Nope, not talking about last weekend’s Tony’s (sorry to disappoint all of you Broadway fans out there).
NeoCon 2012 was this past week, June 11-13, at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, IL. Having missed out last year and being a fan of Chicago, design, and industry shows in general, I felt I simply HAD to attend this year! I was not disappointed, and neither where the thousands of other attendees and exhibitors. The Mart was completely packed, full of excited designers, innovators, fabricators, manufactures, architects, students… you get the idea!
[image from neocon.com]
The winners by category are as follows:
Architectural Products, Gold: Beyond by Allsteel
Architectural Products, Silver: Seeyond Architectural Solutions by Seeyond, Inc.
Carpet Fiber, Gold: Revolve by Universal Fibers
Carpet Fiber, Silver: 895 Denier Antron Lumena solution dyed fiber by Antron
Carpet: Broadloom, Gold: Needletech Broadloom Collection by Tandus Flooring
Carpet Modular, Gold: Dye Lab by Shaw Contract Group
Carpet Modular, Silver: Urban Retreat by Interface
Carpet Modular, Innovation: Kinetex by J+J/Invision
Case goods, Gold: Silea Open Office Casegoods by Gunlocke Company
Case goods, Silver: Sidewise Compact Casegoods Workstation/Hub by Teknion
Conference Room Furniture, Gold: Passport by Nucraft
Conference Room Furniture, Best of Competition: Passport by Nucraft
Conference Room Furniture, Silver: Reveal by Nucraft
Education Solutions, Editors’ Choice: Jumpseat by Sedia Systems
Education Solutions, Gold: i3 Board by Vanerum Stelter
Education Solutions, Silver: Verb by Steelcase
Education Solutions, Innovation: Lighthouse by Vanerum Stelter
Fixtures, Silver: Integrated EcoPower High-Efficiency Faucet (HEF) by TOTO USA
Flooring Hard Surface, Gold: Quiet Cover with In*Step Locking System by Shaw Hard Suface
Flooring Hard Surface, Silver: iQ Natural by Johnsonite
Furniture Systems, Gold: izzy Nemo Bar and Trellis, izzy+
Furniture Systems, Silver: Silea by Gunlocke Company
Furniture Systems Enhancements, Silver: QUAD Enhanced Collection by Groupe Lacasse
Furniture Systems Enhancements, Silver: Expansion Casegoods by Teknion
Furniture: Benching, Gold: FORm_office S4A by Innovant
Furniture: Benching, Silver: Interpret Desking System by Teknion
Healthcare Fabrics & Textiles, Gold: The Esprit Collection by CF Stinson
Healthcare Fabrics & Textiles, Silver: Botanica Collection by Momentum Textiles
Healthcare Fabrics & Textiles, Innovation: The World Beat Collection by CF Stinson
Healtchare Flooring, Gold: The Vivendi Collection – Carpet by Mannington Commercial
Healthcare Seating, Gold: sleepToo by Wieland
Healthcare Seating, Silver: Steps by Nemschoff
Healthcare Seating, Innovation: Salus by Teal Healthcare
Lighting: Decorative, Gold: tile Gen II by io lighting
Lighting: Decorative, Silver: 3form LightArt French Curve by 3form
Lighting: Task/Desktop, Furniture-integrated,
Gold: Luxo 360 Lamp, Herman Miller Thrive Portfolio by Herman Miller
Lighting: Task/Desktop, Furniture-integrated, Silver: Sobre LED Modular Task Light by Koncept Technologies
Office Accessories, Gold: Perch by Davis Furniture Industries
Office Accessories, Silver: Belong by Haworth
Seating: Benches, Gold: Quarry by Leland International
Seating: Benches, Silver: Talk by Keilhauer
Seating: Conference, Gold: Clamshell Chair Collection by Geiger International
Seating: Conference, Silver: Setu Conference Stool by Herman Miller
Seating: Education Solutions, Editors’ Choice: Jumpseat by Sedia Systems
Seating: Ergonomic, Gold: Lively by Haworth
