NeoCon, North America’s largest design expo and conference for commercial interiors, returns June 15-17 to Chicago’s Merchandise Mart for its 47th year. Organizers expect the number of architecture and design professionals attending the show will equal or exceed last year’s attendance of nearly 50,000. Attendees can tailor their conference experience to specific areas of interest, experience level, schedule and spending goals by choosing à la carte from the menu of more than 100 CEU seminars, featured programs and association forums. This year’s theme is NeoConvergence.
Once registered for NeoCon at www.neocon.com (free online registration through Friday, June 12 or $25 on-site), attendees can sign up for My NeoCon, introduced last year, to search exhibitors and new products, create a personalized itinerary, and map out custom floor plans. Also, the NeoCon 2015 App, new this year, is now available on the App Store and Google Play (http://app.core-apps.com/neocon2015).
Voting for Interior Design’s HiP at NeoCon (Honoring Industry People and Product) at http://my.neocon.com/hip closes this Friday, June 5. The HiP awards, launched last year, honor commercial industry people and products in workplace, hospitality, health and wellness, education, and institutional /government market sectors. Winners and honorees will be announced Sunday, June 14, with the HiP, HiP Hooray Celebration scheduled for Tuesday, June 16.
All of the products entered in Contract magazine’s Best of NeoCon competition are now available for viewing at www.contract-network.com. About 50 jurors who are interior designers, architects, and facilities management professionals will review the products over three days before NeoCon begins, and winners will be named at the Best of Neocon Award Winners’ Breakfast on Monday, June 15.
Other awards programs include the IIDA/Contract Magazine Showroom & Booth Design Competition; the Metropolis Likes awards program, in which Metropolis editors announce their favorite discoveries on social media; and BUILDINGS magazine’s Product Innovations Awards.
Special NeoCon exhibits and features at the Merchandise Mart this year include:
>BreakPoint Books, 7th floor. BreakPoint Books’ onsite bookstore will carry titles authored by NeoCon conference speakers as well as other titles on interior design, green building, architecture, and more.
>BuzziSpace Lounge, 1st floor, East Pass Thru across from Starbucks. BuzziSpace offers a place to make a phone call, check e-mail, and recuperate. Quiet spaces will be available in the BuzziHub Open next to BuzziFalls, an acoustical wallcovering; and the award-winning BuzziPicNic, debuting in bold new colors, will offer space for conversations.
>Casual for Contract – Outdoor Furnishings, 7th floor, suite 7-1011. This showroom features the latest in outdoor design for hotel, restaurant, resort, outdoor office, contract or residential space from a variety of companies. Also, floors 15 and 16 of the Merchandise Mart are home to the largest collection of outdoor furniture showrooms under one roof.
>Design Center, Floors 6, 14, 15, 16. The Design Center at The Merchandise Mart is the world’s largest resource for custom home furnishings and interior design, with more than 100 showrooms for luxury furniture, fabrics, floor and wall coverings, lighting, outdoor and casual furnishings, accessories, antiques, art and much more. Learn more at www.designcenter.com.
>Herman Miller Chadwick Modular Seating, 1st floor, South Lobby. Originally designed by Don Chadwick in 1974, and now updated with a contemporary seat height and the ability to carry power, Chadwick Modular Seating offers a multitude of lounge configurations. Here, 125 Chadwick pieces will provide more than 250 feet of continuous seating.
>Interiors & Sources Materials Pavilion, 8th floor, suite 8-2130. Presented by Interiors & Sources magazine, this is the destination for NeoCon attendees seeking more in the area of materials product, ideas and inspiration. The magazine is also continuing its collaboration with local nonprofit Designs for Dignity (www.designsfordignity.org/) to design a global material experience and educational exhibit.
>Koleksiyon “Oblivion”, 1st floor, North Lobby. Making its U.S. debut this year, Koleksiyon will let NeoCon attendees experience the private and meditative space contained within Oblivion – a circular pod adaptable to serve a variety of needs within the modern office.
>LuxeHome, 1st floor. Many of the boutiques at LuxeHome, the world’s largest collection of premier boutiques for home building and renovation, will host special events during NeoCon. For more information, please visit http://luxehome.com/neocon2015.
>Maars Living Walls, 1st floor, North Corridor. The Maars Living Wall will feature the 2015 Best of NeoCon Winners Presentation. Maars offers innovative, custom-made and integrated interior architectural wall solutions for various market segments. Founded in 1946, the family-owned company has grown to a world leader in interior partitioning.
>The Mohawk Group: Moving Floors, 1st floor, Kinzie Wells Entrance. Designed in collaboration with 13&9 Design of Innocad, Moving Floors examines the dialogue between the individual and the environment. It focuses on concepts of modularity, compatibility, flexibility and transformation.
>SIXINCH, 1st Floor, Kinzie Wells Entrance, 7th floor, 7-2118. Outside, SIXINCH will introduce its new Grove collection with a place to reconnect, refuel and recharge with its solar powered Lilly shade. Inside, it will offer an elegant lounge environment juxtaposing Modern and Neo-Baroque styles and featuring a dramatic new bench – the Parterre.
