Healthcare Design ’08 Teknion On The Move Earth From Above,...

GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS11.17.08

CITED:“I HAVE OF LATE, BUT WHEREFORE I KNOW NOT, LOST ALL MY MIRTH.” —WILLIAM SHAKE-SPEARE, HAMLET

Healthcare Design ’08

If there is a bright spot in the design industry, it is healthcare. More than 3300 attendees (up 15% from last year) converged in Washing-ton DC last week to attend the 7th annual Healthcare Design event. Overlooking the National Harbor the Gaylord Convention Center played the role of the obliging host. FULL STORY ON PG.3

Teknion On The Move

Teknion Corporation, Canada, and Teknion LLC, its U.S. arm, were swamped with success during the dot.com era of the late ’90s, their functional furniture with a fl air and some fi nancial common sense made it a sweetheart of Silicon Valley. But then came the new millennium, presenting a most unusual array of fi nancial perspectives and asperities.FULL STORY ON PG.8

Earth From Above, Sky From Below

Carnegie Fabrics is well known for its innovation in design and technol-ogy. With a 2007 launch, its newest brand Anthology strives to bring this innovation to the hospitality market by offering an emotionally resonant and intricate approach to textile design. Anthology’s debut collection, Tree-Lore, was inspired by the mythology and natural beauty of trees.FULL STORY ON PG.10

3form Celebrates C3 and 100 Percent

More than 200 architecture and design professionals gathered at the newly redesigned 3form showroom in New York City for the colorful PRISM BREAK event. 3form’s C3 offers color compatibility across three materials – Varia Ecoresin, Chroma, and Pressed Glass. 100 Percent (re-cycled) is a design-driven material with a minimal environmental footprint.FULL STORY ON PG.12

A Minute with Ira Joe: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

“AOL was designed as a hip and functional workspace for an es-tablished internet leader,” comments Clay Pendergrast, LEED AP, Senior Vice President of HOK’s Los Angeles offi ce in the November 3rd offi ceinsight. I’m looking at the photographs accompanying the article. FULL STORY ON PG.14

11.17.08 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 2 OF 25

THANK YOU FOR YOUR STEADFAST SUPPORT OF NEOCON® EAST!Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. would like to thank all show partners and sponsors who

contributed to the success of this year’s NeoCon East:

AIA Baltimore

ASID

Baltimore Architecture Foundation

The Common Thread for the Cure

Contract Magazine

Dauphin

DBI Architects

Design Leadership Council of D.C.

Feng Shui Institute International

FocusOnDesign™

Fox Architects

Gensler

GSA’s Workplace Acquisition Center

GreenShape, LLC

IA Interior Architects

IIDA

IdeaPaint

Interior Design Magazine

Kimball Office

METROPOLIS Magazine

NCIDQ

NeoCon East Advisory Council

The New Patcraft and Designweave

Participating Industry Associations

Participating Industry Publications

Participating Industry Speakers

Pink, Inc.

Project H Design

The Radisson Hotel

SmithGroup

Skidmore, Owings and Merrill

Stratton Design Source

Teknion

TVS Interiors

USGBC

Wisnewski Blair and Associates

supported by:

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Attendees 6,050 5,615 6,626 7,571 7,835 7,864

Exhibitors 187 230 244 270 281 302

Gross Square Feet of Halls at the 123,000 177,000 185,000 215,000 240,000 240,000Baltimore Convention Center

Net Square Footage Occupied 43,000 55,000 61,700 66,000 69,900 73,700

Seminars 32 34 39 45 57 59

Direct Mail Marketing List Quantity 58,000 65,000 74,500 80,000 85,000 90,000

We look forward to seeing you at NeoCon East 2009, October 28-29. For more information on NeoCon East, please visit neoconeast.com.

Kudos to the thousands of manufacturers and attendees who participated in NeoCon East 2008!You continue to make NeoCon East the fastest growing industry event on the East Coast.


events

of all hospital deaths are caused by HAI, and new government regula-tions prohibit reimbursement in such instances, healthcare facilities are examining new ways of dealing with the elimination of pathogens that settle on surfaces. Many institutions are questioning the current design strategy of making healthcare facilities appear hospitality-like or home-like; experience has shown that the highly textured surfaces of the materials and textiles used to create these ambi-ences fl y in the face of the ability to maintain a sanitary condition. Hence, there is an outcry for a new authen-tic aesthetic for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. The use of silver (as in agion) and, now, the newly approved use of copper for providing a measure of antimicrobial control will hopefully expand the options for interior fi nishes. > Sustainability-related issues. Considering the new economic reality, budgets have come under duress and there is real fear that sustainability advances will be negatively impacted. This is the result of studies revealing sustainable building products and processes add approximately 15% to the cost of a new construction project. Although sustainable products and processes may well reduce life cycle costs, times are diffi cult and initial fi nancial outlay is under pressure. Statistics reveal that the Midwest can claim leadership for the number of LEED certifi ed healthcare projects (statistics show 50% of all certifi ed projects are in the Midwest). New LEED standards, directly impacting healthcare facilities, are scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2009. Additionally, when combining both LEED and the GreenGuide guidelines,

> EBD (Evidence Based Design) has begun to play a major role in design decision-making. There are concerns that unscrupulous and inexperienced designers claim to use EBD as part of their problem solving process, but to many times this is simply a sales pitch. The fi eld of EBD is quickly growing; there already exist a substan-tial number of studies conducted by universities, institutions and manu-facturers (such as Steelcase, Her-man Miller, Hill-Rom and Interface). Unfortunately, much of this informa-tion has not been made available for others who are not directly related to the entity that conducted it. Efforts are afoot to explore the viability of sharing this data. > HAI (Hospital Acquired Infections) is a hot topic for the design commu-nity as it directly relates to surfaces (fi nishes and furnishings). Since 40%

Healthcare Design ’08by Kathleen Vick, with Becky Roop adding on the Nightengale Awards

If there is a bright spot in the design industry, it is healthcare. More than 3300 attendees (up 15% from last year) converged in Washington DC last week to attend the 7th annual Healthcare Design event. Overlook-ing the National Harbor, surrounded by the splendor of late autumn foli-age, the Gaylord Convention Center played the role of the obliging host.

Although a wide range of themes wove their way through the agenda, considerable attention was paid to: > AAHID (American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers) examination preparation. With the December 10, 2008 deadline quickly approaching, fi rst time applicants who intend to sit for the AAHID examination should take immedi-ate action to ensure their eligibility. Additional information is available at www.aahid.org.

SEMINAR CROWD


eventsalso uses hydrogen peroxide in lieu of chlorine in its laundry facility.

The exhibit hall was fi lled with manufacturers and vendors offering both specialty and cross-over prod-ucts. All exhibitors were allowed to enter the coveted Nightingale Awards, sponsored by Contract, The Center for Health Design, and Healthcare De-sign.08, recognizing excellence and in-novation in healthcare product design. The 2008 winners were announced during an offi cial awards ceremony at the Gaylord National Resort in Wash-ington, D.C., on November 10, 2008. The Nightingale Awards Award criteria included: contributions to the healing environment, functionality, quality and durability, aesthetics and style, pric-ing, and innovation.

This year’s competition was judged by: > Jamie C. Huffcut, LEED AP, Perkins+Will> Daniel Krause, vice president, inte-rior design, Cannon Design> Jonathan D. Miller, AIA, principal, Perkins Eastman> Michele Vernon, IIDA, LEED AP, vice president, VOA Associates.

