2.8.10 | Hickory, NC | HBF and HBF Textiles announced the appointment of Jessica Tran as Showroom Manager for HBF - New York. Ms. Tran comes from a strong dealer background with experience at Benhar
Office Interiors in New York City and Evenson Best in Albany.
People >>
2.8.10 | Cleveland, OH | Vocon jumped to number 43 among Interior Design's top 50 ranked U.S. interior design firms. Ranked 48 in 2009 this is the ninth straight year that Vocon has made the list. The firm secured a spot in the top 50 by increasing its overall project
revenue, including interior design and architecture income growth.
Arch & Design >>
2.8.10 | High Point, NC | Paul Brayton Designs hired Option Creation as its exclusive representative for St. Louis, MO. The partnership will focus on promoting Paul Brayton Designs’ textiles
to interior designers, architects, facility managers, etc. who work in
the contract, healthcare, and hospitality industries in St. Louis and
the surrounding areas.
Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.8.10 | Zeeland, MI | Herman Miller formed a partnership with Trainor Modular Walls. Based in Farmers Branch, TX, Trainor Modular Walls is a division of Trainor Glass Company producing modular full-height walls, door, and hardware, which will be distributed exclusively
through Herman Miller’s North American dealer network beginning February
8, 2010.
Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.5.10 | Green Bay, WI | KI helped to furnish the recently completed Don & Lori Watts Pediatric Center. Part of the Kadlec Regional Medical Center, Richland, WA, the new children’s
department offers a higher level of care to pediatric patients, allowing
local children who have cancer to receive treatment locally. Each of the private rooms feature a KI Daybed Sofa Sleeper that pulls out
into a bed, allowing parents to stay comfortably with their children in
the hospital and KI's Soltice Lounge Furniture also was used for the private family room with kitchen and dining facility.
Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.5.10 | St. Petersburg, FL | Investment
analyst Budd Bugatch of Raymond James &
Associates reaffirmed his company's "Outperform" rating
on Knoll following its Feb. 4 earnings release and
conference call discussing its 4Q09 results. Noting that Knoll is the industry
leader in terms of profitability and describing its financial performance as
"impressive", Mr. Bugatch raised Raymond James' 2010 estimate on
Knoll's earnings per share from $0.61 to $0.67.
Business >>, Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.4.10 | Holland, MI | Haworth, Inc. reported that its 2009 global sales totaled $1.11 billion. This compares with 2008 sales of $1.65 billion. President and CEO Franco Bianchi noted that while the company's results reflect the economic crisis experienced by the entire industry, Haworth made progress in several key areas. It improved North American market share, launched several new products around the world, strengthened its position as a leader in providing fully integrated solutions, and maintained a strong financial position "despite difficult business adjustments and restructurings," Mr. Bianchi said.
Business >>, Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.5.10 | Jasper, IN | Kimball International reported net sales of $275 million for its 2010 fiscal year second quarter, a 16% decrease from second-quarter FY09 sales. The company's Furniture Segment posted sales of $108 million for the quarter, a 33% decrease from year-ago figures, and a net loss of $996,000. Net sales in its Electronic Manufacturing Services Segment equalled last year's second quarter figure of $167 million. CEO and President James C. Thyen noted "encouraging signs of stability" for EMS, but that signs of stability in the Furniture Segment "are not yet evident."
Business >>, Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.5.10 | Washington, DC | Edward J. Kodet, Jr. was inaugurated as 2010 Chancellor for the AIA College of Fellows. Mr. Kodet is the founder and president of Kodet Architectural Group, Ltd. in Minneapolis, MN. His responsibilities as Chancellor include presiding at the annual business meeting, Executive
Committee meetings and Convocation of Fellows.
He also will lead the Latrobe Prize, a $100,000 grant for
research on sustainable design in the urban environment.
Arch & Design >>, People >>
2.5.10 | New York, NY | Bill Bouchey joined M Moser Associates as design director for the New York office. In his new position, Mr. Bouchy, formerly principal at Mancini Duffy, will be responsible for leading the concept design of
all projects, ensuring quality standards, and addressing client business
objectives.
People >>
2.5.10 | Boston, MA | The Isabella Stewart Gardner
Museum revealed the final plans for an addition
designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano. Mr. Piano designed the new wing to stand 50 feet behind the
existing building and to rise no higher. A first floor with transparent
glass walls will afford views of Fenway Court, the museum gardens,
and the adjacent Emerald Necklace park system by Frederick Law Olmsted. The museum seeks LEED certification and is expected
to open in early 2012.
Arch & Design >>, Projects >>
2.5.10 | Chattanooga, TN | SmartFurniture.com announced its Smart
Space Design Contest, a competition to see who can design the best interior
space using Smart Designer.
Smart Designer is a 3D space planner for easily designing, planning, and purchasing rooms online in 3D. The contest, sponsored by Herman Miller will award a $2,500 SmartFurniture.com gift card to one of the five finalists chosen each week during February.
Awards >>, Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.4.10 | Moonachie, NJ | BULBRITE introduced the Purify02
family of Coil and T5 Quad CFLs for odors and damp smelling applications. Ideal for restrooms, closets, gyms, and
other damp-smelling rooms in the home, hospital, hotel, daycare center,
kennel,
pet store and other residential and commercial spaces, the Purify02 line
safely breaks down odors while providing energy efficient
light and a healthy alternative
to traditional chemically based air fresheners.
