After Five Straight Monthly Declines, Architecture Billings Index (ABI) Reports Slightly Improved Business Conditions / HPL Contract to Expand Plant in California / Knoll debuted new brand pavilion and refreshed design direction at Salone Internazionale del Mobile / More Startups are Leasing Office Space / Turf Makes Big Commitment at theMART / Hybrid working is the new normal and is here to stay / Sam Zell Thinks Workers Will Return to the Office / Collaboration drives the post-pandemic workplace / Kohler's colorful bathroom fixtures are back / 'A World Of Hurt': Call Centers Vacate 30M SF Of Offices As They Embrace Remote Work


The Working Space
Monday, April 24, 2023

Industry News

In March, architecture firms saw a slight improvement in business conditions after five months of declining billings. The AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score of 50.4 indicates that a majority of firms reported an increase in their firm billings last month. However, inquiries into new projects at firms slowed in March and the value of new design contracts declined for the first time in four months. Backlogs at architecture firms ticked back up to an average of 6.9 months in the first quarter of 2023, after declining slightly in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Most regions of the country saw billings continue to decline in March, with only firms located in the Midwest reporting growth. Business conditions also remained soft at firms of all specializations. Architecture services employment has remained flat since November, with only small fluctuations from month to month.

Despite these challenges, responding architecture firms reported that most of their clients placed at least moderate priority on outcomes related to issues of health, resilience, and equity over the last year. Over the next five years, outcomes related to zero carbon are expected to become a high priority issue for clients. Responding firms with an institutional specialization reported that their clients were most likely to place a higher priority on outcomes related to health and resilience over the last year. Firms with a multifamily residential specialization also reported that their clients placed a high priority on health outcomes in projects during that period.

The CEO of MillerKnoll, Andi Owen, apologized to her staff after a video of her telling employees not to live in "pity city" went viral. Owen's comments came during a town hall meeting when she was asked how to keep teams motivated. MillerKnoll has struggled in recent years, and Owen's comments were intended as a rallying cry. However, they angered employees, leading to an apology from Owen over email. The company has yet to decide on bonuses for the 2023 fiscal year.

AOS Interior Environments Expands Design and FF&E Services with the Acquisition of the Louisiana Division of Alfred Williams & Company
AOS Interior Environments has acquired the Louisiana division of Alfred Williams & Company, expanding their design and FF&E services. The combined companies install over $50 million dollars of FF&E in Louisiana annually and employ over 90 employees across the state. AOS is now a MillerKnoll dealer. The acquisition means clients will have streamlined representation of MillerKnoll in the marketplace, expanded bandwidth for project execution, and more competitive pricing and leverage with increased scale. AOS plans to retain all AWC Louisiana employees and showrooms in both Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

HPL Contract to Expand Plant in California
HPL Contract of Patterson, California is proposing a new 128,800-square-foot manufacturing plant in the West Patterson Business Park which will increase the company’s workforce to between 50 and 80 employees. The facility will make office furniture for Silicon Valley businesses and global companies including Facebook and Google. The development plans were submitted to City Hall in February, and after city permits are approved, construction is expected to be completed in 12 months.

RESPAWN Portfolio of Gaming Furniture Acquired
RESPAWN Products, a manufacturer of furniture designed for gamers, has been acquired by RESPAWN President and CEO Preston Gardner. The acquisition will allow the company to focus on rebuilding and supporting the gaming community behind the brand. RESPAWN offers multiple lines of gaming furniture for eSports competitors, content creators, and hobby players, with products available on their e-commerce site and other resellers. Gardner plans to expand the brand's community engagement and product offerings while providing design services for comprehensively designed spaces.

Turf to Expand Showroom, Offices at THE MART in 2024
Acoustics company Turf has signed a long-term lease for an 18,682 SF corner space at Suite 1048 in THE MART in Chicago, to serve as an office and flagship experience center beginning in spring 2024. The move comes after a period of exponential growth for Turf, with a more than 70% growth in 2022. The space will complement Turf's expanding Gilberts, Ill. headquarters and production facility, and will be used to showcase the company's custom capabilities, colors, and performance of its product line. The company's sales, account management, project management, design, and engineering teams will all work out of THE MART upon the space's opening.