The 2008 awards were distributed to the following manufacturers, and exclusive group indeed:

> C.F.Stinson’s PVC-Free Upholstery C.F. Stinson won a second consecu-tive Nightingale Award for its pat-terned PVC-free upholstery collec-tion, “Now and Zen” designed by the cf stinson design team. The collec-tion, which won a Best of NeoCon award, comes in 3 patterns; Hoopla, Eclipse, and Flutter, and is manu-factured using a patent-pending technology for durability, cleanabil-ity and sustainability. The collection includes a “built-in” antimicrobial system that is non-leaching, perma-nent, and will not wash off or abrade off over time. Predominantly made with recycled materials with recycled polyester backing and produced us-

> The Sustainable Healthcare Archi-tecture session noted the healthcare industry is the second highest con-tributor to the ecological footprint (just behind the food industry); it uses twice the resources of commercial facili-ties. Healthcare generates 40 million pounds of waste and waste products every year; it uses nearly 44 million gallons of water a year (these are all US statistics) and the amount of energy used is daunting when it comes to travel by staff, patients and visitors. The industry wide goal of a carbon savings of 60% by the year 2010 is highly doubtful. Many facilities, using conventional systems, have been able to achieve 20% carbon savings and efforts to date have shown any savings over 30% is extremely diffi cult.

However, there are a few intriguing bright spots: Gunderson Lutheran Medical Center developed a partner-ship with a neighboring brewery and uses its methane to power most of its lighting. Their plan is to expand the program and reach carbon neutrality by 2014. Hackensack Hospital in New Jersey reformulated all of its cleaning products, saving 10% of its costs; it

more than 75% of all facilities claim to “always, often or sometimes” take steps toward more sustainability.

Highlights from specifi c sessions include:> The IIDA Healthcare Forum hosted a round table discussion, facilitated by Cheryl Durst, CEO of International Interior Design Association, regard-ing the future of Healthcare design. Because that segment of the design industry is still strong, when ques-tioned about the desirable traits for a prospective employee, the responses were surprising: not a single respon-dent mentioned computer skills (aka CAD). Qualifi cations were directed toward “truly liking people, being a team player, being an observer of human behavior and being able to ask the right questions.” One very interesting point was made that a strong candidate for employment in the healthcare design segment was someone who “has suffi cient strength of self that allows him or her to be open.” Employers noted the dearth of “15 year people” and the ability to “balance people vs digital.”

CF STINSON: NOW AND ZEN


eventsing water-based inks, the fabrics can contribute to LEED CI credits under various sections of the LEED Certifi -cation documentation and process. www.cfstinson.com

> Nurture by Steelcase Nurture earned its second consecu-tive Nightingale Award for its caregiv-er workspace solution, SYNC. SYNC work stations, developed in conjunc-tion with HDR Architecture, Inc., is a fl exible task system supporting peer-to-peer interactions, and offering fl exible and ergonomic solutions that accommodate increasing technology demands and the needs of caregiv-ers and a clinical environment. SYNC adapts to a centralized or decentral-ized, new construction or retro-fi t environment and can be moved, re-used or reconfi gured as needs change. It uses a minimal footprint, serpentine shapes, 3 different fi xed heights and includes integrated tech-nology and power. www.nurture.com

> KI’s Arissa Collection This marks KI’s third Nightingale Award over the past four years. The company has earned the award for every new healthcare product it has launched since 2005. The Arissa Collection, designed by Dan Cramer and Paul James. Designed with the bariatric population in mind (its pat-ent pending seating geometry can accommodate individuals weighing up to 750 pounds), truly a universal design. The collection includes a loveseat, lounge chair, side chair and ottoman. http://www.kihealthcare.com

> Hill-Rom’s Elements Headwall System The Elements Headwall System, designed by Dennis Gallant, Brian Hoffman and David Newkirk, is a collection of in-wall, on-wall and cabinetry elements designed as a

NURTURE BY STEELCASE

KI: ARISSA


eventsset of building blocks. Its adapt-ability includes a series of manifolds and tubes accommodating a wide variety of electrical, data, entertain-ment plumbing and infrastructure, enabling a facility to add gas, data, electric or new devices to transform a medical space to an intensive care unit or labor and delivery room with ease. Behind its elegant, panelized veneer lies a marvel of engineering that incorporates a structural system compatible with either 2x4 or 2x6 construction. Roll-formed steel studs and steel panels create a robust infrastructure capable of withstand-ing rigorous clinical use, while a wide palette of fi xtures and fi nishes offers an array of architectural styles. (www.hill-rom.com) HILL-ROM

HILL-ROM


eventsMayer Fabrics (www.mayerfabrics.

com) has achieved the unthinkable: a domestically-produced-from-domestic-hides leather that can be cleaned with bleach. Its “Performaxx Leather” is aniline dyed, semi aniline fi nished, embossed, solvent free, antimicrobial and water repellent.

Nurture by Steelcase’s Sonata Col-lection for oncology treatment. Designed by Alan Rheault of Nurture and Marcia Vanden Brink of HDR. it offers a semi-enclosed landscape that provides privacy without isolation; varied modes of seating provide for caregivers and companions. A wide array of modules provide a nearly unlimited opportunity for tasks, storage, distraction and waste-management.

Tandus (www.tandus.com) introduced a way to make it easy to mix and match their products and create patterns. Rather than laying out, cutting and seam-ing a variety of carpet offerings in the fi eld they will do all the work at the mill and then ship the fi nished product in rolls.

Also of note were:Carnegie (www.carnegiefabrics.com), with an eye to the benefi ts of full spec-trum color, showed off its new privacy curtain, a veritable rainbow of clear, sophisticated color gradient. Hence, there are only two sku’s: colors and neutrals.

Herman Miller Healthcare (www.hermanmiller.com), the division that has been dedicated to healthcare furnishings innovation since 1971, presented two Brandrud “Health-ful Patient Seating” options: “Nala” designed with ultimate patient comfort (“pillow friendly arms”) and “Cente” designed with patient safety in mind. Besides affording every consideration to the patient, they are designed with the aging nursing staff in mind. With the average age of a nurse 47, they are at an age where they are vulnerable to the hazards of physical exertion that result from repositioning and relocating patients.

ELIZABETH NICHOLS, EVP, HERMAN MILLER FOR HEALTHCARE IN NALA

National Exposition of Contract Furnishings

To exhibit or register to attend,

visit www.merchandisemartproperties.com

or call 800.677.6278.

NeoCon® World’s Trade FairChicagoJune 15–17, 2009neocon.com

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IIDEX/NeoCon® CanadaTorontoSeptember 24–25, 2009iidexneocon.com


events

innovation, inspiration and ingenuity for which the company has become known.

Celebrating the move, Teknion hosted over 150 architects, designers and clients from the greater Delaware Valley at its November 6th offi cial showroom opening event. Maxine Mann, Teknion LLC’s new President, introduced at NeoCon ’08, addressed the audience, thanking them for their

Since then, Teknion has been a beehive of activity, deploying its sales forces throughout the United States, introducing cutting-edge designs and marketing its heart out.

Teknion LLC’s latest move – literally – took it to its new US headquarters in Mount Laurel, southern New Jersey. While we are not sure how this fi ts into Teknion’s overall strategy, you can be sure that its new offi ces carry the

Teknion On The Moveby Brad Powell

Teknion Corporation, Canada, and Teknion LLC, its U.S. arm, were swamped with success during the dot.com era of the late ’90s, their func-tional furniture with a fl air and some fi nancial common sense made it a sweetheart of Silicon Valley. But then came the new millennium, presenting in its short almost nine years a most unusual array of fi nancial perspectives and asperities.

THE BAND IN THE NEW SHOWROOM


eventsthe refreshments were assembled on a local theme: Philadelphia, for the food, mini cheesesteaks; and the Stoli Doli Tektini, for the drinks. (We hope car service was included.)

And by the way, take a look at Teknion’s new web site: very nicely done, attractive and useful.

