GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS06.17.19

SEATING THAT LETS PEOPLE CHOOSE WHERE AND HOW THEY WORK THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

A N Y T I M E

A N Y W H E R E

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A R C H I T E C T U R A L T E X T U R E S C O L L E C T I O N

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The Best of Neocon competition presented by Contract magazine, and sponsored by NeoCon and The Mc-Morrow Reports recognized 78 prod-ucts by 55 companies in 39 categories. The honors included 34 Gold Awards, 34 Silver Awards, eight Innovation Awards, and six Editors’ Choice Awards for a total of 83 awards including Best of Competition.

Next week, we’ll share our Delights of NeoCon – a collection of things we found exceptional and/or intriguing at the show. In the meantime, spend a few minutes getting to know the Best of NeoCon 2019 winners.

OFS won Best of Competition with Obeya, Gold Award winner in the Architectural Products category. OFS also won Gold with LeanTo in the

Acoustic Privacy & Modular Solutions category and with Kasura in the Seat-ing: Conference category.

Andreu World won five awards. Its Rap sofa won both Gold in the Seating: Sofas & Lounge category and Silver in Lounge Furniture Collections; and it also received Silver Awards for its Gala guest seating, Nuez Outdoor seating, and Reverse Wood table.

Davis Furniture won four awards – Gold for Muse Barstool; Silver for Inform communal and task tables and M75 conference seating; and an Inno-vation Award for Lift occasional tables.

Steelcase and subsidiary Designtex together won four awards. Design-tex won Gold for Biophilia 2.0 in the Healthcare Fabrics and Textiles category, plus Silver in Wall Treatments

for Metallic Wallcoverings. Steelcase won Gold for both Steelcase® Roam™ in Technology-Integrated Solutions and Steelcase Flex Collection in Furniture Collections for Collaboration.

Teknion and subsidiaries Luum Textiles and Studio TK also received a total of four awards. Teknion’s Tek Vue won Gold in the Movable Walls cat-egory, and its Bene Box got an Innova-tion Award in Furniture Collections for Collaboration. Editors’ Choice awards went to Luum Textiles for Future Tense Collection and Studio TK for Freehand Occasional Tables.

Nucraft won three Gold Awards – two for its Alev™ tables and one for its Epono™ tables.

Mohawk Group won an Innovation Award for Connecting Neurons Defin-ity, part of its Expanding Influence - Definity for Workplace program, plus Silver Awards for its Textural Effects carpet collection and True Hues rub-ber sheet flooring.

Watson Furniture Group also won three awards, all for various compo-nents of its Cloud 9 open plan worksta-tion system. Cloud 9 Desk and Cloud 9 Rail both won Gold Awards, and Cloud 9 Cart and Garage won a Silver Award.

Companies winning two awards each included Allermuir, Allsteel, CF Stinson, Connectrac, Green Furniture Concept, HALCON, Haworth, Momentum, and Patcraft.

Best of NeoCon 2019

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neoconBEST OF COMPETITION WINNER>Obeya by OFS: “Designed by Webb Associates, Obeya isa framework that brings settings and people together basedon the human needs of privacy and belonging. Through therichness of wood, its design was intended to simplify anddefine space, communicating expectations without preciselyprescribing them. Obeya’s components allow a wide array

of configurations for shared and community spaces, focus spaces, and multipurpose areas.”

Obeya falls close to the heart of OFS – wood, craftsmanship, and honest, long-lasting products – and the collection looked spectacular on display at the company’s NeoCon showroom on Floor 11. Simple in form and timeless in aesthetic. www.ofs.com

OFS: Obeya

Obeya during NeoCon 2019 at OFS Brands’ showroom at theMART

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OFS: Obeya - Typicals

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neoconGOLD, SILVER, INNOVATION, AND EDITORS’ CHOICE AWARD WINNERS, BY CATEGORY

Furniture for Conference and Office>Case Goods

-GOLD: HALO Office by HALCON: HALO Office extends the winning HALO collection into the private workspace, created in partnership with Gensler, and featuring height adjustability options. Desk worksurfaces are encircled by the patent-pending Halo edge, providing protection with impact-resistance. HALO Office also won a Silver Award in the Furniture Systems & Enhancements category. www.halconfurniture.com

-SILVER: Geiger One™ Casegoods by Geiger: This col-lection is envisioned as a blank slate for designers to create customized solutions with a standard kit of parts. With height-adjustable work surfaces as the standard and a broad range of materials, finishes, and price points, it can be the first step in creating high performing workplaces. A wall frame with easy fascia connections is the backbone of the system. www.geigerfurniture.com

>Conference Room Furniture-GOLD: Alev™ by Nucraft: This table collection by Birsel

+ Seck was conceived as a mid-century modern design, featuring bases of sculpted wood shaped into gorgeous silhouettes. Available in three distinct styles, Alev Meet-ing, Alev X, and Alev V, each table fits a different space, purpose, and posture. Alev also won a Gold Award in the Tables: Occasional category. www.nucraft.com

-SILVER: Reverse Wood by Andreu World: The Reverse Wood table by Piergiorgio Cazzaniga is born from sophisti-cated woodworking and careful selection of wood. www.andreuworld.com

-INNOVATION: Meich Tables by Tuohy Furniture: Designed by Bernard Tuohy, Meich is expressed in three heights: 29” for chair or bench use, and 36” or 40” for high stools or standing. End panels conceal power access from the floor and provide concealed pathways for delivery

HALCON: HALO Office

Geiger: Geiger One Casegoods

Nucraft: Alev

Andreu World: Reverse Wood

Tuohy: Meich

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either to the top surface or perimeter edge. Base volumes required for this concealment are disguised in the triangular form that resolves into a thin ribbon edge. www.tuohyfurniture.com>Education Solutions

-GOLD: JUMPER by VS America: Designed by Jean Nouvel, winner of the 2008 Pritzker Prize among other awards, the JUMPER chair offers two different shell ver-sions: JUMPER Air features a double-walled seat shell manufactured from 100% recyclable polypropylene, while JUMPER Ply is made from stained, molded beech plywood. It is available in six sizes as a school chair and two sizes for office use, with multiple frame options and many different colors. www.vsamerica.com

-SILVER: Buncha by Keilhauer: Buncha, a new configu-rable table and chair collection designed by Studio Babick, combines clean, mobile design with safe, sustainable ma-terials. Available in variety of shapes and sizes, the Buncha table collection provides a selection of configurations to build a customized work environment. Features include power options, wheels for mobility, and easy to use ganging. www.keilhauer.com

>Furniture: Benching-GOLD: Cross Benching by Innovant: Cross Bench

merges sit-to-stand desking with personal storage, collabo-ration stations, and architectural millwork to create work-

stations that collectively deliver the driving aesthetic of an office. Sophisticated cabling and technology management are concealed within the beautifully detailed architectural elements. www.innovant.com

>Furniture Collections for Collaboration-GOLD: Steelcase Flex Collection by Steelcase: Steelcase

Flex creates dynamic team neighborhoods that are de-signed for spontaneity. Teams can reconfigure their space on demand, making it easy to shift from a brainstorm to a workshop, or from a daily stand-up to a sprint review. Pieces in the collection include screens, markerboards, tables, carts, a height-adjustable desk, and accessories in a wide range of material options. www.steelcase.com

-SILVER: Free Address by Stylex: A co-working system for commercial interiors, Free Address was developed by Jay Ko-back and Ehren Gaag of Gensler’s product design group. Its kit of parts combines surfaces, seating, storage, and privacy

VS America: JUMPER

Keilhauer: Buncha

Innovant: Cross Benching

Steelcase: Flex Collection

Stylex: Free Address

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neoconinto a unified solution. Comfortably supportive seats and backs were engineered for working, meeting, and lounging. Multiple table elevation offerings coordinate with similarly dimensioned seat back panels. www.stylexseating.com

-INNOVATION: Bene Box by Teknion: Bene Box is a simple plywood box that can also be a bench, a table, a desk, a cabinet, a platform, and more. The unassuming, anti-formal aesthetic is ideal for open, democratic work cultures and team spaces where actions change day to day. Users can build and rebuild, mix and remix by hand in just a few quick steps to create the ideal format for a work ses-sion or a celebration. www.teknion.com

>Furniture Systems & Enhancements-GOLD: Cloud 9 Rail by Watson Furniture Group: Cloud

9 enables designers and planners to create layouts tailored to the specific needs of individuals and teams. The modu-lar system employs articulating rail segments that bend from zero-to-ninety degrees in either direction. Work-space pods can be mirrored, daisy-chained, flipped, rotated, and repeated, creating office environments that feel familiar, yet distinctly different. www.watsonfurniture.com

