Contract - May 2012 - (Page 32)

Mart says NeoCon® is in Chicago through 2021 NeoCon® will continue to be held each June at the Merchandise Mart (pictured here) in Chicago through at least 2021. that announcement was made in late April by Merchandise Mart properties, Inc. (MMpI), which manages the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. the real estate investment trust Vornado Realty trust owns MMpI. the announcement itself is newsworthy. Given changes in the economy and real estate, the design industry has been concerned that Vornado—as long as it continues to own MMpI—may evolve its long-term plans for the Merchandise Mart and the NeoCon® trade show. A press release from MMpI was written to address those concerns. In the statement, MMpI president Mark Falanga announced the schedule of NeoCon® dates through 2021. NeoCon® 2012 will be held June 11 to 13. the trade show will be held, as it has been, beginning on the second Monday in June through 2021. the exceptions are 2015 and 2020, when it will be from June 15 to 17. “As it has for the last 43 years, NeoCon® will continue to be produced at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago through the next decade and beyond,” Falanga says. “the Mart’s commercial furnishings industry and NeoCon® has been the backbone of the Mart’s core business for the last 43 years and will continue to be so into the future.” the MMpI statement went on to pointedly address concerns that Vornado may plan to shift the focus of the real estate portfolio within the Merchandise Mart from showroom to primarily office tenants. the statement says, “All of the major players in the contract industry know the value of NeoCon® and have made long-term commitments to being part of the Merchandise Mart. Among the long-term contract industry companies with long-term leases at the Mart, include Allsteel, Gunlocke, haworth, herman Miller, hoN, Interface, Knoll, KI, oFS Brands, paoli, Shaw Contract, Steelcase, and teknion, accounting for more than 275,000 square feet of permanent showroom space. MMpI has signed more than 120,000 square feet of contract industry renewals and new leases in 2012.” —John CzarneCki select no. 20 at Contractdesign.com/readerservice photo: ShEILA KIM industry news http://www.apcosigns.com http://www.apcosigns.com http://www.ContractDesign.com/readerservice

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - May 2012

Contract - May 2012
Contents
Editorial
Industry News
Coming Events
Exhibition: Coverings
Exhibition: Highlights from Salone Internazionale del Mobile
Product Focus: Enlivening the Flexible Office
Product Focus: A Collection to Define 21st Century Herman Miller
NeoCon® Preview
Hospitality’s Influence in Workplace Design
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Campus
Steelcase Office and Work Café
Shlemmer Algaze Associates
Red Bull Amsterdam
THQ
Grey Group Roof Deck
Knoll, East Greenville Headquarters
The Metrics of Distributed Work
Tools: Pinterested, by Design
Exhibition: Hallingdal 65
Designers Select: Office Furniture
Sources
Ad Index
Exhibition: Lasvit Liquidkristal by Ross Lovegrove

Contract - May 2012