In this issue… Koroseal acquires Gage; MillerKnoll outlines its growth priorities; and Sunon, Urbanica and American Interiors expand their showroom presence. Humanscale champions regionally informed ergonomics, while Coalesse blends design and culinary art in New York. We explore Chicago’s uneven office recovery, the rise of flexible offices, AI’s impact on imagery, meetings and office value, and the trust behind flexible work. Remote work’s links to fertility, a replica Theranos desk, adaptable campuses, healthcare design and Pearson Lloyd’s sustainability approach round out our coverage. Product highlights include Studio TK’s Harbour collection, USAI lighting at Fordham, Arcadia’s healthcare furniture and Chemetal’s darkened aluminum finishes.[1]
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U.S. office demand is rising as companies lease more space, while limited new construction and building removals sharply reduce supply, especially for premium trophy offices. Effective rents for first‑generation trophy space jumped over 20% year‑over‑year in Q3 2026, and second‑generation space rose 10%. Net absorption reached 6 million sq ft, driven largely by technology firms in markets like San Francisco and Austin, with leasing volume up 13% in Sun Belt gateways. Despite strong leasing activity, only 23 million sq ft of new office space is under construction, representing about 9% of normal annual supply, constraining future inventory growth.
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Registered Agents Inc reported a record 562,579 new business formations in September 2026, a 13.7% increase from the previous year, pushing total formations through September to 5.31 million, up 16% YoY. Significant growth came from Missouri (83% YoY), the Mountain West states, Texas, and several other regions, while Florida remained the leader in volume. The data suggests strong entrepreneurial confidence and sustained economic activity across the United States.
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"Meeting with Sunon gave us reason to be optimistic. Their innovative, high-quality products at reasonable prices, combined with the direction Haworth is taking and its strategy for the market, give us reason to see real opportunities ahead.”
- Garry Maddox - Owner and CEO, A. Pomerantz & Co.
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Urbanica Plans Miami Showroom, West Coast Expansion in Push for National Presence
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Urbanica Furniture, a family-owned office furniture company based in South Florida, plans to open its first showroom in Miami in 2027, adding a physical retail presence as it looks to expand beyond its regional base.
The company, which already sells online and delivers across the 48 contiguous states, said the Miami opening will be followed by a second showroom and a warehouse on the West Coast by 2028. Together, the projects would give Urbanica physical operations on both coasts, supporting its ambitions to build a broader national business.
An address and opening date for the Miami showroom have not been announced. The company also did not disclose the size of the planned locations, its investment or a specific West Coast market.
Urbanica says it brings three decades of furniture manufacturing experience to the expansion. Its assortment spans ergonomic seating, standing desks, team workstations, meeting tables and accessories, serving both home office buyers and businesses furnishing larger workplaces.
The Miami showroom will be the first location where customers can see the company’s full product range in person. Consultants will work with customers using room measurements, floor plans or sketches to develop workspace plans. Business customers will be able to evaluate settings for individual work, team workstations, meeting rooms and break areas.
“Miami is where Urbanica becomes a place customers can walk into,” a company representative identified in the announcement only as Ben said. “It is our first showroom and the start of our move into retail so we are all super excited.”
For commercial customers, the location will add an in-person component to Urbanica’s existing For Teams office planning service, which the company says serves organizations with 10 to more than 500 people. Customers submit a space plan, CAD file or sketch and receive a 3D layout, product selection and itemized quote within two business days, according to Urbanica. The company says the service includes white-glove shipping, layout adjustments and installation.
The planned West Coast warehouse would position inventory closer to customers in western states, while the second showroom would extend the company’s approach to in-person selling beyond Miami.
For Urbanica, the expansion represents a shift from an online sales model toward a combination of digital sales, physical showrooms and office planning services. Its next step is to establish that model in its home market before taking it across the country.