Longtime Local Office Furniture Services Company Ducks into Bankruptcy
Office Interiors of Virginia, a 35-year-old office furnishings company, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to the pandemic's impact on its business. The company is seeking a buyer or debt restructuring and hopes to retain its 35 employees. The bankruptcy filings list between 100-199 creditors owed between $1 million and $10 million, with assets in the same range. The company's main secured creditor is First Community Bank, which loaned the company $750,000 in 2022 and a $600,000 line of credit. The company's bankruptcy attorney stated that the pandemic created a difficult cash flow situation, and the timing of the sale to new ownership in February 2020 was unfortunate.

Knoll debuted new brand pavilion and refreshed design direction at Salone Internazionale del Mobile
Knoll debuted a new design direction at Salone Internazionale del Mobile 2023, with a pavilion designed by OFFICE featuring new and iconic collections, including Piero Lissoni's Outdoor Collection, a re-launch of an archival Saarinen Table, and Richard Schultz's 1966 Collection. The pavilion is built with recycled and recyclable materials and features interior gardens designed by Jeroen Provoost, two- and three-dimensional art works by Jonathan Muecke, and a sophisticated lighting system by Les Éclaireurs. The Lissoni Outdoor Collection is characterised by its linearity and contemporary design, while the Saarinen Lounge-Height Table has been reissued in its original lounge height. The Richard Schultz 1966 Collection is available with a dark red frame, and the Pfister Collection has been renewed with a more comfortable seat. The D'Urso Low Table is available in a variety of materials and allows for convenient movement within spaces.