Teknion: Bene Box Watson Furniture Group: Cloud 9 Rail

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neocon-SILVER: HALO Office by HALCON: See image and de-

scription under Case Goods, above.>Lounge Furniture Collections

-GOLD: Cabana Lounge by Haworth: Designed by Patricia Urquiola, Cabana Lounge creates a destination in the office landscape to accommodate the temporary “moments” of the work day—with the adaptability for easy reconfiguration as business needs evolve. It is a collection of lounge seat-ing elements with a wide range of components, enabling multiple configurations with varying levels of visual privacy, comfort, and support. www.haworth.com

-SILVER: Rap sofa by Andreu World: This elegant and proportionate design by PearsonLloyd features an envelop-ing steel exterior structure and elaborate upholstery work to create a contemporary classic. It stands out for its tubular metal structure, visually graphic, that surrounds the entire upholstery and fits precisely with the base made of injected aluminum, using a geometry that transitions from the round tube to the oval shape of the leg. www.andreuworld.com

>Tables: Communal & Task-GOLD: Epono™ by Nucraft: Designed by Dani Arps to

be hardworking, clean, and elegant, Epono features a metal trim flush to its veneer frame. It is available in seated, stand-ing, or counter height, with a host of top surface material options including veneer, glass, felt, laminate, linoleum, and porcelain. Spring-loaded handbag hooks simply move away when not in use, and with two recessed casters on one end, so can the table itself. www.nucraft.com

-SILVER: Inform by Davis Furniture: Inform is a range of tables and benches catering to the flexible commercial spaces of the 21st century. Craftsmanship that includes solid wood, storage bins, and versatile power options elevate this line from simple communal tables to functioning, active work spaces. Its form features soft radial curves and clean lines, and it is offered in working height and bar height tables, oc-casional tables, and bench seating. www.davisfurniture.com

>Tables: Height-Adjustable/Training/Work-GOLD: Cloud 9 Desk by Watson Furniture Group: The

Cloud 9 Desk by Danish design-engineer Morten Nikolajsen celebrates a European aesthetic that is purposeful and minimal. A finely engineered steel frame supports pendant storage and privacy screens to create an essential sense of place. It is available in both fixed and adjustable heights. www.watsonfurniture.com

Nucraft: Epono

Davis: Inform

Haworth: Cabana Lounge

Andreu World: Rap sofa

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-SILVER: Array by Senator: This multi-use desking solu-tion can be used as a traditional, vertical work, or meeting space, or it can be used as a presentation or collaboration tool. It comes with in-built power connectivity, gas-powered flip mechanism, and easily accessible cable management. With its flip-top surface, Array is available in two different base styles and six different shapes. Four additional fixed-top shapes, as well as three Quadrants that seamlessly clip onto any rectangular Array mobile tables, are also available. www.thesenatorgroup.com

-EDITORS’ CHOICE: Sky by Versteel: Sky adjustable-height tables, available in an array of base styles and top finishes, allow for easy transition with the touch of a single paddle. With a patented pneumatic assist capa-bility, Sky can be easily adjusted to the user’s desired height, tilted, relocated, and nested – transforming it into a stand-up work surface, a white board, privacy screen or lectern. www.versteel.com

>Tables: Occasional-GOLD: Alev™ by Nucraft: See product description for

Alev under Conference Room Furniture, above.

-INNOVATION: Lift by Davis Furniture: Designed by jehs+laub, Lift is an adjustable-height side table. Its easy-to-use mechanism works based on a gas cylinder for smooth, efficient height adjustment via a small handle located under the table top; a gentle pull will activate the cylinder to glide up or down. Lift ranges from 25” to 32” heights. A wide vari-ety of top finishes may be specified. www.davisfurniture.com

Nucraft: Alev

Davis: Lift

Watson: Cloud9 Adjustable Desk

Senator: Array

Versteel: Sky

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neocon-EDITORS’ CHOICE: Freehand Occasional Tables by

Studio TK: Freehand occasional tables, designed by PearsonLloyd were inspired by the free-flowing pencil of an artist. They juxtapose a super-mechanical process of ex-truding aluminum to forms that are organic and imperfect. Sides are available in two shapes and three sizes. Finishes include five water-based lacquer and 16 paint options. Tabletops are available in leather, felt, linoleum, and glass. www.studiotk.com

Seating Category Winners

>Seating: Barstools-GOLD: Muse Barstool by Davis Furniture: Muse Barstool

by jehs+laub mimics the lounge chair of the same name. The 3D plywood shell creates a timeless and simple design with flowing lines and a sculptural aesthetic. Obtaining the deep and complex curves for jehs+laub’s vision required a special 3D plywood molding technology that scores the conventional veneers so they can be deeply drawn into the mold while maintaining their true texture. www.davisfurniture.com

-EDITORS’ CHOICE: Cumbia by Martin Brattrud: Like the fluent dance rhythms of the same name, Cumbia stools by Chris Adamick are designed to inspire a dynamic use of space. Available in both bar and counter height, this stool collection translates the Cumbia occasional table’s monolithic form into a comfortable scooped seat poised on tapered wood legs, or a light sled base. Designed for com-munal or public spaces, the Cumbia stool has a visual and physical lightness that invites improvisation. www.martinbrattrud.com

>Seating: Benches-GOLD: Nova C Perch by Green Furniture Concept: An

addition to the company’s iconic Nova C Series, this bar-height bench invites users to assume a comfortable leaning position – ideal for short-term waiting areas such as drop-off and pick-up zones. Like the rest of the modules in the series, it is available in straight or curved varieties as well as the traditional single-sided and double-sided options. www.greenfc.com

-SILVER: Axyl Bench by Allermuir: The newest member of the award-wining Axyl collection by Benjamin Hubert of LAYER, Axyl Bench is based on an inverted Y-frame, resulting in both a high level of structural integrity and a distinctive design language. Designed as a flexible system, the AXYL collection allows specifiers to create hundreds of iterations by mixing and matching finishes, colors, and ele-ments. www.allermuir.com

Martin Brattrud: Cumbia

Green Furniture Concept: Nova C Perch

Studio TK: Freehand

Davis: Muse Barstool

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-EDITORS’ CHOICE: Heartbeat by Nienkämper: Designed by Karim Rashid, Heartbeat is composed of three distinct seating elements: Straight, Concave, and Convex. Repo-sitioning these three elements allows for the creation of a myriad of morphing and undulating physical landscapes. The shape and direction of the alternating seating resembles a wave or a pulse, keeps guests from being seated back to back, and facilitates conversation or sharing a “heart to heart” with fellow human beings. www.nienkamper.com

>Seating: Conference-GOLD: Kasura by OFS: Kasura seating, designed by Webb

Associates, offers an array of beauty and aesthetics. A beautiful veneer wrap graces the approach of the chair. The warmth of wood is elegant and natural and appeals to our innate love for nature. The name Kasura has roots in comfort and console and you can feel this this in the contours of the sit. www.ofs.com

-SILVER: M75 by Davis Furniture: M75 by Burkhard Vogtherr and Jonathan Prestwich is a modern take on the Davis classic Motion chair by Burkhard Vogtherr released in 1987. Motion was a revolutionary design that responded to the user, imitating the human body’s natural movement. For M75, centered on the idea of taking away distractions, the designers sculpted a comfortable form and incorporated a flexible suspension into the back. The chair’s mechanism is incorporated into the body of the chair itself; the only con-trols are discrete switches underneath the seat for locking it in an upright position and height adjustment. www.davisfurniture.com

>Seating: Ergonomic Desk/Task-GOLD: Younique by via seating: Younique is via seating’s

first all-mesh chair. Designed by Massimo Costaglia Design based in Padova, Italy, it is available as a mid or high back with a spacious and accommodating seat. The silhou-ette is simple and beautiful, with flocked mesh thermally engineered into the framework. Strategically placed into the framework is Younique’s patented mono-shell synchro-nized system. This allows for a smooth 2:1 ratio movement between its seat and back as the sitter relaxes back or shifts forward. www.viaseating.com

Davis: M75

via seating: Younique

Allermuire: Axyl Bench

Nienkämper: Heartbeat

OFS: Kasura

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neocon-SILVER: NLC by Nightingale

Corp.: NLC – ‘Next Level Chair’ – envisions how an office chair can serve multiple purposes and adjust to suit each indi-vidual user’s needs. The chair’s sleek Goldilocks mechanism, flip up arm, and ergonomic adjustment knob provide user comfort and ease of use. Be-cause of its multiple functional-ities, the NLC chair can replace the need for multiple types of office seating through its versa-tility and customizability. www.nightingalechairs.com>Seating: Guest

-GOLD: Kin by Allermuir: Kin is a family of mono-shell seating created in collaboration with London design studio PearsonLloyd. It has a continuity of aesthetics across all tub, arm, side, and stool shells. The soft organic flowing lines of Kin’s design emerged from the design studio’s ongoing investigation into sculpting plastic. The chairs have been imagined as if they have grown rather than been designed. The result is something visually seductive, but also pleasing to the touch – the two primary senses we use when interact-ing with furniture. www.allermuir.com

