news

ASID Partners with HOST and IDC to Bring 20 Interior Designers to 2015 Expo

Mallory Jindra — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.22.15 | Washington, D.C. | ASID has partnered with HOST 2015, taking place in Milan, Italy Oct. 23–27, and the Interior Designers of Canada (IDC) to bring 20 interior designers from North America to the show. Those who are accepted to attend (10 from ASID and 10 from IDC) will have their airfare, accommodations, and registration fees covered by HOST. HOST is an international hospitality exhibition in its 39th year that features more than 1,800 exhibitors from 48-plus countries showcasing products suitable for hotels, restaurants, and related hospitality businesses. This year, HOST overlaps with Expo Milano 2015, which has been running since May 1 and concludes on Oct. 31. Application deadline for designers wishing to participate is Friday, Jul. 31.

Perkins Eastman To Lead International Team in Design of New University Campus in Kuwait

Mallory Jindra — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.22.15 | New York, NY | Perkins Eastman, in a joint venture with SSH Design and Soor Engineering Bureau, was awarded the master plan and design of a new university campus in Kuwait. The 12,000-student campus will comprise four colleges: Technology, Business, Health Sciences, and Education. Strategically located in the Jahra Governorate approximately 24 miles (39 km) from Kuwait’s capital, the 2,476,000 sf (230,000 sm) campus will be a landmark within the greater metropolitan Kuwait City.

One WTC Receives CTBUH 2015 Best Tall Building Award

Susan Avery — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.21.15 | New York, NY | One World Trade Center was awarded the 2015 Best Tall Building Award for the USA from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. WSP, a global engineering and professional services organization, served as structural engineer for the 104-story office tower on behalf of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The CTBUH Awards are an independent review of new projects, judged by a prestigious panel of experts. The Best Tall Buildings have been named from each of four competing regions in the world, from nominees representing a total of 33 countries. The CTBUH judges noted: “One World Trade Center is of undeniable importance to the Americas as well as the World. The building had high design expectations which the jury felt were met and exceeded.”

NCARB Overhauls Certification of Foreign Architects

Mallory Jindra — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.22.15 | New Orleans, LA | The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards Member Boards, at their 2015 Annual Business Meeting, agreed to discontinue the current Broadly Experienced Foreign Architect Program in favor of a simplified alternative for receiving an NCARB Certificate. The change, effective July 1, 2016, will optimize the process for foreign architects who are licensed but do not currently meet the requirements for the NCARB Certificate. This credential facilitates licensure among jurisdictions and signifies that an architect has met national standards for licensure established by registration boards. The new alternative for foreign licensees will replace the current BEFA Program’s requirements, eliminating the committee dossier review and the need to document seven years of credentialed practice in a foreign country. Instead, foreign architects will be required to document completion of the Intern Development Program (IDP) experience requirements and successfully complete the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) to obtain NCARB certification.

The LEGO Architect: Explore the World of Architecture Through LEGO

Mallory Jindra — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.14.15 | San Francisco, CA | No Starch Press will release a new coffee-table book, The LEGO Architect, in September. It showcases art deco skyscrapers, neoclassical federal buildings, postmodern office complexes, and sleek modern homes—all built with thousands of plastic LEGO bricks by a community of remarkably patient and visionary artists. Author Tom Alphin notes that "The official LEGO Architecture sets are bestsellers because they allow people to experience architecture hands-on, by recreating famous buildings. My book runs with this idea, but with the broader goal of exploring many influential architectural styles."

New Architecture & Design Books from Schiffer Publishing

Mallory Jindra — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.20.15 | Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., is releasing a number of new architecture titles, including LEEDING the Way: Domestic Architecture for the Future: LEED Certified, Green, Passive & Natural. Co-authored by E. Ashley Rooney, Ross Cann, Adam Prince, and Virge Temme, this book takes readers on a tour of 53 homes that reflect the growing trend for environmentally-friendly houses.

HWKN Architizer Event

Mallory Jindra — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.20.15 | New York, NY | HWKN and Architizer recently celebrated the opening of their new offices located at One Whitehall Street in the heart of New York's Financial District. The 4,600-sf open plan office features sweeping views of lower Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge and the East River. Along with food, drink and music, guests enjoyed the incredible skyline and were able to see and experience Allsteel furnishings in play: Clarity seating, Stride benching, Rise collaborative seating and Beyond architectural walls. Representatives from Allsteel included members from the New York and Muscatine, IA locations along with more than 100 A&D industry guests from notable firms were in attendance, including Architectonica, DS+R, Ewing Cole, Gensler, Gluckman Mayner, HLW, HOK, Perkins+Will, SHoP, Studio Gang, and others.

A Prehistoric #iSpyKI

Brad Powell — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.24.15 | Lakeland, FL | KI's Lightline architectural wall is protecting Susie the Mastodon, now on exhibit at Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL.