>The Viscusi Group, 7th floor. Stephen Viscusi and his team of headhunters are also social media pros. The Viscusi Group invites NeoCon attendees to tweet questions on finding a job and branding in the world of design and furniture @WorkplaceGuru. The team will also offer tips on how to become the next TV celebrity designer or create a YouTube channel.
>Wolf-Gordon “Pattern Act”, 1st floor, North East Corridor. Suspended in the space above the escalator between the first and second floors, Wolf-Gordon’s interactive installation will engage escalator riders by capturing their likenesses, which are then distorted into vivid colors and shapes. As visitors ascend they can manipulate the screen’s projections through movement and sound. The images created through the interactions will be saved and serve as inspiration for custom digital wallcovering patterning.
Schedule Highlights At-a-Glance
Saturday, June 13
6:30pm-Midnight – DIFFA/Chicago Believe 2015 Gala, The Imagine Ball
Sunday, June 14
12:30-2:30pm – IIDA 2015 Annual Meeting
7:00-11:00pm – IIDA COOL Awards Gala
Monday, June 15
7:30-8:30am – 2014 Best of NeoCon Award Winners’ Breakfast
8:00am – Keynote: Patricia Urquiola
9:00-10:30am – IIDA Advocacy Roundtable
11:30am-1:30pm – ASID Illinois Chapter Annual NeoCon Luncheon
12:30–1:30pm – Interiors from Spain
4:30-7:00pm – ASID Reception at Allermuir
5:00-7:00pm – Showroom Parties
Tuesday, June 16
8:00am – Keynote: Jason Silva
8:30am-5:00pm – IIDA Student Design Charette
9:00-10:00am – Color Marketing Group’s 2016+ World Color Forecast
9:30-10:30am – IIDA Forum: Active Design Meets Active Discussion
3:00-5:00pm – Booth Parties
5:00-7:00pm – Interior Design’s HIP HIP Hooray Celebration
Wednesday, June 17
7:15-9:00am – BIFMA Annual Membership Meeting
11:00am – Keynote: Martin Lesjak and Anastasija Sugic
3:00-5:00pm – IIDA Student Design Charette Winners Reception
A complete list of speakers, exhibits, seminars, tours and special attractions can be found at www.neocon.com, but here are some highlights:
Keynote Speakers
Keynotes are free to attend for NeoCon 2015 attendees. However, seating is limited and registration is required (http://neocon.com/programming/keynotes). Each keynote merits 0.1 CEU credit.
>Monday, June 15, 8:00am Patricia Urquiola, presented by IIDA and sponsored by Haworth. Renowned international designer and architect Patricia Urquiola was born in Oviedo, Spain, but now lives and works in Milan where she runs Studio Urquiola. Her work is widely known to be playful and poetic, yet pragmatic and functional, a creative combination that is the magic behind her work. She comes and goes through conventional time – rethinking, reinventing and creating new. The effect is a powerful reminder of the past and exploration into the now, always creating a new experience for the user. [KE1]
>Tuesday, June 16, 8:00am Jason Silva, presented by ASID and sponsored by OFS Brands. Jason Silva is the Emmy-nominated host of National Geographic Channel’s #1 rated and Emmy-nominated series, Brain Games, and the creator of “Shots of Awe,” a short film series of “trailers for the mind” that serve as philosophical espresso shots exploring innovation, technology, creativity, futurism and the metaphysics of the imagination. Jason also created the web series “Future of Us” for AOL, exploring exponential technology and the future of humanity. [KE2]
>Wednesday, June 17, 11:00am Martin Lesjak And Anastasija Sugic, sponsored by Mohawk Group. Martin Lesjak and Anastasija Sugic are the creative duo behind 13&9, an interdisciplinary Austrian design collective that celebrates the unique talents and partnership between Lesjak’s award-winning architecture firm INNOCAD and Sugic’s product and fashion line ANASTASIA SU. The multidisciplinary team, who share the titles of CEO and Creative Director, have received numerous accolades (Lesjak was most recently named Contract Magazine’s 36th Designer of the Year) and international notoriety for outstanding achievements in furniture, fashion, accessories, lighting and art objects, as well as industrial design and audio installation projects. [KE3]
Association Forums and Special Events
Please visit https://reg.neocon.com to register for Association Forums.
>Saturday, June 13, 6:30pm-Midnight DIFFA/Chicago Believe 2015 Gala, The Imagine Ball, Navy Pier, Grand Ballroom, 600 E Grand Ave. Industry leaders and design enthusiasts from around the world will come together at this multi-faceted black-tie event featuring DIFFA’s legendary cocktail reception followed by an elegant dinner, live auction and incredible live entertainment. The DIFFA Gala benefits Chicago-area service agencies that provide assistance, education and outreach to those living with HIV/AIDS. For more information and to reserve your table or tickets: 312.644.6412 or www.diffachicago.org/events.html
>Sunday, June 14, 12:30-2:30 p.m., IIDA Annual Meeting, Museum of Contemporary Art; 220 E. Chicago Ave. Association members and their guests are invited to this meeting to induct the 2015-2016 International Board of Directors, celebrate the Chapters recognized for excellence in accomplishments, honor the new members of the College of Fellows and spotlight recipients of the Association’s prestigious International Honors and Awards. Cocktail reception to follow. Email RSVP: iidahq@iida.org
>Sunday, June 14, 7:00-11:00pm IIDA COOL Awards Gala, the Ritz Carlton Hotel Chicago, Grand Ballroom, 160 East Pearson. The 2015 IIDA COOL black-tie gala celebration is a special evening of cocktails, dinner and dancing to honor the winners of the 42nd Annual Interior Design Competition and the 23rd Annual Will Ching Design Competition. RSVP: Email Aisha Williams at awilliams@iida.org or visit www.iida.org/content.cfm/iida-cool-gala.