The formal presentations were fol-lowed by a showroom tour and more on-product explanations of Mr. Mag-nusson and the Teknion staff.

But don’t worry; contract industry events are never all work. It’s the total experience, you see, that we are all after. Teknion knew its audience and

support, introduced the program for the evening and congratulated the architect and design partners respon-sible for the company’s building and its interiors: architects, Meyer Design, and interior designers, Bower Lewis Thrower.

As you may have noted, former Knoll SVP and Director of Design, and a designer in his own right, Carl Magnusson has found a new home, or at least so it seems by his presence whenever and wherever there is an audience for the story behind his Best of Neocon Gold winners Marketplace and Synapse. (Never in the history of contract furniture has anyone been able to make so much of what is, es-sentially, a stick chair, Synapse, and for that we give Mr. Magnusson our hearty approbation.)

Mr. Magnusson told his story of translating a highway sign truss into the very well received Marketplace open work table, and the energy-saving Synapse chair, whose fully recyclable cast aluminum frame en-ables the chair to be shipped before assembly. Steve Verbeek of Teknion’s design team spoke about Teknion’s design process and specifi cally the intent behind Best of Neocon Gold winner District.

CARL MAGNUSSON WITH THE SYNAPSE ALUMINUM FRAME THE OPENING PROGRAM

CARL MAGNUSSON POINTING OUT SOME OF THE FINER DETAILS OF MARKETPLACE


aerial viewpoint. The design process started here and the theme carried through to individual paintings of each pattern, and fi nally to the fi nal textile.

Thus, in Earth from Above, Sky from Below you will fi nd echos of everything from the clouds and mountains above us to the valleys and hidden shadows below us. Broadened perspectives turn the ordinary into the visually extraordi-nary, as the collection embraces such broadened perspectives as aerial views of olive groves in Tunisia with Passage, and of a fi eld covered with sheets to protect the saplings underneath, in the sheer drapery Cumulus.

“Tree-Lore...has proven to be in-credibly popular for us,” says Heather Bush, Executive Vice President of Carnegie. “Lately, we’ve been see-ing a greater demand for textiles that have the feel of ‘home’ but meet the very specifi c commercial require-ments for contract work.”

An intimate press introduction held last month welcomed us into Ms. Weitzner’s home where she presented the new collection of eight patterns, and the inspiration behind it, French photographer Yann Arthus Bertrand’s book of photographs, Earth from Above, a stunning look at what land-scapes look like from this broadened

Earth From Above, Sky From Belowby Jean Lin

Carnegie Fabrics is well known for its innovation in design and technol-ogy. With a 2007 launch, its newest brand Anthology strives to bring this innovation to the hospitality market by offering an emotionally resonant and intricate approach to textile design. Last year, Anthology’s debut collec-tion, Tree-Lore, was inspired by the mythology and natural beauty of trees. Designer Lori Weitzner whose clients include Missoni, Rosenthal, Estee Lauder, Calvin Klein, The Museum of Modern Art, and Donna Karan, has expanded Anthology’s line for 2008 with the Earth from Above, Sky from Below collection.

product intro

CELESTE SHADOW (CHAIR) AND CUMULUS (DRAPERY)


product introMs. Weitzner sought to meld warm

residential aesthetics with functional performance for Anthology, and ex-pressed challenges she faced while designing, having to constantly keep performance in mind. “The creative process takes a turn when faced with performance challenges presented by commercial markets. We had to take our design concepts and refi ne them to achieve the aesthetic, textural and performance standards of Carnegie.”

“Earth from Above continues our journey toward creating a product line that straddles two markets,” Says Cliff Goldman, President of Carnegie. And one can plainly see the effect of bring-ing Ms. Weitzner on board. Anthology’s two collections have an inherently warm and organic aesthetic and when held up with the rest of Carnegie’s product line, from its drapery and upholstery collections to its popular Xorel line, it certainly softens the edges of a strictly commercial textile company. Carnegie’s patterns – particularly in the past few years – have had a certain urban edge, and Anthology gives designers a differ-ent, softer perspective on the com-pany’s offerings as a whole. PROVENCE

PROVENCE INSPIRATION BY YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND PROVENCE INSPIRATION ARTWORK


rated with luminous color. This mono-lithic material is perfect for horizontal applications while being engineered to be resurfaced and re-colored again and again, preventing the mate-rial from entering the waste stream. Extremely durable, Chroma can be shaped to accommodate curves and is thick and stable for engineered load bearing applications.> Varia Ecoresin features 40 percent post-industrial recycled content, and is ideal for projects seeking LEED cer-

With a palette of 26 contemporary col-ors, C3 enables users to specify the desired colors in the material each application requires.> Pressed Glass is chemical resis-tant and extremely durable, and is ideal for a sleek aesthetic with minimal hardware. Characteristically clear, Pressed Glass is appropriate for installations requiring maximum transparency for aesthetic, security or safety reasons.> Chroma offers a bold surface satu-

3form Celebrates C3 and 100 Percent

More than 200 architecture and design professionals gathered at the newly redesigned 3form showroom in New York City for the colorful PRISM BREAK event. Sponsored by Metropolis magazine, guests mixed, mingled, and experienced the new 3form C3 and 100 percent materials. Servers even sported authentic prison uniforms with a 3form twist.

3form’s C3 offers color compat-ibility across three materials – Varia Ecoresin, Chroma, and Pressed Glass.

product intro

3FORM SHOWROOM


Blend, and has recently introduced a fresh palette of six sophisticated colors. > Base is a refi ned material made from 100% raw recycled waste. With contemporary colors and a sleek shimmer, 100 Percent Base is at home in any installation.> Blend offers uniquely combined colors in striking contrasts which cre-ate an up-cycled material that swirls sustainability into any space.

www.3-form.com

the same luminous color in three dis-tinctly different materials may seem basic, but is really breaking boundar-ies.”

100 Percent is a design-driven material with a minimal environmental footprint, made from 100% post-con-sumer recycled high density polyeth-ylene. With over 1000 milk bottles going into each panel, it can help projects earn up to 2 LEED credits for recycled content. 100 Percent is available in two collections, Base and

tifi cation and applications requiring increased impact including sculptural installations requiring heat formation and privacy applications requiring customized light diffusion.

All three materials are compatible with 3form Hardware solutions for a variety of applications.

“We are always committed to pro-viding designers with the tools they need to truly transform space,” says Jill Canales, Vice President of design and marketing at 3form. “Providing

product intro

3FORM: C3


a minute with ira joe

Entourage looks quite comfy. But, that throne on which the troubled Scot-tish king sags and mopes is enough to make a fella sag and mope. Hey, Thane of Cawdor, ever hear of throw pillows? I do like it that the morally-muddied monarch mentions some-thing as mundane as rhubarb: “What rhubarb, cynne, or what purgative drug / Would scour these English hence?” (act 5, scene 3, lines 56 and 57) In-delicate? To be sure; but, after severed heads on stakes, the stabbing of Dun-can and a wholesale dispatching of any number of foes – imagined or real – mention of purgatives is pretty tame stuff. Yeah. Rhubarb doesn’t make me think of purging the English. It makes me think of pie. Does rhubarb ever come up at AOL/Entourage? Or pie?

For all of his soliloquizing about “tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomor-row…” MacBeth is so yesterday. AOL’s headquarters is the future of interior design. It is “hip and functional.” MacBeth’s castle is so gloomy that plaid can’t even cheer it up. And the Scottish king is doomed never to hear those happy words, “Welcome! You’ve got mail!”

