In this issue… MillerKnoll names Jeff Stutz CEO as Hightower adds Haworth as investor. Office news spans unclear occupancy, scarce premium space, tenant-led construction, smaller deals, higher rents and Silicon Valley demand. Coverage considers hybrid work, AI’s workplace impact, automation limits and coworking growth. Design explores AI-era practice, durable and repairable objects, regenerative trends, adaptable offices, emerging talent and acoustics. Product news spans rugs, lighting, classroom seating, textiles, flooring, ergonomic chairs and Knoll’s revived Brigadier sofa.
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Global flexible office occupancy reached a record 85% in 2026, with top cities like San Francisco hitting 97%, while operators plan expansion and favor management agreements over property purchases. Corporate tenants now stay longer (average 3.9 years) and use spaces more frequently (3.8 days/week), and operators expect a shift toward hospitality‑focused design and increased AI integration, with strong demand for meeting rooms and a notable rise in parking needs.
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U.S. coworking inventory grew to 168.4 million sq ft in Q3 2026, adding 2 million sq ft and 228 new locations, while traditional office vacancy held steady at 17.8%. California led growth, especially the San Francisco Bay Area, and Brooklyn showed the highest coworking penetration at 5.4%. Private office prices peaked nationally at $651 per desk, with Manhattan the most expensive at $891, whereas Philadelphia offered the lowest at $414. Vacancy rates fell in Manhattan and Brooklyn, but rose sharply in Austin, Houston, and the Bay Area, and overall office rents declined 1.5% quarter‑over‑quarter.
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"Jeff brings deep institutional knowledge, broad industry experience, and a proven record of leadership at MillerKnoll, and the Board has full confidence in his ability to drive long-term shareholder value."
- John R. Hoke III, Chairman of the Board, MillerKnoll
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MillerKnoll Makes It Official: Jeff Stutz Named CEO
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MillerKnoll has named Jeff Stutz its permanent chief executive officer, handing the longtime executive responsibility for turning improved operating performance into sustained, profitable growth. The Zeeland, Michigan-based company’s board unanimously approved the appointment following a search process and elected Stutz to the board, effective immediately. Stutz had served as interim CEO since June 30, succeeding Andi Owen. Board Chairman John R. Hoke III credited him with “driving stronger operating income, margins and earnings” during his interim tenure.
Stutz first joined Herman Miller in 2001, spent more than a decade as chief financial officer and served as chief operating officer from September 2025 until taking the interim CEO role. His operating responsibilities included global manufacturing, International Contract and European brands including HAY and Muuto. Stephen Viscusi, principal of The Viscusi Group, called the appointment “a smart decision for MillerKnoll,” citing Stutz’s financial discipline and experience across manufacturing, contract dealers, retail and the luxury design trade. “The test now is translating it into profitable growth for shareholders,” Viscusi said.
Stutz’s compensation package includes a $1 million annual salary, a target annual incentive of $1.25 million and a target long-term incentive of $4 million, bringing his recurring annual target compensation to $6.25 million before benefits. He will also receive a one-time promotion equity grant valued at $1.075 million, split between performance stock units and restricted stock units. The target figures represent compensation opportunities rather than guaranteed payouts.
The appointment comes as MillerKnoll faces pressure from uneven consumer spending, tariffs and geopolitical instability that could affect supply chains, costs and demand. Stutz’s stated agenda centers on tighter priorities, disciplined spending and a stronger balance sheet across a portfolio that includes Herman Miller, Knoll and Design Within Reach. “This is a pivotal time for MillerKnoll,” Stutz said, pledging to “sharpen our priorities, manage costs with discipline, strengthen our balance sheet.”
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Haworth Invests in Hightower; Company Will Remain Independent and Open Line
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Haworth has made a strategic investment in Hightower, adding another relationship to its expanding furniture portfolio while leaving the family-founded, women-led manufacturer’s management and open-line distribution model in place.
Hightower announced the investment Oct. 22. Natalie Hartkopf will remain CEO and co-owner, and Jenna Geigerman will continue as president and COO. The company said it will operate independently.
