8.8.16]
>The International Living Future Institute launched a new On Demand Education program. Some of its most popular webinar series, including Understanding the Living Building Challenge, Living Community Challenge, and Affordable Housing, are now available online for viewing on-demand. ILFI is offering a special discounted rate for members. [8.8.16]
ACE summer camp Photography courtesy of the ACE Mentor Program
& STEM Premier
>The ACE Mentor Program and STEM Premier entered a partnership to expand the design, architecture, and construction industry talent pipeline through high school mentoring. ACE is a design and construction industry-sponsored mentorship program for students at the high school level. ACE’s new collaboration with STEM Premier, an online STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) skills platform, is an ingenious intersection between parties that share a mutual goal of increasing STEM talent. [8.15.16]
>officeinsight Publisher Bob Beck visited with OFS Brands, a privately held, family owned business in which three generations of the family are actively involved. Talk to any family member about what’s important about the business, and two words come up repeatedly: people and wood. Not market share or net profit or any of the financial ratios, but people and wood. The company shared insights into how it makes the most of its brand acquisitions and partnerships, both old and new. [8.22.16]
>The lighting industry is seeing change on a tremendous scale, and energy conservation goals have manifested in new lighting code standards across the country. While the sustainability end goals of these initiatives are positive and important, lighting manufacturers are stumbling through these often complex standards, understandably so, to try to make high quality products that comply. We spoke to Ann Schiffers, senior VP of USAI Lighting, about the challenges lighting designers and manufacturers face in creating new products that provide interior designers with the finest quality lighting while also complying with the new, stringent lighting code requirements. [8.22.16]
>IA Interior Architects launched radio IA, a new podcast looking inside a working architecture and design practice. Hosted by Russell Manthy, IA principal and managing director of the firm’s Houston office, each episode is around 15 minutes long, featuring discussions with IA staff as well as guests from all walks of the A&D industry centered on design, strategy, culture, sustainability, and more. [8.29.16]
>Some of the key findings of the 2016 edition of NCARB by the Numbers: -In 2015, there were 110,168 architects in the U.S., a 2% increase from 2014. -The number of professionals working toward licensure surpassed 41,500 in 2015, an all-time high. -More than 7,000 new students enrolled in an accredited architecture program, a 7% increase from the 2013-2014 school year. [8.29.16]
>We were lucky to attend this year’s Design Exchange NYC (aka DEX NYC) event, for reasons both inspiring and entertaining. When asked to design a fundraising event for the New York chapter of IIDA, Annie Lee of Environetics and Carol Symchik of Primason Symchik, conceived an evening of networking and inspiration through a speed-dating-like process of rapid fire conversational exchanges with creative people from all sorts of creative professions. [9.5.16]
>Norman Nance, VP of A&D Marketing/Environmental Initiatives at KI, died Aug. 27. He was 57. Mr. Nance grew up in grew up in Trinity, NC, and worked his entire career in furniture design and marketing, with various roles at a number of manufacturers before joining KI in Green Bay, WI, more than 20 years ago. “He expanded the breadth and depth of KI’s environmental initiatives, a true advocate for raising awareness and bringing sustainable design to KI’s customers,” the company said in a statement, adding that “Norman will be remembered for his warmth and sharp intellect. He was a handyman, athlete and an inventor with a passion for vintage cars. He will be greatly missed by the KI family.” [9.5.16]
SEPTEMBER
> The Center for Active Design turned its attention to civic engagement with a new project called “Assembly: Shaping Space for Civic Life.” This initiative aims to use place-based design as a tool to enhance civic engagement. [9/5/16]
>Sherwin-Williams named Poised Taupe (SW 6039) as its 2017 Color of the Year. “Poised Taupe celebrates everything people love about cool gray as a neutral, and also brings in the warmth of brown, taking a color to an entirely new level,” said Sue Wadden, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams. “Not cool or warm, nor gray or brown, Poised Taupe is a weathered, woodsy neutral bringing a sense of coziness and harmony that people are seeking.” Part of colormix™ 2017: The Sherwin-Williams Color Forecast, it anchors a new set of commercial neutrals that address the trend toward warmer colors and away from “stark, cold, and barren commercial environments.” [9.5.16]
>Teknion Corp. plans to pursue WELL Certification for its New York and Toronto showrooms by the International WELL Building Institute™ through its WELL Building Standard™. Now registered for this program, the two showrooms will be the company’s first WELL Certified projects. In its efforts to achieve certification, Teknion will implement advanced technologies such as Ventilation Effectiveness, VOC Reduction, Fundamental Material Safety, Health and Wellness Awareness, Beauty and Design, Ergonomics, and Biophilia. Already completed and open, both showrooms would be awarded WELL Certification by IWBI upon rigorous testing and a final evaluation by Green Business Certification Inc., which is the third-party certification body for WELL. [9.5.16]
>USG Corp. agreed to sell its building product distribution business, L&W Supply Corp., to ABC Supply Co., Inc. for $670 million. L&W Supply is one of the largest distributors of gypsum wallboard and suspended ceiling tiles in the United States, serving its customers from a nationwide footprint of 136 distribution branches. ABC Supply is the nation’s largest wholesale distributor of roofing, siding, windows and gutter materials. The acquisition of L&W Supply will allow it to expand into the interior of the building. [9.5.16]
>The Storage Story: Research studies and end user surveys support the idea that great amenities inspire employees to take ownership of their space, which translates to great productivity, engagement and job satisfaction. Sometimes these amenities come in the form of rooftop decks with snazzy views, delicious onsite dining options, or fun social elements like a bar or ping pong table. But there’s also room for smaller steps to amenity-rich spaces. For example, how about storage? [9.12.16]
>officeinsight Publisher Bob Beck spoke with Steelcase, KI, and Smith System about planning and outfitting effective classrooms. Whether in school or at work, innovation is greatly enhanced by encouraging collaboration. The trend in office design clearly indicates that these principles are increasingly being applied to corporate workplaces. [9.12.16]