-SILVER: Gala by Andreu World: Gala is presented as a collection with a flexible integration and great possibilities for customization. In Gala, the thermopolymer defines a shape reminiscent of contemporary classics, with distinct and archetypal features. www.andreuworld.com

>Seating: Outdoor Contract & Hospitality-SILVER: Nuez Outdoor by Andreu World: The new ver-

sion of Nuez is designed specifically for exterior environ-ments. It is available with a new four-legged teak base and metal sled base with a treatment which makes it resistant to outdoor conditions. The seat cushions, removable, are also designed for outdoor use. www.andreuworld.com

>Seating: Sofas & Lounge-GOLD: Rap sofa by Andreu World: See image and prod-

uct description under Lounge Furniture Collections, above.-SILVER: Nova C Recliner by Green Furniture Concept:

Nova C Recliner, a lounge variant of Nova C Back, is avail-able with both single and double back. Compared to tra-ditional reclined one-seaters, this is a more social seating. The armrests offer a surface for a coffee cup, sandwich or laptop. The recliner is modular and configurable for endless formations of straight and curved modules, with only the integrated armrests separating the seats. www.greenfc.com

>Seating: Stacking-GOLD: HDS 1.1 by Sandler Seating: HDS Series, by

designer Luca Fornasarig and short for High Density Stack-ing, is a collection of seating solutions with unparalleled stacking capabilities, enabling up to 60 chairs to stack on a single trolley and up to 20 chairs on the ground. The range is comprised of the classic HDS 1.1 with a seat and back in reinforced polypropylene sitting atop a metal frame; two up-holstered versions in the range, the HDS 1.2 and the HDS 4.1; and the HDS 1.3, a chair with a perforated steel seat and back suitable for outdoor use. www.sandlerseating.com

Andreu World: Nuez Outdoor

Green Furniture Concept: Nova C Recliner

Nightingale: NLC

Allermuir: Kin

Andreu World: Gala

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-SILVER: Mika by SitOnIt Seating | IDEON: The Mika brings soft, minimal style to the classic single shell chair. It is designed for supreme comfort from seat to back with a slim, edgeless design that features a two-thirds upholstered wrapped seat and ridge back lumbar support. Targeted for residential-inspired and high-traffic spaces, it is available in four-leg and wire rod options. www.sitonit.net

Healthcare Category Winners

>Healthcare Fabrics & Textiles-GOLD: Biophilia 2.0 by Designtex: The newest health-

care textiles collection from Designtex lies at the intersection between neuroscience and architecture, tapping into our ancient sense of beauty through nature’s guiding principles. In this collection, circles, dots and dashes appear in mul-tiple guises. Ten woven and coated textile designs feature large gestural motion, geometric shapes, and various construction techniques including printing, yarn floats, and embossing. www.designtex.com

-SILVER: Chiaroscuro Collection by CF Stinson: The Chiaroscuro collection explores light and shade to dramatic effect Each fabric has a painterly hand that evokes a soft focused mood. The studio blends together colors, various surfaces, yarns and constructions expertly with modern imagery. Sophisticated and sometimes unexpected color combinations provide opportunity for mixing and matching. Chiaroscuro is bleach cleanable, heavy duty and Healthy Hospitals Initiative compliant. www.cfstinson.com

Sandler Seating: HDS 1.1

SitOnIt Seating: Mika

CF Stinson: Chiaroscuro

Designtex: Biophilia 2.0

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neocon>Healthcare Flooring

-GOLD: Teknoflor Coordination Collection by Teknoflor: This collection was designed to enhance the organization of different elements of a project so as to enable them to work together more effectively. It includes six products with col-laborative visuals in compositions that make their integration efficient and beautiful: Forestscapes HPD Resilient Sheet and Forest Plank Luxury Vinyl Plank; CS Sheet and Tile; and Naturescapes HPD resilient sheet and Nature’s Tile. www.teknoflor.com

-SILVER: True Hues by Mohawk Group: True Hues rubber sheet flooring was inspired by the beauty of terrazzo. This all-new visual covers a range of tone-on-tone, cool and

warm neutrals, as well as useful greens, blue hues, red, and purple, offering color pops in the creation of stunning floor layouts. Its wide array of colorways gives healthcare speci-fiers the tools and palettes they need to meet their goals for healing spaces, including designation of sterile areas and designs that drive wayfinding and egress routing. www.mohawkgroup.com>Healthcare Guest & Lounge Seating

-GOLD: Prizzi Lounge by Kwalu: Prizzi is a sleek wallsaver lounge chair; designed to be comfortable and look good from any angle. It features an upholstered back and seat, with an integrated seat cushion. The concealed cleanout eliminates a debris build-up. To complete the mid-century modern styling of this chair, the arms of the Prizzi are one piece and form the back support. www.kwalu.com

>Healthcare Patient Seating-SILVER: Tailor HD by Spec Furniture: The Tailor HD

Lounge collection creates stunning environments while addressing the requirements of Behavioral Health settings. Available in one-, two- and three-seat designs – as well as bariatric models – this series comes standard with a wall-saving frame, while its polyurethane roto-molded base ensures durability and cleanability in tough environments. www.specfurniture.com

Teknoflor: Coordination Collection

Mohawk Group: True Hues Spec Furniture: Tailor HD

Kwalu: Prizzi Lounge

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neoconCoverings, Carpet/Flooring, Textiles, and Architec-tural Category Winners

>Acoustic Panels & Solutions-GOLD: FLAT by Snowsound: FLAT by Alberto & Frances-

co Meda is a new acoustic panel collection characterized by a clean and minimalist design. The front surface is perfectly plane with a visually weightless appearance. Two different irregular shapes can come together to create endless ar-rangements. With its hinged supporting arm, FLAT can be tilted and rotated as if it were a weightless sheet of paper. www.snowsoundusa.com

-SILVER: Linea Acoustic LED Lighting System by Luxxbox: Linea acoustic pendant light boasts class-leading LED performance as well as superior acoustic proper-ties, significantly reducing reverberated noise in open space. Manufactured from a dense polyester fiber material that in-cludes a minimum of 65% post-consumer recycled content, Linea is 100% recyclable and is offered in two finishes and a wide range of sizes and colors. www.luxxbox.com

>Acoustic Privacy & Modular Solutions-GOLD: LeanTo by OFS: LeanTo, designed by Webb As-

sociates, is a seating solution that addresses people’s need for focus and escape. Outfitted to feel as if it is built into the space like a sheltered nook or alcove, LeanTo is available in a variety of configurations including double- or single-sided with one or two seats. www.ofs.com

-SILVER: Framery 2Q by Framery: Framery 2Q is de-signed for four to six people to co-create, brainstorm, and have great meetings. It can be specified with or without fur-niture. Adjustable airflow creates a pleasant atmosphere to work in. The power column is a fixed component with three power sockets + Twin USB fast charger and provides an option for a display bracket or a whiteboard. A low doorstep makes this product wheelchair accessible. www.frameryacoustics.com

Luxxbox: Linea Acoustic LED Lighting System

Snowsound: FLAT

OFS: LeanTo Wall

Framery: 2Q

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neocon>Architectural & Decorative Glass

-SILVER: Oblique + Chevron by Skyline Design: This new collection by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec expresses the luminosity of glass, particularly the immersive quality of stained glass. Traditional stained glass – with its fac-eted surfaces and dazzling colors set in lead frames – was designed to evoke a sense of magic and wonder among medieval churchgoers. The Bouroullecs bring the same otherworldly and nearly mystical sense to more abstract patterns, delighting in the play of scale, light, and fluidity created by the interaction between pattern and palette. www.skydesign.com

>Architectural Products-GOLD: Obeya by OFS: See Best of Competition Winner,

above.-SILVER: Connectrac Flex™ by Connectrac®: Flex is a

flexible power and data distribution system that sits invisibly beneath carpet tile or on hard surface flooring. Receptacle modules and other devices blend in discretely and provide convenient power and data connectivity anywhere. Simply snap in a receptacle to power a collaborative area, change it out for a hardwire module to fire up your work stations, or snap a hub cap over it to make it flush with your floor. www.connectrac.com

>Carpet: Broadloom-GOLD: Tatami System: “Broadloom Re-Defined”, featur-

ing A-Line by Tarkett: Tatami System offers the attributes of woven and tufted Broadlooms – pattern fluidity, tex-ture, volume, seamless visuals, textile warmth and sound absorption, without the unsightly seams and utilitarian feel of carpet tiles. It consists of four modules – a 6’x 6’ square, a 6’x 12’ rectangle, a 12’ x 12’ square and a large 12’ x 24’ rectangle. An innovative connection solution allows for modules to be firmly held together as one configured unit, adding lateral strength and stability. www.tarkettna.com