Carl Hansen & Son by Appointment to the Royal Danish Court
Danish furniture company Carl Hansen & Søn has been appointed as Purveyor to The Royal Danish Court, becoming part of approximately 108 Danish and foreign companies that have been granted permission to use the historic and prestigious predicate. The predicate is awarded based on an assessment of quality, business management, social responsibility, and integrity, and is a recognition of the cooperative relationship between The Royal House and the company. Founded in 1908, Carl Hansen & Søn produces world-class furniture and design classics known all over the world, and has stores in over 20 countries today.
According to Savills' Prime Office Costs analysis, prime office costs around the world have largely held steady in Q1 2023, with net effective costs increasing an average of 1.1%. Face rents have also marginally increased, rising an average of 1%. US markets saw flat rental levels and net effective costs, while EMEA locations experienced cost increases of 3% on average, with Amsterdam seeing the strongest levels of cost increases at 18%. Most of the locations seeing rises in costs experienced rental cost increases rather than fit-out costs.
Sam Zell, founder and chairman of Equity Group Investments, believes that remote work is "a bunch of B.S." and that young people cannot develop their skills if they are not in the office. He also thinks that remote work is detrimental to top executives and that people working from home are less productive than those working in an office. Zell practices what he preaches and has had his employees back in the office for over two years. He also hinted that he doesn't think remote work will last much longer.
A new poll from Claremont, a UK office design and fit-out firm, has found that 52% of hybrid workers and 48% of full-time office-based workers find their workplaces uninspiring and lacking in innovation. The report suggests that 84% of employees expect the office to deliver an experience, and reveals the six key emotions that today’s employees seek from their workplace: inspiration, value, connection, support, inclusion, and pride. The research also highlights the importance of catering to employees’ emotional needs, including face-to-face contact, collaboration, and socialisation, in addition to practical task-based needs.
Denver's office vacancy rate reached a 10-year high of 20.9% in Q1 2023 due to economic uncertainty, with leasing activity and net absorption being particularly problematic. Large employers are downsizing their office space due to hybrid and remote work, while the Federal Reserve's rate hikes to combat inflation make borrowing expensive. However, some submarkets, such as Longmont and Cherry Creek, had lower vacancy rates, and there was a slight uptick in development activity. Investors still see Denver as an attractive market, but significant challenges like increasing vacancy and higher capital and construction costs have impeded the development pipeline.
Construction and nonresidential construction inputs saw a year-over-year decrease for the first time in 18 months, according to an analysis by the Associated Builders and Contractors. The decrease was driven by falling energy prices, but certain products like concrete, construction machinery and equipment, and industrial control equipment continue to see double-digit increases. Contractors remain wary of committing to projects with unpredictable costs and lead times due to fluctuating material costs.
A recent analysis by Kruze Consulting found that the percentage of venture-backed startups renting office space has risen to 59%, but the share of rent as a percentage of their overall expenses has fallen from 7% to 3%. Many startups are adopting hybrid/partly-remote models that require a smaller office footprint, contributing to the decline. Startups in New York allocate 3.4% of expenses to rent, 50% higher than startups in San Francisco at 2.2%. Remote startups grew at about 2.7 times the rate of those with offices, but company founders should manage their company in the way that feels best for their business model, management style, and culture.
As San Francisco's office vacancy rate approaches 30%, tech companies that led the Bay Area's leasing run-up before the pandemic are now becoming landlords themselves. They are subleasing their space or searching for tenants to take over their former space in buildings they own. The Bay Area's total office vacancy rate is 29.4%, the highest ever recorded. San Francisco has borne the brunt of the office flight, with a vacancy rate increase of 1.8%, while Silicon Valley's vacancy rate is about 15.6%..
Office fit-out costs in the Americas have risen 11% from 2022 to an average of $136 per square foot, with supply chain constraints, inflationary pressures, and increased labor costs continuing to apply upward pressure, according to a report by Cushman & Wakefield. The top six markets’ costs increased an average of 12% from the previous year, with San Jose being the most expensive at approximately 76% higher than the Americas average. Companies are being forced to either decrease their overall square footage and upgrade their space to be more efficient or keep the current square footage and hope people come back to the office in large numbers.
Call centers in the United States are vacating office space at an unprecedented rate, with 60 million square feet of availability, double the pre-pandemic level, according to JLL data. While some corporate executives are pressuring workers back to the office, the call center industry is embracing remote work with a work-from-home-forever policy. The industry is growing while its real estate needs are shrinking, thanks to technology that allows employees to handle inbound or outbound calls from anywhere. The trend is adding to a glut of commercial call center space, which landlords are having to find other uses for or simply tear down.

Features

As the Milan Furniture Fair showcases dozens of new chairs, the author questions the need for yet another chair in a world plagued by climate change and excessive consumption. While chairs can be valuable symbols of design genius and innovation, they also perpetuate trends and are inherently unsustainable. The article highlights the need for designers and manufacturers to adopt a balanced, thoughtful approach to furniture innovation and push the envelope of sustainability further.

