Remote work caused a 44% decline in long-term office value, resulting in a $506.3 billion value destruction in the US, according to a study by researchers from NYU and Columbia Business School. Using data from 105 US office markets, the study found a decrease in lease revenue and a shift towards higher quality buildings, while lower quality offices may need to be repurposed.

Healthcare systems are exploring ways to save money in their real estate portfolios due to financial pressures from staffing shortages and stagnant revenues. Providers are making their offices and medical spaces more efficient, pushing more services into outpatient facilities, and even exploring home care and mobile clinics. However, moving certain services off-site can lead to a loss in revenue for health systems, and rising interest rates have impacted the returns that healthcare real estate properties can achieve.

Google is looking to sublease 1.4 million square feet of office space across seven locations in Silicon Valley, including Sunnyvale and Mountain View, as it adjusts its real estate investments to match the needs of its hybrid workforce. This move is part of a trend of major technology companies becoming reluctant landlords in the San Francisco Bay Area, shedding real estate as remote work persists and they become more cost-conscious in a high-interest-rate environment.

ULTRAFABRICS, a leading producer of high-quality performance fabrics in 11 global markets, has re-released its legacy brand Brisa with recycled backcloth made of EIGHT plastic bottles per yard of fabric. Brisa is a high-tech and animal-free leather alternative that integrates Ultrafabrics’ proprietary ventilation system, promoting airflow for ultimate seating comfort.

Nicole Meier, Head of Branding at Ultrafabrics, explains the company’s sustainability approach: “This relaunch of Brisa is one of many initiatives we’re doing to reach our aggressive goals as a manufacturing company. The goal to achieve sustainability without sacrificing haptics, comfort or performance is our only focus.”

Brisa will be the first collection to include recycled polyester and responsibly-sourced rayon in the backing. By 2025, all Ultrafabrics products sold will have reached their goal of including at least 50% rapidly renewable and/or recycled resources.

Additionally, nine new colors have been added (for a total of 54) to the Brisa collection, including Ice Pink, Mystic Beige, Clear Quartz, Hazey, Lamb’s Ear, Honeydew, Harbor Mist, Rising Tide, and Yukon Gold.

Ultrafabrics will be at NeoCon Stand # 7- 8098 and featured in the Metropolis Sustainability Next showroom on Floor 11, Suite 1120.

EzoBord Flexes its Acoustic Muscle with Innovative Privacy Solutions during Design Days at NeoCon

With one week to go until NeoCon, EzoBord is flexing its acoustic muscle and showcasing an array of products including Amplitude, an easy to install 3-dimensional modular, acoustic ceiling system that oozes personality and is designed to adorn large areas including theatres, banquet halls, corporate lobbies, and educational centers.

You will also want to checkout PrivaSeatTM, its revolutionary universal task seat acoustic wearable. PrivaSeatTM uses EzoBord's sustainable sound absorption material to provide visual privacy and eliminate distracting noises. It can easily be affixed to most office chairs to create a private command center and help users stay focused.

The Kayra Curved Screen is also making an appearance. These soundproof office dividers reduce ambient noise and reverberation, create privacy in open-plan spaces, and can be infinitely connected to make custom acoustical meeting spaces. They come in a range of finishes and shapes and work in any interior.

While visiting the ARC, you will also be introduced to new biophilic designs from Quiet Earth Moss and experience the disruptive technology of Tektus Digital, whose game changing virtual showroom technology will help OEMs and dealers sell more! 404 N. May Street - Fulton Market.

Formaspace Contract, a custom furniture solutions provider in the life science industry, will showcase its products at Neocon 2023, the largest commercial interior design trade show in North America. The event will take place from June 12-14, 2023, at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, Illinois, in suite #11-124.

At the showroom #11-124, Formaspace Contract will exhibit a range of furniture solutions for the life science industry and office environments. These include state-of-the-art laboratory furniture, stylish office solutions, and new and modular furniture solutions.

Formaspace Contract has been manufacturing furniture solutions for over 40 years, providing a unique opportunity to explore the latest advancements in life science furniture design. Their experienced design experts can provide a personalized tour of the showroom, showcasing the latest advancements in life science design. This is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to elevate their workspace and venture into the life science business sector.