-SILVER: Textural Effects by Mohawk Group: Textural Effects multi-category carpet collection employs heavily textured and bulky Heathered Hues yarns to deliver natural wool-like visuals spanning the organic and the manmade. When used with other finishes that have a smooth surface or high gloss, it provides visual and tactile contrast. Collection styles appear especially warm and rich when paired with wood tones and hard surfaces. Four styles across 12” x 36” carpet plank and broadloom emphasize the creature com-forts of home for contract interiors. www.mohawkgroup.com

Skyline Design: Oblique + Chevron

Connectrac: Flex

Tarkett: Tatami

Mohawk Group: Textural Effects

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neocon>Carpet: Contract Area Rugs

-INNOVATION: Connecting Neurons Definity by Mo-hawk Group: Expanding Influence - Definity for Workplace program offers a varied selection of stylish running line broadloom and area rugs curated specifically for workplace interiors – all available in a seamless ordering process with a faster turnaround. Definity’s proprietary precision-sculpted technology creates stunning carpets and rugs with multi-level textures, enhanced definition, superior performance, and sustainability. www.mohawkgroup.com

>Carpet: Modular-GOLD: Deconstructed Felt by Patcraft: Deconstructed

Felt is the third carpet tile collection within the Patcraft’s Deconstructed line. Inspired by a study of transparency, the new collection pushes the boundaries of traditional flooring by exploring the inner-workings of product construction. By transforming the tra-ditional carpet fabrica-tion, it uncovers a new dimension in design, ex-posing the raw elements of the carpet’s construc-tion. www.patcraft.com

-SILVER: Suited by Shaw Contract: Suited is a response to the changing modern work experience – a shift toward warm, welcoming spaces that foster a sense of place. The collection evokes a sense of comfort and belonging in the office. Taking its cues from timeless fabrics, this lushly tac-tile collection reinterprets them to create an evolving story of pattern and texture. This is not simple nostalgia, but instead a multi-layered experience where the familiar and the new forge a bond between person and place. www.shawcontract.com

>Flooring: Hard-Surface LVT & Planks-GOLD: Handloom by Patcraft: Handloom is a resilient tile

collection featuring two coordinating styles, Painted Weft™ and Wooden Warp™. This textural collection features colorful accents and neutral colors inspired by textile arts and natural materials to create organic, balanced spaces. Handloom was designed to optimize large and small-scale spaces where a resilient tile with vibrant color accents can provide sophisticated character. www.patcraft.com

Mohawk Group: Expanding Influence - Connecting Neurons - Definity

Patcraft: Deconstructed Felt

Shaw Contract: Suited

Patcraft: Handloom

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neocon-SILVER: Change Agent LVT by Milliken: Change Agent

is a new LVT and modular carpet collection influenced by the transcendent act of bringing forth new purpose from natural materials. With ranging styles capturing the essence of aged stone to charred and petrified wood, it explores fresh perspectives offered in an assortment of reimagined neutrals. The LVT options in Change Agent were designed to seamlessly connect to its soft surface counterparts through both color and tile size. www.milliken.com

-INNOVATION: Metroforms with Attraxion Magnetic At-tachment Technology by Metroflor: Licensed from Magnetic Business Solutions’ MagneBuild™ system, the new Attrax-ion-branded underlayment enables the rapid installation of

flooring without locking systems or adhesives. Metroflor’s Déjà New LVT provides the palette and the foundation for Metroforms with Attraxion. The underlayment adheres to an integrated ferrite film which is laminated to the bottom of Déjà New products. By merely rolling out the underlayment over any smooth, clean and dry subfloor, the flooring can be installed over it easily and quickly. www.metroflorusa.com >Space Dividers/Partitions/Screens

-GOLD: Flex Wall by Clarus Glassboards: Flex Wall is a free-standing glassboard wall system with a fully integrated, omni-directional wheel system built into the base. The built-in wheels allow Flex to roll easily from room to room – then, this revolutionary design seamlessly transforms into a fixed, freestanding, wall partition. The mobile glassboard trans-forms as needed – moving easily into place, then the wheels retract, and the wall stands firm on its wide base. www.clarusglassboards.com

-SILVER: Naava Flow by Naava: Naava Flow is the latest addition to Naava’s line of living-wall space-dividing solu-tions for commercial environments. The line, which also includes Naava One, Naava One Slim, and Naava Duo, features beautiful living plants without soil and nature-inspired Nordic design including an integrated source of natural daylight. The modular, movable units circulate and purify indoor air to enhance people’s cognitive performance and wellbeing. Naava Flow is a lower-height space divider to maximize visibility in open offices while still offering semi-private spaces for focus work. www.naava.io

Milliken: Change Agent

Metroflor: Metroforms with Attraxion Magnetic Attachment Technology

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neocon

>Textiles: Upholstery-GOLD: Lost & Found by HBF Textiles: A collaboration with

Christiane Müller, Lost & Found features seven fabrics that connect the past with the present, reflecting on the human artistry and soul behind textile manufacturing throughout time. Crafted Felt, Crafted Cloud, Woven Memory, Timeless Twine, Enriched Bouclé, Quilted Comfort, and Cherished Knit comprise the textile line, with each design honoring the culture and craftsmanship behind its production and lifecycle. Many of them boast a hefty dose of recycled yarns and rapidly renewable content. The collection includes three versatile designs that can be used in wrapped panel applica-tions, three fabrics suitable for drapery applications, and two bleach-cleanable fabrics. www.hbf.com

-SILVER: Architectural Textures Collection by Momen-tum: The Architectural Textures Collection by Sina Pearson is inspired by the iconic details found in the streets of our cities and the geometry of building facades. The curated neutral color palette reflects the richness of materials used in metropolitan structures. Durable yet luxurious, the four patterns are designed for corporate and high-end hospitality use. www.memosamples.com

-EDITORS’ CHOICE: Future Tense Collection by Luum Textiles: This collection harkens to past eras characterized by large graphic applications and the elevation of every-day materials. The new fabrics are grounded in industrial design, celebrating advances in conscious manufactur-ing and sustainability. Each fabric requires a second look, encouraging interaction with the environment and promot-ing curiosity. Future Tense comprises the upholstery fabrics Schema, Macrotweed, Color Fuse and Tilt Shift, in addition to the Actuate multi-purpose fabric. www.luumtextiles.com

Naava: Naava One, Naava One Slim, Naava Duo, and Naava Flow

HBF Textiles: Lost & Found

Momentum: Architectural Textures

Luum Textile: Future Tense

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neocon-EDITORS’ CHOICE: VEER by Aliki van der Kruijs by

Wolf-Gordon: VEER by Aliki van der Kruijs is Wolf-Gordon’s latest collaboration with an emerging designer of impressive conceptual strength and independent voice. For the design of VEER upholstery textiles, the designer explored two- and three-dimensional space through a deceptively simple grid motif, the origins of which began with the purchase of an antique kimono textile in Arita, Japan. The collection includes three patterns: FLOAT, TURN and SLIDE. www.wolf-gordon.com

-INNOVATION: Haworth Knits by Haworth: Haworth Digital Knits aim to give desk chairs the “coziness of your favorite sweater along with the support and style of the lat-est running shoe – combining beautiful knit patterns, soft high-performance fibers, and breathable comfort.” Pro-duced using state-of-the-art digital knitting machines and custom fiber compositions designed for strength, durability, and softness, Haworth Knits are engineered to exact dimen-sions, so there is no cutting or leftover material, producing a perfectly-sized, zero-waste result that supports sustainability efforts. They make their debut with a knitted back for the Very® desk chair. www.haworth.com

>Walls, Movable-GOLD: Tek Vue by Teknion: Tek Vue is a glass office-

front system that responds to the essential needs - aesthet-ics, space division, site accommodation, and privacy - of today’s workplace. The system focuses on single-center glazing and thin-profile frames, while providing effortless integration with conventional construction and existing Teknion wall programs. Tek Vue wall and door programs are built on the concept of a universal platform, which re-envisions how a system can be specified, planned and installed within the evolving world of interior architecture. www.teknion.com

-SILVER: Beyond pavilion by Allsteel: Beyond pavilion is a new adaptable, full-solution demountable partition system that addresses a broad variety of user needs and prefer-ences with frameless glass, framed glass, and solid panel options. All panels feature unitized construction and power-tool-driven leveling mechanisms for flexibility, speed of installation, and efficient reconfiguration. The reconfigurable solution creates meaningful solo and collaborative destina-tions, while the power and technology integration support a variety of work styles. www.allsteeloffice.com