Workspace News

According to Cushman & Wakefield, occupiers are seeking differentiated office space with quality amenities to create engaging, experiential office environments where employees will find value in attending the office in person several days a week. While convenience of access, controlled access, and fiber availability are critical, occupiers are also attracted to buildings with a selection of amenities that activate the space, offer convenience, and elevate employee wellness. Wellness is becoming a new amenity, with occupiers increasingly focused on optimizing mental, physical, environmental, and organizational health.
As occupancy rates in offices remain low, landlords are looking to provide amenities to lure employees back to tenants' offices. However, it's unclear what amenities will make workers want to return, and some believe that no single feature will be enough. Property owners and operators are competing to gain a competitive edge in the market, but providing amenities can be expensive. Some common considerations include food service, fitness centers, and outdoor leisure spaces. However, the real common denominator is not that all of it is in a building, but that all of it could be in a city center. Ultimately, people will be lured back to the office by a sense of community, not just amenities.
Quittok is a trend among Gen Zers where they live-stream their resignations on TikTok, with the hashtag #quittok gaining over 40 million views. The short clips are often shocking, sometimes funny, and always compelling, and are used to amplify the message of leaving a job due to toxic work cultures and prioritizing health and well-being. While it can create radical accountability for businesses, it may not come across as professional and could affect future job prospects. To prevent resignations, businesses should foster a culture of accountability, provide a clear progression plan, and enable employees to work with clients they're passionate about.
Andi Owen isn’t the only CEO taking a beating on social media. CEOs are being caught on camera a lot lately berating employees and throwing tantrums about productivity and return-to-office policies. Workers and experts suggest that some leaders feel threatened by the freedom and flexibility of remote work, while others are out of touch with the economic realities and working conditions of the average worker. The tension between workers and CEOs is part of a massive renegotiation of the economy, with workers gaining power, transparency, and flexibility. However, many leaders are worried about an economic slowdown and the role of AI affecting the future of their businesses.
A new report by Mace Operate Workplace Survey claims that hybrid working with a central collaborative space is the new normal for a preferred post-pandemic working style. The report found that most respondents see the benefits of going to the office as interaction with people and workplace culture, with 78% wanting one or more office days each week. Corporate real estate leaders have listened to building users, with 60% of respondents ranking office redesign to support activity-based and collaborative working as the most effective way to encourage a return to the office.
The federal government is trying to draw employees back to the office, but mandates aren't working. Instead, workplaces should be designed as destinations that attract employees. Modern workspaces must ensure every worker feels a part of the conversation, and one space must accommodate different kinds of videoconferencing tools. The General Services Administration has a pilot project in place that mirrors a commercial co-working space just for federal employees. The workspace is also emblematic of innovation for contractors who want to get in on the evolving demands of today’s workforce.

Design

Gensler Seattle's office redesign prioritized co-creation and accommodating the needs of neurodiverse employees. The project reused pre-existing materials and surfaces and integrated new space types and functionalities, such as private spaces and social areas that double as work points. Technology was emphasized to support hybrid working modalities. The redesign was guided by a philosophy of individual autonomy and meeting basic human needs for workplace satisfaction and productivity.

Trends

Quiet meditation spaces in modern workplaces can help combat burnout and overstimulation, leading to improved wellbeing and productivity. Designers and operators are recognizing the importance of flexible spaces for employees to focus on their health and wellness, with features such as acoustic separation, adjustable lighting, and calming colors. A quiet space can take on many forms depending on the type of workplace and culture of the team, and studies show that just five minutes of quiet downtime can improve concentration and lower stress.