Seating: Ergonomic, Silver: Scope Task Chair by Bouty, partner of viasit
Seating: Guest, Gold: Tre by Davis Furniture Industries
Seating: Guest, Silver: New Brandy by Andreu World America
Seating: Guest, Innovation: Eames Aluminum Group Outdoor by Herman Miller
Seating: Sofas & Lounge, Gold: Grand Repos by Vitra
Seating: Sofas & Lounge, Silver: Tuxedo Component Lounge by Geiger International
Seating: Sofas & Lounge, Silver: C.R. Lounge by Davis Furniture Indsutries
Seating: Stacking, Gold: Loon by Keilhauer
Seating: Stacking, Silver: Fina by Davis Furniture Industries
Signage & Wayfinding, Silver: InfoLock- Patient Information System by APCO Signs
Software Technologies, Gold: LOGIQ by Teknion
Software Technologies, Silver: MyConfigura by Configura
Surfacing Materials/Finishes, Gold: Bio-composite grass fiber and soy resin by e2e office
Surfacing Materials/Finishes, Silver: Onyx by 3form
Surfacing Materials/Finishes, Innovation: Bio-composite grass fiber and soy resin by e2e office
Tables: Height Adjustable Work, Gold: Animate+ by JRBStudio
Tables: Occasional, Gold: Emme by Nucraft
Tables: Occasional, Silver: Stromborg Indoor/Outdoor Table Collection by Knoll, Inc.
Tables: Occasional, Innovation: Free Stand Table by Coalesse
Tables: Occasional, Editors’ Choice: Free Stand Table by Coalesse
Tables: Training & Work, Gold: Planes Training Table by Haworth
Tables: Training & Work, Silver: Paces by Versteel
Tables: Training & Work, Innovation: Fast by Leland International
Technology Support, Gold: Workware by Haworth
Technology Support, Silver: Free Stand Table by Coalesse
Textiles: Upholstery, Gold: The Stitch Collection by KnollTextiles
Textiles: Upholstery, Silver: The Cartouche Collection/Robert A.M. Stern Designs for CF Stinson by CF Stinson
Textiles: Upholstery, Editors’ Choice: Ensemble by Geiger International
Wall Treatments, Gold: The Techniques Collection by Designtex
Wall Treatments, Silver: The Vivid Collection by KnollTextiles
Wall Treatments, Innovation: Xorel Graphic by Carnegie
Walls: Moveable, Gold: MONOTOP with “Sonic Wall” by CP Furniture Systems
Walls: Moveable, Silver: Lightline Moveable Wall by KI
Window Treatments, Silver: Jot Drapery by KnollTextiles
Workplace Technologies, Gold: Trace by OFS
Workplace Technologies, Silver: LokDots by Shaw Industries
To learn more about the winning products and all the Best of NeoCon® entries, visit contract-network.com.
CONGRATS TO ALL THE WINNERS!
Super packed Herman Miller Lounge. People were having mini-meetings anywhere they could find a spot! That, or checking this blog on their phones 😉
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On a semi-related note, word on the street is that Megabus is considering offering service from Grand Rapids to Chicago! This would be FANTASTIC, considering two main points:
#1 – I literally had a sore wrist from my steering-wheel-holding technique by the time I got to Chi-Town. I’d like to avoid that in the future.
#2 – Parking is ridiculously scarce and expensive, especially when there are big events with lots out outa-towners descending on the city. Getting dropped of by a bus for less money than it costs to park for the day without having to even worry about parking? Attractive option.
Then again, taking pictures of parking ramps and dropping pins on your Google Maps app to remember where you parked is always a fun activity too… [Actual picture. Still took me 13 minutes to find my car. I know this because I had 15 minutes before I had to repay. I would miss that.]
AlissaJean.com 