It’s the Friday before NeoCon in Chicago! NeoCon returns June 12-14 to Chicago’s Merchandise Mart for its 49th year.
The three-day event will attract around 50,000 design professionals and showcase more than 700 companies. NeoCon attendees can expect to see thousands of new products across a spectrum of vertical markets including workplace, healthcare, hospitality, retail, education, public spaces and government.
NeoCon 2017 officially kicks off at 9a.m. Monday morning, but the excitement from participating companies has been rolling into our inboxes for weeks. And since last year’s show, when the Mart unveiled a $40 million dollar transformation of its public spaces, designed by architecture studio A+I, we’ve had time to enjoy the Mart in its new, more modern life.
The Mart is no longer simply a hub for the design community in Chicago – it’s now a hub for the people of Chicago, and all of the city’s visitors as well. Its transformation speaks to the role that urban design and planning now plays in our work. The tangled intersection of meeting, working, reflecting and relaxing, eating and socializing all weave together and then separate freely and effortlessly.
The renovation, which has continued on a more low-key level throughout the past year, is the largest renovation to the iconic building’s public spaces in more than 40 years. Everything from major architectural elements like the Grand Stair, the Food Hall and the exterior River Drive Park to smaller, added conveniences like better WiFi service, more elevators, and a total revamp of the 7th floor, received attention. Natural light and spectacular views of the Chicago River and skyline are now available to anyone who wanders through these public spaces.
The newest addition to the Mart’s public spaces is Marshall’s Landing, a lounge, bar, café, restaurant and private event space from DMK Restaurants that made its official debut earlier this month. Located on the second floor near the south entrance of the Mart, at the top of the Grand Stair, the new hangout takes its name from entrepreneur Marshall Field, who opened the Mart 90 years ago.
The NeoCon team has put together what looks to be a phenomenal keynote and education seminar series that we’d like to call special attention to; they’ve outdone themselves this year. Keynotes Arianna Huffington, founder of the Huffington Post and Thrive Global; Jessica Green, founding director of the Biology and the Built Environment (BioBE) and co-founder and CTO of Phylagen; and John Ronan, founding principal of John Ronan Architects, will be supported by a new, elevated level series of standout CEU speakers called “Icons of NeoCon.” If you managed to grab a seat at any of these events, we’ll see you there, and we’d love to hear your thoughts after the show.
The Mart will also welcome six new permanent tenants this year – Boss Design, ROTTET Collection, via seating, Carvart and DatesWeiser – who will make their NeoCon showroom debuts, in addition to a whopping 28% brands who are first time exhibitors in the 7th floor Exhibition Hall. We encourage you to stop by the new showrooms and newcomer booths on the 7th floor.
If you haven’t already done so, we recommend you take a few minutes to update your NeoCon App and make use of its My Planner tool, which you can use to keep track of all things NeoCon, including your favorite products/exhibitors, keynote speakers and seminars, appointments and parties.
And without further ado, we introduce our guide to many of the newest product offerings from the contract interior furnishings industry. Happy NeoCon, and see you at the show!
FLOOR 1
>3form (North Corridor) Mobius, presented by 3form and Louis Lim of Makingworks, is a captivating art installation with a space-age quality. The interactive circular bench is activated by touch, transforming with light in response. It features Dark Chroma, the next generation of one of 3form’s most dynamic and beautiful products. When lit, the rich and moody material comes to life allowing the full color spectrum to shine through with brightness and clarity. www.3-form.com
>BuzziSpace (East Pass-Thru) This year’s BuzziLounge invites NeoCon attendees to enjoy a luxe recharge and relax in the comfort of BuzziCane, a new retro-inspired lounge seating series, under a sea of BuzziChandelier acoustical pendant lights. http://buzzi.space.
