MAJOR WEST COAST CONTRACT SHOWROOMS SIGN ON FOR L.A.DESIGNWEEK
Renewed commitment of major players in the industry demonstrates
force of the West Coast design industry
CHICAGO (Dec. 2, 2005) – In another coup for the revival of L.A.DesignWeek, all of the major contract furnishings manufacturers with showrooms in Los Angeles and Santa Monica will participate for the first time in L.A.DesignWeek by hosting showroom events throughout the week. Showrooms include:
Santa Monica: Downtown:
Knoll Boffi Design Within Reach Allsteel
Haworth Steelcase Hennessey & Ingalls Kimball
Teknion Neoporte Eames Office Gallery
Linea Shelter West Elm
The showrooms, which will feature new materials and innovative products, will provide the following seminars during L.A.DesignWeek:
Wednesday
Steelcase Showroom
“Be Cutting Edge on Cutting Edge Environmental Issues”
Speaker: Allan Smith, director of global environmental strategy and programs for Steelcase, Inc.
10-11 a.m.
This session will provide instruction in specifying healthier, safer products for clients by assessing the chemistry and materials used in product manufacturing and the impact of those materials on human and environmental health.
Knoll Showroom
“Definition: Social Sustainability”
Speaker: Rose Tourje, president of PSC, a California corporation determined to raise awareness of significant negative impact of surplus furniture
1-2 p.m.
Tourje will present a case study about a relatively unknown Native American community who improved their educational facility through the repurposing of useable surplus.
Speaker: Rose Tourje, president of PSC
Knoll Showroom
“The Cranbrook/Knoll: Saarinen, Knoll, Bertoia and Beyond”
Speakers: Michael and Katherine McCoy, principals of McCoy & McCoy
3-4 p.m.
This discussion will reveal the creative collaboration between Florence Knoll, Eero Saarinen, Harry Betoia, textile designer Marianne Stengel, Don Albinson, Ralph Rapson and the continuing collaboration of Cranbrook and Knoll.
Thursday
Knoll Showroom
“Helping Your Clients Maintain Indoor Air Quality”
Speaker: Melissa Hauson, GREENGUARD Environmental Institute
10-11 a.m.
Hauson will speak on behalf of GREENGUARD Environmental Institute, an industry-independent, non-profit organization that oversees the GREENGUARD Certification Program for low-emitting products.
Steelcase Showroom
“Design and Architecture in the New Spatial Landscape”
Speaker: Marina Gorbis, director of the Technology Horizons Program at the Institute for the Future
2-4 p.m.
Gorbis will discuss how technology is creating a world in which information and experience are tightly integrated with the physical landscape.
About L.A.DesignWeek
Each day of L.A.DesignWeek will focus on a different design district around the city and feature a full schedule of product displays, seminars, networking and parties. L.A.DesignWeek encompasses NeoCon West at the L.A. Mart, major contract furnishings showrooms in downtown Los Angeles, the Santa Monica Design District, WESTWEEK at the Pacific Design Center and the Avenues of Art and Design in West Hollywood.
One comprehensive schedule of events and locations will make it easy for thousands of designers and architects to navigate the multitude of offerings arranged for this comprehensive West Coast design show.
About NeoCon® West
NeoCon® West, the West Coast’s largest exposition and conference for commercial interiors and the built environment, will kick off L.A.DesignWeek with a host of boutique-style exhibits, special events and educational programming. The events will take place March 27–28. NeoCon® West highlights the ideas and innovations being generated on the West Coast through enlightening keynotes and inventive product displays. The show also boasts the West Edge challenge, which features six different environments designed by Gensler, Interior Architects, Langdon Wilson, HOK, Griffin & Enright and Hodgetts & Fung.
Information about exhibiting at NeoCon West can be found at www.merchandisemart.com/neoconwest or by calling 800.677.MART.
NeoCon West is a registered trademark of Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. (MMPI).
MMPI is a trade show, leasing and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year.
MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart, 350 W. Mart Center and 33 North Dearborn in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building and 7 W New York in New York; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Washington Office Center in Washington D.C.
Vornado Realty Trust, owner of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.
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PRESS INQUIRIES ONLY:
Natalie Campbell
Public Relations Associate
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.
Phone: 312.527.7790
E-mail: ncampbell@mmart.com