NeoCon East, taking place Oct. 28-29 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, will be the go-to destination for the commercial interiors industry this fall. 

 

According to the company, in addition to offering ready-to-spec products across the vertical sectors, as well as networking opportunities and events, the show will be a vibrant hub for industry education. A&D professionals, including interior designers, architects, lighting and healthcare designers, can select from over 25 CEU accredited programs across a wide range of topics and 12 educational tracks including a specifically designed GSA seminar series free to all attendees.

 

Monica DeBartolo, director of programming, remarks, “Our goal is to provide an exciting, well-rounded experience for NeoCon East attendees. This year's diversified educational offering delivers on that objective, addressing everything from materials and methods to sustainable design practices. Headlined by top industry influencers, the 2015 edition features East Coast Regional authorities and brings the best of NeoCon programming to Philadelphia.”

 

Highlights include:

 

DESIGNING INTERIORS FOR RESILIENCY [W01]

Oct. 28, 2015—9:30am—10:30am

Learn what to do as a designer and how to prepare for flooding, storms and other potential damages. We’ll review the guiding principles of building resiliency, focusing on interior design techniques that address these weather-related challenging issues. Discover the best ways to increase a facility’s resiliency—including proper materials selection, backup systems and the latest safety technologies. 

Learn the best techniques and technologies for supporting and creating safer, more damage-resistant spaces.

Speaker: Gita Nandan, AIA, LEED AP, principal, thread collective, LLC., New York, New York.

 

SETTING FREE THE BUMP FACTOR: COWORKING BEYOND THE OFFICE [W04]

Oct. 28, 2015—9:30am—10:30am

The future of co-working is here. Discover how design encourages chance meetings beyond co-working facilities in healthcare, education hospitality and office buildings. This team of designers, engineers and suppliers will make a presentation on the process, inspiration and multiple uses of a unique co-working installation. 

Speakers: George Athens, LEED, managing principal, Nelson, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. • Paul Shapiro, director of mechanical engineering, Brinjac, a Nelson Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

 

REDEFINING ACOUSTICAL PRIVACY: A GAME OF JENGA [W08]

Oct. 28, 2015—1:00pm—2:00pm

According to Gensler's 2013 U.S. Workplace Survey, workers are struggling to work effectively—the ability to focus at work has been compromised in pursuit of collaboration. This session will discuss how, in today's world, do we develop practical design solutions that address a subjective concern like sound privacy? Attendees of this session will identify the four different modes of work: focus, learning, collaboration and socialization, as well as worker expectations around privacy.

Speakers: Victoria Cerami, CEO, Cerami & Associates, Inc., New York, New York • Jennifer Nye, I IDA, LEED AP, senior interior designer, Gensler, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

 

HOW A MAJOR REBRANDING EFFORT DROVE A PARADIGM SHIFT IN LAW FIRM DESIGN: THE NIXON

PEABODY LLP OFFICES IN WASHINGTON, D.C. [W14]

Oct. 28, 2015—2:30pm—3:30pm

Although corporate workspace design has been evolving for years, the basic principles of law firm design that have existed for many decades have only recently been challenged. Examine a real-life rebranding effort that drove a significant paradigm shift for Nixon Peabody’s Washington, D.C. office. See how they achieved successful downsizing, transparency and collaboration and get the details about their approach to and use of alternative work environments, active design, material health, social equity and sustainability. Discuss how brand can be deeply imbedded in the design of interior workspace and what that means. 

Speakers: Ken Wison, FAIA, FIIDA, ASID, LEED Fellow, principal, Perkins+Will, Washington, D.C. • Haley Nelson, ASID, LEED AP ID+C, interior designer, associate, Perkins+Will, Washington, D.C. • Jeffrey Lesk, LEED AP, managing partner, Perkins+Will, Washington, D.C.

 

ENHANCING THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE THROUGH REGIONAL DESIGN SOLUTIONS [W18]

Oct. 28, 2015—4:00pm—5:00pm

As the healthcare industry shifts toward outpatient services, community clinics are gaining importance being the center of healthcare delivery. Many healthcare providers are taking fresh approaches to community clinic design, shedding the antiseptic white aesthetic of the past. Experience the fresh, design-forward approach to healthcare design that reflects regional characteristics. Discover what designers are doing to create patient comfort. Explore the auditory and visual elements that reinforce patient privacy. You’ll leave with a handle on how to integrate interior planning, products and materials into clinic design while creating an environment that enhances the overall patient experience. 

Speaker: Christine Guzzo Vickery, CID, EDAC, vice president and senior interior designer, HGA Architects and Engineers, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 

GSA IS HELPING THE GOVERNMENT GET FIT [T30]

Oct. 29, 2015—1:00pm—2:00pm

If you work for a federal agency as an employee or full-time contractor and would like to learn about a new national funding initiative to help other federal agencies use their workspace more efficiently and effectively, then this workshop is for you. The new program called FIT (Furniture & Information Technology) integrates GSA resources from PBS & FAS into a new service offering to assist federal agencies who occupy GSA-managed space. [Intermediate] [GSA]

Speaker: Dianne Juba, workplace strategist, Total Workplace PMO, General Services Administration, Washington, D.C.

 

CREATING A SUPER-NUCLEUS: IT’S ALL ABOUT ROI (RETURN ON INNOVATION) [T28]

Oct. 29, 2015—1:00pm—2:00pm

In every industry, new, disruptive technologies are emerging that are changing the way we do business at every level. With this evolution, corporate real estate is also at an enormous precipice of change. Tomorrow’s leaders will be seeking the best ideas and the biggest innovators, and creating a super-nucleus of resources. When you are armed with a core of great resources including collaborators, services, amenities, technologies and design elements, you will be better positioned and prepared to weather the rapid industry changes. 

Speakers: Jim Thompson, AIA BD+C, director of design, Little, Charlotte, North Carolina Tomas Jiminez-Eliaeson, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, director of design, Little, Charlotte, North Carolina.

 

PHILANTHROPY, FARMING, HEALTH, AND EDUCATION [T34]

Oct. 29, 2015—2:30pm—3:30pm

As the farm-to-table movement has gained momentum in recent years, there is now a great opportunity to participate and put to use sustainable design practices, and demonstrate a unique twist on the concept and delivery of good nutrition. In this program, you will learn about sustainable farming, healthy eating and the specific ways to design facilities that properly support the function and ethic of this movement. We’ll discuss a variety of spaces, including lab, classroom and healthcare facilities. 

Speakers: Paul Lewandowski, AIA, IIDA, LEED AP, Lavallee Brensinger Architects, Portland, Maine • Nicole Rogers, architect, AIA, LEED AP, SMRT Architects and Engineers, Portland, Maine.

 

SHOW AND SEMINAR REGISTRATION

Registration for admission to NeoCon East is free and available online until Oct. 23. Keynote presentations are free. Online registration for CEU seminars is available until Oct. 23 at $35 each; prices increase to $45 each onsite. Fees vary for association forums and special events. A GSA Educational Track is free to all attendees.

 

This year, NeoCon East’s co-location with AIA Philadelphia’s Design on the Delaware Conference further expands the diversity of programs available. Attendees can take advantage of reciprocal registration and sign up for individual programs offered at Design on the Delaware.

 

For more information, visit neoconeast.com.