New American Home Furnishings Hall Of Fame Building Provides Unique Gathering Place

Furniture World News Desk on 4/18/2023

Pictured is the Surya Presentation Staircase

The new American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame building in High Point provides the home furnishings industry with its first-ever dedicated “home,” a place where manufacturers, retailers, designers and other industry members from across the globe can gather, honor, celebrate and share ideas.

At the same time, the new building, conveniently located just one block from the International Home Furnishings Center in the heart of the High Point Market, offers a unique gathering spot for local businesses and community groups, as well as individuals seeking a creative venue for a wedding or other event.

“Our new home is the perfect setting for industry gatherings, both large and small,” says Karen McNeill, CEO and president of the Hall of Fame Board of Directors. “The building has several spaces that can accommodate a large crowd, as well as a number of more intimate spaces that are suitable for smaller gatherings and meetings.”

Furniture Mart USA Celebration Hall

Bill and Carolyn Hinks Celebration Hall: The centerpiece of the Hall of Fame Center for Leadership is the Bill and Carolyn Hinks Celebration Hall. Here, the building can host seated dinners for 150 or cocktails for 450. Flanked on one side by the Loloi Dynamic Story Wall with dozens of interlaced LED video screens, Celebration Hall also will be a place to spotlight educational speakers, awards presentations and entertainment. The Hall is supported by a full-service cooking kitchen.

“The Celebration Hall is the heart of our living, breathing home, serving as a training ground and a center of leadership, events and activities,” says Hinks, CEO and founder of Furniture Mart USA. “It’s an inspiring showplace where we can meet during markets and, as a result, amazing things will happen. That’s what we want to do – to get people new to our industry involved and for all of us to be able to get to know one another and to have a place to share ideas.”

When Hinks first learned about the plans for a home for the furniture industry, he says, “I thought it was amazing and that this project will give young people a focus and a sense of the legacies of our industry and the people who have made it great. We love that our industry is like a big family.”

Furniture of America Leader's

Adjacent to Celebration Hall is the Furniture of America Leader’s Bar, where visitors can enjoy a light breakfast and lunch, a cup of coffee during the day or cocktails in the afternoon or evening.

“Mike Gingrich’s greatest passion was networking with other members of the furniture industry,” says Rocky Young, senior executive vice president – Furniture of America. “In his memory, we have created a space dedicated to communication.” 

The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame building boasts a variety of other well-equipped spaces designed for groups and individuals to meet. They include:

The Grand Atrium: A dramatic entry space, here people will step into the world of home furnishings, study the video backdrop of the La-Z-Boy Grand Story Wall and begin tours through the building. With glass two stories high on three sides, the 50-foot high Grand Atrium features a clerestory design that allows light to flow down the center of the building. 

 Hall of Fame Gallery: Located on the first floor at the center of the building, behind the Surya Presentation Staircase, this area honors the women and men in the home furnishings industry who have left a legacy that has and will continue to fuel the future. 

 International Market Center Imagination Theater: This immersive theater with a curved screen, multiple projections and a 30-person seating provided by ManWah Holdings is designed to provide visitors with an introduction to the wonderful world of home furnishings. Intimate and engaging, the theater also is designed to host small industry gatherings, such as premarket sales meetings, as well as community events.

 O. William and Candace Fenn, Jr. Leader's Boardroom: An elegant grouping of 10 hand-crafted tables made of native wood from Thailand sourced by Mark Phillips, CEO of the Phillips Collection, and 30 executive chairs provided by Davis Furniture highlights this elegant meeting space. Located on the second floor, behind the C. William and Julia Wittenberg, Jr. Strategy Foyer, the Leader’s Boardroom is suitable for the meetings of changemakers, whether within the industry, corporate world or community. The Leggett & Platt Leader's Media Wall boasts a full complement of audiovisual support, including an 85-inch television and state-of-the-art videoconferencing and surround-sound. With seating and has for up to 30 people, the Leader’s Boardroom also features six frosted glass dry-erase panels for strategy sessions, draperies for privacy and overhead windows that bathe the room in natural light.

Karen and Stephen Pond Hub

Karen and Stephen Pond Hub: In tribute to emerging leaders, such as those who have been named a Paul Broyhill Future Leader or attended the Hall of Fame Home Furnishings Leadership Institute at High Point University, The Hub is designed to provide a place where emerging industry leaders can meet and network. Furnished by Four Hands with comfortable seating, tables and a large flat-screen TV, The Hub is located on the second floor, next to the Leaders’ Boardroom.

Stephen Knight Pond Library

Stephen Knight Pond Library: The Hall of Fame features a comprehensive collection of books relating to the home furnishings industry. A highlight of the collection will be bound copies of Furniture Today, Home Accents Today and Textiles Today, along with collections of Furniture World and other leading trade publications. The library is on the first floor, behind the Hall of Fame Gallery. Outfitted by Stickley Furniture, a large table makes the room suitable for small working groups and meetings.

Karen E. McNeill Women's Center

Karen E. McNeill Women’s Center: This space, on the first floor near the Traveling Exhibits Center, is designed to foster the advancement of women through the studies of women in the industry and to generate events for learning. Designed and furnished by Vanguard Furniture, comfortable upholstered seating will serve as a casual gathering space.

About the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Building: American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame building : Located at 311 S. Hamilton St., the new American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame building is scheduled to open April 22. Located at 311 S. Hamilton St., the new Hall of Fame building features multiple meeting spaces, the Hall of Fame Gallery, a Tribute Wall and Innovation Center, an immersive theater, the Trend Spotter Exhibit and continually changing Traveling Exhibits. Additional interactive exhibits are under development in Phase 2. Designed as a place for the industry and the community to gather, honor and learn, the facility includes a bar and full-service hospitality kitchen to provide comprehensive food service.

About AHFFF: The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc., is an industry-wide organization founded to preserve its history, to celebrate exceptional individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the U.S. home furnishings industry, to inspire the next generation of innovative leaders and to engage the community with the world of home furnishings. In 2019, the organization purchased a building at 311 S. Hamilton St. in High Point. Our new home will be a symbol of the Home Furnishings Capital of the World™ where the industry gathers, where we tell our story and learn from our past, and where we inspire future generations. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, funds support our history and leadership programming. The organization is based in High Point, North Carolina, at 311 S. Hamilton St., and can be reached at 336.882.5900. Watch for ongoing developments and details about the grand opening of our new permanent home at www.homefurnishingshalloffame.com in April 2023.