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Koroseal Acquires Decorative Metals Supplier Gage
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Koroseal Interior Products has acquired Gage Corporation, a longtime supplier and partner specializing in decorative architectural metals. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The acquisition brings Gage’s metal products into Koroseal’s portfolio of commercial wallcoverings, wall protection, architectural products and acoustic solutions. Gage’s products are used in walls, ceilings, elevator interiors, columns and custom architectural elements.
The deal builds on a partnership spanning several decades and broadens Koroseal’s offering to designers, architects, contractors and commercial end-users. Koroseal said the combination will support joint product development, marketing and commercial activities.
“Gage has been a valued partner to Koroseal for many years, and we have tremendous respect for the products, capabilities and expertise they have built,” said John Murray, CEO of Koroseal Interior Products.
Murray described the acquisition as a natural extension of that relationship and said Koroseal’s customer relationships and market reach would help build on Gage’s established business.
Gage’s full product line, including Gage78, GageMetal, GageCarve, GageWoven and GageCeilings, is available through Koroseal representatives and showrooms nationwide.
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Humanscale Saudi Tour Highlights Gaps Between Office Attendance and Employee Preferences
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Humanscale’s September speaking tour across Saudi Arabia highlighted differences in how employees use and view the office, making the case for workplace strategies tailored to local needs.
The ergonomic furniture manufacturer joined Oliver Baxter, workplace strategist and founder of Workplace Maven, for events in Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah. The sessions examined how ergonomics, employee preferences and regional conditions can inform office design and furniture selection.
Research presented during the tour drew on a 2025 study of 1,320 participants across Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council, benchmarked against a 2015 baseline of 551 respondents. The findings put collaboration at 65% of working activity in Saudi Arabia, compared with 42% elsewhere in the GCC. They also showed a gap between reported office attendance in Saudi Arabia, at 82%, and preferred attendance, at 27%.
Pulse surveys conducted at the three tour stops added a local perspective. Those results came from small, self-selected audiences and should be considered directional rather than representative of each city’s workforce.
In Dammam, respondents reported office attendance of 68%, close to their preferred rate of 62%. Collaboration accounted for 59% of working activity, and indoor air quality emerged as a priority.
In Jeddah, reported attendance of 49% was nearly aligned with a preferred rate of 51%. Respondents emphasized flexibility, work-life balance and time savings, suggesting that choice over where to work was an important part of the office equation.
Riyadh’s responses pointed to a different issue. Despite relatively high attendance, respondents were less likely than those in Dammam and Jeddah to say they felt more trusted, involved or proud in the office than at home.
For contract furniture dealers, designers and specifiers, the findings suggest that attendance figures alone provide an incomplete basis for workplace planning. Understanding the activities employees perform—and the conditions they value—can help guide decisions about individual workstations, meeting rooms and shared spaces.
Humanscale used the tour to position ergonomics as part of that broader planning process. The company’s portfolio includes task seating, sit-stand desks, monitor arms and other workspace tools intended to support comfort and movement across different work settings.
The discussions also extended ergonomic considerations beyond individual desks to collaborative spaces, where employees may spend substantial portions of their day.
The central message for workplace planners: national trends offer context, but decisions about how an office is planned and furnished need to account for the employees using it.
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Coalesse Brings Co.Lab to New York as Steelcase Marks 30 Years at Columbus Circle
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Coalesse is bringing its Co.Lab installation series to Steelcase’s WorkLife Center at 4 Columbus Circle, marking Steelcase’s 30 years at the location with a presentation combining furniture, food and collaborative design.
Opening October 14, the installation uses a scaffolding structure inspired by New York City to frame four distinct areas for gathering and collaboration. Bold materials and bright colors provide the backdrop for Coalesse products and pieces from partner brands Viccarbe, Tom Dixon, Moooi, Flos and Extremis.
For the opening event, Coalesse teamed with New York-based culinary artist and designer Laila Gohar on a site-specific presentation. Gohar’s contribution includes blown-sugar objects suspended from a Murano glass chandelier, inviting guests to sample its edible adornments, along with her interpretation of a champagne tower.