>Interior Design magazine announced the honorees of its 32nd annual Hall of Fame Awards. Selected by Interior Design Editor in Chief Cindy Allen and a nominating committee of previous HoF members, this year’s inductees are Anda Andrei, president of Anda Andrei Design LLC; Brad Zizmor and Dag Folger, founding partners of NYC-based architecture, design and strategy firm A+I; Isay Weinfeld, the Head Architect of the studio bearing his name based in São Paulo, Brazil since its formation in 1973; and Cheyl S. Durst, Executive Vice President and CEO of IIDA. [9.12.16]
>KI unveiled its new San Francisco showroom with an Oktoberfest-themed grand opening. Guests enjoyed an evening of beer tasting from local breweries and tasty German cuisine while previewing KI’s latest product innovations. [9.12.16]
>Gensler’s research wing doesn’t disappoint in education markets. The firm’s ongoing research on higher education libraries and “ambient learning” in K-12 environments reveals some surprising insights about how students are spending their time, and how designers can use graphic design to make school buildings a more meaningful part of the learning process. Product trends in learning spaces include writable surfaces, movable products, lightweight furniture that encourages reconfiguration, and acoustical solutions that help educators delineate space in creative ways. Spaces designed around the concept of flipped learning have also become prevalent. In a “flipped” classroom, teachers disseminate and students consume all of the instructional content outside classroom time (often online) and instead use classroom time for activities. This requires designers to provide flexible, shape-shifting classrooms that can change depending on the activity at hand. [9.19.16]
Kiefel
>Why Doesn’t Work Include Recess? Somewhere along the way, we decided to phase out recess, a.k.a. free time, structured into our day. But free time is important. Research shows that we focus better, are more productive, and are happier when we take breaks to do something fun or relaxing – or even just something different from our normal. Enter the Fitness Zone program by the Trust for Public Land. Reimagined in the workplace context, the Fitness Zone concept is a creative way to build moments into the workday for something unexpected, active and fulfilling. [9.19.16]
>CIFF (China International Furniture Fair) Shanghai is the second of a pair of shows held each year. The first, considered by the industry as the more important, is held in Guangzhou each March. officeinsight contributor John Sacks reviewed this year’s Shanghai show, recent trends in the Chinese market, and notable exhibitors. The show was large in terms of space but skewed towards seating and not particularly design focused. [9.19.16]
>Architectural Record celebrated 125 years in business, with a special anniversary issue devoted to the 125 top buildings constructed since 1891. The September issue of Record also includes a who’s who of architects describing the buildings that most influenced their careers and a series of predictions on the biggest challenges and changes facing the profession. [9.19.16]
>The Center for Active Design Excellence awards recognize compelling research and design projects that cultivate wellbeing by promoting physical activity, mental health, and civic life. This year’s Thought Leadership award recognized Google for its historic and ongoing efforts to foster employee health through design. “Google represents the cutting edge of design innovation to support employee health and productivity,” said CfAD Executive Director Joanna Frank. “They leverage unsurpassed data resources to track impacts, and are continually evolving new ways to cultivate a healthy workplace. Such leadership offers an aspirational model for companies everywhere, and influences CfAD’s own work as we prepare for the public rollout of Fitwel in 2017.” [9.19.16]
OTTO
>Steelcase added new data from Japan, Australia, and Brazil to its 360 Global Report “Engagement + The Global Workplace” that it released in March. The original report revealed that that one-third of employees in the 17 countries studied were disengaged at work. The newly released data found an even more surprising statistic in Japan, where only one percent of the workforce reported feeling highly engaged or satisfied at work. The findings from Australia, meanwhile, were more in line with global averages of employee engagement measures, while workers in Brazil reported higher engagement and satisfaction than the global averages. Japan had the highest percentage of entirely open-plan office space (78%) in the global study, and the fewest number of individual, private offices (7%). Japan also scored lowest worldwide in sufficient meeting rooms, cafeteria/canteen space, private space, and sports/exercise facililties. Remote work is rare, meanwhile, with 94% of workers (the highest in the study) reporting that they never work away from the office. [9.19.16]
>Dodge Data & Analytics, in partnership with Delos, released a new SmartMarket Report, “The Drive Toward Healthier Buildings 2016.” The study revealed that the design and construction industry in the U.S. is poised for wider adoption of building practices that prioritize the physical, mental and social well-being of tenants and occupants. It also found that the owners of such buildings are already starting to see business benefits, such as increased leasing rates and higher asset values. The top five healthier building features in use currently include better lighting/daylighting exposure, products that enhance thermal comfort, spaces that enhance social interaction, enhanced air quality and products that enhance acoustical comfort. Use of nearly all of these is expected to grow considerably along with further pioneering approaches like the use of biophilic design features, spaces that enhance tenant mood and opportunities for physical activity. [9.19.16]
>ASID was a featured research partner in the new SmartMarket Report by Dodge Data & Analytics, “The Drive Toward Healthier Buildings 2016.” The study was conducted in partnership with Delos and the Canada Green Building Council with additional support from other companies and organizations. ASID assisted in crafting the survey used to collect data for the report and played a key role in distributing the survey to the Society’s interior designer members. [10.10.16]
>Humanscale’s Float table and Diffrient Smart task chair were the first-ever products to achieve full Living Product Challenge certification from the International Living Future Institute. The certification, which presents the most rigorous standard for sustainable manufacturing, was officially announced at ILFI’s Living Product Expo in Pittsburgh, where Humanscale’s Sustainability Officer Jane Abernethy, a featured speaker at the event, was on hand to accept the award. The challenge calls on manufacturers and suppliers to create products using processes powered only by renewable energy and within the water balance of the places they are made. [9.19.16]
Photography courtesy of Global Furniture Group
>Global Furniture Group celebrated its Golden Jubilee with the grand opening of its newly redesigned headquarters showroom in Toronto. Saul Feldberg founded Global Furniture 50 years ago with the strategy of building “…a product that the average person can afford.” The company pioneered what has become the midmarket segment of the office furniture industry in North America. [9.26.16]