There is still plenty of opportunities for office furniture makers in the UK. London has seen the highest volume of new office refurbishments since records began in 2005, with 37 new schemes covering 3.2 million sq. ft. The volume of all projects including both office refurbishments and new space is up by almost 80 percent, with the West End continuing to lead the way. Over 10 million sq. ft. is now projected to be delivered during 2023, with this year on track to catch-up after several years of disruption.

Accessibility in the workplace goes beyond just physical accommodations and should also consider neurodiversity. Educating architects and designers on universal design principles can help create more inclusive spaces. Accommodating disabilities is important for employee well-being and can also benefit building owners and tenants. Progress is being made, but there is still a long way to go in making every workplace truly accessible and inclusive.

Studioninedots' new office in Amsterdam fosters open interaction between colleagues and peers from other companies on-site. The workspace maintains the rawness of the original warehouse building while promoting creativity and the exchange of ideas. The design includes a 'Free Space' for cultural events and an open-plan workspace with a mix of private and social areas. The office's openness supports the local creative community and acknowledges the importance of collaboration and social interaction in creative work.

J+J Flooring has expanded the Intrinsic product into a full collection that includes additional patterns and colors. The collection is part of J+J Flooring's quick ship program, ensuring timely delivery for projects. The Intrinsic collection achieves a heathered, highly textural look through innovative fiber construction. The collection includes 3 patterns; Intrinsic features an all over pattern; Integral has a large scale, organic pattern with more open space; and Intrinsic Accent introduces pops of accent color with a subtle multi-color look. Intrinsic is constructed with 100% Encore SD fiber, making it suitable for use in a variety of markets including workplace, education, retail, and hospitality. The 24"x24" tile creates a seamless floor due to the innovative fiber construction. According to Laura Holzer, Carpet Design Manager at J+J Flooring, Intrinsic looks luxurious and performs to the highest standards, all while being budget-friendly.

Arcadia's Conduit meeting table collection features a solid wood edge that highlights natural grain variation, soft radius and rounded corners, and cylindrical legs placed far apart for leg room and a light appearance. Available in various sizes, heights, and finishes with optional electrical units and wire management, Conduit is designed by Ramsey Madsen for artisan-like quality and universal appeal.

Limbo, a new indoor/outdoor chair designed by Hlynur Atlason for Heller, is durable and sleek enough to fit into any living area. It is part of a closed circle recycling program, allowing consumers to send the product back to be grinded into a powder and used to make a new product. Limbo can be seen at NeoCon at theMART, showroom #1123-A.

Inspired by shapes found in nature, the Boomerang collection features a playful, pebble top set on curved legs with a stacked, wood-stick effect. The new Boomerang desk is a statement piece for any workspace with its organic, eye-catching design unique for the office. Made from solid mahogany with a dark brown varnish, the first Ethnicraft desk in this color and wood type. Designed by Jacques Deneef.

Furniture provider obo has launched Lightly, a mobile, stackable chair made from plant and post-consumer waste, in the UK. The chair, which weighs just 2.75 kg, was created by Formway, the sister design studio of direct-to-consumer brand noho. Lightly's contoured seat is made from post-consumer recycled waste, while the frame is crafted from EcoPaXX, a bio-based polymer created from the CO2-absorbent castor bean plant. The chair comes in a range of colours, including yellow, blue, off-white, charcoal and grey.

Designer Ronan Bouroullec collaborated with Danish textiles company Kvadrat to create a collection of upholsteries inspired by his pen drawings. The collection includes three textiles with meditative patterns that reinterpret Bouroullec's artistic oeuvre. The fabrics are crafted from virgin wool, 100% post-consumer recycled polyester, and are resistant to chlorine and seawater. The collection's abstract designs allow for individual interpretation and the fabrics' shine and evolving beauty make them suitable for long-term use.

KOVA introduces Modwall, an adaptable room system that replaces traditional interior on-site construction. The self-supporting system is free-standing and modular, eliminating the need to tie back to base-building columns or overhead structure. It meets the acoustic performance of drywall and can be easily demounted and reconfigured to meet changing human and space needs. The system can accommodate unforeseen changes and evolving circumstances in the future, reducing material waste and ensuring an ongoing return on investment for clients.