Latest Products

AIS has announced the Mixers Collection Sit-to-Stand Mobile Desk, a personal, mobile desk with a height adjustable base that supports posture shifts and allows users to move throughout their work environment. With smooth rolling casters and a lightweight, yet durable, structure, the desk is easy to move and encourages collaboration and transitions for better workplace productivity. The desk includes a stable base featuring ample foot space, a tilt lever with six preset positions offering up to 30 degrees of tilt, and convenient height adjustability. The desk is the first product in AIS’ new Mixers Collection, an assortment of work tools to be officially launched in June at NeoCon.
J+J Flooring has launched a ready-to-ship stock rug program, featuring 8' x 10' rugs in seven styles with an array of color choices, providing a total of 17 rugs. Most rugs are hand-tufted with 100% New Zealand wool, and patterns range from geometric to subtle waves inspired by nature. The rugs come with a hand-serged edge and are ADA compliant with a Class 1 Certification. Customized colors and sizes are also available.
Landscape Forms has introduced the Ocean Master MEGA MAX Classic parasol, the largest yet to join its offering, with sizes ranging from 16 to 24 feet. The parasol can withstand wind gusts up to 75 mph and is suitable for resort and hospitality settings, corporate and education campuses, outdoor dining destinations, and multi-family residential settings. The MEGA MAX offers a very simple way to provide shelter and protection from the elements while retaining the adaptability of programmable space. Available in square, rectangular and octagonal configurations, and offered in a variety of colors and finishes, the parasol also features a new hinged anchor plate and a telescoping mast that allows it to deploy with just a touch.
Versteel has expanded its Troupe collection with new Inline table solutions, complementing the previously introduced Gathering tables. Designed by Qdesign, Troupe's tapered legs are formed and layered into an inverted shape that creates an elegant balance of strong lines and subtle curves. The new Inline tables offer a variety of functional choices tailored to individualized focus or interactive collaboration, with options for casters or adjustable nylon glides, modesty panels, and customization in laminate or veneer. Magnetic wire management clips inside the leg keep the workspace clutter-free.
Versteel has expanded its Troupe collection with new Inline table solutions, complementing the previously introduced Gathering tables. Designed by Qdesign, Troupe's tapered legs are formed and layered into an inverted shape that creates an elegant balance of strong lines and subtle curves. The new Inline tables offer a variety of functional choices tailored to individualized focus or interactive collaboration, with options for casters or adjustable nylon glides, modesty panels, and customization in laminate or veneer. Magnetic wire management clips inside the leg keep the workspace clutter-free.
Unika Vaev introduces the Pattern Mix Collection, featuring three new signature upholstery fabrics with bold colors, patterns, and textures. The collection includes Block Party, Grid Play, and Rafter, each with its own unique aesthetic and high-performance characteristics suited for all market segments. The fabrics are bleach cleanable and have high double rubs, with Rafter achieving an impressive 100,000 double rubs and being specifically engineered to resist stains without added finishes.
Designtex's Drop 20 collection, The Wild Bunch, features textiles and wallcoverings that combine luxury with performance. The collection includes six products, including fabrics like Trouvaille and Wildflower that are engineered to release stains, and wallcoverings like Bitmap and Output that take inspiration from the digital age. The collection offers versatility, practicality, and excellent cleanability without harmful chemicals.
Swedish brand Abstracta is launching two pieces of furniture at Salone del Mobile, including the Zen Pod, a work pod with a slatted design inspired by Japanese interiors that offers a quiet environment for users to focus on tasks. The brand is also launching Abstracta Agile, a mobile project workspace on castors designed by Studio Stockholm. The products are exhibited alongside existing Abstracta products, including pendant lamps upholstered in sound-absorbing fabric and a collaboration with art platform Wall of Art. Abstracta's products are manufactured in Sweden.
Mannington Commercial has introduced Natural Elements Too, a collection of modular carpet inspired by the four elements, designed to meet the needs of commercial spaces. The collection offers 32 coordinating styles and colors, with four styles in eight colorways each. The tiles are made of type 6,6 nylon fibers and have a minimum 3.0 TARR rating. Natural Elements Too boasts 105 percent carbon offset, cradle to gate, and all products in the collection carry a Type III EDP and published HPD, plus the Infinity® 2 modular backing is certified NSF/ANSI 140 Gold. The collection comes with a limited lifetime wear and backing warranty.

Aurora from The Mitchell Group delivers a bold visual plus superior performance
A new selection from The Mitchell Group's Sta-Kleen Polycarbonate line, Aurora has a gorgeous linen-like pattern with a fine embossing that makes for a subtle, sophisticated texture. An expansive color palette--32 options are available--with beautiful neutrals and soft, contemporary hues make Aurora a go-to for a variety of commercial applications including healthcare and hospitality.

Other News

Kohler, the company that first introduced color to bathrooms in the 1920s, is bringing back vintage colors to celebrate its 150th anniversary. After more than 100,000 people voted for their favorite color on Kohler's website, Peachblow and Spring Green emerged victorious and will be available in stores this summer. Kohler's marketing in the 1920s aimed to convince consumers that plumbing fixtures could be curated design elements, and the company's "Bold Look of Kohler" campaign in 1967 established a tagline that exists to this day. Colored fixtures grew in popularity in the '60s and '70s but declined in the '80s due to economic recessions and a conservative white palette. However, millennials are now embracing midcentury modernism and wanting to preserve and enhance the character of their homes, leading to a resurgence of colored fixtures.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy defended his decision to spend nearly $500,000 on furniture and furnishings for his and the First Lady's offices in the newly renovated New Jersey Statehouse, saying the items will be used by future governors for as long as a century. The spending includes $114,420 for an antique Sultanabad rug and $31,100 for two antique desks. Murphy said the renovation was "desperately needed" and came in under budget at about $283 million instead of the $300 million originally estimated.