Mfg. & Distr. >>, Products >>
2.4.10 | New York, NY | Gotham Public Relations Inc, a Marketing PR agency, was retained by Floorworks International of Toronto and Relative
Space concept showroom in New York as Agency of Record. The Gotham PR team will serve as Agency of Record for each
firms design and architecture business development, marketing PR and
special industry events, as well as tradeshow support throughout 2010.
2.4.10 | Zeeland, MI | Herman Miller partnered with JRuiter + Studio, Grand Rapids, MI, to produce Intent furniture. The concise set of parts can be combined into everything from a single or double pedestal desk to returns, credenzas, and storage and price, application, and aesthetics can be scaled according to choice.
Mfg. & Distr. >>, Products >>
2.4.10 | San Francisco, CA | AIA San
Francisco and the Center for Architecture + Design Gallery will present
Vertical Gardens February 18-April 30. On view at 130
Sutter Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA, the show will reflect the
emergence of green roofs and walls over the last decade to combat the
lack of flora in the city. The exhibition
showcases architectural models, renderings, drawings, and photographs
that depict or imagine a vertical farm, urban garden, or green
roof.
Event >>
2.4.10 | Easthampton, MA | Chemetal introduced two steel designs: 380 Weathered Steel and 381 Aged Steel. 380 Weathered Steel looks like a piece of steel
soaked with sun, rain, and time until achieving its organic
hue. 380 Weathered Steel and the more linear 381 Aged Steel are produced using water, sea, and salt. Color and tone are closely monitored for manufacturing consistency, and each sheet is lightly top coated to prevent heavy “rust rub off.”
Mfg. & Distr. >>, Products >>
2.4.10| Berkley, CA | UC Berkeley
Extension was designated a U.S. Green Building
Council Education Provider. It is the first
continuing education program at the University of California, and one of
the few public continuing education programs in the country to offer
USGBC-approved course credits. The UC Berkeley Extension sustainability courses are
designed to meet the anticipated 30% growth in the next decade in green jobs.
Environment >>, Research >>
2.4.10 | New York, NY | Perkins+Will will receive a 2010 National
Building Museum Honor Award for its commitment to civic
innovation in design, construction, and education throughout its 75-year
history. It is the first time an architecture firm has
been selected as an Honor Award recipient since its inception in 1986. Among Perkins+Will's many achievements is its leadership in sustainable
design. Perkins+Will was the first multi-office firm to commit to the
2030 Challenge, pledging that all projects be designed for carbon
neutrality by the year 2030.
Arch & Design >>, Awards >>
2.4.10 | Marietta, GA | Durkan, the hospitality brand of The Mohawk Group issued a Call for Entries for its first carpet design contest. Supported by HNWH (Network of Executive Women in Hospitality), D*scover aims to exhibit the talent of hospitality designers, while contributing toward the
education of future designers. Submissions are due March 12, 2010.
Awards >>, Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.4.10 | Passaic, NJ | Bendheim's Spirit Collection safety laminated glass is now available in a variety of colors based on customer requests. The Color Collection features a combination of
transparent and translucent color interlayers together with various
glass surface options. The interlayers come in several degrees of opacity to
accommodate privacy and aesthetic requirements and can be enriched with a white pigment for a more translucent,
opalescent effect.
Mfg. & Distr. >>, Products >>
2.3.10 | St. Petersburg, FL | Budd Bugatch of Raymond James & Associates provided commentary on December office furniture order and shipment statistics released by BIFMA. He noted that stabilizing economic conditions combined with easier prior year growth comparisons drove moderating percentage declines in December. Orders of $630 million for the month were down 12% compared with last year but up modestly from $620 million in November. December shipments decreased 20% year-over-year to $720 million, up from $640 million in November.
Business >>, Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.4.10 | Grand Rapids, MI | Cumberland Furniture added to its Designers Speaker series with Lily Lounge, designed by Jeffrey Botwin, Herringbone Design, Los Angeles, CA. Inspired from the
flora of his West Coast surroundings, Mr. Botwin designed a piece with a fluted back
that recalls the petals of the lily, many
of which are native to California. Available in lounge chair and 2-seat or
3-seat sofa, the pieces feature four-inch-thick upholstery,
tapered legs and a continuous wood base that compliments the vertical fluting
details of the upholstery.
Products >>
2.4.10 | Washington, DC | Naomi Kruger was named Healthcare Interiors Practice Leader for SmithGroup, Washington, DC. Her responsibilities will include planning, design, architecture and equipment coordination, finishes, and marketing and client management. Ms. Kruger comes from the firm's Chicago office where she was project manager, medical planner and designer.
People >>
2.4.10 | East Greenville, PA | Knoll, Inc. reported its first sequential increase in backlog in six quarters with the release of its 4Q09 financial results. CEO Andrew Cogan attributed the improvement to the company's new product introductions including its award-winning Generation by Knoll chair, as well as to some stabilization in overall demand. Fourth-quarter sales totaled $183.9 million, up from $181.3 million in the third quarter; and backlog as of Dec. 31 was $153.0 million, up from $121.7 million at the end of the third quarter.
Business >>
2.4.10 | Buffalo, NY | Garrett Leather Corporation is a proud supplier to Super Bowl XLIV. Over 6,000 sq. ft. of Caressa Pewter was installed for seating in the suites at Sun Life Stadium in Opa Locka, FL, for this year’s Super Bowl.
Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.4.10 | Chicago, IL | Goettsch Partners were selected to design new offices for the Global Services division of law firm Baker & McKenzie. Baker & McKenzie will occupy the 43rd and 46th through 51st floors, as well as part of the
44th floor. Project completion is slated for the second half of 2011.
Arch & Design >>, Projects >>