“Coalesse is defined by what can be created when different ideas and perspectives come together,” said Sebastian Wrong, design director at Steelcase. “Collaborating with Laila gives us the opportunity to explore design through an entirely different medium, blending her bold perspective with our belief in the beauty of creativity.”
The collaboration extends the installation’s focus on social interaction beyond furniture, using food as another way to bring visitors together.
“Some of the best connections are shared with food as the central point,” said Meghan Dean, general manager, Design Brands and Partners at Steelcase. “With Laila, we wanted to design an immersion that not only feels beautiful but also allows people to experience it and build from layers of inspiration together.”
The New York installation follows Co.Lab presentations in Miami, Milan and Chicago. The series launched during Miami Art Week 2025 with a custom textile application by Tom Dixon. In Milan, Coalesse explored hospitality through a “co-working disco” at the Mua Mua Hotel. For Chicago’s Fulton Market Design Days, the brand erected a freestanding Co.Lab structure in the street, incorporating light and sound into the visitor experience.
“The New York Co.Lab extends Coalesse’s belief that brilliant ideas emerge when different perspectives come together,” said Linsey Tague, brand marketing director for Design Brands & Partners at Steelcase.
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MillerKnoll Shareholders Approve Incentive Plan as Fiscal 2026 Sales Rise 5%
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Shareholders approved all four management proposals, including director elections, executive compensation, KPMG’s auditor appointment, and a new long‑term incentive plan, with about 94% of shares represented. Fiscal 2026 net sales rose 5% to $3.84 billion, adjusted diluted EPS reached $1.86, operating cash flow hit $200 million, debt was reduced by $41 million, and $67 million was returned to shareholders. For fiscal 2027, the company will focus on profitable growth through tighter cost discipline, better capital allocation, continued debt reduction, and expansion of products, showrooms, and retail locations.
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American Interiors relocating to Ohio City
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American Interiors is moving its Downtown Cleveland showroom to The Carriage Co. at 2168 W 25th St., expanding to nearly 18,000 sq ft across two floors and investing about $2.1 million to build out 17,385 sq ft of interior space. The relocation follows the company’s acquisition of APG’s Northeast Ohio operations and its status as the sole MillerKnoll dealer in the region. The Carriage Co. development, a 239,000‑sq‑ft historic property undergoing a $62 million renovation, will be completed in Q2 2027, offering additional retail and office space.
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Maharam in Melbourne and Sydney
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Maharam opened two new showrooms in Melbourne and Sydney, showcasing textiles and furnishings in modern, gallery-like spaces designed with architect Neil Logan. The Melbourne location (730 sq ft) features a wooden cabinet sample library, while the larger Sydney showroom (3,960 sq ft) includes a window wall with solid fir lattice and a Maharam leather handrail. Both spaces highlight Maharam’s independent presence in Australia and reflect its long‑standing collaboration with local designers and craftsmen.
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U.S. office demand improved in Q3 despite volatile macro conditions, with leasing activity reaching its strongest levels since 2019 and leasing volume up 6.4% year‑over‑year. Effective rents rose sharply, especially for top‑tier assets, while inventory fell to 21 million sq ft from over 45 million sq ft in late 2023. New construction remains low, with only 3.5 million sq ft completed in Q3. Strong demand is driving higher asking and effective rents, particularly in Class A markets like Midtown Manhattan, where rates hit $91.08 per sq ft. Conversion of older office buildings, especially in the Midwest, continues, adding millions of square feet to the pipeline. Investment activity grew 13% year‑over‑year, but higher interest rates are slowing sales growth and could temper leasing activity in Q4.