>Extremis (Kinzie/Wells Entrance) At the Terrace for Togetherness, Belgium-based Extremis will feature Picnik, a table and bench seat combination originally designed for small outdoor spaces but frequently used indoors thanks to its dynamic aesthetic – both solid and stylized at the same time. Combining several Picnik tables in public or semi-public spaces creates an almost artistic effect. The company will also showcase its classic Hopper Picnic & Shade inspired by the hops fields of the West Flanders region, and the Abachus leaning table, a high cocktail table with six arms which give people something to lean on when standing. www.extremis.com
>Herman Miller (South Lobby) With a diverse selection of expressive furnishings from Herman Miller’s family of premium brands, the Elements portfolio debuts at NeoCon 2017. It features ten modern work settings that showcase the breadth and variety of the portfolio. www.hermanmiller.com.
>Metroflor (North Central Corridor) Aspecta Ten LVT features ISOCORE Technology, a revolutionary core layer that makes it strong, rigid, quiet, lightweight, 100% waterproof and inherently safe. Metroflor invites guests to drop by and enjoy some complimentary smoothies and learn more about the company’s products. www.aspectaflooring.com
>Mohawk Group (Kinzie Wells Entrance) The Lichen Collection, inspired by natural assemblages of multi-hued, multi-textured lichens, is the first floorcovering to achieve Living Product status. Just as lichens play a regenerative role in their ecosystem, so the Lichen Collection actually gives more resources back to the environment than it uses during its entire life cycle. It was designed in collaboration with the founder of the Living Product Challenge, Jason McLennan. www.mohawkgroup.com
>Muraflex (North Lobby) ARCO is a new freestanding glass wall system that curves back onto itself to reduce noise disturbance. It is designed to be easily disassembled and repositioned. www.muraflex.com
>Wolf-Gordon (Center Pass-Thru) Folio, Wolf-Gordon’s 2017 pop-up installation, celebrates the company’s 50th Anniversary via a display of its commercial wallcovering and upholstery partnerships with leading international designers and its recently published monograph, Wolf-Gordon: Sample Book. The project presents as a series of three portals, symbolic of the company’s past, present and future. www.wolfgordon.com
FLOOR 3
>Allermuir (3-123) Jinx is a contemporary new range of organically shaped soft seating aimed at “adding an elegant touch of structure to the bean bag culture that so many businesses have now embraced.” The range includes a single-seat, two-seat and three-seat low level sofa. The single seat variant can be specified with a swivel base. A built-in surface on the exterior of the arm is also optional.
Mozaik is a new modular system of soft seating, storage and accessories designed by Mark Gabbertas. The range is made up of geometric pieces that progress in height to create a variety of landscapes. The Mozaik seating family is made up of three principal shapes: A small soft square stool and soft rectangular bench available in two heights, and a large low soft square stool. The upholstered units sit in a light weight, powder coated steel frame, giving the impression that they are floating above the ground. The storage family includes a high level soft square unit and a low level soft rectangular unit. www.allermuir.com
>Arcadia (3-340) Brink, designed by Andrew Gower of Zoose Design, is a contemporary collection of counter and bar-height stools that meets the demand of high-end design while creating a welcome atmosphere. Featuring a slender, yet substantial, flowing wood seat, its curvilinear form is precisely crafted without seams to create a natural display of form and function. This artisan-quality continues throughout the slender metal frame, providing durability without bulkiness. www.arcadiacontract.com
>Arper (3-339) Arcos seating collection by Lievore Altherr is a minimalistic interpretation of Art Deco’s geometric glamour. Available in a chair version and one- or two-seat sofa, its signature cast aluminum armrests form twin curves evoking the elegant rhythm of archways in the corridors and walkways of architecture throughout the famed era.
Cila guest seating’s fluid form was inspired by the image of layers of cloth enveloping the body. Its silhouette of smooth lines retains a graphic character from its distinctive curve, which symbolizes shelter. www.arper.com
>Bernhardt Design (3-399) Neighborhood, designed by Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia, is an innovative collection of furniture for public spaces and offices. It is inspired by the power of connection through its modular and flexible design, with an eye toward facilitating more intimate collaboration in the workplace.