>This year, as in many years past, the annual gala dinner to announce the winners of the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO) Awards sold out weeks in advance, with 600 guests in the Toronto Hilton ballroom. officeinsight’s Canadian correspondent David Lasker reported on the 2016 winners and gala highlights. Twenty Awards of Merit and four Awards of Excellence were presented. [9.26.16]
>Maharam’s latest product initiative is leather. Eight initial styles in 100 colors were scheduled for launch in November. Exclusively sourced in Italy with the exception of a Spanish suede, Maharam’s collection forgoes the excessive finishing that characterizes much of the leather available today. Instead, it celebrates the inherent beauty of leather returned to a more natural state. Maharam’s approach centers on superior raw materials. [9.26.16]
>Spinneybeck, known for its quality full-grain leather, expanded into a new natural material with the launch of the Beller Collection of cork acoustic tiles by Norwegian designer Lars Beller Fjetland. Manufactured with waste material from wine stopper production, the resulting product is 93% recycled cork produced in a waste-free molding process. [9.26.16]
>Utah State Senator Luz Escamilla (D-Salt Lake City) was named the first-ever recipient of the new IIDA Legislator of the Year Award. As the sponsor of S.B. 117, the Commercial Interior Design Certification bill, Senator Escamilla championed the cause, working to ensure that her fellow lawmakers knew that commercial interior design certification would expand business opportunities, particularly for women. S.B. 117, which creates certification for commercial interior designers and allows them to submit their documents for building permits, passed unanimously in the state Senate and House of Representatives before being signed into law by the Governor. [9.26.16]
>Interface Inc. plans to relocate its global corporate headquarters to Midtown Atlanta. The company chose the site at 1280 West Peachtree Street to repurpose existing commercial space rather than build new, to serve as a catalyst for revitalization. Interface is currently headquartered in the Vinings neighborhood of Metro Atlanta with two additional corporate and Americas regional team office spaces in Metro Atlanta. The new Midtown headquarters will bring together these separate teams into a single space to be occupied in mid-2018. The company is partnering with Perkins+Will to create a facility that will contribute equally to Interface’s internal culture and to that of the city. [9.26.16]
>David Mourning, founder of IA Interior Architects, received the Leadership Award of Excellence from the IIDA Northern California Chapter. Mr. Mourning founded IA in 1984, and his expertise in design, management and marketing has directed the firm’s rapid growth to 19 offices in the U.S., Toronto and London, as well as the IA Global Alliance, with partner affiliates in Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia and Australia, and Latin America. [10.3.16]
>Nanci Scoular, Allsteel’s architect + design manager for the San Francisco and Bay Area, received the 2016 Distinguished Achievement Award from the IIDA Northern California Chapter. Ms. Scoular has more than 25 years of experience in the interior design industry. Born and raised in South Africa, she practiced interior design in Toronto before moving to the Bay Area in 1994. There she transitioned to the sales and marketing side of the industry, establishing herself as a major presence in the architecture and design community. [10.3.16]
OCTOBER
>officeinsight editor Mallory Jindra caught up with John Stephans, president and CEO of IdeaPaint. Since 2008, IdeaPaint has carefully painted a reputation for expanding the playful possibilities of dry erase. This year, at NeoCon 2016, we saw the company dream bigger. At a special exhibit space on the Merchandise Mart’s ground floor, IdeaPaint debuted a new three-piece collection of mobile dry erase whiteboard solutions. [10.3.16]
>Jennifer F. Scanlon was named to succeed James S. Metcalf as president and CEO of USG upon his retirement on Oct. 31. Lead Director Steven F. Leer will become non-executive chairman of the board. Ms. Scanlon, who is currently executive vice president and president, International of USG as well as president of L&W Supply Corporation, was also appointed a director. [10.3.16]
>Delos™ entered a partnership with HOK to accelerate its mission to integrate health and wellness into the built environment. The new partnership will leverage HOK’s worldwide network of designers and clients to further expand the global reach of the WELL Building Standard™. For its part, HOK is undertaking a major initiative to educate and professionally accredit its design teams through the WELL Accredited Professional (WELL AP™) program. HOK will also collaborate with the International WELL Building Institute™ to provide research and insight from subject matter experts that will strengthen the foundation of WELL. [10.3.16]
of Greenbuild
> The 15th Greenbuild International Conference in Los Angeles excelled at showing how sustainable concepts can affect all industries, all products, all places and people. But what was so palpable about this year’s conference, held last week, is its championing of a major shift that’s been happening in the sustainable world the past few years: a refocusing of sustainable goals – away from sustainability simply for the earth’s wellbeing, and more toward sustainability through the lens of health and wellbeing of humans. [10.10.16]
>The Designtex website was named by BuildingGreen as one of its Top 10 Green Building Products for 2017 – the first time in the award’s 15-year history that a website has been selected. BuildingGreen’s Top 10 selections are typically product-specific, but in this case the honor acknowledges that the Designtex website provides specifiers with a powerful tool to understand the sustainability features of its products, enabling more informed choices concerning the environmental impact of materials. The website’s innovative search engine filters allow clients to view products based on a range of sustainability criteria, for example meeting third-party certifications or LEED requirements. [10.10.16]
>Interface debuted a new third-party certification from GreenCircle Certified, LLC and spotlighted its Climate Take Back™ mission at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo. After months of rigorous audits, GreenCircle developed two GreenCircle Certified Environmental Facts™ (“nutrition facts”) labels for Interface’s GlasBac® and GlasBacRE products with Nylon 6 or Nylon 6,6 yarns. These products make up the vast majority – nearly 97% year-to-date in 2016 – of carpet tiles that Interface manufactures and sells in the U.S. The company is the first flooring manufacturer to receive this certification, which provides third-party validation of both product-level environmental and human health attributes, and factory-level environmental footprint claims in an easy-to-read, accessible format. [10.10.16]