Designtex's Silicone Symphony collection offers a wide range of colors, patterns, and textures that are both safe and high-performing. The collection is designed with biophilic principles in mind and is compliant with Greenguard Gold, LEED, and Healthier Hospitals standards. The use of silicone as a material makes the designs durable, naturally resistant to bacteria and mold, and free of harmful chemicals like PVC, PFAS, and flame retardants.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z have purchased a $200 million home in California, designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando. The 40,000 square foot villa is surrounded by 8 acres of land, features minimalist design with large windows, and is made entirely of reinforced concrete. The couple has also invested heavily in works of art, including pieces by Warhol and Basquiat.

Fyrn, a furniture brand founded by fourth-generation woodworker Ros Broughton and David Charne, combines wood and metal to create durable, flexible chairs with a patented hardware system. The brand gained popularity among Bay Area restaurants and has now expanded its product line and production facilities, including a 40,000-square-foot facility near Reno, Nevada. Fyrn's precision engineering requires custom machines and the brand is expanding its range of offerings, including nesting tables and café tables.

Snarkitecture, a New York-based design studio known for its highly Instagrammable installations and whimsical retail spaces, has designed its first office building in Manhattan. The office, titled Art/Work, is a marked departure from the resimercial design trend, with an almost monochrome provocation in the shape of an office, hoping it will stand out in a world that’s awash in warm woods and biophilic design. The intervention spans three floors and the lobby, and the tenant is expected to be from the Soho creative industry.

In recent years, workplace cafeterias have transformed from just a place for workers to refuel to an all-in-one collaboration space that encourages teamwork, reduces stress, and increases comfortability. As employees are spending more time at work, it is more efficient and cost-effective for them to remain within the office environment for lunch. This returning practice allows for in-house cafeteria design to continuously progress at the same rate as office design itself.

Designers are using resimercial design to create a comfortable, inviting area away from desks or dedicated meeting spaces. This type of design bridges the gap between a stuffy, professional landscape and soft, residential interiors. The workplace cafeteria has become a gathering space for relaxed collaboration, offering an additional workstation for those seeking a change of space, or presenting more independent workers the opportunity to feel more involved.

KNGroup designed the Athens offices for international payments platform Edenred, which received certification as one of the best workplaces in Greece. The building is a former industrial space that was renovated to create a modern office space in accordance with LEED environmental certification standards. The design features main working areas around the perimeter for optimal lighting and ventilation, and a multipurpose space with green islands and transparent dividers. The reconstruction aimed to obtain LEED certification for sustainable buildings, with low energy consumption, environmentally friendly materials, and reuse of existing elements. Collaborative areas, storage spaces, and break areas are integrated into the workplace.

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.  

Find the best Contract Furniture Industry jobs and hire the best talent.

Mayer Fabrics, a leading commercial textile company, is seeking highly motivated and dynamic Sales Representatives and/or Rep Groups in the greater areas of Dallas, TX, New York, NY, and Toronto, Ontario, Canada to join our team.

Swiftspace is the leader in flexible, mobile, modular furniture, and we are expanding our network of manufacturer's representatives. The market is demanding flexibility!

With 11 lines of product that can outfit virtually every application in the office: from simple to sophisticated workstations - including private offices with doors, Swiftspace cannot be equalled when providing flexible solutions to the ever-changing needs of the workplace.

We are a highly respected and leading European office furniture manufacturer with a rich legacy of providing innovative and high-quality solutions to our clients. With a strong presence in the European market, we are now expanding our operations to the United States. As part of this exciting growth journey, we are seeking Independent Sales Representatives to join our team and help establish our brand and products in the US market.

The Regional Sales Manager will be responsible for the sales and sales growth of The Senator Groups products in the region of the country outlined. The Regional Sales Manager works to ensure profitable growth in sales, revenue through planning, execution, and management of the independent sales organization they lead.

Build and maintain client relationships. Track and record metrics throughout sale process. Meet and exceed financial goals.

Indoff is expanding and in need of experienced outside sales professionals in your area. If you’re tired of missing out on money due to low commission rates or you’re sick of quotas, then Indoff is the perfect solution for you.