The Terry Crews Collection features five lounge products: Ibis sofa, Lilypad + Lily Chair, Aire benches, and Float tables. While each piece serves as a stand-alone accent, when arranged as a collective group, the broad palette of materials, finishes, and function create a unified visual statement. Mr. Crews, who studied design before joining the NFL and later becoming an actor, chose ancient Egypt as inspiration for the collection.
Lilypad, an oval table with a beautiful chair which appears to be a blossom rising above the table, was inspired by the image of Egyptian sky god Horus, often depicted in ancient art sitting on the Egyptian Blue Water Lily. www.bernhardtdesign.com
>Boss Design (3-359) Trinetic, the product of three years’ work, is said to be the world’s first fully certified task chair to provide dynamic support without the need for manual user adjustments. Trinetic’s research explained the dichotomy of rising numbers of Musculoskeletal Disorders despite the increasing quality of task chairs and the associated training provided. Suitable for eight-hour use, Trinetic can be used as a task chair fulfilling all the requirements for users who spend all day at their desks, but because it is an intuitive chair that does not need to be adjusted for individual users, it can also be specified as a touch-down work chair, meeting or conference chair.
Myriad offers a new and diverse range of upholstered seating and furniture that is completely adaptable and reconfigurable. Complete with eleven linkable seating units, three privacy screens, side tables, and arms that accommodate power, Myriad enables a series of modules to be created and combined to suit any shape desired for complete flexibility, including ‘huddle’ spaces, ‘islands,’ and ‘chains.’ www.bossdesigngroup.com
>Dauphin (3-393) Fiore is a multipurpose chair with a variety of options. A poly shell provides a gently flexible back support while the wood shell offers a choice of natural oak, walnut, or beech veneer. It can be specified un-upholstered, with an upholstered seat pad, or fully upholstered. Frame options include a stackable four-post side chair; a stackable four-post bar stool; wood legs in oak, walnut, or beech; and a four-star swivel base with casters. A die-cast aluminum arm option inset with Soft Touch pads completes the offering. www.dauphin.com
>Davis Furniture (3-115) Hans by Studio Taschide is an “anywhere and everywhere” piece suitable for any space: as a small occasional table, a seat, or a place to drop off odds and ends. It is constructed of solid wood.
Hue by Jehs+Laub is an elegant line of cases designed with clean lines, intended to become one with its surroundings. The large offering includes lowboards, sideboards, highboards, and wardrobes with a variety of options. It can be used in a multitude of formats for open space planning, conference room storage, or as case good supplements.
Nora is a contemporary collection that blurs the lines between contract and residential design. This lounge, bench, and table series blends the comforts of home with commercial durability and versatility while its elegant design opens the door to a range of material and finish options.
Q6 by Jonathan Prestwich has built onto the motivation of the Q5 collection to create an all-inclusive line addressing the need for different kinds of working spaces. The new line includes open seating, screens, powered tables, and ottomans.
Sachet by Jehs+Laub ushers in a new generation of seating with an innovative seat suspension system and flexible back construction. The style is soft, delicate, and sleek with a surprising level of strength, durability, and support.
Weda is an elegant solid wood bench collection by Daniel Wehrli. It is distinctly linear with gentle angles which slope together with old-world craftsmanship at every joint. The upholstery is precise and geometric with a soft cushioned seat and backrest. www.davisfurniture.com
>Decca Contract / Élan (3-101) Gait by Erin Ruby is a collection of exquisitely scaled furniture solutions with delicate leg modules evoking mid-stride movement. Featuring advanced material intelligence and functionality; the collection is comprised of elegant tables and credenzas for a wide array of conference, meeting, private office, and casual collaboration environments. Gait products are finely crafted in veneer or lacquer, with optional glass or solid surface tops with metal legs and edge detail in satin stainless steel, mirror black PVD coated stainless steel, blackened steel, and powder coating. An innovative cap-and-sleeve structure allows leveling at the top of the leg – eliminating unsightly foot adjusters.