>In an effort to change the trade show game, Vitra contracted for an entire floor of one hall at Orgatec. Filling it with a group of like-minded “design, architecture and technology companies to share the exhibition space,” Vitra is calling the exhibition simply, “Work” and rather than just showing its latest products, it aims to “convey a multifaceted picture of today’s working world with an array of products, spatial elements and furnishing concepts.” In a feature prior to the show, officeinsight Publisher Bob Beck ruminated on potential longterm “mutations” in trade show culture that Vitra’s move might inspire. [10.10.16]
>DIRTT Environmental Solutions opened a new 1,700sf showcase in London. The new space is on the ground floor of a 200-year-old industrial building in Whitechapel, providing a Victorian industrial backdrop for its modern residential and healthcare vignettes. The best of DIRTT is on display, from Corning® Willow®Glass graphics and finishes to imbedded technology and imbedded modular DIRTT Power, all on a DIRTT access floor. “Locating our London space in a heritage building demonstrates how DIRTT is equally at home in traditional architecture or a contemporary building,” said DIRTT CEO Mogens Smed. DIRTT President Scott Jenkins added, “Our healthcare solutions in the Middle East continue to gain popularity as the best answer to their construction challenges. Access to skilled construction labor is a growing problem not just in North America but in the U.K., the rest of Europe and the Middle East. Our London GLC is a showcase of what the future of construction looks like.” [10.10.16]
>IFMA’s president and CEO Tony Keane and RICS’ CEO Sean Tompkins released a joint open letter during World Workplace about the new IFMA-RICS collaboration, define.fm. This collaboration represents the most significant evolution in the history of facility management, providing an unprecedented level of industry support to meet the growing demands of the 25 million FM practitioners around the world. The two organizations are aligning standards and professional development for the industry, uniting the global FM community to increase consistency and unification of strategy across the life cycle of the built environment. The collaboration offers a single suite of professional qualifications in facility management, providing global recognition for FMs of all educational backgrounds, skills, work experiences, and career goals. [10.10.16]
>Innovant opened its Bay Area showroom in the 49 Geary Art Building in the heart of downtown San Francisco. The space has been furnished with all new open plan office products, including Innovant’s award-winning FORm_office benching with both fixed and adjustable height work surfaces, plus NIGEL Desking in seat height, standing height and conference configurations. These new pieces can be seen alongside Innovant’s FORm_AV huddle room furniture and its next generation private office product. The showroom also features a full materials library and large-scale installation photography. [10.10.16]
>Teknion Corp. entered a partnership with Alshaya Enterprises, based in Safat, Kuwait. Alshaya’s furniture division caters to customers in a diverse variety of markets including offices, schools, universities, auditoriums, airports, cinemas, restaurants, and private residences. “We are confident that our new partnership with Alshaya will positively impact customers in four of our key Gulf area markets – Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain,” said Terry McAllister, President, International Markets, Teknion. “Teknion’s product design and manufacturing capabilities, together with Alshaya’s strong market coverage, creates an ideal supply chain for Gulf clients looking for global concepts and the latest in workplace products.” [10.10.16]
>BIFMA enhanced its level® Certified Product Database and introduced expanded search capabilities on the level® website. The new database functionality allows users to search on specific sustainability criteria to find products that have the potential to contribute to their projects. The technology platform also aligns with the U.S. General Services Administration Sustainable Facilities Tool. This provides procurement officials with access to furniture products that meet their purchasing needs through a program recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency. [10.10.16]
>HNI Corp on Oct. 7 approved the closure of its Orleans, IN office furniture manufacturing facility. The corporation plans to consolidate the Orleans production into existing domestic office furniture manufacturing facilities and anticipates the closure and consolidation to be substantially completed by the end of 2017. HNI estimates the realignment will generate a cash payback within one year of fully exiting Orleans and drive annual cash savings of $6.9 million beginning in 2018. [10.10.16]
>Nestled in Portland, Maine, a working port city gorgeously set on a peninsula extending into Casco Bay, is a digital surface imaging studio and facility producing some of the wildest, digitally superior materials we’ve seen. Textile company Designtex sees this facility as a creative genius laboratory of sorts – a place where it can experiment with pushing through digital printing boundaries to solve design problems and give designers an opportunity to tell stories in new ways. [10.17.16]
>The Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum celebrated its 2016 National Design Awards during its National Design Week observances. The awards program, now in its 17th year, recognized a wide variety of design fields – 11 of them, in fact. officeinsight contributor John Morris Dixon reviewed the 2016 recipients, each noted for their remarkable empathy for contemporary social concerns. [10.17.16]
>The International Living Future Institute’s Living Building Challenge is arguably bringing the most holistic approach to sustainability certification in the built environment. officeinsight editor Mallory Jindra explained the basics of the Living Building Challenge. [10.17.16]
>The Frick Environmental Center is the world’s first municipally owned, Living Building Challenge-targeted project. The project, designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, is a joint venture between the City of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to breathe new life into an environmental education center nestled in downtown Pittsburgh’s 644-acre Frick Park. The Living Building Challenge is “like LEED on steroids – it’s where we see LEED several years from now.” said Robert Aumer, senior associate project manager at BCJ. Because Living Building Challenge certification requires a 12-month pos-toccupancy period assuring all of the Challenge’s requirements are met, the FEC’s certification is targeted for spring 2018. In the meantime, the space is free and open to the public during park hours and will also be available for event rental beginning spring 2017. [10.24.16]
>National Office Furniture’s Boston Showroom received LEED-CI Silver certification from USGBC. The showroom, designed by CBT Architects, was awarded this certification for energy and water usage, lighting, and material selections, as well as for incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. Its location, at the junction of the Financial and Leather Districts, in the Two Financial Center building, is adjacent to a key transportation hub, thus earning points for its proximity to public transportation. [10.17.16]
