Sixty-five awards were distributed in The Best of NeoCon 2004 competition of contract furnishings, a highlight event during NeoCon in June at The Merchandise Mart, Chicago. Celebrating its 15th year, The Best of NeoCon’04 also issued seven Innovative Awards, four Editors’ Choice Awards, as well as The Best of Competition Award.
The Best of NeoCon’04 elicited 325 entries in the 26 product and furnishings categories of the competition, sponsored by Contract Magazine, Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc., The International Interior Design Association (IIDA), The International Facility Management Association (IFMA), and McMorrowReport.com.
Best of Competition award, went to Topo, a furniture system with the flexibility to fit how and where you work—for the open plan and the private office, manufactured by Metro Furniture and designed by the Metro Design Group.
This time-honored competition is distinguished from others, not only in the number of products entered in the competition but also because of its “kick the tires” ability. Jurors examined the actual entries in person; judging was not by viewing a series of slides.
The jury, composed of 47 corporate, government and institutional facilities management executives and business facilities interior designers (working in 8 jury teams), represented design and facilities professionals who select, specify or buy commercial/institutional furnishings. They viewed all competition entries in manufacturers’ showrooms and market suites at The Merchandise Mart.
Not only did jurors see each product in person, turn it over, rub the surface, spin the wheels, they also asked probing questions of the product manufacturers. Nor did they arbitrarily select a Gold or a Silver winner in each category.
The result of their arduous work was announced at a breakfast heralding the first day of NeoCon, giving all attendees (close to 50,000) three days in which to see the winning products in their respective Merchandise Mart showrooms and Market Suites.
The following lists the Best of Competition winner and Gold Award winners in their respective categories:
Gold Award Winning Entries
Best of Competition and Gold: Alternative Office
Metro, for Topo.
Architectural Products
Inscape Architectural Interiors, for Interval
Carpet: Broadloom
Atlas Carpet Mills, for The Sketchbook Collection
Carpet: Modular
C&A Floorcoverings, for Wooly
Desks
HBF, for LOGICwork Series
Educational Solutions
KI, for 360 Classroom Furniture
Files & Storage
Geiger International, for H-Frame Storage Unit
Flooring
Johnsonite, for Millwork Contoured Wall Base Collection
Furniture Systems
Herman Miller, for Abak
Furniture Systems: New Components
3Form Inc., for Hari
Healthcare Furniture
Thonet CS
Lighting
Lightology, for Flakstad Reserved LED Paver
Office Accessories
KnollExtra, for Jellyfish
Seating: Guest
Gunlocke, for Napoli
Seating: Ergonomic Desk/Task
Humanscale, for Liberty Chair
Seating: Sofas & Lounge
Loewenstein, for Sebastian
Seating: Stacking Vitra, for MedaSlim
Software Technologies
20-20 Technologies, for 20-20 CAP Integrated Office Dealer Solution
Surfacing Materials
Lumicor, for Crystal
Tables: Conference & Training
HBF, for LOGICmeet Conference Series
Tables: Occasional
Brayton International, for Calm
Technology Support
Chief Manufacturing Inc, KFWC 110S Height Adjustable Dual Swing Arm Mount & Arm Desk Mount
Textiles: Drapery, Cubicle, Shades
KnollTextiles, for Candena
Textiles: Panel
Herman Miller, for Kira
Textiles: Upholstery
Luna Textiles, for Latitude 38 Collection
Wall Treatments
Hybarids + Fusion/Ferdinand Visser BV, for High Tech Wallcover Systems
Workplace Technologies
Nucraft, for Mural
In addition, Editors’ Choice awards were given to the following:
Kova Textiles, for Krystal Weavers Collection.
Steelcase, for Think Chair.
Atlas Carpet Mills, for Spyro/Etcha/Sketch.
Virco Mfg., for Zuma
This year, seven Innovation Awards were given:
3Form, Inc., for Hari
ICF, for Luna Stacking Chair
DuPont Corian, for DuPont Corian Backlight Images
Hybarids + Fusion/Ferdinand Visser BV, for Equinox-a3D Airco Upholstery Fabrics
ORT AD, for Seattable-Model ST.L
FCI Inc., for Neo 4
Gunlocke, for Sojourn
Special accolades acknowledged Haworth for being environmentally sensitive in its “green” showroom at The Merchandise Mart.
—See also, “NeoCon ’04: Among 65 awards, Metro’s Topo alternative office wins as Best of Competition.”