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|  www.facilitiesdive.com
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Downtown Chicago’s office market is showing signs of recovery, with overall vacancy easing to 26.6%—a modest 10‑basis‑point rise from Q2 and the lowest trophy‑asset vacancy at 11.4% since early 2023—while Class B and C spaces remain higher at 33.9% and 25.3%. Submarket performance varies, highlighted by Fulton Market’s 16.8% vacancy and zero move‑outs, and positive leasing activity for Class A assets in River North, despite a year‑over‑year drop in overall leasing volume.
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|  www.globest.com
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Sunon Builds for the Future of North American Workplace Design
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A new Philadelphia showroom anchors Sunon’s growing U.S. presence through local partnerships, major projects, and expanding North American operations.
As workplace expectations evolve, manufacturers are investing in partnerships, innovation, and infrastructure. For Sunon, a global office furniture manufacturer founded in Hangzhou, China, in 1991, this commitment is reflected in its partnership with A. Pomerantz & Co. and the opening of a 15,000-square-foot Sunon Experience Center in Philadelphia.
Unveiled during the Philadelphia Design Festival, the Experience Center welcomes clients, industry partners, and the local design community. Located at 123 S. Broad Street, it provides a destination for product exploration and collaboration with regional architecture and design professionals.
“Everyone wants to start with a great design and not spend the rest of the project taking things out to meet budget. With Sunon, designers and clients can explore more possibilities and make the most of their investment without compromising their vision. This showroom is where they can experience those possibilities firsthand,” says Linda Rudi, COO of A. Pomerantz & Co.
A Partnership Built on Opportunity
For Pomerantz, the partnership comes at a pivotal time for the office furniture industry. Following pandemic-related disruption and changes in dealer-manufacturer relationships, the company was looking toward new opportunities.
Pomerantz Owner and CEO Garry Maddox, a former Philadelphia Phillies center fielder, compares industry uncertainty to facing baseball’s toughest pitchers.
“I thought daunting was getting up in the morning knowing you had to face Nolan Ryan in the Astrodome. But I’ve learned there are daunting situations off the baseball field, too. Meeting with Sunon reminded me that even in a challenging situation, there are reasons to be optimistic.
"After the pandemic, the office furniture industry faced enormous challenges. We went from being a Steelcase dealer, representing the number-one manufacturer in the industry, to no longer being their dealer. A month later, Steelcase was sold. That was a daunting turn of events for us and for the industry, right up there with facing Nolan Ryan or J.R. Richard on the mound.
"Meeting with Sunon gave us reason to be optimistic. Their innovative, high-quality products at reasonable prices give us reason to see real opportunities ahead.” -Garry MaddoxOwner and CEO, A. Pomerantz & Co.
The partnership combines Pomerantz’s regional expertise and customer relationships with Sunon’s global design and manufacturing capabilities.
Growing Sunon’s North American Presence
The shift is apparent to Sunon as the Team is currently underway completing some of their largest projects to date including 217,000 square feet across two buildings in Elizabeth, New Jersey; a 200,000-square-foot technology project in Tustin, California; and an 81,000-square-foot healthcare research project in Greater Seattle to name but a few.
“Since entering the U.S, our team has worked hard to build brand awareness and earn client trust. Today, that investment is translating into larger, more complex projects. Our partnership with Pomerantz marks an exciting next chapter, combining their strong local relationships with our global resources to reach new customers and create new opportunities for growth.” -Will Zhu, U.S. Sales Director, Sunon
Sunon is supporting its growth with regional manufacturing and logistics investments. In 2024, the company opened an 800,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and a 10,000-square-foot Experience Center in Monterrey, Mexico, strengthening regional production and supporting faster U.S. delivery.
In 2027, plans include expanding its Dallas logistics facility, evaluating a distribution hub in Los Angeles or New Jersey, and adding a specialized steel production line in Mexico. A Midtown Manhattan Experience Center will open December 2026 with a local partner.
Back in Philadelphia, for Sunon and Pomerantz, the new space more than a showroom. It is a shared investment in the design community while bringing global resources and local expertise together to shape the future of workplace design.