>Herman Miller launched an updated version of the iconic Aeron chair. The Aeron chair, by designers Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick, first launched in 1994 and quickly became the best-selling and most recognizable performance chair of all time—with over seven million sold in 134 countries. The new Aeron retains the shape of the classic chair, but incorporates Herman Miller’s leading edge ergonomic knowledge and materials science. With the input of original co-designer Don Chadwick, a dedicated team of scientists, engineers, materials specialists, and researchers worked on the project for over two years. The resulting chair is recognizably an Aeron, but features stronger and smarter materials, better adjustment capabilities, intuitive controls, enhanced aeration, and a health-positive, more comfortable sit. [10.24.16]
>Brentano’s eighth annual color forecast presented three new colors for 2017 (Coral, Chartreuse and Bloom) and a colorless shade (Almost Black). It also reintroduced two classic hues – Peacock and Elephant. The forecast is based on evaluation of past products, data collected from the sales team, and observations of the changing world of design. [10.24.16]
>Foscarini opened its new Soho showroom at 20 Greene Street in NYC. The 5,600sf bi-level space is almost double the size of its former location on the same block, and is part of the Soho Design District (SDD). Foscarini Spazio Soho will function as a dual contract/retail space to showcase the brand’s diverse collection of contemporary designs, house its North America headquarters, as well as host the company’s cultural exhibitions throughout the year. [10.24.16]
>Steelcase entered a marketing and distribution relationship with Blu Dot, a Minneapolis-based designer and maker of modern home furnishings, lighting and accessories. Steelcase can now provide customers with a complementary offering from Blu Dot; the full Blu Dot product line is available through the Steelcase Dealer Network. Dealers will order from Blu Dot and products will ship with Steelcase orders. [10.24.16]
>Sherwin-Williams is the first paint manufacturer to be certified in the new Product Lens™ program from Underwriters Laboratories. The Product Lens report is an ingredient disclosure tool that provides hazard information across the entire lifecycle of a product and also considers risk and exposure, fulfilling industry demands for transparency. The program was designed specifically with LEED v4 in mind and targets the Material Ingredients disclosure credit within the Building Product Design and Optimization grouping. Sherwin- Williams, first product to be certified for the program is its ProMar 200 Zero VOC Interior Latex Paint. [10.24.16]
>FXFOWLE’s design for the new Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island in New York Harbor was unveiled by the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation and the National Park Service. Projected to open to the public in 2019, this is the first new building construction undertaken by the Foundation, which has been responsible for historic restoration and preservation since the 1980s. The new 26,000sf foot museum was designed by FXFOWLE and exhibitions are being created by experience design firm ESI Design. It will be built by Phelps Construction Group. The museum will utilize the best practices for sustainability and feature a green roof-scape and bird-safe glass exteriors. [10.24.16]
>Orgatec 2016: The conventional wisdom as to why Orgatec, held each October in Cologne, Germany, is important for North Americans to attend has always been something like, “We go to Orgatec to see the trends in Europe because we know we’ll be seeing those things here in a few years.” As with much conventional wisdom, it no longer applies. There have been and still are significant cultural differences between the way we work on this side of the Atlantic and that side. But this year at Orgatec, there was significant evidence that the trends are now starting over here and migrating that way. With the exception of designing for sustainability, where Europeans are still way ahead, the big trends in planning workspaces have started here. The idea of making the office more residential in feel and softer in function was clearly being adopted in a big way by exhibitors. So too was the idea that serendipitous meetings and casual interchanges can improve employee engagement and foster corporate innovation. The most obvious takeaway if you step back and try for a high level overview is that ancillary furniture is no longer ancillary. The replacement of miles and miles of systems furniture with acres and acres of soft seating, occasional tables and little private areas is hard to miss. [10.31.16]
>Alexander Girard’s extensive accomplishments are the subject of an exhibition at the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany. “Alexander Girard: A Designer’s Universe,” open through Jan. 22, combines some 400 Girard-designed objects with about 300 works of folk art that he collected. The accompanying 512-page catalogue is both a scholarly examination of Girard’s life and output, with essays by seven experts in aspects of his career and a handsomely illustrated compendium describing more than 500 individual works, from entire interiors to matchbooks. The show is intended to travel to other countries. It will be on view at to the Cranbrook Museum in Michigan Jun. 16-Oct. 8, 2017. Global sponsors of both the exhibit and the catalogue are Herman Miller and Maharam, with support as well from Vitra. [10.31.16]
>The sold-out IIDANY 2016 Color Invasion: Carnevale di Venezia boasted more than 1,500 attendees, many of whom arrived in costume. While the annual IIDANY Color Invasion is mostly a party, at its heart it is a fundraising celebration of creativity, inclusiveness and charity. The Color Invasion gives design professionals a fabulous night out in Manhattan, and a chance to do some good for design students as well as children in need. [10.31.16]
>The 2016 Architecture & Design Film Festival, held in NYC Sep. 28-Oct. 2, featured a packed schedule of 32 feature-length and short films, including three world premieres. Thousands of architecture, film, and design fans attended the 8th edition of the festival at Cinépolis Chelsea, which featured several panel discussions in addition to the wide range of films. Opening night party attendees included New York Magazine design editor Wendy Goodman, architect and critic Michael Sorkin, and architects Billie Tsien and Todd Williams. The opening night included the World Premiere “of Eero Saarinen: The Architect Who Saw the Future.” [10.31.16]
>Organizers of Biennale INTERIEUR 2016, held in Kortrijk, Belgium Oct. 14-23, reported a successful 25th anniversary edition. Attendance was more than 70,000, with visitors from more than 50 countries, with 35% of the visitors registered as professionals, and 763 journalists passed by the press desk. Belgium’s Queen Mathilde also made an appearance. [10.31.16]