Technology

A Brooklyn school has unveiled a "Literacy Lounge" equipped with sensors to track student conversations and monitor progress in real-time. The sensors can track how often students speak, the quality of their conversations and the words they use, as well as how many different students speak during a class. The school is hoping that real-time literacy data will help them make informed decisions about how to teach students better. The sensors are just one part of a more holistic classroom design, where every element is intended to work together to improve literacy.
As hybrid working becomes permanent for many organizations, corporate real estate executives are redefining the workplace ecosystem to include the office, home, and third-party spaces. Workplace and portfolio management strategies are becoming more complex, necessitating greater reliance on CRE technologies and data-driven insights to meet employee expectations and boost performance. Dynamic service provisioning, supported by data from building and workplace technologies, is becoming a new concept for facility management, allowing for a combination of fixed and flexible offerings scaled according to data-driven insights. Smart building technologies have an important role to play in generating insights about usage patterns and trends that can be used to optimize the building’s environment and operations. or...
MillerKnoll has partnered with Amplifi and Precisely for product information management (PIM) strategy design and implementation. The project's initial phase includes PIM discovery, creating a comprehensive design document, and implementing foundational data model, workflow, and integration components for the organization's Precisely EnterWorks PIM platform. Future plans involve contract and vendor portal initiatives.

ESG

ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) reporting is a way for companies to demonstrate their socially responsible attributes, separate from financial performance. ESG reporting is becoming more standardized in some countries, but not all companies are required to report. ESG ratings agencies have emerged to help asset managers evaluate ESG performance, but they use different methods and rating scales. A company's ESG ambitions will influence workplace design, and workplace performance will feed into a company's ESG profile. Smart workplaces can contribute to ESG performance by measuring energy consumption, space utilization, and other factors.

Green / Sustainability

A new report by Arup and IWG found that working from a coworking space or satellite office no more than a 15- or 20-minute bike ride from home can help slash carbon emissions by as much as 90%. The report compared the emissions from transportation and energy used in each building and found that close-to-home offices had a much smaller carbon footprint than working in a central headquarters every day. The environmental benefit of hybrid work depends on the city, but in car-dependent Los Angeles, a shift from standard commuting to work at a local office could cut emissions by 87%, while in Atlanta, working at a local office could cut emissions by 90%.
Repurposing furniture can have environmental, economic, and community benefits. With landfills at capacity and deforestation contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, repurposing furniture can reduce waste and VOCs, earn LEED points, and save money. The decommissioning process involves determining what is salvageable, selling through a reseller, donating to eligible nonprofits, and sending non-recyclable items to the landfill. Success stories show that repurposing furniture can save money and have a positive environmental impact while also being aesthetically pleasing.

Coworking

The New York Stock Exchange has given WeWork six months to raise its share price above $1 or face delisting. WeWork has been trading under $1 since March 2022 and is currently at 48 cents per share. The company has not disclosed its plans to address the issue, but a reverse split could be one option. WeWork is also struggling with debt and profitability, and SoftBank Group is in talks to convert $1 billion of debt into equity.

Trends in Commercial Projects from Around the Globe

The Warehouse is a unique coworking space in New Orleans located in a 150-year-old warehouse with a diverse membership. The space features high ceilings, natural light, and large windows, and offers amenities like high-speed internet, printing, and scanning services, and a fully equipped kitchen. Membership includes 24/7 access, printing, and conference room time, as well as access to lockers and an attached restaurant/lounge with live music. The space also offers private offices, permanent desks, and flexible coworking memberships, making it the perfect location for businesses, nonprofits, and creatives.
Boston Consulting Group's Business Services Center, "Nexus," in downtown Atlanta has expanded with a focus on enhancing the people-first culture. The design prioritizes flexibility, visual aesthetics, and connection to Atlanta, with local artwork and award-winning graphics. The office encourages creativity, curiosity, and community, with unique dining areas and varied workstations. The project was completed during the pandemic, with a design that supports distanced seating and smaller individual spaces. The new space has been successful and well-received by employees.

