Contract - May 2015 - 26

PHOTO: MEG WALTON

EDITORIAL

Time to Consider What Is Important

This time of year is busy for all of us in the commercial design profession
and related industries, as we all seem to be traveling for business and
industry events. As Contract editors completed this issue of the
magazine in mid-May, four architecture or design-related trade
shows-all of which our readers attend-were taking place nearly
simultaneously across the country, and it was Design Week in New York.
The week was a whirlwind for the industry that required considerable
travel for many.
That same week, we watched the news of the Amtrak derailment
in Philadelphia, which shut down the busiest rail corridor in the country
for days. As we know it, Amtrak train 188 was moving at an excessive
speed moments before the derailment. Nevertheless, the incident shed
light on the state of our infrastructure in this country, and it highlighted
how one major event can cripple a system.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Convention
began in Atlanta a day and a half after the train accident. Next year, the
AIA convenes in Philadelphia. Imagine if this year's convention were on
the same dates in Philadelphia, and consider all of those on the East
Coast who would be planning to get there by train. Amtrak ridership
in this Northeast Corridor rose 50 percent in just the last 15 years. And
Amtrak now accounts for 77 percent of all rail or air travel between
New York and Washington, D.C., up from 37 percent in 2000.
This is a critical time to holistically consider our infrastructure and
what that means for this country. In New York, we are hyperaware of this
issue, in part because we use subways and regularly hop on Amtrak to
get to another city. And when we fly, LaGuardia Airport is, in many ways,
embarrassing in comparison to airports in some smaller U.S. cities and
foreign countries. Within the last year, lawmakers have supported a
comprehensive redesign and rebuilding of LaGuardia Airport rather than
the piecemeal approach that has resulted in a transportation hub that
Vice President Biden said, in February 2014, was akin to what one might
find "in a third world country."
We know it is easy to make comparisons to the vast infrastructure
enhancements that we see in other countries. As John Cassidy wrote in
The New Yorker on May 13: "At this stage, it has now become something
of a cliché to compare Amtrak to Japanese bullet trains and the Eurostar,
or J.F.K. to airports in Hong Kong and Singapore."
26

Improved transportation infrastructure-whether it be
modernized airports or rail stations, faster trains with more safeguards,
or upgrades to roads and highways-has an absolute impact on our
commercial design profession. And while we are considering
infrastructure, we should include schools and public amenities in the
conversation as well. Taking a view that's very focused (and literal) on
our industry, improving infrastructure can result in architecture and
interiors projects-real work with tangible business results.
But taking a broader view, a compromised infrastructure network
relates to lost productivity and ultimately reduces our GDP. As a country
that continues to grow, economic development and economic
opportunity is absolutely dependent on a sound infrastructure network.
And as populations increase, especially in the Northeast U.S., this will
become more and more critical. Simply put, good infrastructure-
resilient infrastructure-means a sound, resilient, growing economy,
and good business. It's in all of our interests to advocate for that.
Previewing NeoCon®
I invite you to take a close look inside this issue. We've reconceived our
preview coverage of NeoCon®, the commercial interiors industry's most
important annual event. In this issue, we are pleased to present the
Official NeoCon® Product Preview. We've highlighted numerous
products that will debut at NeoCon®, organized by floor in The
Merchandise Mart-from furnishings to systems to fabrics and floor
coverings. In addition, you'll find information on the keynote speakers,
the Best of NeoCon® awards program, and other key events. Also, we
asked four leading Chicago designers to offer their tips on the best
places to eat, drink, and visit in the Windy City. We hope you will find
the Official NeoCon® Product Preview to be not only useful, but essential
for your visit to The Merchandise Mart in June. I'll see you there!
Sincerely,
John Czarnecki, Assoc. AIA, Hon. IIDA
Editor in Chief

contractdesign.com

MAY 2015
http://www.contractdesign.com
Contract - May 2015

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