Mayline® Adds ML-Series to Height-Adjustable Table Line

Brad Powell — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.22.15 | Sheboygan, WI | Mayline® added a fifth table line to its already robust height-adjustable family – the ML-Series. Sleek, stylish, and quiet, ML-Series is offered in a two-stage base with two legs; or in a three-stage base with an option for either two or three legs. The expandable frame can accommodate a multitude of top sizes – empowering users to change their posture throughout the day.

Mayline® Introduces Sterling, a New Laminate Casegoods Line

Brad Powell — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.23.15 | Sheboygan, WI | Mayline's newest laminate casegoods product offering, Sterling, is now available to order. Crafted with a contemporary décor in mind, this complete line includes desks, reception, and conference furniture. Sterling brings with it three new laminate options: Textured Driftwood (pictured), Textured Mocha and Textured Brown Sugar. “Over the past couple of years we have seen the popularity of our laminate casegood lines grow vs. the veneer options,” said Amy Kiefer, VP of Strategic Marketing. “We feel that Sterling is a great addition to our laminate casegoods product family and brings additional laminate options to our customers.”

Louis Poulsen USA Presents the F+P 550 Pendant LED

Mallory Jindra — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.20.15 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Louis Poulsen USA Inc.'s new F+P 550 Pendant LED is designed to be simple and light. The fixture emits 100% glare-free light directed primarily downwards. A light guide directs a portion of the light onto the glass, which becomes softly illuminated. The edge of the glass creates a decorative light effect.

Baresque Expands Into U.S. Market with Zintra™ Decorative Acoustical Panels

Mallory Jindra — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.23.15 | Los Angeles, CA | Baresque, an Australian manufacturer of interior finishes, entered the North American market with its launch of Zintra™ Acoustic Panels. Zintra is a line of cost-effective acoustical panels that combine noise-reduction performance with modern and versatile design aesthetics. Manufactured in 110-inch-long sheets, the panels are suitable for a multitude of applications, including walls, ceilings and screens, and joint-free floor-to-ceiling installations. Class A fire-rated, they can be trimmed with a carpet knife and adhered to a wall or ceiling using contact cement or Liquid Nails. Zintra Acoustic Panels in ½" are pinnable and digitally printable, delivering a noise reduction coefficient (NRC) of 0.35 – 0.90, depending upon installation and distance from the wall. It is also available in 1/8" rolls.

Transform Your Walls into Collaboration Tools with FUZE Dry Erase Paint

Mallory Jindra — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.21.15 | Chicago, IL | MDC introduced FUZE™ Dry Erase Paint, designed to turn any wall into a floor-to-ceiling brainstorm space. Design flexibility and commercial durability make high performance dry erase paint a popular addition to education, healthcare and corporate spaces. Available in white and clear, FUZE makes nearly any smooth surface dry-erasable. It boasts the industry’s longest pot life of four hours and is Low VOC, low odor, Isocyanate-free and LEED®-compliant. It is also highly resistant to chemicals and stains and can be applied by roller or sprayer.

SMART and ACCO Brands Team Up to Market SMART kapp®

Mallory Jindra — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.20.15 | Calgary, AB and Lake Zurich, IL | SMART Technologies Inc. announced that ACCO Brands will begin marketing a co-branded version of the SMART kapp® digital capture board in North America. The co-branded solution, Quartet® SMART kapp®, targets both the office and education markets and will be sold through ACCO Brands’ sales force and distribution networks. Designed to revolutionize traditional dry-erase boards and flipcharts, SMART kapp is a Bluetooth® enabled dry-erase board that is easy and intuitive to use. It is lightweight, easy to install and a true plug-and-play solution. Customers simply secure the board to a wall, plug in the power supply, and begin using SMART kapp immediately - no need for IT integration or internet connections.

Magnuson Group Debuts CELES Occasional Tables for Exterior Use

Mallory Jindra — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.21.15 | Woodridge, IL | Magnuson Group is the exclusive North American distributor of CELES, a group of minimalist and durable auxiliary contract tables suitable for exterior use. Designed by Víctor Carrasco of Spain, and manufactured by Systemtronic in Valencia, Spain, the circular-top tables are available in three heights and four finish colors. Tabletops and bases are manufactured from recycled aluminum finished in fireproof polyester paint. Finish colors offered are: Black, Satin Grey, Satin Mustard and Satin White.

Encore’s Fling Collection Brings a Fun, Modern Flair to Guest and Lounge Seating

Brad Powell — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.23.15 | Cerritos, CA | Encore’s new Fling collection of guest and lounge seating by David Ritch and Mark Saffell of 5d Studio is characterized by a distinctive curved back that forms a sculpted arc. It also features ample proportions, gently sloping arms, and memory-foam cushioning, with both the proprietary knit suspension back material and standard back upholstery possessing a firm-yet-pliable quality to deliver an added level of support. Lounge and guest seating models are available with two base options: four-leg or swivel with a self-return feature.