Wolf-Gordon: VEER by Aliki van der Kruijs

Haworth: Haworth Digital Knits

Teknion: Tek Vue

Allsteel: Beyond pavilion

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neocon>Wall Treatments

-SILVER: Metallic Wallcoverings by Designtex: The Metal-lic Wallcoverings collection features four digitally printed patterns with varying levels of metallic sheen. Each pattern adds dimension and visual warmth to spaces in a variety of settings. The overall collection combines technology and hand-crafting to create a tool for designers to create some-thing special with these sensuous, tactile surface materials. www.designtex.com

-INNOVATION: Woven Silica by Momentum Group: The Woven Silica Collection captures the essence of a woven textile with the look of fine linen. Woven Silica is a PVC free wallcovering derived from silica sand and a bio-based coat-ing that removes VOCs from the air. The CleanAir technol-ogy absorbs and captures harmful VOCs, permanently ensuring that they will never be released back into the air. www.memosamples.com

Lighting, Technology, and Accessories Category Winners

>Lighting: Decorative & Hospitality-GOLD: Shaper Sense™ Acoustic LED Luminaires by

Eaton: In partnership FilzFelt™, the Shaper Sense edge-lit decorative luminaires are an ensemble of integrated LED lighting and acoustic products with 100% Wool Design Felt. This combination provides a collection of products of high aesthetic appeal, visual performance and quality acoustic surrounds. The simple shapes (Box, Trapezoid and Drum) combined with 62 dynamic felt color selections, allow designers to choose and form countless looks, creating their own solutions for a space. www.eaton.com

-SILVER: Acoustic Wing by LightArt: Acoustic Wing: Composed of two felt wings affixed to a fully-enclosed, LED beam fixture, LightArt’s Acoustic Wing was designed to tar-get sound issues above desks, conference tables and other workstations. This new product shifts LightArt’s highly effec-tive Static beams to a horizontal plane, maximizing sound absorption with an increased surface area. A single installed Acoustic Wing creates a sound absorbing “ceiling” over a pin-pointed area. And when installed in a layout of mul-tiples, Acoustic Wings can bring light and sound absorption to larger-scale spaces. www.lightart.com

Designtex: Metallic Walcoverings

Momentum: Woven Silica

Eaton: Shaper Sense™ Acoustic LED Luminaires

LightArt: Acoustic Wing

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neocon>Office Accessories

-GOLD: Radii by Allsteel: A new storage offering from Allsteel Inc. and IDA Design, Radii encourages workers to stow rather than store, creating personalized and travel-size compartments that move across the office whenever teams shift. Metal storage pedestals, undermounts, and work tools are designed to accommodate personal items and move with the user as the work surface raises and lowers. Deep drawers accommodate larger items, and removable trays organize smaller ones. www.allsteeloffice.com

-SILVER: Cloud 9 Cart and Garage by Watson Furniture Group: This is part of Watson’s Cloud 9 system; see product description under Furniture Systems, above. www.watson-furniture.com

>Signage & Wayfinding-GOLD: Lucid Refined Interior Signage by Takeform: Lu-

cid is the refined signage platform created for spaces with contemporary, minimalist aesthetics. Like gallery fixtures that know their place, the line is designed to make the other aspects of the space look their best without feeling over-accessorized. With precise proportions, understated matte hardware, glass-like clarity, and discerning graphics, Lucid complements premium spaces. www.takeform.net

-SILVER: SafeCare™ Signs by 2/90 SIGN SYSTEMS: SafeCare Signs, created in collaboration with the New York State Office of Mental Health and Architecture+, were de-signed specifically for patient safety. The goal was to create a sign system to meet the challenges faced by the behavioral health environment while maintaining the balance between patient safety, security, and aesthetics. The signs needed to be constructed of approved materials and processes to keep patients safe while communicating messages effectively to patients, staff and visitors. www.290signs.com

Allsteel: Radii

Watson: Cloud 9 Cart and Garage

Takeform: Lucid Rifined Interior Signage

290 Sign Systems: SafeCar Signs

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neocon>Technology-Integrated Solutions

-GOLD: Steelcase® Roam™ by Steelcase: Steelcase Roam includes a mobile stand and easy-to-hang wall mounting system for Microsoft’s new collaboration tool Sur-face Hub 2S. The mobile stand can be moved easily with one hand, and its small footprint fits in all kinds of spaces. The wall mounting system is designed for smaller huddle spaces and conference rooms or private offices, encourag-ing standing and active postures. www.steelcase.com

-SILVER: Revive by National Lighting Corp.: Revive offers power without the power cord, easily bringing 5V power to portable locations. Its rechargeable battery pack can completely charge most smart phones from 0 to 100% up to five times. It has a USB port and proprietary connec-tor that makes it compatible with the company’s wireless chargers. Simply install Revive under a table or anywhere you desire to have remote power. The battery pack can be easily removed for recharging. A security feature helps prevent accidental release of the battery and/or theft. www.nationallighting.com

-INNOVATION: Connectrac Flex™ by Connectrac: See image and description under Architectural Products, above.>Workplace Technologies

-GOLD: designMix with colorAI by CF Stinson: designMix with colorAI is an innovative visual design platform that makes specifying easy, fast and fun. Its drag and drop inter-face allows designers to quickly create design boards with CF Stinson fabrics and their own images, colors, and labels. Proprietary technology allows you to pull colors from your own inspirational images and immediately find fabrics that coordinate. designMix is a collaborative platform that can be used on multiple devices including desktop and tablet. www.cfstinson.com

-SILVER: Gridd Mobile by FreeAxez: Gridd Mobile is a natural extension of Gridd and Gridd Power, two previous Best of NeoCon Gold winners in Workplace Technologies. Gridd incorporates Augmented Reality and all the informa-tion needed about a facility’s cable and power manage-ment system. It provides an “X-ray” view of power and data cabling beneath the floor covering—all without opening an access panel. Location of all IT and power infrastructure underneath are precisely identified, eliminating guess work and unnecessary labor. www.freeaxez.com

Steelcase: Steelcase Roam with Microsoft Surface Hub 2S

caption

CF Stinson: designMix with colorAI

Free Axez: Gridd Mobile

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r-d connectionRESEARCH-DESIGN CONNECTIONSit-Stand Desks: Research Reviewby Sally Augustin, Ph.D.

Chambers, Robertson and Baker reviewed published studies of the various effects of using sit-stand desks (SSDs). They integrated research find-ings related to “behavior (e.g. time sit-ting and standing), physiological, work performance, psychological, discom-fort, and posture…We conclude that SSDs effectively change behaviors, but these changes only mildly effect health outcomes. SSDs seem most effective for discomfort and least for

productivity…Twenty-one of the stud-ies included productivity outcomes, and only 8% found significant differ-ences between sitting and standing or sitting and combination of sitting and standing. Four of the studies with significant differences in productivity reported that standing was superior to sitting…while two favored sitting…Additionally, others have found that standing did not reduce performance and resulted in improved mouse func-tion…modest cardiometabolic health benefits were noted when using SSDs. Generally, SSDs did not reduce work performance or improve psychological health. SSDs were most effective at reducing discomfort.” n

April Chambers, Michelle Robertson, and Nancy Baker. 2019. “The Effect of Sit-Stand Desks on Office Worker Behavioral and Health Outcomes: A Scoping Review.” Applied Ergonom-ics, vol. 78, pp. 37-53, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2019.01.015

Sally Augustin, PhD, is the editor of Research Design Connections (www.re-searchdesignconnections.com), a monthly subscription newsletter and free daily blog, where recent and classic research in the social, design, and physical sciences that can inform designers’ work are presented in straightforward language. Readers learn about the latest research findings imme-diately, before they’re available elsewhere. Sally, who is a Fellow of the American Psy-chological Association, is also the author of Place Advantage: Applied Psychology for Interior Architecture (Wiley, 2009) and, with Cindy Coleman, The Designer’s Guide to Doing Research: Applying Knowledge to Inform Design (Wiley, 2012). She is a prin-cipal at Design With Science (www.design-withscience.com) and can be reached at sallyaugustin@designwithscience.com.

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officenewswireFor complete releases, visit www.officeinsight.com/officenewswire.