>Monday, June 15, 7:30-8:30am 2015 Best of NeoCon Award Winners’ Breakfast, The Renaissance Hotel, One West Wacker Dr. & State St. The editor in chief of Contract magazine will announce the winners live at the podium while a digital presentation features winning products by category. Winners relish the opportunity to arrive at the podium to accept their award certificates and signage among industry peers. Tickets can be purchased at www.contract-network.com.
>Monday, June 15, 9:00-10:30am IIDA Advocacy Roundtable, IIDA Learning Center, 5th Floor, Suite 567. An interactive panel of government relations professionals and grassroots advocacy experts from various trade associations will share insights to help participants learn how to speak about the profession of interior design to impact and influence policy makers. Please email Emily Kluczynski, ekluczynski@iida.org, or Abby Rathbun, arathbun@iida.org, once registration is closed for further attendance inquiries. [AF3]
>Monday, June 15, 11:30am-1:30pm ASID Illinois Chapter Annual NeoCon Luncheon, Miele Showroom, Suite 222. Guests will enjoy a complimentary lunch in the Miele Showroom and catch up with colleagues and friends, including ASID national leaders, staff, and members from across the country. This event is open exclusively to designers attending NeoCon. For more information please visit http://neocon.com/partners/asid.
>Monday, June 15, 12:30–1:30pm Interiors from Spain, Booth 7-8130. Metropolis editors Susan S. Szenasy and Paul Makovsky, and John Copobianco of IA | Interior Architects host a guided tour and unveiling of the winning design behind the LiveWork SpanishStyle Design Competition from Jorge Herrera Estudio. This preview showcases workplace products from Spanish manufacturers exhibited in a casual workplace environment embodying the Mediterranean lifestyle and balance.
> Monday, June 15, 4:30–7:00pm ASID Reception at Allermuir, Allermuir Showroom, Suite 3-123. Join ASID and Allermuir to unwind over refreshments at an opening reception. Network with leaders from both organizations, meet designers from across the nation, and reconnect with friends at the Allermuir showroom at NeoCon.
>Monday, June 15, 5:00-7:00pm Showroom Parties, Floors 1, 3, 10 and 11. The momentum of NeoCon will be in full swing on Monday night! Showroom-hop to see fabulous products, network and wine and dine with colleagues and friends. Please visit www.neocon.com/features/special-events/ for a listing of the NeoCon showrooms and exhibitors who will be hosting a special event, an important guest, hospitality, giveaways and more.
>Tuesday, June 16, 9:00-10:00am Color Marketing Group’s 2016+ World Color Forecast. CMG’s World Color Forecast is the culmination of regional and international color forecasting events held throughout 2014. This session, presented by CMG President John West, will look at the global trends and influences affecting color, and gives insight into where color is moving around the world in 2016 and beyond. Credit: 0.1 CEU; Fee: $50 [AF1]
>Tuesday, June 16, 9:30-10:30am Active Design Meets Active Discussion: The Blueprint for Human Sustainability, IIDA Learning Center, 5th floor, suite 567. Active design is taking a greater role in workplace planning. This forum will focus on what active design is and how organizations are currently using active design principles in both new spaces and existing buildings. Panelists will discuss practical application, budgeting, and the future of workplace design, steps for making active design a financially viable option, techniques for helping clients who are skeptical or resistant to the concept, and a forecast for the next one to three years based on what is happening in active design now. Speakers include Jonathan Webb, Vice President of Business Markets for KI in Green Bay, WI; Nila Leiserowitz, Managing Principal of Gensler in Chicago; Mark Hirons, Director of Interiors at Cannon Design in Chicago; Cheryl Durst, Executive Vice President and CEO of IIDA; and Rob Kirkbride, Editor of Monday Morning Quarterback in Grand Rapids, MI. Please email Elizabeth Cooley, ecooley@iida.org, once registration is closed for further attendance inquiries. Credit: 0.1 CEU; Fee: None [AF2]
>Tuesday, June 16, 3:00-5:00pm Booth Parties, Floors 7 and 8. The party’s not over! Don’t miss the cocktails, conversations, and contacts to be made when the NeoCon energy and festivities continue on the 7th and 8th floor. Mix and mingle with top A&D professionals while exploring more than 400 exhibitors from around the world. Please see www.neocon.com/features/special-events for a list of announced parties.