Nocca, designed by CSD Studio, celebrates art and industry by uniting sculptural forms with precise metal work to create an elegant, minimalist design. Including guest, stool, and lounge styles suitable for a range of interior settings, the collection showcases Élan by Decca’s craftsmanship in sophisticated combinations of wood, metal, and upholstery. Nocca’s distinctive back design features a formed, veneer panel with integrated tailored upholstery and expressive metal legs. http://deccacontract.com
>Encore Seating (3-336) Dabble, designed by David Dahl, is a modular bench series for applications where space is at a premium and versatility is essential. Configurations include straight and curved bench shapes and combinations with adjoining tables.
Playground by Christopher Panichella is a multipurpose bench and lounge collection designed for lightness for easy rearranging. Modular benches are available with or without backrests, in straight or curved models, as well as transitional pieces that allow for opposite seated directions. www.encoreseating.com
>Geiger (3-318) Taper Chair offers both comfort and performance. The complex contouring of its upholstered backrest strategically focuses support in areas important for musculoskeletal balance, while the natural motion of the tilt and internal suspension of the seat work together to provide immediate and lasting comfort.
Layer Tables by BassamFellows offer a lighter alternative to heavy large block coffee tables in corner sofa configurations.
Geiger Textiles’ Solene Collection, also in collaboration with BassamFellows, is a summery suite of textiles appropriate for all climates. With a name derived from the Swedish word for “sun,” it aims to impart lightness and freshness. www.geigerfurniture.com
>Haworth (3-312) “Discover Your Culture, Design Your Space, Develop Your People” is Haworth’s NeoCon theme this year. It will present layouts for two companies with different culture types—one “Collaborate” and one “Create”—from its Competing Values Framework. Link to an interactive “Discover Your Culture” website is available via Haworth’s NeoCon page, which also provides a sneak peek at a few new products – Poppy Lounge, Riverbed Lounge, and Caprice Chair – with a promise to add more information on Jun. 12 during NeoCon. The company collaborated with Patricia Urquiola and her team at Studio Urquiola again this year on the overall design vision for its showroom. It also announced expansion of its Haworth Collection portfolio through partnerships with Pablo Designs and GAN.
GAN rug collection is an exclusive offering of Patricia Urquiola’s designs and colorways. The rugs are made by hand in India by experienced artisans who use natural fibers such as cotton and wool to bring a designer’s vision to life. In addition to helping to develop the local economy and the artisans’ communities, GAN is also an active participant in child protection programs and sponsors a women’s development project there.
Pablo Designs lighting collection by Pablo Pardo embracing a “less-is-more” ideology intended to enhance the lighting experience by fusing beauty and utility. www.haworth.com/neocon
>Haworth Health Environments (3-121) Atwell is a collection of guest chairs, lounge seating, and occasional tables for healthcare, commercial and other public spaces. These products are intended to create soothing spaces that put people at ease and contribute to a calming environment. The design was informed by industry and user research and features organic wood framed shapes, seating that supports the body for comfort, and an array of warm materials. http://healthcare.haworth.com
>HBF (3-387) Simple Writing Desk and Essens seating series of chairs and stools, created in partnership with Copenhagen-based OEO Studio, were designed to be both timeless and modern. Built with a high attention to detail and focus on craftsmanship, they are meant to last for generations as heirloom furniture pieces that age with grace and become more beautiful with time. The Essens seating series is defined by its rich mix of materials, juxtaposing solid wood, metal, leather, and textile. The Simple Writing Desk carries connections to many parts of the world including American Modern and Danish Modern – with references to Japan. The two collections can be paired, yet stand on their own as well, in a wide range of applications from the big open office to the meeting room, small office and boardroom as well as more social settings.