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AI-generated imagery is rapidly transforming the furniture and home‑design industry by offering a fast, low‑cost alternative to traditional photography and expensive 3D renderings, enabling brands to create customized product visuals, marketing assets, and even videos at scale. While startups like HookPic, Presti, and DecorX demonstrate the efficiency and creative flexibility of AI tools, many established companies remain cautious, citing challenges with consistency, precision, and brand‑specific quality standards, leading to a blended approach that combines AI with conventional photography to meet high‑resolution, detail‑critical demands.
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|  businessofhome.com
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Pearson Lloyd, a London‑based design studio founded by Luke Pearson and Tom Lloyd, blends studio creativity with consultancy across sectors such as aviation, office furniture, and healthcare. Their work emphasizes ergonomics, lightweight performance, and increasingly focuses on circularity and carbon reduction, creating products that are repairable, recyclable, and adaptable to evolving work environments. Recent projects include the Cross Chair for Takt, a recyclable seating system for Profim, and the Contour chair for Senator, while they pursue sustainability research and upcoming collaborations with Bene, Modus, and others.
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|  www.onofficemagazine.com
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The Americas office construction pipeline has shrunk dramatically, falling 82% from its 2020 peak to just under 32 million sq ft, while flexible office inventory is expanding, growing 18% year‑over‑year and now representing about 3 % of total office space nationwide. This growth is driven by increasing demand for adaptable work environments, higher leasing activity among major flexible providers, and a shift toward suburban locations, positioning flexible office solutions as a key component of the region’s long‑term office market strategy.
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|  allwork.space
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Remote work may increase birth rates
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Remote work boosts fertility by giving couples greater flexibility, reducing commute stress, and allowing more time together, leading to a 5% rise in birth rates in the U.S. and Northern Europe; studies show women 30+ with college degrees and at least one child see the biggest gains, especially when both partners work from home, resulting in an average of 0.32 additional children per couple.
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|  www.fastcompany.com
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You can now sit at Elizabeth Holmes’s desk
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The piece describes how Bo Lau recreated Elizabeth Holmes’s former Theranos desk as an interactive, AI‑powered virtual experience, using fast‑generated designs, data scraping, and models like GPT‑6 Astra to build the site in just three days. It highlights the project’s blend of creative storytelling and technical showcase, linking the virtual office to promotional events and underscoring broader reflections on the tech industry’s founder culture and its pressures.
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|  www.fastcompany.com
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AI transforms meetings by shifting focus from quantity to quality, highlighting the need for intentional, high‑value gatherings supported by technology that bridges in‑office and remote workflows, aligns meeting spaces with AI‑enhanced individual tools, and fosters collaboration that relies on human judgment and alignment.
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|  workplaceinsight.net
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Flexible work tests organisational trust by revealing how clearly leaders define outcomes, hold people accountable, and support autonomy, while highlighting the need for balanced psychological safety and standards; technology can aid coordination but also reinforce visibility‑based control, making trust‑based culture dependent on clear expectations and purposeful design of work arrangements.
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|  workplaceinsight.net
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The five key trends shaping the future of higher‑education campuses: interstitial spaces are being transformed into learning hubs that extend study and collaboration beyond traditional classrooms; dedicated community areas aim to reduce student loneliness and foster belonging; “phygital” studios blend physical and digital environments to support hybrid and immersive learning experiences; flexible faculty spaces replace underused private offices, encouraging mentorship and collaborative work; and multifunctional rooms equipped with adaptable furniture, acoustics, and technology maximize usage throughout the day, allowing spaces to shift between lectures, projects, events, and community programs. These trends emphasize flexible design, technology integration, and the creation of supportive, versatile environments that respond to evolving student needs and workforce demands.
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|  www.haworth.com
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Healthcare’s complex, information‑dense environment demands a deeper, human‑centered approach to furniture design, emphasizing the need to understand diverse users, integrated content, and contextual constraints such as infection control, risk management, and workflow requirements. Manufacturers that grasp these factors can gain a competitive edge by delivering products that fit seamlessly into clinical settings and support better outcomes.
