Contract - May 2014 - 26

pHoto: Meg Walton

editorial

Celebrating Anniversaries and Looking Forward
As we approach June, we are preparing with gusto for two forthcoming
big events in Chicago: NeoCon® and the American Institute of
Architects (AIA) National Convention. You're receiving this issue just
after HD Expo and ICFF, and the issue in your hands is the largest May
NeoCon® preview issue of Contract in six years. So, needless to say,
it's a busy time.
We are excited for NeoCon® as Contract celebrates the 25th
anniversary of its Best of NeoCon® awards program for the products
that will be introduced at the show. As I note in my letter on page 5 of
the NeoCon® Ideabook published within this issue, Contract is proud
to produce this awards program year after year, which involves
considerable coordination by my colleague Eileen McMorrow, the
competition director, and Contract staff to pull it off flawlessly. Thank
you to all jurors, past and present, who are design professionals that
commit their own time to be a part of this program. NeoCon® exhibitors
recognize the stature of the competition, given the professional
jury process and overall integrity. What product will win Best of
Competition? Find out at the Best of NeoCon® Breakfast on Monday,
June 9. Purchase tickets, and view all of the Best of NeoCon® entries,
at contract-network.com.
Just two weeks after NeoCon®, I personally am looking forward
to the 2014 AIA National Convention because I have had the unique
privilege to serve as the chairman of the AIA Convention Advisory
Committee for this year's event to be held in Chicago, June 26-28. For
more than a year and a half, 2014 AIA National President Helene Combs
Dreiling, FAIA, and I have been collaborating with the convention
advisory committee, AIA Chicago, and AIA national office staff to
develop the theme, "Design With Purpose," identify the keynote
speakers, and develop content for an outstanding convention. It's been
a rare opportunity to serve the profession in this capacity and, therefore,
indulge me as I am taking the liberty to mention the AIA Convention
perhaps more than we usually would for our Contract audience.
Here is the key point for the AIA Convention: It is especially
worthwhile for designers and architects to attend this year because
of outstanding, of-the-moment keynote speakers. Some are outside
the norm of what one might expect.
The AIA Convention opening morning general session will begin
with a keynote by Chicago architect Jeanne Gang, FAIA, who won the

26

2013 Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award for Architecture. In that
same session, Theaster Gates will also deliver a keynote. Gates is a
Chicago-based artist who has developed a significant variety of work,
including large-scale urban interventions-renovations of buildings
on Chicago's South Side-that are making a real difference in the
city. Gates has committed to the revitalization of the neediest
neighborhoods in Chicago through an inspired marriage of urban
design, community engagement, and cultural development. He is
positively transforming Chicago with a sense of purpose. I've seen
Theaster speak, and his message makes one think. He is not
approaching design as an architect or real estate professional, and the
neighborhoods he is focusing on are some of the poorest in the country.
There are no easy answers or solutions to the evolution of cities,
especially in places where the challenges are immense.
The final keynote speaker at the AIA Convention will be Tony
Hsieh, the 40-year-old entrepreneur and venture capitalist who is the
founder and CEO of online clothing retailer Zappos.com. Hsieh is also
leading a forward-thinking effort to rejuvenate portions of downtown
Las Vegas as places to live, work, and play, focusing on the growing
tech sector. With Gates and Hsieh, the AIA Convention promises to
portray varied approaches that are vital, youthful ideas for cities of
the 21st century.
Happy 20th anniversary to iida!
A special congratulations to the International Interior Design
Association (IIDA), which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
The association will mark the year with a variety of events and initiatives.
Notably, Sunday, June 8, will be declared Design Day by Chicago Mayor
Rahm Emanuel. That afternoon, the IIDA Annual Meeting will be
held at the Museum of Contemporary Art, where the 2014-2015
international board of directors will be inducted and award winners
will be honored. I'll see you there!

Sincerely,
John Czarnecki, assoc. aia, Hon. iida
editor in Chief
contractdesign.com 	

may 2014
http://www.Zappos.com http://www.contract-network.com http://www.contractdesign.com
Contract - May 2014

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