NOTEWORTHY>Wendy Murray was pro-moted to Director, Marketing and Product at Kimball. In this role, she will be expand-ing her leadership to include product development. With her more than 20 years of industry experience, cus-tomer centric focus, proven ability to assess the needs and trends of the company’s markets, and the ability to develop talent and drive re-sults, Ms. Murray exemplifies the key attributes to continue to build success at Kimball. The nature of workplace is rapidly changing and with Ms. Murray’s leadership, further emphasis will be placed on driving strategic processes within the new product development arena. As the marketing leader, she led the rebranding of Kimball and has been instrumental in the mass transformation the company has undergone. Read More

>Melissa Shelton was ap-pointed as President, North America of Swiss design manufacturer Vitra. She charged with overseeing all business across the compa-ny’s Home, Office, and Retail

sectors. Ms. Shelton has more than ten years working in sales and marketing, with expertise growing commer-cial sales in home, contract and hospitality markets. She joined Vitra in 2017 as Head of Vitra’s Home Division in North America where she was overseeing wholesale, e-com-merce, and showrooms. Prior to taking the role at Vitra, she was with Carl Hansen & Søn from 2012 to 2017 where she oversaw sales and marketing. Read More

>ASID released its first Interior Design Salaries and Benefits General Report. Using the results of the ASID 2018 Compensation & Fee Benchmarking Survey, the report seeks to investigate the conditions of the professional environment, the perceptions of professional development from practitioners, and the salaries and benefits that inte-rior designers receive for the wide scope of services they provide. ASID worked with MeasuringU, a third-party research company, to develop and administer the survey and to ensure an accurate, diverse sample of surveyed industry professionals. The report delves into a broad set

of topics including an exami-nation of current economic conditions to provide context for the results. Highlights include: -Median salary: The survey respondents receiving a salary had a median income of $70K annually, or $30 per hour for those receiving hourly wages. Median salary for sole practitioners was $50K. -Gender gap: Even though women play a huge role in the interior design industry and represent 87 percent of survey respondents, a gender gap persists at higher level jobs. Men typically hold higher level positions, and earn a median salary that is $19K higher than women. -Firm specialization: Firm specialization affects salary, with the median salary $14K higher at commercial firms than residential firms. -Education degree: Degrees make a difference in salaries,

with respondents holding a Bachelor’s as their final degree reporting an average salary $17K higher than those with no degree. -NCIDQ certification: Certifica-tion makes a powerful impact. Median salary is $16K higher for those with NCIDQ certifi-cation compared to those who do not currently hold any type of certifications or credentials. Read More

>ASID established the Advocate by Design (AxD) Fund, a political education fund that aims to strengthen the design industry’s pres-ence within national, state, and local policy decision making. As a testament to the Society’s commitment to fight for impactful policy for the interior design profession at all levels of government, the AxD Fund will help ASID Gov-ernment and Public Affairs (GPA) inform the public and policymakers on the impact of interior design work and

Wendy Murray

Melissa Shelton

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officenewswire

the policy issues important to the profession and industry. The AxD Fund is not a PAC, and will not direct funds to any individual candidate for office. The Fund will enable ASID GPA to increase its efforts to support and defend beneficial public policy for ASID members, chapters, and design professionals. Do-nations to the fund will assist ASID in covering unexpected needs, enable the Society to expand its reach and scope, cover member travel costs, create and distribute interac-tive materials and documents, host new events, provide ad-ditional money to chapters for advocacy initiative grants, and work to change the public narrative about interior design through effective policy and political messaging. ASID is currently advocating for the design profession on the following federal issues: practice rights, environmen-

tal issues, resilience, trade issues, materiality, tax policy, building codes and standards development, workforce de-velopment, and student debt, among other issues. In state policy, ASID GPA is working on several topics including practice rights, taxes, lien rights, firm ownership, and building code adoption. Read More

>ASID also created a fresh platform for the ASID Academy, a state-of-the-art, online, continuing education experience. The platform was enhanced and redesigned to embody the ASID Academy’s core mission of providing a user-friendly, streamlined education resource for the design profession. Mobile-friendly and accessible, the new site allows ASID to offer the same high-quality educa-tion content while maintain-ing an adaptive interface for visitors to learn anytime,

anywhere, at their own pace. An online catalog of resources encompassing courses, webi-nars, and more is now offered as an easily accessible collec-tion. The new landing page enables users to access ID-CEC and AIA-approved CEUs broken down by relevant topics. For ASID members, the Academy’s dedication to user experience goes a step further and will directly report CEU credits to IDCEC on their behalf. Read More

>Hightower won Best of Competition in the 2019 IIDA/Contract Magazine Showroom & Booth Design Competition at NeoCon. This competition honors original-ity of design, visual impact, effective use of materials, and the outstanding use of space, color, texture, lighting, and graphics in showrooms and booths at the show. Hightower was the winner in the Small Showroom (under 4,000sf) category; its space was designed by Hightower in collaboration with Casey Keasler. Herman Miller won in the Large Showroom (4,000sf or larger) category. The winner in the Large Booth (400sf or larger) category was Baresque; and Framery won in the Small Booth (under 400sf) category. Read More

>IFI announced the jury members who will determine the winners of its inaugural Global Awards Program (IFI GAP). This new awards pro-gram recognizes and awards design excellence at the world level. Comprising four of the highest honors achievable in the interior architecture/de-sign profession, it will identify and award both the contribu-tions of individual luminaries and the best-of-the-best of built environments. Jury members for IFI’s high-est honor, the IFI PRIZE, as well as the Design Journalism Award (IFI DJA), are: -Steve Leung – Jury Chair, IFI President / Founder of Steve Leung Design Group Ltd. (Hong Kong) -Arturo Dell’Acqua Bellavitis, Professor of Industrial Design at Politecnico di Milano and former Director of Milan Trien-nale Museum (Italy) -Maya Dvash, Chief Curator of the Design Museum Holon (Israel) -Ashley Hall, Ph.D. Professor of Design Innovation at The Royal College of Art (RCA) (UK) -Rosanne Somerson, Presi-dent, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) (USA) Jurors for IFI’s Design Dis-tinction Awards (IFI DDA), charged with selecting the

Hightower NeoCon showroom wins Best of Competition

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best-built projects from around the world across eight different categories, are: -Steve Leung – Jury Chair, IFI President / Founder of Steve Leung Design Group Ltd. (Hong Kong) -Robert Backhouse, Chair-man at HASSELL (Australia) -Soo K. Chan, Founder and Principal of SCDA Architects (Singapore) -Tony Chi, Principal and Founder of tonychi studio (USA) -Renata Furlanetto, Director at Studio MK27 (Brazil) -Randy Howder, Managing Director and Principal at GENSLER (USA) -Marcio Kogan, Founder of Studio MK27 (Brazil) -Piero Lissoni, Founder of

Lissoni Associati (Italy) -Ellen van Loon, Partner at OMA (Netherlands) -Paul Tange, Senior Principal Architect and Chairman of TANGE ASSOCIATES (Japan) -Woody Yao, Director, Zaha Hadid Design (ZHD) (UK) -Representatives from Yabu Pushelberg (Canada) IFI Members are eligible to nominate exceptional indi-viduals or collectives for the IFI PRIZE; IFI DJA, and IFI Fellowships (IFI FoIFI). The Design Distinction Awards (IFI DDA) are open to all interior architects/designers who have completed an award-winning project within the last three years. Deadline for nomina-tions and entries is Wednes-day, July 31.

Award winners will be pre-sented at a special ceremony and Gala Dinner as part of the IFI CONGRESS – IFI’s biennial global convening of industry representatives and invited keynote speakers to share progressive ideas, knowledge, and develop-ments in interior architecture/design worldwide. It takes place in the City of Dubai, U.A.E Nov. 13-16. Read More

>IIDA honored One Plus Partnership Limited’s Wuhan Panlong Plaza Yinxing Cin-ema as the Best of Competi-tion winner for the 2019 IIDA Interior Design Compe-tition. The annual competition celebrates outstanding interior design/interior architecture that encourages new ideas and techniques in the design and furnishing of interior spaces. The firm was chosen from 12 finalists and was recognized at Silver: The IIDA Gala on June 9. “The design team’s vision of an immacu-late, futuristic cinema comes to life through the thoughtful use of uniform materials, pat-

terns, and spatial forms,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl S. Durst. Lo-cated in China, the 43,000sf theater is distinguished by the use of gray-scale cement as the primary building material, flowing geometric gestures, and LED light installs. “One Plus Partnership Limited’s masterful theater project demonstrates a quiet, poetic power that is carried through every element of the design,” said jury member Verda Alexander on behalf of the jury. “This impressive feat is well-deserving of the Best of Competition award.” Read More

>IIDA named the winners of 2019 IIDA Latin America Design Awards. This competi-tion was created to recog-nize, honor, and celebrate outstanding interior design/interior architecture projects that represent the highest level of creativity, originality, and design excellence in the Latin America and Caribbean regions. Pictured is one of the winners in the Corporate

Jurors for the IFI Design Distinction Awards

Jurors for the IFI PRIZE and the Design Journalism AwardIIDA Interior Design Competition - Best of Competition winner Wuhan Panlong Plaza Yinxing Cinema by One Plus Partnership Limited - Photo credit Jonathan Leijonhufvud

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Space – Small category, JLL Mexico by in Gensler Mexico City. All entrants were eligible for an additional award, the Narrative Award, which recog-nizes a project with a compel-ling statement that described significant challenges or ex-traordinary circumstances that were overcome in order to de-liver the project. The winner of this year’s Narrative Award is Pre-Columbian Gold Museum by Gensler, San José, Costa Rica. All winners and the Best of Competition winner will be celebrated at an awards presentation and reception at IIDA Headquarters in Chicago on July 25. Read More

