The annual trade show for the commercial architecture and design community, NeoCon East, November 2nd and 3rd, will focus on showcasing products for the 'Federal Design' community focusing on government commercial interiors.
“NeoCon East has grown tremendously since it was launched in 2003, which is an indication of how important the Federal Government has become to many manufacturers,” said Mark Falanga, president and CEO, MMPI. “This central location in the Mid-Atlantic region is ideal for designers, contractors and government procurement officers to explore new products, meet top manufacturers and glean valuable insights from the expansive educational tracks.”
Thirty seminars, as well as association forums with the IIDA and NCIDQ, have been organized. More than 50 speakers will address a range of important topics in the 12 tracks including: Office Design, Facilities Management, Facilities Construction/Renovation, Green Design, Government Interiors and Services, Healthcare & Senior Housing, Health, Safety & Welfare, Hospitality, Institutional, Lighting, Professional Development and Residential.
Susan S. Szenasy, editor of Metropolis, is leading a panel, Net Zero Government Buildings panel on Wednesday, November 2. The discussion will center on the winning Metropolis 2011 Next Generation challenge to bring a 1960s government building to zero energy impact. The force behind this year’s Next Generation competition, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), will discuss how innovative design thinking will help them moving forward in their upgrading efforts. Winning team members Sean Quinn of HOK Washington, DC and Brandon Harwick of Vanderweilas well as Les Shepherd, GSA Chief Architect will lead the discussion.
John Czarnecki, editor of Contract Magazine, is also leading the State of the Design Professional panel [SE2] presented by Design Leadership Forum of D.C. on Wednesday, November 2. The discussion features principals of leading firms who will explore where we are as professionals, what challenges and opportunities we are facing and what lies ahead. Panelists include Bruno Grinwis, Partner, BBGM; Bob Fox, Principal, Fox Architects; Yves Springuel, Principal, Mancini Duffy; Rich Fanelli, Principal, Fanelli McClain; and Diana Horvat, Principal, Envision, Following this panel program, the “Dream Team” Excellence Awards will be given.
Interior Design magazine Publisher Mark Strauss is partnering with IIDA to host IIDA Principals' Roundtable featuring design firm leaders and peers. This think tank is convened to explore current topics facing design leadership and discusses direction to elevate the position of design in today's marketplace. This roundtable is for principals and senior management of local A&D firms only. Please R.S.V.P. by Monday, October 24 to Jeanne Fisher.
NeoCon East also presents a new exhibit to talk about called THINK:Material curated by international materials consultant Jim Salazar as a resource for design professionals to source new, creative andsustainable materials.
The keynote speakers include Victor Olgyay (left) AIA, principal architect, Rocky Mountain Institute who will present at 11:00 a.m.on November 2, and Jhane Barnes (right), renowned men’s fashion designer who will speak at 11:00 a.m. on November 3.
Olgyay's keynote presentation titled, Unlocking Energy Efficiency in Existing Buildings Using Whole Systems Thinking, addresses both the scale of the effort required to reshape building stocks, as well as the strategy and tactics required. The keynote also details the process and technique, the benefits to businesses, the method for selecting suitable buildings, the key players that must be involved, and the tools and skills required to retrofit existing commercial building stock comprehensively and cost-effectively.
Olgyay currently leads an initiative to encourage the widespread adoption of comprehensive building energy retrofits resulting in energy savings of at least 50 percent. He serves as a member of various organizations including the American Solar Energy Association and the National Academy of Environmental Design Research committee. Olgyay is currently researching ecological restoration and ecosystem services as criteria for green building assessment. His
Barnes will present Changing with the Times, a talk about all of the other projects and products she's involved in that balance her life as a designer. An innovator in contract and interior textiles, carpeting, eyewear, and office furniture, carpets, upholstery, and furniture, Barnes' work appears in the offices of high-profile companies including Google, Delta Air Lines, and SONY. After winning a COTY award for her menswear designs at the age of 25, Knoll approached Barnes to design a collection of contract textiles. Barnes' achievements in design opened the door for collaborations with such companies as Bernhardt, Tandus and Jofco, where she melded her design sensibility with efforts to maintain environmentally sensitive practices. Barnes has owned her own fashion company for 35 years.
Online registration for seminars and special events is now available and pre-registration ends October 27.
For more information, call 800.677.6278 (MART).