MacBeth, which I watched on TCM re-cently. With my basic cable, I am able to watch TCM. (An aside here: doesn’t it seem that we’re losing our love for words? We’re resorting more and more to initials – AOL and HBO and TCM and HOK – rather than the perfectly fi ne words and terms they represent – America-On-Line and Home Box Offi ce and Turner Classic Movies). I considered the MacBeth set as interior design for a home. It lacks …uh, ame-nities. The AOL headquarters is pretty darned spiffy: I don’t know what every-thing is; but, it sure looks great. The curving, Plexiglass (?) dividers leading to distant warm paneling. MacBeth’s place is all rugged-lumpy-cooled-lava-looking. Dry wall clearly wasn’t in the budget.

I admit that I can’t fi gure out what those little, red pods are in AOL/Entou-rage World; but, I like them. Does the green-veined ceiling above them twirl? I don’t see any people there; but, it looks like a place people would enjoy. There are people all over MacBeth’s place. But nobody appears to be enjoying. Anything. Even that nice party MacBeth and his lady throw. The king looks like he’s just seen a ghost or something. And that crown? Come on, Orson, where did you get that? Burger King?

AOL/Entourage’s glass passageway looks like beam-me-up fun. Back at the castle it is bulging igneous rock dripping and oozing with oily water. That’s not indoor plumbing. That’s pneumonia as wall-treatment. In 21st Century Beverly Hills it looks like a per-son would blithely glide around AOL’s headquarters. At the Scotland castle, the woeful folks can only trudge. In black-and-white plaid, which they drag through the puddles. Ick. AOL/

A Minute with Ira Joe: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrowby Ira Joe Fisher

“AOL was designed as a hip and func-tional workspace for an established internet leader,” comments Clay Pend-ergrast, LEED AP, Senior Vice Presi-dent of HOK’s Los Angeles offi ce in the November 3rd offi ceinsight. I’m looking at the photographs accompanying the article. Ahh. Sorry for the hackneyed reaction – ahh. But, “ahh” is what I said when I looked at the photos of AOL’s Beverly Hills Headquarters. The color, the glitter, the glassy. And a cylindrical tunnel piercing right into the future. It’s functional. Well, it has to be that. It’s a real working workplace. But, it’s also the set for HBO’s Entourage. Cool. I’d tune in. If I didn’t have basic cable. That’s what I have. Basic cable. So, no HBO. No Entourage. No regu-larly viewing this sparkling, space-age set. Oops. Workplace.

It so contrasts with Orson Welles’s soundstage for his 1948 production of

AOL

ORSON WELLES


MATERIAL OF THE WEEK

MC# 6254-01Biodegradable and compostable PLA-blends for foil applications. These granulates consist of different percentages of PLA (poly-lactide), further biodegradable polymers as well as mineral fi llers. Four mixtures are offered for different applications. The foils can be printed with common printing methods without any prob-lem or also dyed with masterbatches. The material withstands temperatures of up to 176 °F (60°C) whereas the extrusion temperature is signifi cantly higher as that of other biodegrad-able composites. Because the polymer-compound is completely homogenous, blow-extruded foils with a thickness of up to 8 micrometer can be achieved. The material is suitable for various processing methods like laminating, blow forming, injection molding and extrusion coating. The foils feature a more pleasant haptic than pure polyester or polyester-starch-composites. The material is biodegradable, compostable (according to EN 13432 and is certifi ed by a declaration of no objection for food contact [F25]. The lead tine is about 5 weeks, whereas the manufacturer indicates a limited availability in 2008 and 2009. Applications are for blow foils, cast foils, co-extruded products, packaging, shopping bags, mulch foil, garbage bags as well as technical parts.

This column is published in collaboration with Material Con-neXion. For more information regarding the material previewed, please contact Michael LaGreca at [email protected]. T: 212.842.2050.

PRODUCT INTRO> Architectural Systems, Inc., NYC, introduced Vencork, a fl oor product that combines real wood veneers with a cork substrate. Ven-cork comes in a range of color options, from light to dark, with custom capabilities. It also features an anti-scratch transparent polyvinyl chloride fi nish. www.archsystems.com

> Knoll Luxe released a new interior textile collection. Designed by Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez from the fashion house, Proenza ARCH SYSTEMS: VENCORK


of self-suffi cient Urban Vil-lages and Rural Settlements surrounded by small agricul-tural hinterlands. Only urban and rural areas that provide everything needed for daily living at walking distances will survive. The book can be purchased at Lulu, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other search engines for $37.75 or downloaded from http://stores.lulu.com/selfsuffi cien-turbanism for $15.00.

> Lord Norman Foster of Foster + Partners received the International Highrise Award 2008 for the de-sign of New York’s Hearst Headquarters Tower. This prestigious award, bestowed every two years by the city of Frankfurt am Main in Ger-many, includes a monetary prize of EUR 50,000. http://www.highrise-frankfurt.de/en/index2.html

> Ted Moudis and Joanne Minieri were honored by Special Olympics New York. Mr. Moudis is Senior Principal of Ted Moudis Associates and Ms. Minieri is President and Chief Operating Offi cer of For-est City Ratner Companies. The company leaders were

> David M. Copley was appointed to the Board of Certifi cation in Professional Ergonomics. Mr. Copley is Vice President of Safety & Quality Management of EM-COR Construction Services, Inc. The BCPE is an inde-pendent nonprofi t organiza-tion that seeks to advance knowledge of ergonomic is-sues through the certifi cation of competent professionals. Mr. Copley has over 30 years of experience in safety and quality management within the construction and facilities services industries in the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

> Jaime Correa, AIA’s Urban Designer of the Year, released a book on self-suffi ciency. Mr. Correa offers a positive solution to global warming in the book, SELF-SUFFICIENT URBANISM: a vision of contraction for the non-distant future. The book is the result of two years of academic research on the effects of climate change and peak oil production on the organization of the city. According to Mr. Correa the existing confi guration of ur-ban areas will disappear and be replaced by a combination

> Trendway introduced Pack for a complete fi ling and storage solution. Pack offers a range of sizes, options, and fi nishes at a great value. With height options that sup-port the lower profi le design trends, Pack is designed for customer versatility and value. The Pack collection includes mobile personal storage options for fl exibility at the individual workstation. In addition, it offers all of the components for volume storage needs. http://www.trendway.com

NOTEWORTHY> Christine Brady and Melissa Szeredy received Richard R. Smith Memorial Scholarships from ASID-IL. Each was awarded a $1,000 check to offset fees for tu-ition, books and supplies for the current school year. The Richard R. Smith Memorial Scholarship competition is based upon excellence in de-sign. Applicants were given an “as built” footprint of a space that provides a small commercial retail store with an apartment for the propri-etor. www.asidillinois.com

Schouler, the six upholstery fabrics embody the design-ers’ concept of “nonchalant luxury” and were inspired by their work on the runway. The collection includes: - Mepal, a large scale silk and linen damask, inspired by the Fall 2007 Runway Collection. Mepal is the signature pattern of the group.- Sandis, a pattern that trans-lates an animal print from Spring 2008 into a graphic moiré-like woven wood grain.- Gates, a glamorous solid texture fabric based on a sequined fabric used in an evening ensemble from Fall 2008. - Worth, a hefty texture with a distinctive weave structure combining thick yarns to emulate brocade from a suit neckline and pockets in the Resort 2007 collection.- Canaan, the foundation product in the mix, designed from a vest in the Spring 2007 collection. - Walker, an ethnic, tribal aesthetic designed with an opposing twill-like pattern in a rectangular grid formation.http://www.knoll-luxe.com

KNOLL LUXE: PROENZA SCHOULER

TRENDWAY:PACK

DAVID COPLEY

TED MOUDIS & JOANNE MINIERI


- The Seattle-Tacoma Inter-national Airport received fi rst place in the Greater than 30 Million Annual Passen-gers Served category and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, which manages Toronto Pearson Airport, re-ceived second place.- The Salt Lake City Depart-ment of Airports, which over-sees three airports throughout Utah, won fi rst place in the 20-30 Million Annual Passen-gers Served category. - The San Diego International Airport received fi rst place in the 10-20 Million Annual Pas-sengers Served category, and for the second year in a row, Oregon’s Eugene Airport won fi rst place in the Less than One Million Annual Passen-gers Served category.Award submissions were evaluated using fi ve criteria: leadership, innovation, sus-tainability, customer service and operational effi ciency. www.ifma-airp.org

> Confi gura, Grand Rap-ids, MI, signed Spacefi le International Corp. as its newest manufacturing client. Confi gura, maker of CET De-signer, has begun developing a custom Extension loaded with Spacefi le products. The Extension, known as Spacefi le Spacetools, will be available to Spacefi le dealers and designers this spring.