>officeinsight contributor Robert Allen reviewed the 25th edition of the INTERIEUR Xpo. His review offered in-depth insights into the “seemingly incidental design expressions…the tiny details that make our environments ‘whole.’” [12.5.16]
>CBT (Childs Bertman Tseckares Inc.) received Best of Show for a second year in a row, and also the People’s Choice Award at the IIDANE Fashion Show and Benefit Gala Oct. 20 in Boston. This the IIDA New England Chapter’s largest annual event and pairs Boston’s most talented interior designers and architects with A&D industry manufacturers to create one-of-a-kind and wearable garments out of non-traditional materials for a runway extravaganza. CBT’s entry, “Elemental: Sand-Sea-Space,” explored elements through which we travel with three stunning ensembles designed and created using materials from partnering vendors Lasvit, Kelly Bugala Associates, and Teknion. [10.31.16]
>Kimball Office reported “overwhelming response” from start-ups start-ups interested in participating in the Sixers Innovation Lab Crafted by Kimball. More than 60 applications have been received by October, and the lab, located in Philadelphia, isn’t officially scheduled to be up and running until March 2017. Created in collaboration with the Philadelphia 76ers basketball franchise and ShareDesk, a global leader in agile workplace technology and on-demand workspaces, the lab will house the newest products from Kimball Office that incorporate leading edge technology to merge design, craft, and technology into functional solutions. Kimball Office plans to use the space as a sandbox to gather data and gain insight into an “ultimate” workplace environment. [10.31.16]
>Configura hosted its 9th annual CET Designer User Conference and Developer Conference in Grand Rapids. The two-day conference featured intimate technical and design sessions, two powerful keynotes, and a knockout annual Halloween bash. But, the most exciting aspect of Configura is where it’s heading in the future and its software’s limitless opportunities. [11.7.16]
>USG Corp. on Oct. 31 completed the sale of its building products distribution business, L&W Supply Corp., to ABC Supply Co., Inc. for a total cash consideration of $670 million. The sale will allow USG to reduce debt and achieve its target leverage ratio while creating new opportunities in its core Gypsum and Ceilings businesses. It will also allow USG to continue its strong relationship with L&W Supply, one of its largest customers, while providing incremental opportunities for growth in the independent specialty dealer channel. [11.7.16]
NOVEMBER
Workplace, Design event in Santa Fe
>An invitation from the Mohawk Group to attend FWD Future, Workplace, Design had officeinsight Publisher Bob Beck packing his bags for Sante Fe, NM. The event included a group of speakers who each presented on fascinating topics; fantastic dinners, social events and live entertainment; thoughtful panel discussions; and an ingenious presentation of product mockups, samples and displays. [11.7.16]
>NCARB launched ARE 5.0, the latest version of the Architect Registration Examination®, on Nov. 1. Four years in development, the updated exam incorporates new testing technologies and features six divisions that align with current practice and the progression of an architecture project. ARE 5.0 test durations are substantially shorter than ARE 4.0— ranging from three and a half to five hours and reducing total seat time by eight hours. In addition, ARE 5.0 features the latest graphic testing methods, replacing vignettes with two new question types: hot spots and drag-and-place. It also includes case studies, which provide candidates with multiple pieces of information and require them to assess and solve the types of problems architects face on a daily basis. NCARB will continue to administer ARE 4.0 until June 30, 2018. [11.7.16]
>NELSON expanded in the Bay Area with the addition of San Jose-based architecture and interior design firm AAI. As a 2016 Rising Giant ranked by Interior Design Magazine, AAI has a growing presence in Silicon Valley and the greater Northern California region. The merger adds roughly 35 employees to NELSON, which is projected to exceed 120% growth over two years with the deal. It brings NELSON’s regional count to more than 80 Teammates, the third largest region in its operation. [11.7.16]
>Interface, Inc. and Patrick C. Lynch, the company’s Senior Vice President and CFO, announced Mr. Lynch’s departure from the company. It will be effective at a to-be determined date during the first quarter of 2017. The company is searching for a successor, and Mr. Lynch currently plans to continue to serve during the transitional period. [11.7.16]
>Steelcase Health presented research on a new way to design waiting rooms, and also new ways to approach exam experiences. Well-designed transition spaces can help guide positive waiting experiences and patients’ overall perception of the quality of care they’re receiving. Designers can also help the exam room space evolve into one that builds more patient trust and confidence. Many parts of the healthcare industry are becoming more businesslike – but in a good way, to the great benefit of patients. Today’s focus on preventive care and chronic illnesses requires a different type of interaction – one built on doctor-patient-family member collaboration. [11.14.16]
>MooreCo Inc. completed its acquisition of Vanerum-Stelter LLC. VanerumStelter, specializing in innovative and ergonomic educational furniture and headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI, joins the MooreCo family of brands along with Balt and Best-Rite. This brand expansion allows MooreCo to provide a full product range for any learning environment, from the most traditional of needs, to the latest in STEM, STEAM, makerspaces, and other high impact environments. Project management services, products, and customer service will be fully supported by the MooreCo state-of-the-art facilities, headquartered in Temple, TX. VanerumStelter products will also be incorporated into the flagship MooreCo showroom located in Austin, TX. [11.14.16]
>The 2016 World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize was awarded to Molenaar & Co. Architecten, Hebly Theunissen Architecten & Michael van Gessel for the restoration of the Justus van Effen Complex in Rotterdam. Originally designed by Michiel Brinkman in 1919-1921, and completed in 1922, the Justus van Effen complex is a remarkable example of early modernism. The use of an elevated “street” as a means of facilitating social cohesion was extremely influential on the subsequent generation of designers. [11.,14.16]
>Vitra sponsored a garage-inspired environment at the 2016 Hacking Arts Festival at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, MA. The festival culminated in a ‘Hackathon’, where interdisciplinary teams of over 300 students and professionals took on challenges at the cutting-edge of arts and technology. Teams had 24 hours to design, build and present to a panel of judges with all-star mentorship. Vitra – a top-tier 2016 Hacking Arts sponsor alongside Adobe and Autodesk –installed a ‘Garage’ environment, anchored by the newly released Hack system by Konstantin Grcic. [11.14.16]