>Tuesday, June 16, 5:00-7:00pm Interior Design’s HIP HIP Hooray Celebration, The Merchandise Mart, South Drive. With the great success of its first year, Interior Design will present the second annual HiP at NeoCon, a recognition program Honoring Industry People and achievements in design solutions and product applications. This fun new party celebrates the 2015 honorees and featuring Chicago food and drink. Tickets are $30 online until June 16 at 1:00pm or $35 on-site. Click here to purchase: http://hiphiphooray.splashthat.com
>Wednesday, June 17, 7:15-7:45am (breakfast) and 7:45-9:00am (meeting) BIFMA Annual Membership Meeting, Holiday Inn Mart Plaza; Wolf Point Ballroom (15th floor). BIFMA members and invited guests are encouraged to attend the Association’s Annual Membership Meeting to hear the state-of-the-industry and state-of-the-association reports. For more information, contact BIFMA at (616) 285-3963 or visit www.bifma.org.
Student Activities
Click here to register as a student: https://reg.neocon.com/?student
>Tuesday, June 16, 8:30am-5:00pm IIDA Student Design Charette (Presentation & Judging from 3:00-5:00pm), 8th floor Southeast Corner. Watch school-nominated IIDA Student Members from around the country team up and compete in this live, onsite competition. Students have less than six hours to design a space, put together a presentation and pitch their concept to a panel of esteemed judges.
>Tuesday, June 16, 1:45-4:00pm ASID Student Roadmap, meet in South Lobby; groups depart at 2:00pm. Exclusively for ASID student members, experience a curated tour of NeoCon with professional designers. Students will meet with tour leaders and be guided to pick up badges, navigate the show floor and meet with exhibitors. Registration link at www.neocon.com/programming/student-program
Student Program>Wednesday, June 17, 9:00-10:30am ASID Career Exchange, 8th floor, Southeast Corner. Students and recent graduates will connect with design professionals and industry representatives for one-on-one networking opportunities. Within 90 minutes, participants will engage in multiple 10-minute conversations with reviewers to learn about the interior design profession, or to receive a resume or portfolio critique. Learn more at www.asid.org/career-exchange#.VWi5zs9Viko [SP1]
>Wednesday, June 17, Noon-12:30pm IIDA Ready to Work, 8th floor, Southeast Corner. Design Students are invited to Lunch & Learn, a 30-minute session on dressing professionally for interviews and success in the daily workplace with Alaina Kaczmarski, co-founder and editor of The Everygirl. All attendees are encouraged to stay for the IIDA Career Bootcamp™ immediately following. Lunch will be provided, and all registrants will receive one year of free Student Membership to PaletteApp. Registration for this event is at capacity. Please contact Beatrice Brittan at bbrittan@iida.org for more information and to be placed on a waiting list. [SP3]
>Wednesday, June 17, 12:30-2:00pm IIDA Career Bootcamp™, 8th floor, Southeast Corner. Recent graduates and students can discover the best ways to get your foot in the door and the key to landing an interview. IIDA presents a stellar panel of recent graduates to share their stories on how they succeed in the industry. This year, the panel will be joined by a special guest from one of the top firms in the industry. Gain invaluable insider advice regarding finding your first job, tips on resumes, cover letters and portfolios. All registrants will receive one year of free Student Membership to PaletteApp. [SP2]
>Wednesday, June 17, 3:00-5:00pm IIDA Student Design Charette Winners Reception, DIRTT Green Learning Center, 325 North Wells St., suite 1000
Educational Seminars
Seminar sessions are priced at $55 each, if pre-registered by Friday, June 12, or $65 each if registered on-site, subject to availability. All are being reviewed for continuing education accreditation for 0.1 CEU or 1 LU each. Some will also qualify for GBCI hours toward the LEED Credential Maintenance Program; LEU credits for the Lighting Certified professional; or EDAC CEU credit for healthcare designers. The complete schedule, available at https://reg.neocon.com/?sem, can be filtered online by topics of interest. Here is our selection of some of the courses offered:
>Monday, June 15, 9:30-10:30am Unlocking Your Corporate DNA. [Intermediate] Collaboration, one of the most talked-about ingredients of the modern workplace, is one of the most over-used and misunderstood concepts as well. To create effective work environments we must understand how people truly collaborate, and how businesses should effectively use and harness the power of collaboration. Kay Sargent, director of workplace strategies at Lend Lease in Alexandria, VA, will define the various forms of collaboration and share how to find the right balance between open and closed space, and collaborative and concentrative areas. This involves identifying a company’s specific “corporate DNA” and which work styles and activities the work environment needs to support. [M100]
>Monday, June 15, 9:30-10:30am Warning: Toxic! Demystifying the Red List. [Intermediate] The Red List contains the “worst in class” materials and chemicals, as determined by the Living Building Challenge. From VOA Associates Inc. in Chicago, interior designer Lauren Andrysiak, sustainability leader Susan Heinking, and associate Candace Small will delve deeper into some of the research on these materials and chemicals, their toxic effects, where they are found, and what alternatives there are. [M102]
>Monday, June 15, 9:30-10:30am Technology Planning in the Legal Workplace: A Strategic Approach Increases Collaboration and Utilization. [Intermediate] Today’s legal environment must incorporate reliable audiovisual, IT, and conferencing platforms that are intuitive, productive, and profitable. Just as with successful creative, marketing, and other branding firms, technology is now a proven differentiator for many leading legal services firms. Presented by Peter Babigian, partner, and Matthew Ezold, associate principal at Cerami & Associates in NYC, this session will help participants get up to speed on current design tools that manage a client’s expectations from concept through commission – and get a handle on the convergence of AV with IT as it relates to optimal branding and communication. [M108]