Upcoming Industry Events

NeoCon 2023
June  12-14, 2023 | Chicago, IL
 
NeoCon has served as the world’s leading platform and most important event of the year for the commercial design industry since 1969. A launch pad for innovation—NeoCon offers ideas and introductions that shape the built environment today and into the future.  

Milan Design Week 2023
April 18-23, 2023 | Milan, Italy

Milan design week is the biggest annual design event in the world and takes place from 17 to 23 April 2023. The week includes the furniture fair Salone del Mobile, which takes place at the Fiera Milano exhibition centre and is the largest event to take place during the week. The selection of fringe events collectively named Fuorisalone also takes place across the city.

hd expo+conference
May 2-4, 2023 | Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

HD Expo + Conference is the largest hospitality event of its kind in the country, showcasing the latest products, services, and innovative developments from the industry’s leading manufacturers.  

Clerkenwell Design Week 2023
May 23-25, 2023 | London

Clerkenwell is home to more creative businesses and architects per square mile than anywhere else on the planet, making it truly one of the most important design hubs in the world. To celebrate this rich and diverse community, Clerkenwell Design Week has created a showcase of leading UK and international brands and companies presented in a series of showroom events, exhibitions and special installations that take place across the area.

Orgatec 2024
October 22-26, 2024 | Cologne, Germany

Orgatec is the International trade fair for office and property equipment. Held in Cologne, Germany.
Interni Magazine's top 10 picks from Salone del Mobile 2023 include Flexform's Supermax, Gervasoni's Brise chair, Roche Bobois' Bombom collection, Living Divani's Railway container, Porro's Linea collection, Nardi's Tevere table, Molteni&C's Landmark, Timeout, and Heritage collections, Poliform's Mad Out collection, Lago's Good House stand and Jubilé mirror by Fernando and Humberto Campana for Edra.

Industry Briefing

Thinkspace Hires Mindy Morris as Manager of Customer Success Team
Thinkspace has hired Mindy Morris as Manager of the Customer Success Team to maintain customer experience and an easy-to-do-business approach as the company experiences explosive growth in 2022 and increasing demand in 2023. Morris brings 13 years of experience in the office furniture industry and exceptional interpersonal, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills to the role.
Music City Center in Nashville has installed six Nook pods, designed to provide guests with quiet spaces for improved focus and well-being. Originally from the UK, Nook pods offer personal space, noise reduction, and select lighting to support productivity and inclusiveness. Each pod features bench seating, a tabletop workspace, an electrical outlet, and overhead lighting, and they are already in use throughout the building.
Find the best Contract Furniture Industry jobs and hire the best talent.
BiSemA Corporation and BiSemA USA LLC seek ambitious independent sales executives from Chicago. Self-managing, highly motivated, has extensive experience in the office furniture industry and can work remotely. 
BIMOS LAB SEATING continues our US market expansion and is looking to add multiple new Rep Groups in key US major markets. BIMOS has a strong application to Life Science - Bio Pharma corporate labs, Cleanrooms and Digital - Technical ESD facilities. There is a strong alignment for healthcare-hospital focused groups.
Serve as main contact to all lab reseller partners for training, education, website development, regional sales visits and sales meetings and support of all client project pursuits. · Attend and facilitate all lab specific trade shows. · Target and pursue direct end-user relationships at...
NDI Office Furniture LLC, one of the nation’s largest stocking office furniture importers and distributors, is seeking an individual or group for Territory Sales Representation in the Houston, TX territory. NDI is based in Nashville TN with warehouses in Ocala, FL; Birmingham, AL; and Dallas, TX, and we utilize our own fleet of trucks and drivers to provide industry-leading service to our customers. 
Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering is seeking an Inside Sales Agent/Showroom Admin in Chicago, IL. 
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