NeoCon® Xpress L.A. Contract Show To Debut In August

Furniture World Magazine

The first-ever NeoCon® Xpress L.A., the West-coast architecture, interior design and facility management community’s premier opportunity to see hundreds of new products fresh from the NeoCon World’s Trade Fair, will debut at The Los Angeles Convention Center August 22-23, with the hottest new trends and show elements in the contract furnishings industry. Produced by Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. (MMPI), NeoCon Xpress L.A. is the showcase for the very best, innovative designs in the contract furnishings industry. In addition, many on-site special events, educational seminars and special exhibits will fill the convenient two-day NeoCon Xpress L.A. schedule. Following is a summary: NEWEST PRODUCTS & TRENDS More than 150 of the leading manufacturers in the contract furnishings industry will showcase a comprehensive range of products for commercial interior environments. All who exhibit at NeoCon Xpress L.A. will feature their newest products and designs to ensure a fresh and distinct experience for attendees. A broad array of market segments will be represented in the product offerings, including: Corporate, Hospitality, Healthcare, Education, Government Building Products, Technology Solutions and Eco-Friendly/Sustainable. BUILDINGS SHOW WEST The Building Show West will be co-located with NeoCon Xpress at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and will be a key show component. Buildings and ARCHI-TECH magazines will sponsor this exciting new component of building product services, resources and educational programs which will boost attendees knowledge and aid in their construction and renovation projects. Facility managers, building owners, architects, developers and other professionals from the commercial interior design community will have the opportunity to view the latest in facilities management, construction and technology products and services. KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Each day of NeoCon Xpress LA, two visionary industry keynote speakers will be featured. On Wednesday, August 22, world-renowned designer Angela Adams, owner of Angela Adams, Inc., who will present to attendees on “Bringing Comfort to Contract.” Adams’ designs are known for their sense of timelessness, simplicity and balance. Constantly exploring new media for her designs, Adams will discuss with attendees her work within the contract industry including partnerships with Shaw Contract Group, Architex and Ann Sacks. On Wednesday, August 22, Jack Kyser, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist for the city of Los Angeles, known as the “guru of the Los Angeles economy,” will enlighten attendees on his analyses and predictions of trends in the Los Angeles five-county area. Kyser will discuss the revitalization of downtown L.A. and learn how these new developments will enrich the future of Los Angeles as it works to redefine its skyline. Debra K. Ertel-Hernandez, CFM, CFMJ, FMA, senior facilities operations administrator at Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc., will discuss Making the Business Case for Sustainability at Toyota, on Wednesday, August 22. Ertel-Hernandez will take a close look at Toyota Motor Sales’ Business Case for Sustainability and their Global Earth Charter moving forward in the 21st Century and explore why the initiatives of major corporations like Toyota are becoming a major focus of the design industry. On Thursday, August 23, Cameron Sinclair, co-founder of Architecture for Humanity, will discuss his current projects which include working in six countries on projects ranging from school buildings, to tsunami and hurricane reconstruction, to developing mobile medical facilities to combat HIV/AIDS. Architecture for Humanity is a charitable organization which promotes architecture and design solutions to humanitarian crises and provides design services to communities in need. And, on Thursday, August 23, environmentalist Robert Kennedy, Jr., will serve as keynote speaker of the Southern California Chapter of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) 2007 Catalyst: Ideas for Breakfast event hosted by the Los Angeles Convention Center. ASSOCIATION PARTICIPATION In addition to the Southern California Chapter of IIDA, NeoCon Xpress LA has attracted the participation of leading national and local associations throughout the show. The Los Angeles Chapter of American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) will host a Downtown L.A. Tour led by Hal Bastian, President and Director of Economic Development of the Downtown Center Business Improvement District. This comprehensive tour will highlight the Renaissance of Downtown Los Angeles from the building of the Staples Center to the opening of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angeles, Walt Disney Concert Hall, as well as the housing boom which began in 1999 with the passage of the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance by the City of Los Angeles. A number of association forums also will be conducted throughout NeoCon Xpress LA from ASID LA; ANEW; Color Marketing Group; and California Council for Interior Design Certification. Participation from additional industry associations, includes: Asset Network for Education Worldwide (ANEW); American Society of Interior Designers (ASID); American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)-Southern California Chapter; Association of Contract Textiles (ACT); The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association (BIFMA); California Council for Interior Design Certification (CCIDC); Central City Association (CCA); Foundation for Design Integrity (FDI); International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD); International Facility Management Association (IFMA)–Los Angeles Chapter; International Interior Design Association (IIDA); IIDA of Southern California; International Wood Products Association (IWPA); Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD); National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ); Network of Executive Women in Hospitality (NEWH); NEWH-Los Angeles Chapter; Office Furniture Dealers Alliance (OFDA); Society for Environmental Graphic Design (SEGD); Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS)-Los Angeles Chapter); US Green Building Council (USGBC)-Los Angeles Chapter; Wallcoverings Association (WA) and Women in Architecture (WIA). For more information on NeoCon Xpress L.A., please visit www.merchandisemart.com NeoCon® Xpress and NeoCon® World’s Trade Fair are registered trademarks of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI). Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) is a trade show and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 tradeshows, market events and conferences each year. MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart and 350 W. Mart Center in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building and 7 W New York in New York; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; the Boston Design Center in Boston; and the Washington Design Center and Federal Center Southwest in Washington, D.C. Vornado Realty Trust, owner of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust. Vornado common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.