>Monday, June 15, 11:00am-Noon Design Implications of the Affordable Care Act. [Intermediate] Michael Murphy, CEO of MASS Design Group, Boston, MA, will share insights into what the recent ACA legislation means for healthcare spaces and design professionals. He will cover the basics of the pertinent changes and dispel common misconceptions, and then look at specific architectural healthcare typologies associated with increasingly distributed healthcare systems. Designers of healthcare spaces can use this information to take advantage of emerging resources, market opportunities, and research agendas supported by the ACA. [M111]
>Monday, June 15 11:00am-Noon Bodies in Motion/Spaces in Motion. [Basic] Dr. Dieter Breithecker, health and kinetic scientist at the Federal Institute on the Development of Posture and Exercise in Wiesbaden, Germany, will present this session for designers of learning environments. Active and spontaneous movement helps students stay healthier, more focused, and more engaged in learning. People—and especially those who are growing—are not meant to sit still for long periods of time. This discussion will address specific design strategies that impose movement on occupants and support learners in multiple settings, including group collaboration, self-organized learning, formal instruction, and causal, spontaneous activities. [M114]
>Monday, June 15, 11:00am-Noon New Trends and Technology in Flooring Products. [Basic] Lewis Migliore, president of LGM and Associates Technical Flooring Services in Dalton, GA, will discuss the changes taking place in the floor coverings industry, with new products of extraordinary style and function developed through advanced technology and state of the art equipment. He will examine the latest in concrete surface applications, wood, ceramic tile, natural products, hybrid products, carpet, and more; how to communicate these trends with clients; and how to apply these new products – including critical dos and don’ts of floor covering. [M115]
>Monday, June 15, 1:00-2:00pm Revealing Colors of the Future for Contract. [Intermediate] Leatrice Eiseman, color consultant, author of nine books on color, and executive director of the Pantone Color Institute in Bainbridge, WA, will share her predictions of future color trends in contract. She will show how colors are polarized between shades that are simple, honest and unassuming and those that are more saturated and make a bolder statement – and that there is also another platform of color that connects and bridges the extremes. [M120]
>Monday, June 15, 1:00-2:00pm I Can Still Hear You! How Noise Affects Your Health. [Intermediate] We live in a world of “surround sound.” Noise is a major influence in all our environments: the office, the home, the hospital, the airport. Janet Kobylka, healthcare transition planner with Balfour Resource Group in Dallas, and Deborah Fuller, senior interior designer with Back Architecture in Dallas, will explore research on the effects of noise on health, happiness, productivity, and psychological and social well-being, and creative solutions in both construction and design to mitigate noise and greatly reduce its negative impact. [M121]
>Monday, June 15, 1:00-2:00pm Utilizing New Technologies in Design Practice: 3D Printers and Beyond. [Basic] Prototyping and rapid visualization are nothing new in design practice; however, new technologies are enhancing the way designers communicate with their clients. Three-dimensional printing has become a cost- and time-effective tool. Nate Bicak, assistant professor of design at Radford University in Radford, VA, and Holly Cline, full professor in the department of design at Radford University, will discuss the “maker” movement and what we can learn from these collaborative partnerships. They will share best practices in using modern tools including the laser cutter, 3D printer, modeling software, and CNC router to enhance visualization and creative thinking. They will also discuss when “by hand” is better, and when low-tech beats high-tech. [M123]
>Monday, June 15, 1:00-2:00pm Public Spaces: Yes, Dorothy, There is a Place Like Home. [Intermediate] Interior designer Scott Sanders of Scott Sanders LLC in NYC will share the latest in the “New American Style” trends in hospitality, with specific examples to demonstrate what “comforts of home” can mean in public hotel spaces. Topics will include defining details with and sourcing fabrics, art, and furnishings; the social hub aspect of hotels; the concept of “synergistic flow” or the “social living room”; and the “Top Ten Musts”—specific details that will convince travelers that a space is as wonderful as their own homes. [M129]
>Monday, June 15, 2:30-3:30pm Graphic Design and Interior Architecture: Enriching the Experience. [Basic] Theodora Batchvarova, an associate with Gensler in Houston, and Minko Dimov, principal with MinkoImages in Boston, will discuss how the different disciplines of architecture and graphic design can best engage each other. They will compare the processes and collaborative methods of the two disciplines, review case studies and apply performance metrics to quantify success of visual branding through graphic design, and then go deeper, identifying synergies and similarities in the design processes, design tools, and communication tools. and analyze client programmatic needs and address them with the delivery of branding and visual identity. They will offer tips and techniques to integrate graphic design and branding seamlessly into the overall design plan. [M138]