The announcement did not disclose financial terms or the size of Haworth’s ownership stake.
For dealers and independent representatives, the central provision is Hightower’s continued status as an open-line manufacturer. The company said its existing dealer and design partners will continue working with the business under its current leadership.
“From the beginning, we built Hightower around a simple idea that design is thoughtful, human and responsible. Haworth shares this belief,” Hartkopf said. “Our dealer and design partners will see the same Hightower they know and love, with even more momentum.”
The investment follows other Haworth transactions this year, including its acquisition of modern furniture brand Heller and a majority shareholding in Canadian office furniture manufacturer Tayco. Those deals expanded Haworth’s reach in indoor-outdoor furnishings and North American office furniture manufacturing.
Hightower brings a commercial interiors business built over more than two decades around its own products and relationships with European manufacturers. Its portfolio includes Hightower Studio, its in-house brand designed and manufactured in High Point, along with +Halle, Ocee & Four Design, and Ondarreta.
The companies described the investment as a partnership between two family-owned businesses intended to support Hightower’s growth.
“We look for partners that think long term, not in quarters,” said Franco Bianchi, Haworth president and CEO. “Hightower has built a clear strategy, created beautiful products and is genuinely committed to people and planet. This investment gives our customers added choice and is an opportunity to leverage the excellent work Hightower is doing today.”
There is precedent for Haworth investing in a brand while preserving its existing distribution. In announcing its investment in BuzziSpace in 2018, Haworth said the acoustic furnishings company would remain open line and that Haworth, as a shareholder, would support its independent development. Haworth’s subsequent announcement involving Mikomax, the manufacturer behind Hushoffice acoustic pods, also specified continued service to non-Haworth distribution.
Hightower’s sustainability commitments include signing The Climate Pledge and B Corp certification for Hightower Studio. Its products have received recognition through Best of NeoCon, Metropolis Likes and Interior Design’s HiP Awards.
The announcement did not identify specific plans for additional manufacturing capacity, product development spending or integration into Haworth’s distribution network.
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Dealers Beat Q3 Forecast, but Growth Outlook Narrows
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Commercial interiors dealers delivered a better third quarter than they expected. Their forecasts suggest a more restrained start to 2027.
Bookings increased 2.4% in Q3, exceeding expectations by 0.6 percentage points, according to Solomon Coyle’s latest Market Outlook Report.
Respondents forecast another 2.2% increase in the fourth quarter, followed by 0.8% growth in the first quarter of 2027.
The survey, drawing on more than 140 distributors across the United States and Canada, points to a channel continuing to generate business while preparing for slower growth. The third-quarter result represents a substantial cooling from the 10.6% bookings increase reported in Q2.
“Bookings growth came in at a respectable 2.4% for Q3,” said John Joseph, Solomon Coyle’s director of business analytics. He characterized the outlook as “slow-but-positive growth.”
For dealers building budgets, the distinction between beating expectations and gaining momentum matters. The Q3 result cleared an implied forecast of 1.8%, but the reported growth rate fell 8.2 percentage points from the previous quarter. That is a slowdown in growth, rather than evidence that bookings themselves declined.
The recent record also offers little reason to build a business plan around one strong quarter. Bookings declined 1.6% in Q3 2025, increased 5.1% in Q4, slipped 0.7% in Q1 2026 and then jumped 10.6% in Q2. The latest result extends that uneven pattern.
Delivery Activity Holds Up
The release describes billings growth as holding near its second-quarter level while backlog growth eased. That combination is consistent with dealers continuing to deliver previously secured projects as the pace of new business moderates.
It does not, by itself, establish that backlogs are shrinking. Slower backlog growth can still mean the amount of work awaiting completion is increasing. Without the underlying figures, the release offers limited visibility into how much future revenue that work represents.
The practical issue is replenishment. Current installations can support billings even as the outlook for incoming orders becomes less robust. Dealers will need to watch whether new commitments are keeping pace with completed work—and whether those commitments carry acceptable margins.