> BIFMA Headquarters offi ce will be moving to a new loca-tion. Effective November 24, 2008 the new address is: BIFMA International 678 Front Avenue NW, Suite 150 Grand Rapids MI 49504-5368The phone number and fax number will remain the same. During the move on Novem-ber 24 and the morning of the 25th the offi ce will be temporarily without phone service. For a map to the new location: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Grand+Rapids&state=MI&address=678+Front+Avenue+NW+Suite+150&zipcode=49504

> The IFMA Foundation released the FM Technol-ogy Update. The publication details the current and future outlook of technology in facil-ity management. Each of the 10 chapters is written by a fa-cility manager with extensive experience on the subject. Written with non-information technology professionals in mind, each of the report’s chapters is divided into four sections: basic technology concepts; current use of tech-nology; future use of technol-ogy and its impact on the profession; and case studies. The “FM Technology Update” is available for purchase at www.ifmafoundation.org

> Airport Facilities Manage-ment Excellence Award winners were announced by the Airport Facilities Council of the International Facility Management Association.

> AIA 2008 Upjohn Research Initiative Projects were an-nounced. The project selec-tions, by a jury with representa-tives from the College of Fellows and the Board Knowledge Committee, will receive 18-month grants for base funds toward applied research projects that advance profes-sional knowledge and practice. The recipients also will qualify to have their fi ndings and out-comes published electronically and in a nationally distributed publication. From a fi eld of 30, four submissions were selected.- Cradle to Grave: Case Studies of Buildings’ Environmental Footprint- EcoCeramic Phase II: High Performance Masonry Enclo-sure- Guidelines for the Design of Sustainable Learning Labo-ratories that Teach Through Architecture- Thermally Active Surfaces in Architecturehttp://www.aia.org/release_102708_upjohn

> ASID Foundation partnered with Rebuilding Together to focus on rehabilitating the houses of low-income active and retired members of the military. Through the partner-ship, the ASID Foundation will help provide safe, sustainable and accessible housing for those who have given much, yet cannot afford the cost of home maintenance and, in many cases, are physically unable to modify or maintain their homes. For additional information on the Veterans Housing Initiative http://www.rebuildingtogether.org/section/initiatives/veteran_housing

recognized at the 9th Annual Real Estate & Construction Gala, held on October 15 and attended by more than 700 members of the industry. Their dedication and com-mitment to the organization helped Special Olympics New York raise nearly $800,000. Mr. Moudis and Ms.Minieri are actively involved in several charitable and profession-al organizations.

> The AIA Center for Com-munities by Design selected two communities to receive technical assistance under the Sustainable Design As-sessment Team program in 2009. - Orange, MA, will receive a plan for revitalizing the existing built environment and deterio-rating infrastructure. The plan will address social inequities created by high unemploy-ment rates and educational cuts and will generate tools for creating and retaining affordable and rental housing options.- Port Angeles, WA, will receive assistance with creating an aesthetically pleasing tourist destination. The plan includes ways to encourage occu-pancy of vacant structures, the sustainable development of vacant land, tools for design improvement incentives, multi-modal transit opportunities, while maintaining open space and access to the waterfront.SDAT brings together archi-tects and other professionals from across the country to pro-vide a roadmap for communi-ties seeking to improve their sustainability. http://www.aia.org/liv_sdat CONFIGURA RENDERING


> The National Council for Interior Design Qualifi ca-tion announced the 2009 Examination testing loca-tions. The list includes some changes from 2008 as well as some additional locations. To view the list, visit: http://www.ncidq.org/news/index.htm.

> The Persimfans symphony orchestra was formed in the USSR in 1922. The unusual aspect of the orchestra was that, believing that in the ideal Marxist state all people are equal, its members felt that there was no need to be led by the dictatorial baton of a conductor; instead they were led by a committee. Although it was a partial success, the principal diffi culty with the concept was in changing tem-po. The orchestra survived for ten years before Stalin’s cultural politics effectively forced it into disbandment by draining away its funding.

> Vista System International supplied its signage sys-tem to Rotulos Gavalda for its new offi ce complex in Alicante, Spain. The client requested an elegant, easy to update and vandal proof sign system for the main lobby, directory signs, specifying special events, and for wall and table signs for each of-fi ce. Assembly requires only a screwdriver. www,vistasystem.com

> West Valley Properties, Inc. and Rawson, Blum & Leon joined forces to form a new company, RBL Real Es-tate, Inc. The new company will acquire, develop and

to determine how frequently an offi ce was being occupied. The study concluded that dedicated space was being utilized by HP workers only 38% of the time, and less for meeting rooms. Working with Herman Miller, HP re-confi g-ured the facility and used the offi ces and common rooms differently, resulting in utiliza-tion averages nearing 50%, but at times rising to 90%. The company was able to reduce its cost per employee by 55%. The award was pre-sented at the CoreNet Global Summit in Orlando, FL. http://www.corenetglobal.org

> Mannington Commercial will launch a new design challenge December 1. tx:style, a competition for cer-tifi ed architects and design-ers with no more than seven years professional experience, will incorporate the internet for online interfacing with the voters who will decide the top honors. Although online com-petitions are not new, tx:style will utilize social networking to encourage voting and to offer comment and opinions on the submissions. Entries must be uploaded by February 6. Voting will continue through February 15. Following the voting, the fi nalists will work with Mannington Commer-cial to refi ne their product samples. In late April, voters will choose a winner from the top fi ve. To enter Mannington Com-mercial’s tx:style competition, or to view the submissions and cast your vote, visit http://www.manningtoncommercial.com/txstyle.

anniversary in a Nov. 9 fea-ture: http://www.hollandsenti-nel.com/news/x1772940643/Still-just-a-family-after-60-years

> Herman Miller and Hewlett Packard took home the H. Bruce Russell Innova-tor’s Award, corporate real estate’s biggest prize. The award, given for excellence in sustainable leadership, economic development leadership and corporate real estate workplace innovation, was presented to the industry giants for their space utiliza-tion model, which features sensors on desk chairs to detect human presence. HP was looking for an accurate picture, beyond singular “bed checks,” to determine how effectively space at their Melbourne, Australia facil-ity was being utilized and if savings could be achieved by using less. Working with Herman Miller, the computer maker attached tiny sensors, called motes, to the backs of each desk chair in the offi ce

Spacefi le products are used in commercial, institutional and industrial applications, including customized fi ling and mobile/mechanical high-density storage solutions http://www.confi gura.com/ http://www.spacefi le.com

> Haworth, Inc. celebrated its 60th anniversary Nov. 12 at its global headquarters in Hol-land, Michigan. “I’m honored to celebrate the journey we’ve taken to providing workspace solutions anywhere in the world with the highest stan-dard of quality,” said Dick Haworth, Haworth Chairman. “I celebrate our members’ passion for serving our cus-tomers, embracing change, continuously pursuing greater effectiveness, striving for excellence in quality, and striving to make the world a better place to live. These are the values which defi ne Haworth and are the same values on which Haworth was founded.” The Holland Sentinel com-memorated the company’s