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|  officeinsight.com
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Newsweek Recognizes MillerKnoll on 2027 America's Greenest Companies List
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MillerKnoll has been named to Newsweek’s 2027 America’s Greenest Companies list for the second year in a row, highlighting its ongoing commitment to sustainability through initiatives such as a new embodied‑carbon calculator, 100 % renewable electricity across global manufacturing, expanded zero‑waste facilities, and material innovations in products like the Aeron chair, all aimed at achieving net‑zero emissions by 2050. The recognition underscores the company’s broader environmental performance, transparency, and progress toward science‑based emissions targets, reinforcing its leadership in green design and operations.
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Studio TK’s Harbour collection offers modular hybrid‑storage seating and tables designed by Alyssa Coletti for adaptable hybrid‑work environments, featuring three unit sizes (36", 42" with backsplash, 72" with full‑height divider) and configurable table tops or wrap‑around seating in various heights and shapes, plus optional cubbies, shelving, and glass markerboards, enabling quick transformation of spaces into touchdown areas, solo workstations, or collaborative zones.
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|  www.officing.com
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Herman Miller Gaming launches six new frame color options—Cyan, Nova, Black on white, Amethyst, Galaxy, and Ignite on graphite—for the Embody Gaming Chair, expanding personalization for gamers and creative professionals. The new colors build on the chair’s existing palette, enhancing ergonomic comfort and self‑expression while highlighting the brand’s commitment to research‑driven design and performance.
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|  www.officing.com
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Arcadia is expanding its healthcare portfolio with new product introductions, enhanced digital resources, and a strategic growth plan that includes a dedicated healthcare showroom, an expanded website section, and increased presence at industry events, focusing on durable, cleanable furnishings that blend home comfort with clinical functionality while emphasizing sustainability and designer support.
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|  www.officing.com
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Chemetal’s new collection offers ten black and darkened aluminum metal designs—brushed, darkened, and brushed again—to create subtle textures and deep grey‑to‑black shades, all 100 % recyclable, environmentally friendly, and available as a free sample pack for qualified designers, highlighting sustainable, high‑quality interior metal solutions.
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|  www.officing.com
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Layer’s Ripple table showcases an innovative, sustainable process for corrugating plywood that creates an ultra‑lightweight yet strong furniture piece. Developed through pressure lamination in collaboration with Corelam, the 3 mm corrugated plywood delivers a high strength‑to‑weight ratio, allowing single‑person maneuverability while minimizing environmental impact.
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|  www.core77.com
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Baird Architects has launched its first furniture collection, BA Objeto, featuring twelve pieces—including walnut, aluminium, and cork designs—created by studio members and collaborators in Portugal, with designers receiving profit shares and plans for future collections.
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|  www.dezeen.com
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Orgatec 2026
October 27-30, 2026 | Cologne, Germany
ORGATEC is the global industry meeting point for everyone who is rethinking and shaping the worlds of work and contract. Every two years, leading brands, experts, and an international trade audience come together in Cologne. Under the guiding theme "From rooms to relationships: designing spaces in an ever-changing world", the focus is on people – and on how spaces in times of change are redefined.
ORGATEC 2026 is a chance to see how the future of work is taking shape—from hybrid and AI-enabled workplaces to healthier, more flexible, and sustainable commercial spaces. Attendees can explore leading international brands, discover European products and concepts not yet widely available in North America, and gain practical insight through talks, guided tours, and interactive programming. It’s also a valuable setting to meet global manufacturers, architects, designers, and workplace decision-makers in one place.
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Design at Work New York 2027
March 10-11, 2027 | New York City
Design at Work New York is designed to attract a highly targeted audience of architects, interior designers, workplace strategists, developers, occupiers and commercial decision-makers actively shaping workplace and commercial interior projects.