Other HBF product introductions include a new version of the iconic Gubi Beetle chair, a new collaborative collection by Nao Tamura called Kanso, the new Harmoni Table by Space Copenhagen, and a new Elodie Blanchard collection for HBF Textiles called Raw Materials. www.hbf.com
>Herman Miller (3-321) The Aeron chair was remastered from the casters up to meet the needs of today’s work. With the help of original co-designer Don Chadwick, it was updated based on the latest research around the science of sitting and advancements in materials, manufacturing, and technology. Changes include a more refined tilt mechanism, adjustable PostureFit SL, and 8Z Pellicle suspension.
ColourForm Sofa Group™ is a collection that builds welcoming lounge landscapes from a vocabulary of pieces that support the way people want to work and live today. Each piece of the collection can stand alone or work together to build privacy or community, work, play, or rest in workplaces or homes.
Prospect is a portfolio of semi-circular, freestanding furniture designed to foster individual and team creativity in today’s workplaces and learning environments. Designed for small to medium-sized collaborative teams, it includes whiteboards and tackable surfaces for brainstorming, pinning, and visual thinking.
Ubi Work Tools enable people to organize, personalize, and work effectively. Individuals can arrange—and rearrange—the assortment of desk accessories to suit their personal preferences and workstyles. Based on research into organizing principles, the portfolio promotes accessibility, control visibility, and maximize space savings for a richer experience of working. www.hermanmiller.com
>Herman Miller Healthcare/Nemschoff (3–330) Repose offers built-in configurations for sitting, lounging, or sleeping. It supports multiple seat depths, and with an optional pull-out ottoman creates a chaise lounge configuration—all without complicated or audible mechanisms. The design supports a range of activities so guests can be by the patient’s side day and night. www.nemschoff.com
>Humanscale (3-351) The Diffrient Smart Executive conference chair features ultra-streamlined, mechanism-free recline and intuitive armrest functionality. As with all Niels Diffrient designs, the chair was created with a focus on function first. This approach minimizes the use of materials and the resulting aesthetics are designed to be honest, timeless and globally appealing. Options include premium leather textile options and polished aluminum finishes.
The Infinity LED task light embodies performance, beauty and superb user experience in a sleek design. Illuminated indicator lights appear when the user approaches, and after selecting preferred brightness out of nine available levels, the indicator lights disappear to reduce visual clutter. Constant torque ‘forever hinges’ allow for seamless adjustment, so the user can position the light to suit personal ergonomic preference. Cables are hidden from view and run internally throughout the length of the precision machined aluminum arm to maintain a minimalist aesthetic.
QuickStand Under Desk allows users to seamlessly alternate between sitting and standing postures without interrupting workflow. The sit/stand tool’s counterbalance mechanism is enclosed within a central column beneath the desk surface and is not visible to the user. www.humanscale.com
>ICF (3-365) Aperi by Julia Läufer & Marcus Keichel features a compact monolithic form designed to bring a sense of calm and softness to the work environment. It is available as a single-seat chair as well as two- and three-seat versions.
Monza Chair Series by Konstantin Grcic now includes the Monza Bistro chair, the Monza Outdoor Armchair and an expanded palette of wood choices for the original Monza Armchair. In addition, three seat back colors that are tonally warm and inspired by the world of nature are new in 2017. The Monza Bistro Chair has a beech wood structure lacquered natural or black stained. Like all Monza chairs its backrest is polypropylene and is available in black, white, caffe latte, caramel, terra brown. The Monza Bistro seat is made of polyurethane foam with a flexible integral skin matched to the backrest colors. The Monza Outdoor Armchair has a sturdy iroko wooden structure that is oil treated to provide further protection. Its backrest is polypropylene but limited to black, cafe latte, caramel, or terra brown colors. The very successful Monza Armchair in ash is now offered in oak and walnut.