HAWORTH


traveling to learn about green building practices and sus-tainable living. This included her participation in Tribewant-ed on Vorovoro Island, Fiji, where she learned to build using traditional methods. As a green building consultant, Ms. Gonzalez worked with architecture, planning and interior design companies such as Swaback Partners pllc in Scottsdale, AZ. http://www.palladeo.com

> Lynn Moorman Schneider and Karen Wall joined Knoll dealership, Corporate Environments as Architec-tural Products Specialists. Ms. Schneider, previously from another Atlanta dealer, brings her expertise in the DIRTT product line. Ms. Wall, previously of Koroseal, offers an expertise in wall coverings and interior prod-ucts. Both will spearhead the architectural products division. http://www.corpora-teenvironments.com

ENVIRONMENT> Green Depot will open a retail space on the Bowery in Manhattan. The building, located in the historic 1885 Young Men’s Institute at 222 Bowery between Prince and Spring, was the home of the fi rst YMCA in New York City, the studios of artists Mark Rothko and Fernand Leger, and author William Burroughs. Green Depot will expand its inventory to include practical lifestyle and design green solutions pre-sented with icons that break

Strategic Business Developer for North America. Her re-sponsibilities will also include representation of the Airport Division.

> Lisa Bell joined Rees Asso-ciates, Inc., Atlanta, GA. She will work as a project manager on a range of assignments for local, national and international clients in the Southeastern hub. Ms. Bell has extensive ex-perience in the retail industry, including shopping centers and major retail roll out programs for national brands. She joined REES from Phillips Partnership where she served as Senior Project Manager since 2004 http://www.rees.com

> Nathalie Gonzalez was named sustainability direc-tor for Palladeo, Glendale, CA. Ms. Gonzalez, architect and LEED Accredited, will be responsible for the company’s development and implemen-tation of sustainable business practices, including resource conservation, sustainable materials manufacturing and construction waste recycling. Prior to joining Palladeo, Ms. Gonzalez did extensive

Guangzhou in China, which also garnered an HD Award earlier in the year, was a Finalist for Best Guest Room and the St. Regis Singapore was named a Finalist for Best Suite. Finalists were chosen based on aesthetic appeal, practicality and functional-ity of design. The winning designs are published in the October issue of Interior De-sign and the November issue of Hotels. www.wilsonassoc.com

> The World Coolest Offi ces, or at least the selections of a recent post on the Home Offi ce Furniture Blog on Blogspot.com, are featured at http://homeoffi cefurniture-blog.blogspot.com/ Very cool, and some very nice commer-cial offi ce choices. Regret-tably, none of the architects or interior designers were identifi ed. (I guess it all hap-pens by magic.)

RE-SITED> Melanie Becker and Dagmar Wien have taken new positions with Vitra. Ms. Becker rejoins the com-pany as Director of Business Development for Southern California. Previously, she was Vice President of Project Development for Western Offi ce. She brings with her over 10 years of experience selling Vitra products and the Vitra Culture. After a year in Los Angeles building Vitra’s relationship with the A+D community, Ms. Wien has been promoted to Senior Seating Consultant and

manage retail and commer-cial properties in the western U.S. and will assist fi nancial institutions and investors in managing, stabilizing or repositioning their real estate holdings. RBL Real Estate also has the ability to recapi-talize existing projects. www.rblrealestate.com

> Wilson Associates was a fi nalists for two hospitality design projects. The Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design were held at the International Hotel/Motel and Restaurant Show Gold Key breakfast on No-vember 10, 2008 in New York City. The Westin Hotel

COOLEST OFFICE: MASS STUDIOS, SEOUL KOREA

LISA BELL


Business magazine, sponsor for the program, cited the company for its talents and the Design/Build process overall, which brought the project to completion on time, on budget, and with a high quality system. The Contracting Business De-sign/Build Awards program honors the most creative and innovative work be-ing done by commercial HVAC contractors across the nation. http://www.EMCOR-Group.com

> EMCOR Group, Inc sub-sidiary, Central Mechanical Construction, received a con-tract for the Critical Access Hospital in Atchison, KS. The company will install the HVAC, sheet metal, piping, and plumbing systems for the hospital which will house patient rooms, surgery suites, intensive care/trauma suites and 30,000 sq. ft. for private practice and clinical use. http://www.EMCORGroup.com

the SMaRT Sustainable Gold rating in March 2008. Both chairs feature effi cient use of materials, high recycled and recyclable content and easily replaceable parts. In addition to SMaRT, Knoll is committed to introducing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) with The Green Standard in 2009. Knoll has partnered with The Green Standard to draft EPDs for its Life and Chadwick chairs. http://www.knoll.com

PROJECTS> EMCOR Services New England Mechanical won fi rst place in the 2008 De-sign/Build Award program. The company was recog-nized for its work on The Renaissance, a high-rise residential building in Shel-ton, CT. The company was responsible for the design and installation of the com-plex HVAC systems for the 16-story rental apartment/condo project. Contracting

natural fi ber called kenaf. It is a non-woven composite material made from a blend of primarily natural and synthetic fi bers and contains no added formaldehyde. The award, developed in honor of COPA’s 75th anniversary, recognizes a product that pro-motes sustainability, conser-vation and demonstrates how to signifi cantly reduce one’s environmental footprint. www.HON.com

> Knoll, Inc. announced that its Chadwick task chair achieved a Sustainable Gold rating under the SMaRT Con-sensus Sustainable Product Standard. SMaRT is third-party sustainable product certifi cation that measures a product’s environmental, economic and social benefi ts over its life and throughout its global supply chain, from raw materials to reclamation or re-use. Chadwick is the second product in the furniture in-dustry to be SMaRT certifi ed. The Knoll Life chair earned

down green into fi ve simple categories with an accurate evaluation of each product. Green Depot will open in early 2009 and will include:- Premium products in categories such as cleaning, baby, and zero-VOC paint.- Exclusive artist series featur-ing limited editions of inspired sustainable design solutions- A resource and design center for customers to fi nd green building materials that are cost-effective and adapt-able to their construction or renovation projects.- The only zero-VOC paint bar in New York City- A “Found” section for the newest, most innovative new green productshttp://www.greendepot.com

> The HON Company re-ceived the inaugural Green Product of the Year Award. Canadian Offi ce Products Association presented it to the company for its Initiate Panel System with Nature Core, a panel fi lled with a sustainable,

HON: INITIATE KNOLL: CHADWICK


a playful idea that design is everywhere.