>Momentum Group was one of four recipients of the 2016 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. This award is the only formal recognition of performance excellence of both public and private U.S. organizations given by the President of the United States. Momentum was recognized for its outstanding commitment to sustainable excellence through innovation, improvement and visionary leadership. Headquartered in Irvine, CA, Momentum started in 1994 as one of the smallest contract textile distributors in the U.S.. Today, the company is a recognized leader in the commercial interiors industry, creating exclusive, design-focused fabrics for customers including A&D firms and commercial furniture manufacturers. In just over two decades, its sales have grown more than 400% and have outperformed the industry for 19 years out of the 22 that the firm has been in business. [11.21.16]
>Herman Miller and the Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design released “Nurses as Leaders in Healthcare Design: A Resource for Nurses and Interprofessional Partners.” Nurses are the eyes and ears, the workhorse and the expert, and the heart and soul of the healthcare industry. The new book marks a time in healthcare design when nurses are contributing invaluable assets to the planning and design of healthcare facilities. [11.21.16]
>West Elm launched its new corporate headquarters and retail outlet in Brooklyn. It is located at Empire Stores, a newly renovated LEED Silver certified cultural complex in the now-trendy neighborhood of DUMBO. The complex includes restaurants, retail shopping and public rooftop with free Wi-Fi, all with spectacular waterfront views of Manhattan and located right next to Brooklyn Bridge State Park. West Elm’s new headquarters boasts almost 100,000sf of corporate space that houses their Collection and Workplace brands, as well as more than 300 in-house designers, merchants, planners and creative teams. [11.21.16]
>NeoCon East drew 7,000 influential design professionals to the Pennsylvania Convention Center Nov. 9-10 on the heels of a dramatic presidential election night. For the second year in a row, the move to Philadelphia proved fruitful as the show continues to draw attendees from the Northeast corridor and beyond. The two days were headlined by inspirational and captivating keynotes led by Marc Kushner and Ayse Birsel, as well as a comprehensive, career-enriching educational program. NeoCon East attendees also benefited from reciprocal resources offered by AIA Philadelphia’s Design on the Delaware Conference, which was once again collocated with the show. [11.21.16]
>Tarkett was the Large Booth winner and Bentley was again the Small Booth winner in the IIDA/Contract Magazine Booth Design Awards at NeoCon East 2016. Tarkett’s booth was designed by Suzanne Tick Inc., and Bentley’s booth was designed by Bentley Mills Inc. [11.21.16]
>National Office Furniture released a White Paper outlining the process of designing and outfitting its new Corporate Headquarters. National partnered with Gensler to develop a Pre-Occupancy Survey and a Post-Occupancy Survey to gather metrics on how employees felt in their current workplace, the criticality of various work styles, and suggestions for workplace improvement. The White Paper outlines National’s approach to its workplace transformation, with specific attention to how it increased well-being, productivity, and overall employee satisfaction. According to Gensler, the average participation rate of Pre- and Post-Occupancy surveys hovers around 40%; however, National’s employees demonstrated a very high level of engagement in the workplace, with unprecedented response rates of 96% and 93% in the Pre and Post-occupancy surveys respectively. The value and relevance of the survey results are directly impacted by employee participation. In the Post-Occupancy survey, conducted after move-in, National’s overall Workplace Performance Index (WPI) score improved 8 points, placing it among the highest performing companies in its industry. [11.21.16]
>Configura released CET Designer 7.5. The newest version of the award-winning space-planning software solution lets users produce 360-degree renderings for export to use with smartphone virtual reality kits and viewing in MyConfigura briefcases. Virtual reality apabilities also have been enhanced through a collaboration with Yulio. Also with CET Designer 7.5, users will see improvements to CET Designer’s Movie Studio and will enjoy more accessory options. [11.21.16]
>Ava, Nemschoff’s New Award Winning Patient Recliner: After winning Contract magazine’s Best of NeoCon gold award in the Healthcare Patient Seating category and Interior Design’s Hip Award at NeoCon 2016, Ava has gone on to win The Nightingale Awards’ Gold and Best of Competition, European Healthcare Design’s 2016 Highly Commended designation and Interior Design’s Best of the Year. Most recliners have a very large footprint and are typically hard to maneuver for all of its end users. When Nemschoff, a Herman Miller company, asked David Ritch and Mark Saffell, partners at 5D Studio, to design a new patient room recliner, they faced a host of aesthetic and functional issues. The result of their efforts is Ava, a patient recliner designed to actually support each person who interacts with the chair. [11.28.16]
>CannonDesign on Rejuvenating the Healthcare Arena: In the past few years, the healthcare industry has experienced huge disruptions in the way it does business, and there’s a good chance of another shake-up now that the latest U.S. elections have concluded. Healthcare organizations and designers are rethinking everything from patient experience models to staff tools and product functionality and innovation. Jocelyn Stroupe, director of healthcare interiorsat CannonDesign, shared the newest trends happening in healthcare design right now. The number one thing Ms. Stroupe called attention to was an intense focus on seamlessness in each person’s healthcare experience. [11.28.16]
>Arper on Nov. 17 in Japan opened its newest showroom, located in the trendy Tokyo neighborhood of Toyama. The bi-level space is nestled in a modern architecture building, showcasing latest office/home collections presented at the Salone del Mobile 2016 as well as classic designs curated for the Japanese market. An attached patio also features products showcasing Arper’s outdoor capabilities. The showroom serves double-duty as Arper’s operational hub in Northeast Asia. [11.28.16]
>Herman Miller on Nov. 22 opened its new Herman Miller-branded retail store anchoring the company’s New York City flagship. The store occupies 6,000sf on the ground and second floors of Herman Miller’s multi-level presence at 251 Park Avenue South in Manhattan. Its floorplan is laid out as a modern home, with rooms that demonstrate problem-solving designs for living, working, dining, socializing, and sleeping. The display and inventory blend current and vintage Herman Miller furniture, lighting, and accessories with a curated set of complementary products from like-minded vendors and skilled artisans from around the world. [11.28.16]