Inscape Announces Key Additions to its Western Region Sales Team

Seth Dillingham — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.23.15 | Holland Landing, ON | Andrew Cicisly joined Inscape as Director of Sales for Northern California, and Michael VanDonkelaar joined Inscape as Business Development Manager for Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. Both report to Jim Mitchell, Vice President Sales, Western Region. This team leads the sales efforts for Inscape and West Elm Workspace with Inscape in the Western Region.

Kim Patten Bolsters Steinberg’s University Planning

Susan Avery — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.21.15 | Los Angeles, CA | Kim Patten, AIA, LEED AP BD+C joined Steinberg as Associate Principal based in the Los Angeles office. Ms. Patten is a passionate university planner, focused on process and strategy. Working with academic institutions across the country, she helps clients navigate complex problems with integrated research and education planning solutions to achieve direction and clarity. Her partnership approach creates an environment to collaborate, plan, and discover paths unique to that client. Prior to joining Steinberg, she was an Associate Vice President and Education Market Project Manager at Cannon Design, leading noteworthy projects at Arizona State University, San Diego State University, University of Utah, and other higher education clients.

IIDA Announces First Advocacy Symposium

Susan Avery — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.21.15 | Chicago, IL | IIDA will host its first Advocacy Symposium in Austin, TX, Sep. 11-13. The event will help attendees develop a more definitive understanding of what advocacy means, how to apply practical skills and proven techniques to articulate the value and mission of interior design, and to energize and encourage advocates for the interior design profession.

KI Awarded Nationwide Educational Furniture Contract Available Through National IPA

Susan Avery — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.20.15 | Green Bay, WI | KI entered a new educational furniture contract available through National IPA. This agreement was competitively solicited and awarded by Norfolk Public Schools, VA (Contract #2015000067) and includes “piggybacking” language that allows public procurement officials from local and state government agencies, K-12 school districts, higher education and nonprofits across the nation to utilize the agreement.

Crossville Expands Color By Numbers Wall Tile Collection

Mallory Jindra — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.20.15 | Crossville, TN | Crossville Inc. updated its popular Color By Numbers wall tile line with four new hues: 19th Hole, a vibrant orange (available in gloss finish); 20-20 Vision, a deep, true purple (available in gloss finish); Edge of 17, a beige-toned neutral (offered in satin and gloss finishes); and 1812 Overture, a neutral of the gray scale (offered in satin and gloss finishes). The collection, for interior vertical surfaces residential and commercial installations, now has a 16-color palette of brights and neutrals for designers to create custom works of interior wall art.

USG Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2015 Results

Seth Dillingham — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.23.15 | Chicago, IL | USG Corp. reported results for the second quarter of 2015. On a consolidated basis in the second quarter of 2015, net sales were $970 million, up 2% from the second quarter of 2014. Operating profit improved 7% to $105 million. The corporation’s adjusted operating profit in 2Q15 was $118 million, compared to an adjusted operating profit of $87 million in 2Q14. “All of our businesses expanded their margins and contributed to our strong second quarter,” said Chairman, President, and CEO James S. Metcalf. “We generated the highest level of net income since the fourth quarter of 2006 when demand was fifty percent higher.”

HNI Reports Strong Sales And Earnings Growth For Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2015

Seth Dillingham — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.22.15 | Muscatine, IA | HNI Corp. announced sales for the second quarter ended July 4 of $568.2 million and net income of $23.9 million, or $0.52 per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income per diluted share improved 35.9 percent from the prior year quarter to $0.53, which excludes restructuring, impairment, transition costs and gain on sale of assets.

Kimball International Recognized with Great Place to Work® Designation

Brad Powell — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.21.15 | Jasper, IN | Kimball International, Inc. received the Great Place to Work® designation. This recognition of the company's workplace culture is based on a review of 1,125 employee surveys focused on five key areas: Credibility, Respect, Fairness, Pride, and Camaraderie. "More than four out of five employees report that they are comfortable being themselves at work and are proud of what they do," said Sarah Lewis-Kulin, senior editor of Great Place to Work® Reviews.

Institutional Project Demand Drives Architecture Billings Index to Highest Mark Since 2007

Seth Dillingham — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

7.22.15 | Washington, DC | AIA reported that the Architecture Billings Index increased in June to 55.7, up substantially from a mark of 51.9 in May. The new projects inquiry index was 63.4, up from a reading of 61.5 in May, and the design contracts index was 52.5, down slightly from 53.4 in May. “The June numbers are likely showing some catch-up from slow growth earlier this year,” said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD. “This is the first month in 2015 that all regions are reporting positive business conditions and aside from the multi-family housing sector, all design project categories appear to be in good shape. The demand for new apartments and condominiums may have crested with index scores going down each month this year and reaching the lowest point since 2011.”