>Monday, June 15, 4:00-5:00pm Being is More Than Seeing – Designing for Senses Besides Vision. [Intermediate] A lot of attention goes into what a space will look like when it’s being designed, as vision is the dominant sense for many people. But our other sensory channels also influence our emotional response to a space, and this response affects our cognitive performance – how creatively we solve problems, how well we get along with others, and how ably our immune system works. This session, presented by Dr. Sally Augustine, principal of Design With Science, LaGrange Park, IL, will review research on how tactile experiences, sounds, and indoor air quality and scents influence human attitudes and behaviors – with practical suggestions for applying the research presented. [M140]
>Monday, June 15, 4:00-5:00pm Lighting: Your Essential Edge in Creating Winning Branded Environments. [Intermediate] Tom Marquardt, principal and founder of marquardt+ in Chicago, Francious Roupinian, principal of Lightemotion in Lachine, Quebec, and James Wild, founder and principal of Gridwerk Architecture in Chicago will discuss how to take lighting beyond just illuminating a space to using it to control, support, and enhance the branded environment. They will share methodologies of lighting to create visual brand signatures for both interior and exterior applications. Topics will include creating an “Urban Clock” lighting experience based on time of day, location, and the client’s business objectives and functions, and how lighting design plays a critical role in customer and employee retention. [M142]
>Monday, June 15, 4:00-5:00pm Seven Building Technologies on the Bleeding Edge. [Intermediate] Imagine that the skin, security, energy, water, controls, mechanical, lighting, and occupants of a building are all talking to each other in real time—that buildings are sensate, adaptive, regenerative, cost effective, and healthy. It’s not sci-fi; it’s a reality on the very near horizon. John Picard, founder of John Picard & Associates in Sonoma, CA, is a green building pioneer who is at ground zero for the new science of building connectivity. He will discuss emerging technologies in sustainable design, and show how true building connectivity is within our reach. [M145]
>Monday, June 15, 4:00-5:00pm Color, Light, and Metamerism. [Basic] Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing for The Sherwin-Williams Co. in Cleveland, OH, will discuss the relationship between color, light, and the phenomenon known as metamerism. Her presentation will examine the properties of color, specific problems in the ways humans interpret and interact with color and light, and practical solutions, including understanding the spectral power distribution curves and how to deal with these in lighting design, and defining the limits of human perception so that they can be accommodated in designing a space. [M149]
>Tuesday, June 16, 9:30-10:30am Designing for Different Learning and Work Styles: High Performance Results. [Advanced] Research indicates that one in five adults has some form of learning difference like dyslexia or attention deficit disorder. Many of these individuals had support and accommodation in school, but they generally do not have it in the workplace. And while many of these learning differences fall under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), they are overlooked by the majority of HR and CRE functions in the workplace. Arnold Craig Levin, principal, workplace strategy with Smith Group JJR in Washington, DC, will examine the reasons for that, and explore what designers can do and should consider when tasked with creating high performing workspaces. [T250]
>Tuesday, June 16, 9:30-10:30am Designing a Dynamic Academic Center for Collaborative Student Learning. [Intermediate] Laura Keller, senior associate, and Robert Balke, principal, at tvsdesign in Atlanta will talk about the two-year project at Auburn University that produced a new type of classroom facility. The new Mell Classroom Building, with flexible formal learning environments and student-controlled collaborative spaces, was designed through collaboration among faculty, students, design firms, and the campus architect. This case study shows how problem-based, collaborative, self-directed, and traditional learning can be accommodated in one well-planned building, as well as strategies for “socializing” academic and design solutions to multiple stakeholders using feedback, consensus building, and anticipation. [T254]
>Tuesday, June 16, 9:30-10:30am Creating a Super-Nucleus: It’s All About ROI (Return On Innovation). [Intermediate] In every industry, new, disruptive technologies are emerging that are changing the way we do business at every level. With this evolution, corporate real estate is also at an enormous precipice of change. Jim Thompson and Tomas Jimenez-Eliaeson, directors of design at Little in Charlotte, NC, will describe how leaders in corporate real estate will be better prepared to weather the rapid changes in the industry by creating a “super-nucleus” of resources – a core of great resources including collaborators, services, amenities, technologies, and design elements. [T258]
>Tuesday, June 16, 11:00am-Noon Well-Building Design and the Pursuit of Well Being. [Intermediate] Michael O’Neill, senior research strategist for Haworth, Inc. in Delafield, WI, and Steve Kooy, Haworth’s global sustainability manager in Holland, MI, will use the case studies of Haworth’s Los Angeles and Shanghai showrooms to explore the Delos WELL Building Standard. They will cover the basics of applying the Standard in both the U.S. and Asia to translate it into actual planning steps for a project focused on human-centered design, and the key features of a workspace that supports performance. [T260]
>Tuesday, June 16, 11:00am-Noon Ethonomics: Design for Health and Well-Being. [Intermediate] Presented by Teknion’s director of workplace strategy Stephanie Douglass and vice president A&D Jennifer Busch with Perkins and Will global interior design director Joan Blumenfeld and Public Architecture founder and president John Peterson, this session will “take a deeper dive into sustainability.” Panelists will discuss the interwoven concepts of sustainability and wellness in the context of community design, building architecture, and workplace design; identify trends in public health and social responsibility that are driving changes in the way we design all nature of spaces; and identify specific ways to create spaces that are more active, inspiring, and health-promoting. [T262]