>Herman Miller, Inc. partnered with General Motors and Green Standards on a sustainability initiative to repurpose tens of thousands of pieces of office furniture and equipment into $1 million of in-kind donations. Through the Herman Miller rePurpose program, GM will divert from landfill nearly all existing furniture, equipment, and supplies resulting from renovations occurring at its Technical Center in Warren, MI, the Proving Ground in Milford, MI, and global headquarters in Detroit. The program is expected to benefit about 100 Michigan-based community organizations, with a focus on Detroit, over the next two years. [11.28.16]
>Biophilia pioneer Stephen Robert Kellert lost his courageous battle with multiple myeloma on Nov. 27. He was 73. Known as the “Godfather of Biophila,” Steve Kellert was the Tweedy Ordway Professor Emeritus of Social Ecology and Senior Research Scholar at the Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. His work focused on understanding the connection between nature and humanity with a particular interest in the human need for nature, environmental conservation, and sustainable design and development. He authored and co-authored more than 150 publications. He also created a documentary video, Biophilic Design: the Architecture of Life. [12.12.16]
DECEMBER
>Knoll acquired DatesWeiser, the highly regarded maker of exquisitely detailed, custom conference room tables, casegoods and specialty reception desks. Founded in 1982, DatesWeiser, among the most respected contract furniture industry brands, has a flagship New York City showroom. Allan Weiser, DatesWeiser co-founder, will serve as president of DatesWeiser; he will continue to lead his experienced sales and operations teams. [12.5.16]
>Mario Ruiz, Barcelona-based designer and HBF collaborator, was awarded Spain’s prestigious Premio Nacional de Diseño. The award, granted on behalf of the Spanish government and King Felipe VI, recognizes designers whose work embodies the innovative spirit of Spanish design. Mr. Ruiz’s collections for HBF include the Costa series of tables designed for easy reconfiguration for multi-purpose conference areas; the sophisticated and sculptural Duna sofa and lounge chairs; the Linea bench series offered in a variety of configurations with a wide range of options; and the November lounge chair, designed for comfort with ample proportions and tailored upholstery. [12.5.16]
>Herman Miller, Inc. joined Sustainable Brands®, BASF, General Motors (GM), and Green Standards to support The Michigan Urban Farming Initiative. MUFI is a Detroit-based nonprofit whose mission is to use urban agriculture as a platform to promote education, sustainability, and community and to uplift and empower urban neighborhoods. It is debuting America’s first sustainable urban agrihood, an alternative neighborhood growth model in Detroit’s lower North End that positions agriculture as the centerpiece of a mixed-use urban development. MUFI is one of 100 nonprofit organizations in Michigan to receive furniture donations from GM through the automaker’s recently announced partnership with the Herman Miller rePurpose program. [12.5.16]
>In our final issue of 2016, officeinsight Founder Brad Powell offered a salute to John Rouse, Contract magazine’s new Publisher Emeritus. Mr. Rouse is succeeded as publisher by Karen Donaghy, previously the associate publisher of Contract. [12.12.16]
>Perkins+Will architect Joan Blumenfeld shared her story of how she, along with her husband Bob, set about designing and building a new house in Tahoe – to be as sustainable as possible. As designers and architects, we know that designing for ourselves is not for the faint hearted but can be incredibly rewarding. This in-depth account of the project, from start to finish, offers a fascinating look into how architects and designers are living sustainably. [12.12.16]
>officeinsight’s Canadian correspondent David Lasker checked in with us after attending the 2016 edition of IIDEXCanada in Toronto. In addition to reporting on the usual super programming, excellent keynotes and IIDEXCanada traditions, he made the case that hospitality will become an increasingly bigger influence on office design. [12.12.16]
>Skitsch by Hub Design launched its new Skitsch Lighting division. Skitsch Lighting was set up with the vocation of interpreting light through atypical lighting articles, ironic, cheeky items that go beyond the concept of the traditional lamp to become main players in rooms, even when switched off, yet with plenty of attention to use of techno materials and new-gen light sources. [12.12.16]
>NCARB’s Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure now includes 21 accepted programs at 17 schools (six Bachelor of Arch., 15 Master of Arch.). This program provides students the opportunity to complete requirements for licensure while they are still earning their degree. Through the initiative, schools are encouraged to incorporate the Architectural Experience Program (AXP, formerly the Intern Development Program) directly into the curriculum, as well as the opportunity to take the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). [12.12.16]
>Pantone named PANTONE 15-0343 Greenery as the PANTONE® Color of the Year selection for 2017. Greenery is a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew. Illustrative of flourishing foliage and the lushness of the great outdoors, the fortifying attributes of Greenery signals individuals to take a deep breath, oxygenate and reinvigorate. [12.12.16]
>Robert Allen Group revealed Denim as its 2017 Interior Design Color of the Year. With more than 1,500 votes tallied across four color nominees from Robert Allen’s Nomadic Color collection debuting in January—Carob, Denim, Cement, and Onyx— Denim was the clear winner. Denim defines the classic blue. Made using dye extracted from indigo plants, the signature look is its natural faded blue. As the Interior Design Color of the Year, it will be featured in upcoming collections from Robert Allen and will provide inspiration for designs throughout 2017. [12.12.16]
>Knoll’s new Houston showroom, which opened in the city’s River Oaks community in September 2015, has achieved LEED Platinum certification from USGBC. The showroom was designed by the Architecture Research Office, a recipient of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award and a 2014 AIA Institute Award for the design of the Knoll New York Showroom. The sprawling 8,000sf space showcases a variety of cleverly planned workspaces, including work areas, meeting rooms, informal gathering areas, and displays. [12.12.16]
>Configura entered a collaboration with Toronto-based Yulio to bring a mobile virtual reality experience at low cost to thousands of interior designers and customers around the globe. Yulio is a DIY virtual reality platform for those in the business of designing spaces. The technology makes an immersive, panoramic design experience as easy as hitting a button to send VR designs directly to clients’ smartphones or other devices for viewing. Livestream conferencing lets designers walk and talk clients through their designs. Until recently, VR in commercial interior design has been costly, with high-end VR headsets hovering around $600 USD. Meanwhile, Google Cardboard and Homido MINI products can be sourced for around $15 USD per headset – or less. [12.12.16]