Penne Chair by Julia Läufer & Marcus Keichel is said to be the world’s first chair to incorporate laminated wooden tubes in its design, thereby reducing weight and use of resources. It combines the spirit of Scandinavian chair design with the requirements of the modern contract furniture market.
SpeakSpace™ by ICF Ideas is a collection of mobile freestanding pods for today’s collaborative office. Each pod dampens outside noise and sound originating from within the pod. Building upon Unika Vaev’s Bass Screen Track™ patterns and colors, SpeakSpace™ can be customized to specific branding visuals or architectural/interior design intents. www.icfsource.com
>Interstuhl (3–341) VINTAGEis5, featuring stitched fluting and fine punched leather, is “engineered for excellence.” It received the German Design Award “Winner 2017” for design excellence. www.interstuhl.com
>JANUS et Cie (3-310A) Matisse is a modular outdoor lounge seating collection for commercial and public projects. Special attention to durability includes mesh encased articulated foam cushions and powder-coated aluminum frame. The frame’s mesh walls aid in keeping costs and weight down. The lightweight nature of the construction allows for versatility in customizing spaces requiring flexible seating arrangements.
Katachi High Back Lounge Chair is inspired by classic Japanese design concepts, which lead to the piece’s signature curves. The sculptural seating features an aluminum frame with a proprietary architectural grade finish and four new, variegated synthetic fiber hues. www.janusetcie.com/contract
>Keilhauer (3–373) The Juxta collection was expanded with two new models, a sofa and bench. Juxta is a series of seating and tables, designed to address the myriad of ways people behave and interact while meeting. In large groups, or small, in public spaces, or private, the juxtaposition of opposing behaviors often occurs in a single scenario: formal and informal; mobile and stationary; standing and sitting; brief and lengthy. The new bench and sofa come with optional rotating tablets on either side to address increased demand for both solitary reflection and face-to-face interaction.
Luno is a large scale lounge chair designed by Austrian-based EOOS. Its hard outer shell and soft wide seat are designed to allow for a variety of postures — allowing the user to sink in and find the most comfortable position. In the design process, rather than starting with a three dimensional object, the chair was created using only two-dimensional cut pieces. These two-dimensional patterns were then folded together to create volume and shape from tension. Models include a high back or low back version offered on a four-star base in aluminum or ash-hardwood.
Meander is a modular sofa series which snakes and curves at 70- and 90-degree angles. Full, stuffed cushions appear to float above ground to create a casual, relaxed seating area. Designed by Giancarlo Stefani and Niels Bendtsen of Bendtsen Design Associates, the modular collection features innovative ganging and re-attachable legs for easy reconfiguration. www.keilhauer.com
>Martin Brattrud (3-347) Lutta Collection of tables aims to create a true 360-degree environment, bringing about the opportunity for seated collaboration at every edge. A series of lines and angles and seamless work surface create an aesthetic meant to be engaging yet understated. http://martinbrattrud.com
>Mohawk Group (3-377) Hybrid Media rethinks enhanced resilient tile by combining five different wood species into one product.
Lichen Collection, by Living Product Challenge Founder Jason F. McLennan and his team at McLennan Design, is the first floorcovering to achieve Living Product Challenge Petal Certification from the International Living Future Institute.
Lineate enhanced resilient tile collection combines ombré gradations of color with textile-like striations for a richly dimensional visual. Cool and warm neutrals are combined with on-trend color pops and a linear texture. The color ebbs and flows across the plank to give the illusion of depth on a flat surface.
Twining is a plush and chunky woven construction broadloom carpet that embodies Mohawk’s Karastan brand heritage. Inspired by the twisting and manipulation of fiber and yarn bundles, the time-honored craft of woven construction is celebrated with oversized loops that feel textural and soft, both in hand and underfoot. It provides a sensory aesthetic that brings tactility and the nostalgic comforts of home into commercial spaces without compromising the performance expected of a contract flooring. www.mohawkgroup.com
>Nienkamper (3–365) The Cern Collection is designed to embody the warm-modern sensibility of today’s working environment. The table range includes modular tables and desks, bench desks, and height adjustable options. A wide range of mixed materials and finish options contrast and complement each other, casual for some areas and offering streamlined sophistication in others. Cern also offers a wide variety of innovative office storage solutions including credenzas and bookcases either freestanding or completely integrated with tables and that can even be used as room dividers to create separate and distinctive work zones.