Learn more >
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Salone del Mobile 2027
April 13-18, 2027 | Milan, Italy
Salone del Mobile Milano will take place from 13–18 April 2027 at Fiera Milano Rho, featuring the new Salone Contract platform for large‑scale FF&E projects, expanded international tours, and returns of Euroluce, Salone Raritas, and SaloneSatellite, while targeting a €100 billion market and building on the success of the 2026 edition.
Learn more >
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NeoCon 2027 / DesignDays 2027
June 13-16, 2027 | Chicago, IL
NeoCon has served as the world’s leading platform and most important event of the year for the commercial design industry since 1969. A launch pad for innovation—NeoCon offers ideas and introductions that shape the built environment today and into the future. For 2027 NeoCon is officially a 4-day event beginning on Sunday, June 13, 2027.
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The article showcases the upcoming trends at Orgatec 2026, highlighting a shift toward human‑centric office design that favors softer forms, tactile textiles, and adaptable spaces for focus and collaboration. It features innovative products from brands such as Actiu’s modular acoustic pods, Kettal’s expandable Eames Pavilion System, LD Seating’s curvy Dafna collection, Narbutas’ new task chairs, Klöber’s Bauhaus‑inspired CoMeet Work, Humanscale’s ergonomic Diffrient Lounge, Eurosit’s cocoon‑like Inyo Lounge, and Viccarbe’s recyclable Textile Stand, all emphasizing flexibility, accessibility, and sustainable design.
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|  frameweb.com
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Trends in Commercial Projects
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Ware Malcomb Announces Construction is Complete on WeWork 1 University Avenue in Toronto
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Ware Malcomb completed construction of a 15,000 SF WeWork office at 1 University Avenue, Toronto, serving as Prime Consultant for interior architecture, MEP, security, IT, and communications. The design features flexible, light‑filled spaces with floor‑to‑ceiling windows, a glass‑block wall, polished concrete, and amenities such as an espresso bar, wellness room, assembly hall, and shared lunch area. Construction was executed by Urban Outline Building Group, and the project supports hybrid work models and tenant customization.
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Gensler’s Workplace Resource showroom and office in Denver creates a dynamic, curiosity‑driven environment through flexible layouts, modular lighting, and integrated brand design, offering a fluid space that encourages exploration and collaboration. The design emphasizes adaptability and longevity, using modular systems and thoughtful mechanical coordination to reduce future renovations while showcasing the brand’s legacy within the vibrant urban context.
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|  retaildesignblog.net
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USAI Illuminates Fordham University's New Campus Hub
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USAI Lighting partnered with HLW and Spark Studio to illuminate Fordham University’s 170,000‑sq‑ft McShane Campus Center using a single downlight system across eight ceiling types, delivering consistent 3000 K, high‑CRI lighting for diverse spaces such as the marketplace, study areas, screening rooms, event halls, and the exterior façade.
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Space Matrix redesigned Airbnb’s Singapore headquarters into a flexible, hospitality‑focused workspace that blends global brand identity with local character, using communal bars, adaptable neighbourhood zones, natural materials, and technology‑enabled areas to foster connection, choice, and a sense of belonging.
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|  officesnapshots.com
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AP+I Design created a 12,200 SF immersive showroom and office for Pivot Interiors in Santana Row, blending early modernist and Arts & Crafts influences with rich materials, layered textures, and curated furniture settings to showcase how design shapes work, learning, and social interaction.
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|  officesnapshots.com
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Vas Frolik, a Taipei‑based designer, shares his desk setup featuring a Mac mini M5 server, IKEA SKARSTA sit/stand desk, Philips LED lamp, Sony a6100 camera, and various accessories like a walking pad and surf‑board fins. He highlights his work on products such as Remlo and Eluan, notes his design background, and offers productivity tips, book recommendations, and insights into his daily routine.