>Tuesday, June 16, 11:00am-Noon Getting Published – Print & Online. [Basic] A panel of leading design journalists, bloggers, and social media experts will share strategies and insider tips on getting projects published and becoming more engaged in the dynamic online A&D community in order to build visibility and business. Panelists include Christine Abbate, president of Novita Communications in NYC, Emily Hooper, social media specialist at IA Interior Architects in NYC, Paul Makovsky, editorial director of Metropolis in NYC, and Elaine Markoutsas, contributor to Chicago Tribune, Universal Syndicate, and Modern Luxury in Chicago. [T266]
>Tuesday, June 16, 11:00am-Noon What Makes American Design American? [Intermediate] Alexander Lamis, partner with Robert A.M. Stern Architects in NYC, will discuss the distinctive features of American buildings, cities, and landscapes, and their role in an increasingly global marketplace. He will highlight key touch-points in the development of American architecture and design, from Frank Lloyd Wright’s prairie houses to the iPhone, and explore how these iconic designs reflect particularly American traits: freedom, mobility, and the pioneer spirit. [T269]
>Tuesday, June 16, 1:00-2:00pm Key Performance Indicators of Knowledge Workplace Design. [Intermediate] . Funded by the ASID Foundation and developed through a collaborative effort, the Comparative Assessment and Performance Tools for Innovative Workplace (CAPTIW) is a comprehensive evaluation and benchmark tool that measures how well the physical workplace supports innovation. Dr. Young Lee, assistant professor at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI; Dr. Isilay Civan, research and strategic innovation specialist at HOK Consulting in Chicago; and Matthew Schottenfeld, senior manager, Electronic Information Center, at Fordham University in NYC will discuss the seven key indicators of the physical work environment that contribute to the innovative performance of a company as well as the latest trends in high-performing workplace design. [T270]
>Tuesday, June 16, 1:00-2:00pm Acoustics in Architectural Design Part I: Isolation and Noise. [Intermediate] Virtually any room is a candidate for improved acoustic performance, including the increasingly sophisticated noise abatement and control. From Walters-Storyk Design Group, Highland, NY, founder/principal John Storyk and principal/interior designer Beth Walters-Storyk will address two fundamental issues in acoustics: isolation and noise abatement. They will explain why the word “soundproofing” should be avoided and how to define and measure “quietness,” and they will review industry standards for comparing products and construction techniques. (Follow up with Part II of this course 2:30-3:30pm; see below.) [T278]
>Tuesday, June 16, 2:30-3:30pm Bring Work to Life: Mars Drinks Creates a 100 Best Place to Work. [Intermediate] Dr. Tracy Brower, director, human dynamics + work at Herman Miller, in Holland, MI; and Xavier Unkovic, president of MARS Drinks, a division of MARS, Inc in West Chester, PA, will share the journey of a Fortune 100 Best Places to Work manufacturer. Based on Herman Miller’s Living Office, the company’s work environment was designed to successfully reflect, enhance, and support a compelling culture for associates. The discussion will enumerate the key supports that bring work to life and life to work, with insights into how designers can develop and enhance a client’s culture, and concretely measure the results. [T280]
>Tuesday, June 16, 2:30-3:30pm Diving Into the Deep Waters of Change: Focusing on the “How” of Change Management. [Advanced] Design professionals have become familiar with the “why” and “what” of change management, but effectively delivering the “how” is proving more challenging. This session will demonstrate how to apply John. P. Kotter’s eight steps of change using a real-life case study. Participants will break into eight smaller groups with each group exploring and constructing one of the eight steps. Larger group discussion will illuminate how all the steps interrelate to create a whole workable, successful system. Cheryl Duvall, founder and workplace strategist, Avance LLC in Ellicott City, MD; and Jessica Feldmark, chief of staff at Howard County Government in Ellicott City, MD – will direct discussion and share experiences. [T282]
>Tuesday, June 16, 2:30-3:30pm Acoustics in Architectural Design Part II: Behavior of Sound in Critical Listening Environments. [Advanced] Walters-Storyk Design Group, Highland, NY, founder/principal John Storyk and principal/interior designer Beth Walters-Storyk will continue the discussion begun in Part I (see above) with a focus on critical listening environments such as concert venues, home theaters, media production rooms, and conference rooms. Topics will include room ratio selection and surface treatments relative to the three fundamental treatment techniques—reflection, absorption, and diffusion—and their primary acoustic attributes. Reverb time, absorption coefficients, time domain concerns, and other critical concepts will be explained, as well as how to use computer modeling to assist you in fine tuning acoustic choices. [T288]
>Tuesday, June 16, 4:00-5:00pm 3C Design: Connected, Collaborative, and Creative Workplaces. [Intermediate] Dr. So-Yeon Yoon, associate professor and director of DUET Research Lab Design and Environmental Analysis at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY; Dr. Susan Sung Eun Chung, research analyst with ASID in Washington, DC; and Yuandingzi Shi of Cornell University will present fundamental concepts and key issues in high-performance workplace design strategies. They will share interdisciplinary research in social sensing technology and evidence based design as applied to high-performance workplaces, and field studies that illustrate the connection between approach, collaboration, and the creative process in a new landscape of global, digital, fast-paced, and competitive business environments. [T290]
