Retail Observer

NEOCON ® 2016: ENERGIZING T H E I N D U S T R Y NEOCON IS THE NORTH AMERICAN SHOW FOR COMMERCIAL DESIGN AND THE 2016 EDITION WAS PROOF-POSITIVE THAT THE INDUSTRY IS ALIVE AND GROWING. N eoCon is The North American show for commercial design and the 2016 edition was proof-positive that the industry is alive and growing. More than just a major event, NeoCon has evolved into a true international design hub, as well as a dynamic and collaborative learning community. Registration was up 6% from last year, drawing 53,000 enthusiastic professionals from around the world. The 100% occupied NeoCon showrooms, five of which were new additions, were buzzing all three days. Those in attendance were the first to experience theMART's newly designed public spaces. The transformative $40 million dollar renovation included a striking new Grand Stair opening up to a large multi-purpose space on the second floor, a modernized urban food hall, an expanded riverfront park with alfresco seating and more. Also bustling with activity was the newly redesigned 7th Floor Exhibit Hall. Offering a comprehensive, easy-to-navigate experience, it received rave reviews from exhibitors and show goers. Insightful and robust programming and a wealth of special events, parties, awards ceremonies and inspiring exhibits made for a productive and fun show. Keynote sessions were filled to capacity. Kicking off the first day of the show was Paul Scialla, founder and CEO of Delos, and founder of the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), (sponsored by Groupe Lacasse and ASID). Scialla delivered a powerful presentation in which he shared emerging innovations and evidence-based research about how to design buildings specifically to support the health and wellness of the people who live, work and learn in them. Hot on the heels of winning a Tony Award for his scenic designs for She Loves Me, David Rockwell, founder and president of award-winning architecture and design firm, Rockwell Group, was met with an enthusiastic crowd for his keynote (sponsored by Knoll and IIDA). Rockwell unveiled a workplace collection with Knoll rooted in the cornerstones of Rockwell Group's practice: hospitality, user- choreographed experience and theater. The next day's keynote was met with equal success. Oana Stanescu, partner of the visionary architecture studio, Family, spoke passionately about what architecture/ design can do for a community and how architects and designers can make their visions come to fruition to benefit others (sponsored by OFS Brands and AIA Chicago). EXHIBITORS SHARED SOME OF THEIR OBSERVATIONS: "There is something magical about Neocon, it's a combination of product, trend identification and passionate conversations. The show was a sensory explosion of the latest trends in corporate design. It is always exciting to explore theMART with our team as we discuss the wall coverings and fabrics that we have in development and how they relate in the larger context across product categories. Catching my attention at the show this time was the continued movement towards a hospitality vibe in corporate interiors, the fun use of bright primary colors and all shades of blue dominating so many color palettes, and the importance of sustainability being woven into a company's DNA and not just a product. What I always find most energizing about the show is all about what happens in the chance meetings…with new friends and industry icons. It's the conversations that take us on tangents that lead to aha moments and always leave me knowing why I am so passionate about our industry after all these years." —Rick Hickman, VP of Sales, TRI-KES JANUARY 2017 RETAILOBSERVER.COM 61

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