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|  workspaces.xyz
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JPMorgan is investing over $800 million to renovate Chicago’s Chase Tower, a project expected to finish by late 2027 and generate significant economic activity for Cook County and Illinois. The renovation is part of broader office upgrades, including moves in Philadelphia and a major UK tower, reflecting the bank’s continued commitment to large‑scale office development worldwide.
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|  www.bisnow.com
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JPMorgan is expanding its Philadelphia presence by moving to a 62,000 sq ft space on the fifth floor of 2400 Market St., adding over 150 jobs and planning a $100 M renovation that will create more than 200 construction jobs, while also contributing $400 M+ to the local economy. The move includes subleasing space from Aramark, which is vacating the floor, and coincides with JPMorgan’s broader $24 M investment in the city’s shipbuilding sector, reinforcing its long‑term commitment to Philadelphia’s economic growth.
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|  www.bisnow.com
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Boss Design Adds Rep Firms in New York and Southern California
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Boss Design has appointed two independent representative firms to expand its North American sales coverage in key coastal markets.
New York City-based ametro will represent the furniture manufacturer in New York State and Northern New Jersey. Los Angeles-based Architectural Harmony will cover Southern California.
The appointments are intended to strengthen Boss Design’s relationships with designers, dealers, commercial real estate professionals and clients in both territories.
“Strong partnerships are fundamental to how we grow,” said Dan Chong, president of Boss Design. “ametro and Architectural Harmony bring a wealth of market knowledge, admirable relationships, and passion toward serving clients at the highest level.”
Jeremy Saltzman and Chris Lefferts, co-owners of ametro, said the addition complements the firm’s existing portfolio.
“It’s a great complement to what we already represent, bringing a fresh perspective, strong design, and products that we believe will resonate with our clients and the market,” they said in a joint statement.
John Swanstrom, president of Architectural Harmony, said the firm sees opportunities to introduce Boss Design to its Southern California dealer and design network.
“Their work brings real personality to the workplace, and we can't wait to get it in front of our dealer and design partners,” Swanstrom said.
Founded in 1983 and now part of Okamura, Boss Design produces furniture for workplace, hospitality, education, retail and leisure environments. Its U.S. operation is based in High Point. The company combines British design with manufacturing capabilities across eight countries and five continents, serving clients including Delta Air Lines, Fifth Third Bank and Cleveland Clinic.
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Summit Furniture Appoints Kelly Gates as Vice President of Sales
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Summit Furniture announced the appointment of Kelly Gates as Vice President of Sales, bringing over 20 years of luxury retail and hospitality experience to lead the company’s sales organization. Gates will drive market strategy, deepen designer and hospitality relationships, and support the brand’s growth across global showrooms and high‑end projects, reinforcing Summit’s reputation for premium teak furniture and its commitment to exceptional craftsmanship and design.
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Kimball International Releases New Healthcare Trends White Paper
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The report outlines five key trends shaping healthcare design: holistic patient care integrating behavioral health and neuroinclusive environments; expansion of health services into homes and community settings; creation of flexible learning and education spaces within facilities; balance between large campuses and modular micro‑clinics; and prioritizing safety, staff well‑being, and dignity in design. These insights highlight the shift toward adaptable, patient‑centered, and community‑focused healthcare environments.
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| Read more > |
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Ask Stephen - RH Is Buying. Are You Selling?
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Stephen advises the business owner to explore the introduction and assess interest, while gathering financial data, understanding potential deal terms, and considering personal goals and control before deciding whether to sell.
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| Read Stephen's Latest Column > |
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Independent Representatives Wanted
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Segis USA has openings in several key markets for Independent Sales Representatives.
We offer excellent commission rates and fulfill orders from our facility in Morristown Tennessee. You will be supplied with a sample program and compelling literature.
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| See Job Opening > |
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Exterus Business Furniture a regional Teknion dealer with offices in Shelburne, VT and Portland, ME has an immediate opening for an experienced designer. CET and 2020 experience required. Great team environment with excellent company support.
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| See Job Opening > |
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