Nomad Mobile Screens feature acoustical panels that support private work, collaborative work, and conferencing. They allow quick reconfiguring of space where work areas can spontaneously be customized. Nomad can also support different accessories including integrated storage cabinets, TVs, and white boards for training areas or ad-hoc meeting spaces.
Note reimagines the traditional club chair with careful attention to geometry and form. Precisely finished edges and exact seams determine the shape. Its lines are graceful and sinuous, with geometrically faceted sides, cambered seat, and gently curved armrests. Contrast stitching adds an element of interest. The generously scaled seat, back support, and wraparound arms achieve maximum comfort while occupying a minimal footprint. www.nienkamper.com
>Paoli (3-391) Kindle One is the next evolution of the company’s flagship casegood series. Expansions and enhancements to the existing Kindle line include a full offering of height adjustable work surfaces, all integrated into the design to uphold clean aesthetic and wire routing; an enhanced reception offering featuring waterfall transaction counters; and open plan capabilities that accommodate modular power. www.paoli.com
>Riviera (3-341) Bordeo creates distinct micro work zones or modules that separate yet unify the shared work space. The collection includes integrated seating and work surfaces, plus reconfigurable acoustical paneling to create private work zones for focused teams to brainstorm and collaborate. Privacy pods give space for solo work and concentration. www.riviera-usa.com
>Steelcase (3-300) Campfire Standing Slim Table, from Steelcase’s Turnstone brand, is inspired by a front porch. It creates a natural space for people to gather around, lean back, reflect and think together. Its standing height makes it easy to touch base in a casual setting while perching on a stool or leaning on the tabletop. Two power outlets keep devices up and running, and the shallow width maximizes available real estate. Applications include functional waiting spaces outside meeting rooms, helping hallways and corridors work harder, and enclaves for 1:1 meetings or quick connections in small spaces.
Creative Spaces is a collaborative initiative by Steelcase and Microsoft exploring the future of work and developing a range of technology-enabled spaces designed to help organizations foster creative thinking and better collaboration. This ecosystem of spaces seamlessly integrates the best of Microsoft Surface devices with Steelcase architecture and furniture. They include a Maker Commons, Respite Room, Focus Studio, Ideation Hub and Duo Studio. Each of the Creative Spaces is intentionally designed to support the needs of individuals and teams as they move through the different stages and activities of the creative process.
The IRYS pod, designed by French company Clestra Hauserman in partnership with HOK, is a freestanding, all-inclusive solution that makes it easy to add enclosed spaces to the open plan. Each pod incorporates a ceiling, lighting, air treatment and access to power. It provides an enclosed space for one to three people. The inside offers a destination for an individual to focus or for a small team to collaborate. The outside canopy extends functionality even more by offering a collaborative touchdown space. Steelcase provided input in the early design stages of the project and now offers the same product within its North American portfolio.
Umami is a modular lounge furniture collection with a flexible, modular design with multiple shapes, forms, patterns, and textures to promote variation over uniformity. A wide variety of material options are available. Integrated power, screens, and other options allow customization to encourage creativity and self-expression. Pieces combine in a variety of configurations and unlock for quick rearrangement. www.steelcase.com
>Steelcase Health (3-300-1) Surround Collection is a one-seat, two-seat, and a three-seat sleeper application. It supports the family, friend, and patient experience by offering a place to spend time with one another, rest and relax, be productive, host other guests, and communicate with clinicians. www.steelcase.com/discover/information/health
>Stylex (3-346) Cove is a statement lounge piece that provides an area of personal, flexible space to accommodate a variety of seated positions both for relaxing and for informal meeting. Its large platform creates space for laptops, work materials and other personal belongings. A separate ottoman is available. Base options include steel, aluminum, and wood. Swivel options include fixed, freely swiveling, and return-to-center. The structural component of the shell is molded in high-quality, soy-based, fiberglass-reinforced rigid foam.