>Kimball International, Inc. announced a partnership with CareATC to provide an Employee Health Center near its Jasper, IN, campus. CareATC, a leading pro-vider of employee sponsored healthcare, will deliver non-emergency care to Kimball International employees and their dependents. The center will offer direct and easy access to quality, affordable healthcare services including

primary/acute care, biometric screenings, personal health assessments, physicals, patient education, lifestyle coaching, immunization and allergy injections, labora-tory, and a mini-dispensary for medications and referral management. Read More

>Steelcase and Moooi, inno-vative and provocative Dutch designers, announced plans for a new relationship. Steel-case will offer designs from Moooi and Moooi Carpets, including carpets, lighting, furniture and accessories, to customers throughout North

America. The collection will be available in the fall of 2019. Founded in 2001 by Marcel Wanders and Casper Vissers, and currently led by Marcel Wanders and Robin Bevers, Moooi is named after their native Dutch word for beautiful – the third ‘o’ in the brand name is symbolic of even more beauty and uniqueness. Moooi celebrates timeless objects of beauty

which possess the character of antiques combined with the freshness of modern times. Read More

>Steelcase also announced a collaboration with Anker, global charging experts for smart devices, in the devel-opment of Steelcase® Flex Mobile Power. Each Mobile Power unit can charge up to three laptops or personal devices for a full day. It’s easy to carry anywhere and sturdy enough to hold up under heavy use in the workplace. Tthe design was inspired by hand-crafted tableware, so it fits in workplaces ranging from upscale to casual. The proprietary charging tray from Steelcase and Anker charges five Mobile Power units overnight; it sits on any flat surface or can be integrated into a Steelcase Flex Collec-tion cart to go wherever teams need it. Read More

IIDA Latin America Design Awards – Corporate Space Small category winner – JLL Mexico by Gensler, Mexico City – Photo credit Bernardo Miranda

Steelcase to offer designs from Moooi and Moooi Carpets

Steelcase partners with Anker on Steelcase® Flex Mobile Power

06.03.19 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 35 OF 39

officenewswire

>Teknion and Wilkhahn announced a new partner-ship. From January 2020, Teknion plans to manufacture Wilkhahn’s AT office chair range and the Occo multi-purpose chair range under a licensing agreement and sell the ranges via its sales channels in North America under the Wilkhahn AT and Wilkhahn Occo brand names. The AT chair, featuring Wilkhahn’s patented Trimen-sion®, which encourages healthy three-dimensional dynamic sitting, has received awards including an Architec-tural Record Editor’s Choice and Interior Design Best of the Year 2018 in the task chair category. The comfort-able Occo multipurpose chair, designed by Jehs+Laub, has also garnered similar acco-lades. Products from both the AT and Occo ranges are ideal in large quantities for furnish-ing projects. Teknion show-cased both ranges at NeoCon last week. Read More

RE-SITED>Roberta Silva joined Flos as its new CEO. She was select-ed by Design Holding Group’s shareholders together with Piero Gandini, the entrepre-neur who sold Flos to Design Holding. Established in No-vember 2018 by Investindus-trial and The Carlyle Group to create a leading international group in the high-end interior design sector, Design Holding includes Flos, B&B Italia, Louis Poulsen and Arclinea. Ms. Silva was previously the Italian Country Manager of Bose, a US multinational manufacturer of high-end electronics. After successfully fulfilling this role, the Group promoted her to an interna-tional role appointing her as Head of Bose’s Global Direct Retail Network. She left Bose after having led the company into a new phase of strategic

commercial development and brand enhancement. Prior to Bose, she had senior roles at the Kraft Group. In her new role as the CEO of Flos, her task will be to carry forward the brand’s strong identity and history of excellence, while guiding the company into a new phase of growth. Read More

>ASID welcomed three new members to its Industry Partnerships team: Joyce O’Brien, Jon Strassner, and Cara Mitchell. Each brings a wealth of experience in membership, communica-tions, manufacturing, and more to their new role with ASID. The team will work to deepen the relationships between professional design-ers and non-designer industry members, engaging both parties to work together to impact lives through design. The ASID Industry Partners program encourages compa-nies that provide a product or service to the industry to join the Society, providing a forum that unites the professional designer with manufacturers, product representatives, and others integral to the success-ful practice of interior design. Joyce R. O’Brien, vice president, Membership and Industry Partnerships, ASID, is a seasoned association executive with an extensive background in membership,

marketing, communications, and publishing leadership. Most recently, she served as senior director, Membership for the American Pharma-cists Association, where she oversaw membership operations, customer service, membership acquisition and retention, chapter member-ship operations, and member research. Prior to her tenure with APhA, she was a con-sultant, providing marketing, communications, and mem-bership support to nonprofit organizations. Jon Strassner serves as direc-tor, Industry Partnerships, ASID. Before joining the Soci-ety, Jon worked with Human-scale for 22 years, serving as vice president of Workplace Strategy and Industry Rela-tions, Canadian sales director, and North American director of A&D. A LEED Accredited Professional since 2007, he is passionate about under-standing the role we all play in the Net Positive Movement, where we don’t just take less from the environment, but re-store, regenerate and replace what has been damaged or destroyed. A member of the Next Wave collaborative, he has traveled the globe to share this message. Cara Mitchell currently serves as associate, Industry Partnerships at ASID, and previously worked as execu-tive assistant to the CEO for

Teknion to offer Wilkhahn AT and Wilkhahn Occo

Roberta Silva ASID: Industry Partnerships team additions (L-R) Joyce R. O’Brien, Jon Strassner, Cara Mitchell

06.03.19 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 36 OF 39

officenewswirethe Society. She came to ASID from Los Angeles and a career in the entertainment industry, working at The Gersh Agency where she rep-resented writers of television and film. Read More

>Global Furniture Group, USA welcomed Wendy Muth as Vice President of Seating and Jeff Wood as Director of Government Sales. Ms. Muth has extensive experience in sales, plan-ning, product management and development. Prior to joining Global, she worked with Herman Miller Inc. for more than 19 years with roles across its Healthcare and Work business units. Her past roles include Director of Busi-ness Development – Product Development, Living Office Market Development Lead,

Technical Sales Specialist, Healthcare Application Strate-gist Lead and Healthcare Sr. Designer and Manager. Wendy is a strong leader, driving customer needs throughout the development and implementation of valued products within work, higher education, and healthcare industries. Read More Mr. Wood, prior to joining Global, Jeff was a Govern-ment Sales Manager for Herman Miller. In this role, he was a main contributor in driving sales by leading a team of Regional Federal Government Sales Specialists throughout the east region while developing and growing relationships with federal gov-ernment end users, partners and dealers. He also worked hand in hand with contract

specialists to negotiate con-tract terms and conditions, discounting, and manufac-turer and dealer margins. His past experience includes positions as Brand Director at New Day Education, National Sales Manager at Bretford, National GSA Sales Manager at RT London Company and

Government Account Execu-tive at American Office. He started his career at Herman Miller Inc. as a Customer Care Representative and worked his way to a Customer Care Work Team Leader, Govern-ment Customer Care Manager and to a Dealer Development Consultant. Read More

Global: Wendy Muth and Jeff Wood

06.17.19 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 37 OF 39

businessRAYMOND JAMES BRIEF 6.12.19NeoCon 2019 – Thoughts and Take-Aways

Analysts: Budd Bugatch, Bobby Griffin

>On Monday June 10, 2019, we attended NeoCon 2019, the office furniture industry’s annual exhibition of new prod-ucts that occurs in mid-June every year in Chicago. During our visit we had the chance to meet the executives and tour the showrooms of each of the public office furniture companies (Steelcase, Herman Miller, Knoll, HNI and Kimball Internation-al). Below are some of our key takeaways from the meetings.

>Industry Environment: As the BIFMA statistics have illus-trated over the last year plus, the U.S. office furniture environ-ment has been very strong, with average monthly order growth over the past 12 months of ~7.4%. The general tone and commentary from our meetings reaffirmed and confirmed our view about the solid health and outlook of the industry. All of the industry executives we spoke to remain confident about the underlying trends in their businesses and have not seen any notable changes in customer behavior. In other words, the ma-jor companies within the office furniture industry are not seeing any signs that “the cycle is ending.”

Admittedly, we do not make the case that the high single-digit (at times low double-digit) growth rates will continue indefi-nitely, but we argue that the industry is healthy and likely to remain healthy over the near-term. After all, we are seeing

decent (though not spectacular) job growth, U.S. job openings exceeding U.S. unemployment consistently over the past year and by over 1.5 million in April; and the competition for work-ers appears to be a real phenomenon. To that point, the style of investing in the office is different than 10 -15 years ago and more CEOs and other C-level executives are focused on how the office space can help attract talent and drive productivity. As millennials and generation Z grow to become a greater share of the work force, companies are forced to either “stay on trend” or fall behind in talent recruitment. This new real-ity creates a favorable environment for the domestic office furniture industry and argues (in our view) that the industry has the real likelihood to be less cyclical when the next downturn arrives. We believe investors may be missing this very important point.