>Tuesday, June 16, 4:00-5:00pm Why Neuro-Sensory Design? [Basic] Neuroscience is a burgeoning field providing an opportunity to inform and validate the design world. From FKP Architects in Houston, vice president/senior interior designer Sylvie Bucci and design tech Aaron Tarnowski will explore the concepts and consequences of incorporating neuroscience into the design process. They will briefly cover sensory design in history, and discuss “affect”—the science behind the brain’s reaction to the environment—and how influencing a person’s experience at the neurological level can create something people find more meaningful, beneficial, and invigorating. [T293]
>Wednesday, June 17, 9:30-10:30am This is Your Body on Architecture: The Space/Wellness Connection. [Intermediate] From Little in Arlington, VA, Carolyn Rickard-Brideau, partner/office president and Andre Bellerjeau, global practice leader, workplace, will discuss the importance of designing wellness into a space. They will cover general concepts about how space plays a significant role in human health, including physical and mental fatigue, awareness, memory cognition, depression, cardiovascular health, and musculoskeletal health; and how vehicles like Delos Well Building Certifications are working to bring large scale awareness about space and wellness. They will also share ways to manipulate elements in a space, and specific tools and measures to affect and evaluate wellness – including the benefits of circadian lighting and how to design for it. [W300]
>Wednesday, June 17, 9:30-10:30am Vuja De: The Disruptive Workplace. [Basic] Dean Strombom, principal, and Sven Govaars, south central regional leader for Gensler in Houston, TX, will talk about how today’s work styles, the expectations of a younger generation, and accelerating technologies are putting pressure on the “place” to keep up. New ways of working are disrupting conventional notions of the work environment. As a result, we are seeing workplaces that look very much like they did many years ago, and yet they are not the same (“vuja de”). These current spaces are designed specifically around choice, balance, and focus to meet the demands of today’s enlightened worker. This session will show how place and technology work together to improve worker engagement. [W307]
>Wednesday, June 17, 9:30-11:00am Burnham’s Living Legacy: Reinventing Three Iconic Landscapes in an Evolving Metropolis. [Intermediate] The Burnham Plan established Chicago’s open space legacy more than 100 years ago. Within this historic framework, the city is reinventing many of its iconic landscapes to enhance urban livability and civic identity. This 90-minute session explores three case studies – the expansion of the Chicago Riverwalk, the renovation of Navy Pier and the creation of Maggie Daley Park. Panelists include moderator Alec Appelbaum, author and visiting assistant professor at Pratt Institute in NYC; Gina Ford, principal of Sasaki Associates Urban Studio in Watertown, MA; Sarah Astheimer, senior associate, James Corner Field Operations in NYC; and Matthew Urbansk principal at Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. in NYC. [W309]
>Wednesday, June 17, 11:00am-Noon The Continuum of Learning + Working. [Basic] Increasingly, behaviors and functions in corporate interiors and K-12 environments are becoming intertwined, making how we work and learn a linked process from childhood to adulthood. From Perkins + Will in Chicago, Fred Schmidt, principal, corporate interiors and global practice leader, and Steve Turckes, principal and education global practice leader, will talk about the interrelatedness between workplace and learning environments. Fusing their expertise in both areas of practice, they will discuss the innovative and thoughtful solutions impacting their environments, and describe the researched behaviors and design decisions that intimately connect their worlds. [W310]
>Wednesday, June 17, 11:00am-Noon Out Is In: Proven Principles for Designing and Furnishing Outpatient Care Settings. [Intermediate] Dr. Nicholas Watkins, principal and director of research with BBH Design in Raleigh, NC; Gina English, interior design manager at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, TX; and Debbie Breunig, vice president, healthcare at KI in Green Bay, WI, will share the design research process that coordinates furnishings, interiors, and architecture to holistically support patient-centered care. This process—based on behavioral observation and ethnographic research—is successful and replicable. Case studies include three outpatient units focused on patient-centered care where facility layout and furnishings greatly impacted visibility, awareness, and culture of care. [W311]
>Wednesday, June 17, 1:00-2:30pm Motorola Mobility: Driving Innovation at the Tenant Level. [Intermediate] This session will provide an overview of Motorola Mobility’s relocation to The Merchandise Mart, the largest LEED Platinum Project in the Chicago area (600,000sf), and how the new facility was designed to inspire employees, drive innovation, and streamline their processes. Specific challenges and design strategies for renovating an older building included new HVAC systems, lab space for building and testing products, and documenting credits to earn LEED Platinum status. Panelists include Laci Wilkes, director of sustainability services, and Jeff Krol, senior project manager with CBRE; Andrew Lehrer, vice president with ESD; Helen Hopton, senior associate with Gensler; and Brian Bukowski, senior project manager and team leader with Skender Construction. [W320]
Tours
>Tuesday, June 16, 8:45am-3:00pm Frank Lloyd Wright in Chicago, hosted by Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust. Meeting Location: Merchandise Mart South Lobby; bus departs at 9:00am and returns at 3:00pm. Enjoy a guided tour of Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park followed by a walking tour of the historic neighborhood. The group then departs for the Robie House, a masterpiece of Prairie Style, for a boxed lunch followed by a guided tour. Fee: $125.00 (transportation and boxed lunch included) [TR1]