The F4 chair by Fig 40 (consisting of the team of Terry Woodside and Lee Fletcher) offers intuitive conference seating in a harmonious design. It was also engineered to greatly reduce its raw material footprint.
Yoom modular lounge seating is flexible, reconfigurable, and casual. Its 15 components are designed to coordinate with each other to provide relaxed comfort for corporations, universities, and institutions. Versatility is achieved with two styles and a variety of sewn seam options. Different height backs are optional and may be attached to create divisions within larger set-ups. They may also be used to create corners and, when intermixed, provide an interesting landscape of varied forms. The line incorporates deep foam cushioning which may be optionally ordered with a layer of down. www.stylexseating.com
>Tarkett North America/Tandus Centiva (3–380) Collections Infinies™ 1.5 adds a new library of designs to the original Collections Infinies LVT experience, which combines the inspiration of some of the most influential design minds with the user’s own creative process. Tarkett’s digital printing technology allows for vastly longer pattern repeats, unlocking options once impossible for designers. The Collections Infinies app can be experienced in virtual reality, submerging its users into a room scene and design studio. New collections include Alphabet by Sagmeister & Walsh, which translates artistic vision of happiness, beauty and communication by spelling phrases on the floor; Ribweave, a new offering within Suzanne Tick’s Trans-Materia that delivers a floor with a woven appearance; addition of neutral colors in the K&Co Glow collection; and addition of Static-to-Static Transition in 2×4’s Riot, which marries bold floras with tech pixels.
Ensemble Healthcare Collection offers coordinating product formats across hard and soft surfaces, from carpet tile to homogeneous sheet vinyl. The colors and patterns were designed to work in concert for today’s connected, humanizing Healthcare spaces.
IxD Series modular carpet developed in partnership with Suzanne Tick, Inc. is informed by the interactive connection between work and play. The collection comprises three complementary designs: Output — which features loop construction — is suitable for large workplace areas or healthcare settings with its colored accent modular tiles; Input targets higher education settings with its all-over texture and subtle patterning; and Optic’s twisted, tip-sheared yarns give it a Berber, chunky texture that offers a plush residential-like aesthetic with commercial performance. Offered in a variety of colors, tile sizes, and backings, IxD can be used time and again and look different each time.
Transcend LVT With SureSet Technology features a thin layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to a sculpted wave design backing system, which makes direct contact with the subfloor. The channels on the wave-design backing are free of adhesive and allow air and moisture in the subfloor to breathe. With two layers of fiberglass for dimensional stability and an adhesive backing, the product will remain in place, yet can also be repositioned easily when needed. Microbeveled edges and a UV-cured urethane finish create luxurious wear surface details. www.tarkettna.com.
>Unika Vaev (3-365) The Marshfield Collection introduces five new textile patterns – Herringbone, Luxe, Mingle, Persuede and Crisp – inspired by both traditional and modern weaving technologies and yarn structure. Herringbone is a classic wool-rich texture inspired by the ancient process of hand weaving and the tactile beauty of woolen yarns. Luxe, the latest addition to the Unika Vaev Healthcare and Hospitality Collection, is a high performance vinyl suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Mingle is a playful textured variation on a hopsack weave suitable for a wide range of upholstery applications. Persuede is a supple, high performance suede textile produced with recycled polyester and suitable for upholstery, panels, or wallcovering. Crisp, produced with high energy dyed yarns in contrasting and intricate small weaves, is bleach cleanable and highly durable for any upholstery application. https://unikavaev.com