>“Agile” & “Ancillary”: The buzz around NeoCon and for much of the day in our conversations revolved around creating “agile” workspaces that can be easily changed into different workspace configurations throughout the day by employees. Ancillary/“Resi-mercial” products were also still a big focus and remain one of the largest growth opportunities for the industry. Many of the displays we viewed throughout the showrooms now mix and combine traditional office furniture products with resi-dential style furniture. As we have highlighted in prior research, the solutions from major industry players to expand their ancil-lary product offerings have multiplied during the past few years into more partnerships, acquisitions, and minority and majority

6.14.19 3.29.19 12.28.18 9.28.18 6.29.18 3.29.18 %frYrHi%fr50-DayMA

HMiller 38.0 35.2 29.9 38.4 33.9 32.0 -6.5% 0.2%

HNI 35.3 36.3 35.2 44.2 37.2 36.1 -22.3% -1.2%

Inscape 1.7 1.7 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.2 -21.4% -9.8%

Interface 15.3 15.3 14.2 23.4 23.0 25.2 -37.8% -2.4%

Kimball 16.6 14.1 14.2 16.8 16.2 17.0 -8.8% 2.6%

Knoll 21.6 18.9 16.4 23.5 20.8 20.2 -11.3% 2.6%

Leggett 37.4 42.2 35.8 43.8 44.6 44.4 -20.0% -1.8%

Mohawk 152.3 126.2 117.2 175.4 214.3 232.2 -33.4% 8.9%

Steelcase 17.5 14.6 14.7 18.5 13.5 13.6 -9.7% 2.4%

USG 43.5 43.3 42.7 43.3 43.1 40.4 -0.1% 5.5%

Virco 4.3 4.3 4.1 4.9 4.4 4.1 -20.0% 3.8%

SUM 383.2 352.1 325.9 433.6 452.8 467.3

DJIndust 26,090 25,929 23,062 26,458 24,271 24,103 -3.2% 1.0%

Industry Stock Prices

06.17.19 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 38 OF 39

businessinvestments. Each of the major companies has a different strategy, but they all focus on expanding “share of wallet” with ancillary products at a variety of price points.

>Making The Process Easier For Dealers: The explosion of new product types and partnerships/acquisitions adds complexity to the selling process. Office Furniture projects for medium-size to larger-size organizations require integrat-ing products from a variety of sources in order to execute the “agile” and “resi-mercial” environments that organization leaders want and need to attract and retain the new generation of leaders. Accordingly, the selling process demands collabora-tion and cooperation between the product sources, dealers, architects, designers, and facility managers. It has always been a complex process in the industry; now it is becoming even more complex. Accordingly, we witnessed a theme developing among the major players of I/T solutions aimed at making the selling process easier for aligned dealers by (a) cataloging the wide variety of products and solutions it offers to its customers and (b) using new and different technology solutions (VR room builders, virtual marketplace/catalogs, etc.) to present and price the totality to its potential customers. With the growth of ancillary products and partnerships, the SKU count and brand choices have expanded for the legacy dealer. As these pro-grams gain traction and become more sophisticated, we expect the “share of wallet” of dealer spend for major players to rise.

>Stock Specific Comments: Since we wanted to make this note about NeoCon and give it proper respect, we included those comments early in this note. That said, we would be remiss if we did not make specific comments about our views for the various stocks and issues we cover. We are bullish on the in-dustry and its prospects. Each of these companies operate good business models and incorporate many of the most modern and forward management techniques. Each also has a high appre-ciation of the environment and works to improve sustainability.

>Steelcase: We reaffirm our Strong Buy on SCS. At the show, we saw its major introduction Flex, which addresses organiza-tions’ need and desire for Agile work. In addition to the positive macro forces we noted above (war for talent and consecutive months of industry order growth), there are several specific positive factors for SCS; namely, its expanding partnership with Microsoft, the good performance of its recent acquisitions (AMQ, Smith System, and Orangebox), its introduction of new West Elm Workspace product, and its long-awaited stabilization of profitability for its EMEA business. Its attractive valuation and ~3.4% cash dividend yield bolster our attraction to SCS.

>Knoll: We reaffirm our Strong Buy rating on KNL. At its new showroom in Chicago, we saw many examples of the integra-tion of Muuto, the company that Knoll acquired in early 2018, with classic and legacy Knoll products. Muuto continues to

grow well above industry rates, and we expect the penetration of Muuto sales in the U.S. to grow at these outsize rates for an extended time. Knoll remains the least highly valued equity among its peers. All in, the growth prospects, attractive relative undervaluation versus peers and ~3.2% dividend yield bolster our positive rating on KNL.

>Herman Miller: We reaffirm our Outperform on MLHR. In addition to the macro factors, there are specific Herman Miller tenets to our constructive rating. Similar to its peers, the show-room was crafted to show the breadth of its product portfolio. Herman Miller has long-been acclaimed as an industry innova-tor. Its new leader, Andi Owen, revealed several weeks ago at its analyst day in New York, the strategy for One Herman Miller – an effort to break down the business silos of the company that developed over many years of success. Moreover, our con-structive rating on MLHR is bolstered by its attractive valuation and ~2.1% dividend yield.

>HNI Corporation: We also reaffirm our Market Perform rating on HNI. Though we like and respect the business model of this company; and it also benefits from the positive macro factors, it is the most highly valued of its peer group.

RAYMOND JAMES BRIEF 6.3.19BIFMA April N.A. Orders +9%; Sales +5.8%; CEO Confi-dence and Small Business Optimism Up

Analysts: Budd Bugatch, Bobby Griffin

>This month’s BIFMA orders and sales statistics were derived from 51 companies, similar to March’s report. As a reminder, beginning with its April 2016 report, BIFMA broadened the scope of the survey to include North America (the U.S., Canada, and Mexico) companies versus the previous practice of U.S.-only products. The new reported format also broadened the categories covered in the survey to include institutional furniture in verticals such as healthcare and education.

>As we show below, April incoming order growth was strong, up 9.0% y/y, with the highest 2-year stack growth rate we have seen; and the average monthly growth rate over the past 12 months was ~7.4%, also quite good. We do not make the case here that these growth rates will continue at these good levels indefinitely. We argue; however, that the industry is healthy and likely to remain so over the near term. After all, we are seeing decent (though not spectacular) job growth and the competition for workers appears real. Moreover, one of the ways companies are competing to attract and retain workers is by providing “cooler” work environments. That’s a happy hap-penstance for the major office furniture companies.

06.17.19 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 39 OF 39

business>As we mentioned last month, although the industry and macro-economic data remains supportive of investment in the office furniture issues, the stock performance has been, at best, boring and lackluster. None of the issues have outper-formed on either the 2-year or 5-year bases, while only MLHR and SCS have outperformed the market in the past year. We are constructively rated on three of the four issues we follow: KNL, SCS, and MLHR and believe our view is appropriate as we continue to believe that these stocks deserve some more respect than they have been awarded, especially in light of the current positive industry backdrop for growth in office furniture.

>According to the BIFMA report, April net North America or-ders booked increased 9.0%, down from the 10.4% increase in March. The 2-year stock order growth rate was +21.2% (the highest we have seen), versus +3.6% in March. As noted, the monthly order growth in North America averaged ~7.4% (median ~6.4%) over the past 12-months, significantly higher than the 1.9% (median ~3.0%) monthly average over the 12- months of the year earlier.

>North America orders for companies with more than $150 million in annual sales (the larger companies) increased +9% y/y in April, below the +11% y/y increase in March. Orders for companies with $25 million to $50 million in sales (the smaller companies) increased +11% y/y in April, above the +7% y/y increase in March. North America orders for com-panies with $50 million to $150 million in annual sales increased +8% y/y, above the +7% increase in March.

>April net North America sales (formerly called shipments) increased +5.8% y/y, up from +4.0% y/y in March. The two-year stack growth rate for net sales was +9.3% y/y, versus +2.9% y/y in March. Average monthly sales growth over the past 12-months was ~6.0% (median ~5.9%), significantly higher than the ~1.8% (median ~2.1%) monthly average over the 12-months of the year earlier.

>Net North America sales for companies with more than $150 million in annual sales increased +7% y/y, versus +4.0% in March. Net North America sales for companies with $25 million to $50 million in sales increased +7% y/y, below the +11% increase in March. North America sales for compa-nies with $50 million to $150 million in annual sales decreased 2% y/y, versus the 1% decrease in March.

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