> The Spectrum and Prism Awards competition issued a Call for Entries. Winners will be recognized during Cover-ings 2009 at the McCormick Place Convention Center, April 21-24, 2009. Deadline for sub-missions is Friday, January 30. The Spectrum Awards honor outstanding projects featuring ceramic and porcelain, as well as mosaic and glass tiles. The Prism Awards for natural stone will be presented in eight categories, with a total of $11,000 to be awarded. To qualify, projects must have been completed between January 2005 and December 2008. A downloadable ver-sion is available at http://www.coverings.com/spectrum-prism-awards.html.

environmentally friendly products in higher education space planning. http://www.hermanmiller.com

> Pearl Lam will present works by Xue Tao and Danful Yang from XYZ Design. The exhibit, refl ecting the current state of design in China, is part of the 5th Design International Exhibition 2008 at Saint-Etienne, France, November 15-18. Xue Tao’s newspaper and metal wire construc-tions, Simuwu Ding, 2007 and Bi, 2007, will be on view. The pieces are reminiscent of the 1962-72 ‘Arte Povera’ movement, which rejects the traditional artistic media. Vase Table by Danful Yang uses the shapes of traditional Chinese porcelain vases as unconven-tional table legs. The concept for the Vase Table came from

-Perfect Vision, a strategy introduced in 2004 to achieve a wide range of sustainability targets by the year 2020, in-cluding zero waste to landfi lls and zero hazardous waste generation.-A Better World, a corporate social responsibility report that measures the company’s achievements in environ-mental advocacy, community service, inclusiveness and di-versity, and individual health and well-being.-Where You Work, environ-mentally friendly products developed to meet its Design for the Environment protocol that include the Embody work chair, Teneo storage furniture and Quilty fabric.-Where You Learn, a learn-ing space exhibit that will highlight the company’s knowledge, experience, and

> Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel will design a new terminal for Panorama Flight Ser-vices. Plans for the terminal at the Westchester Airport in New York include a rede-signed entrance and modern-ized lounge and restrooms. Construction on the 5,000 sq.ft. facility is scheduled to begin in Winter 2009 and should be completed in Summer 2010. http://www.gkvarchitects.com

EVENTS> Herman Miller will share its environmental achieve-ments at Greenbuild 2008. The conference takes place at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, 415 Summer Street, November 19-21, 2008. Herman Miller will feature:

Soduko: Fill in the empty cells so that every row, column and cube contains a digit from 1-9, without duplication. (Level: Medium)

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11.17.08 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 22 OF 2500.00.00

JOB SITETo place ads:ad@offi ceinsight.com Billing information:brad@offi ceinsight.comOr, call or fax:T 203 966 5008F 203 972 6512

Job Responsibilities include: - Introduction and education of new products - Developing strong relationships with key accounts - Keeping all customer sampling up to date - Meeting sales targets and expense budgets - Providing customers with key information and sampling to meet specifi c project needs Qualifi cations: - College degree required - Knowledge of the Contract Industry a must. - Interior Design and/or Dealer sales experience preferred. - Must have a positive attitude, strong people and communica-tion skills, be a creative thinker and have self-motivation. Qualifi ed candidates will also have 2-3 years of design/indus-try experience in a contract/ commercial market. IIDA and/or NEWH membership or affi liation desired.

Candidate should be comfortable with frequent travel.

Please send resume including salary requirements to:

Momentum Group Attn: HR Sales Fax: 949-833-0497 Email: [email protected] No phone calls please.

E.O.E. M/F/V/H

Sales Representative IN, AL, NY

Momentum Group, a leading supplier of contract textiles, is growing and expanding our sales force with the addition of three highly motivated Sales Represen-tatives. The territories are: Jasper, Indiana, Birmingham, Alabama and Upstate New York.

Ideal candidates will possess strong people and communi-cation skills, have a positive attitude, and be self-motivated. If you have the drive and related experience to excel in Contract Textiles Sales, we encourage you to apply!

Our major products include woven fabrics, vinyl, panel, and cubicle cloth, as well as extensive custom services. In addition to providing customized card programs to virtually every major furniture manufacturer, we offer unique color coordinated lines for the Architectural and Design contract market.

With three distinct commercial fabric brands, the Momentum Textiles leadership decided to create an umbrella company, Mo-mentum Group. We are a quality award winning company, and many of our customer service programs are recognized as best practice.

and other south Midwestern states. Currently, dTank’s dealer network in the area market-ing and selling the company’s services and products includes dealerships in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin and Albu-querque.

Responsibilities for this Area Rep-resentative include developing business and projects for dTank and expanding and maintain-ing the network of exclusive or semi exclusive dealers for dTank in each of the Area’s markets. Specifi cally, the Area Representa-tive will help the dTank dealers achieve success and profi tability from their dTank-related efforts through marketing support, train-ing, joint A&D project calls and related activities.

This is a hands-on position that requires business development and an ability to close trans-actions and to build a strong dealer network in the Area. This individual selected will be self-starting and energetic and enthusiastic about the develop-ment of custom products for the A& D community. They will also enjoy traveling, have a manufac-ture/dealer background and be able to bring knowledge to the Area dealerships and their sales people and clients.

Compensation includes a base salary, commission on all the bookings from his territory, T&E expenses and health insurance. This is a wonderful opportunity for a young person that wants to grow and take on a challenge with career and signifi cant-earn-ings potential.

For additional insight, please visit www.dTank.comInterested persons should send their resume to [email protected]

Specifi er/Project Manager Chicago, IL Desks Inc., a Knoll and DIRTT dealer located in downtown Chicago, has an immediate posi-tion available for an experienced Specifi er/Project Manager to work directly with one of its top producing sales teams. Candidates should be profi cient in Auto CAD and CAP Studio software and also should be organized, and a team player with a strong attention to details.

A good salary and benefi ts pack-age provided.

Please contact Karen White at 312.334.3359 or [email protected]

Area Representative South/Midwest Territory

dTank Seeks Area Representative This is a great time to join the dTank organization as it deepens and broadens its brand. dTank is a leading virtual manufacturer in North America that signifi cantly expands traditional custom- and millwork offi ce furnishings by taking A&D-designed products, in a broad range of materials, from conception to installation.

dTank is looking for a staff Area Representative to continue the development of its South/Mid-west territory: Texas, Colorado,

© 2008 offi cesite, inc.24 East Avenue (#1299)New Canaan, CT 06840

Bradford J. Powellbrad@offi ceinsight.comT 203 966 5008F 203 972 6512

Jean Linjean@offi ceinsight.comT 203 912 7423

www.offi ceinsight.com


businessBUSINESS AFFAIRS> Herman Miller, Inc., on Nov. 11 announced a series of ac-tions intended to reduce the company’s annual fi xed overhead and operating expenses by approximately $60 million. Related charges are expected to total approximately $10 million, begin-ning in the third quarter. The actions come in response to a decline in orders during the current quarter and in anticipation of further global economic weakness through calendar 2009. The company noted that orders averaged $34 million per week in September and October, compared to $41 million per week in the fi rst quarter. The company believes these actions will allow it to weather the current economic storm and enable it to sustain investments in key strategic growth areas.

“Herman Miller is not immune to the current global economic slowdown,” said Brian Walker, Chief Executive Offi cer. “We’ve experienced a decline in orders over the past few months as the credit market turmoil and declining corporate and consum-er demand has accelerated. In response, we are acting early and carefully, as we have done in the past, to structure our costs in line with current and anticipated business conditions. At the same time, we will protect our ability to continue to in-vest in our future. In all these actions we will remain true to our values as a company and community, treating those impacted with respect and care.”

The actions include workforce reductions among both salaried and manufacturing staff, including temporary labor, through a combination of enhanced voluntary separation agreements, job eliminations, and manufacturing layoffs. These steps are ex-pected to be implemented through January 2009. While many of the positions impacted are in Michigan, they also include other domestic and international locations.

Commenting on the current quarter’s outlook, Curt Pullen, Chief Financial Offi cer, noted, “With the slower order pacing we’ve experienced in recent weeks we are revising our current quarter revenue estimate to a range of $475 million to $495 million, with earnings per share estimated to be $0.57 to $0.64. The current quarter’s guidance is only modestly lower because of the strong backlog we enjoyed coming into the quarter, and the existing strength of our operating model and ongoing cost reduction efforts announced earlier. With these new actions, our already strong balance sheet and ability to generate cash fl ow, Herman Miller remains a fi nancially strong company.”

RAYMOND JAMES BRIEF 11.03.08

MLHR: Lowering Estimates on F2Q09 Warning; Reaffi rm Outperform

Analyst(s): Budd Bugatch

> We reaffi rm our Outperform rating on Herman Miller despite lowering estimates following management’s F2Q09 profi t warning. We are also slashing our 12-month target price from $34 to $23, roughly 10x our new FY09 EPS estimate versus the 10-year median forward P/E of 17x. This also rep-resents a signifi cant discount to our EVA/FCF-derived estimate of intrinsic worth, though we acknowledge realizing even our more modest target price will prove challenging until investor sentiment improves.

> Before this morning’s market open, Herman Miller issued a press release revising F2Q09 guidance lower. Citing declining order rates in recent months and the company’s expectation that economic conditions will remain diffi cult through calendar 2009, management now expects F2Q09 revenue of $475 million to $495 million (-6% to -2%), down from its previous $490 million to $515 million and below our prior estimate of $501 million. The company guided F2Q09 EPS to the range of $0.57 to $0.64, down from $0.59 to $0.66 and also below our preexisting estimate of $0.65 (consensus had been $0.63).

> The company also announced workforce reductions and other cost-cutting actions, which are expected to gener-ate $60 million of annual cost savings (~$0.72 per share) with benefi ts beginning to be realized in F3Q09. Management expects related restructuring charges of $10 million pretax, or about $0.12 per share.

> While the F2Q09 miss is relatively modest compared with our expectations, the quarter will benefi t from a strong begin-ning backlog of $332 million (+19% y/y). At the midpoint of the new guidance range, F2Q09 sales would show a modest sequential increase; however, weekly orders averaged $34 mil-lion in September and October, down 17% from $41 million in F1Q09, implying growth rates are likely to deteriorate further in F3Q09. We are lowering our F2Q09 EPS estimate from $0.65 to $0.60. Our FY09 EPS estimate goes from $2.55 to $2.27 and FY10 goes from $2.67 to $2.40.


business> Steelcase Inc. announced that it may lay off up to 300 hourly employees at its plants in Gaines Township and Kentwood, MI, within 60 days. The Nov. 11 Grand Rapids Press article quotes company spokeswoman Jeanine Holquist, who said that the actual number of layoffs will depend on market conditions, and that all workers who are laid off will be eligible to be recalled if they are needed. http://www.mlive.com/grpress/business/index.ssf/2008/11/steelcase_inc_announces_possib.html

> USG Corp. said that its current restructuring initiatives will result in more than $125 million in annualized cost savings. The company also plans to reduce capital expen-ditures by approximately $190 million in 2009 compared to 2008. The cost savings are before severance costs of approximately $35 million to $45 million associated with the 20 percent salaried workforce reduction previously an-nounced. The majority of the severance costs are expected to be accrued in the current quarter and paid in the first quarter of 2009.

USG said in late October that it would take additional ac-tions to adjust operations, programs and staffing to adapt to current construction and financial market conditions. Those actions, the majority of which will be implemented in the current quarter, include significant reductions in mar-keting, research and other overhead expenses, including the elimination of about 900 salaried positions.

“When the residential housing market first showed signs of weakening more than two years ago, we adopted a conservative, phased approach to stay ahead of the declining market,” said William C. Foote, USG Chair-man and CEO. “A problem that was originally confined to the residential housing market has grown into a much broader and deeper economic contraction that is affect-ing all of USG’s businesses in all of our markets. We are moving aggressively to cut costs and properly align our businesses for these extremely challenging conditions.”

“Severe cyclical downturns are always challenging, and the necessary staffing decisions are painful, but we are committed to take the actions necessary to weather this recession and position the company for the eventual market rebound,” said Mr. Foote.

Mr. Walker concluded, “These are diffi cult times for any busi-ness, and particularly for a community like ours at Herman Miller. But one of our strengths is our ability to face challenge directly, and to act with decisive purpose. We are and will remain a resilient and agile company, serving our customers with great products and services and continuing to invest in key areas of opportunity, now and in the future.”

> Kimball International, Inc., completed the sale of its unde-veloped land holdings and timberlands, a total of 27,196 acres located in Indiana and Kentucky. The auction sales totaled $50.605 million.

The company confi rmed that it reached an agreement to sell the nearly 12,000 acres in Union and Crittenden counties in western Kentucky, known as the “Sturgis” property for $24.583 million, after previously rejecting a high bid of $23.9 million submitted Saturday, November 8 during the live auction.The November 8 auction, the third and fi nal event in a widely publicized three-day auction of Kimball timberland, had a strong crowd with a wide range of interests in the 11,776 acres in the “Sturgis” property.

According to John Kahle, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Kimball International, the decision to sell the property was carefully considered by Kim-ball’s Board of Directors and based on a number of business reasons.

Kimball fi rst began acquiring properties in 1963 as a strate-gic reserve of its primary raw material: wood. Recognized for its long-term, sustainable forestry management practices, Kimball’s reputation for environmental sensitivity is well known among many agencies and organizations. The Company had a long history of working with State Departments of Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife, and the Nature Preserves Com-mission, as well as with The Nature Conservancy, to set aside portions of its forest tracts for preservation, along with research projects coordinated with the University of Kentucky and Purdue University. Kimball’s policy of “managed use” and se-lective harvesting on its properties wisely utilized its commercial value, provided jobs and economic value directly to the coun-try’s forest products industry, and at the same time provided for the preservation and long-term responsible management of this renewable resource, its wildlife and natural habitat.


technology

11.14.08 9.26.08 6.27.08 3.28.08 12.28.07 9.28.07 6.29.07 %frYrHi%fr50-DayMA

ChromC 0.5 1.7 3.3 4.7 4.9 4.7 7.5 -90.3% -32.0%

CompX 6.1 5.8 5.2 9.3 14.8 19.6 18.5 -67.2% 13.0%

HMiller 14.6 25.1 25.2 24.5 28.8 27.1 31.6 -56.9% -27.3%

HNI 12.0 25.6 18.4 27.7 35.7 36 41 -69.8% -36.9%

Inscape 2.2 3 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.7 3.5 -52.2% -16.6%

Interface 5.6 11.9 12.9 14.3 17.5 18.1 18.9 -69.6% -27.6%

Kimball 5.1 11.2 8.6 10.8 14 11.4 14 -66.7% -31.9%

Knoll 10.6 15.2 12.4 11.6 16.6 17.7 22.4 -43.2% -16.3%

Leggett 14.9 22.3 17.2 14.9 18.7 19.2 22.1 -39.5% -16.0%

Mohawk 32.3 69.9 64.8 71.5 75.5 81.3 100.8 -61.5% -34.2%

OffDepot 2.0 5.8 11 11.1 14.4 20.6 30.3 -89.4% -39.2%

Staples 17.1 23.1 24 11.4 22.6 21.5 23.7 -35.7% -5.7%

Steelcase 6.2 10.4 9.9 3.1 15.3 18 18.5 -66.7% -31.1%

20-20 Tech 2.4 3.4 5 6.1 6.4 6.6 7.1 N/A% N/A%

UntdStat 30.5 49.4 36.6 47.7 47.4 55.5 66.6 -49.4% -17.1%

USG 9.1 28.7 30.1 35.2 36.6 37.6 49 -92.1% -51.0%

Virco 2.9 3.6 4.7 5.4 5.9 7.8 - -68.3% -5.2%

SUM 174.1 315.9 292.9 335.5 378.6 406.4 475.5 - -

DJIndust 8,497 11,143 11,346 12,216 13,339 13,895 13,408 - -

business culture, abundance of IT talent, low IT turn-over rate, and more convenient time zone are among its attractions. http://weblog.infoworld.com/realitycheck/archives/2008/11/brazil_its_next.html

TECHNOLOGY> HNI Corp. has joined a growing number of companies that are outsourcing IT services to Brazil, reports blogger Ephraim Schwartz in a Nov. 11 post. Brazil’s “western”

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