The bookings figures also leave a question about the composition of growth. The release does not separate changes in pricing, product mix and unit volume. An increase in booked dollars therefore cannot establish that dealers are furnishing more space or selling more products.
A Mixed Picture Upstream
Recent architecture data provide another reason for measured expectations. The American Institute of Architects reported that its Architecture Billings Index fell to 44.7 in September from 47.2 in August. Readings below 50 indicate declining billings. Newly signed design contracts also weakened, although project inquiries increased. Commercial and industrial architecture firms offered a brighter signal, posting modest billings growth for a second consecutive month. AIA’s September report.
Those findings describe a different part of the project cycle and should not be treated as a direct forecast of furniture orders. They nevertheless suggest an uneven environment for the projects that can eventually generate interiors business.
Solomon Coyle says its full report identifies differences by region, sector and product category. Those breakdowns are particularly relevant when overall growth is modest: an individual dealer’s exposure to particular customers and markets may matter considerably more than the channel average.
For 2027 planning, the survey supports keeping sales and delivery capacity aligned with identifiable work. A forecast of 0.8% bookings growth leaves little room for projects to slip before expected gains disappear.
Dealers have continued to find growth and exceeded their latest forecast. The next test is whether they can replenish project backlogs and protect margins as that growth becomes harder to secure.
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Architecture Billings Weaken as Firms Face Thinner Project Pipelines
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Architecture firms reported further declines in business in September, signaling continued pressure on the pipeline for future commercial construction and interiors work. The AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index fell to 44.7, with the largest share of firms reporting declining billings since May. Readings below 50 indicate a decline. Inquiries into new projects increased modestly, but the value of newly signed design contracts fell.
Commercial/industrial firms provided a bright spot, posting slight billings growth for the second consecutive month. Billings were flat in the Midwest and West, while firms in the Northeast remained under significant pressure and conditions continued to weaken in the South. Institutional firms reported a sixth consecutive month of declining billings, while multifamily residential firms recorded their fifth.
Average project backlogs stood at 6.2 months at the end of September, down from 6.6 months at the end of March. Multifamily firms saw the sharpest erosion, with backlogs falling to 4.8 months from 6.2 months over that period. Large firms and institutional practices continued to hold roughly eight months of work, providing some cushion against slower new business.
Revenue expectations reflected the uneven conditions. Some 45% of firm leaders estimated that 2026 net revenue would finish below 2025, while 30% expected an increase and 25% anticipated little change. Looking ahead, firms projected an average revenue decline of 0.9% in 2027, with small practices expecting a much steeper 9.1% drop. Firms anticipating declines most often pointed to projects winding down, fewer replacements and economic uncertainty holding clients back.
“Current work is carrying us, but new work looks scarce,” one Northeast firm reported. For the commercial furnishings industry, the survey offers a cautious view of future demand: The ABI typically leads nonresidential construction activity by nine to 12 months.
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Ultrafabrics Partners With Gabriel To Expand European Reach
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Ultrafabrics is expanding its European distribution through a partnership with Gabriel that will give the coated-fabric supplier access to Gabriel’s regional sales organization and customer network while adding leather alternatives to Gabriel’s textile offering.
The agreement brings together Ultrafabrics’ Japan-made performance materials and Gabriel’s established relationships with European architects, designers and manufacturers. The companies did not disclose financial terms or a rollout schedule.
For Ultrafabrics, the partnership provides a channel to build its European business through an established textile supplier. Gabriel customers, in turn, will gain greater access to Ultrafabrics’ materials, broadening the upholstery options available through its network.
“Gabriel gives us a unique opportunity to accelerate our presence in Europe while staying close to the architects, designers and manufacturers who specify and use our materials,” said Danielle Boecker, president and co-founder of Ultrafabrics.
Boecker said the companies share an emphasis on craftsmanship, performance and long-term customer relationships.
Ultrafabrics’ coated fabrics are designed to combine the look and feel of leather alternatives with technical performance. The addition will extend Gabriel’s portfolio beyond textiles, giving customers more choices in surface texture, color and material for interior applications.
“We see a very strong fit between Ultrafabrics and Gabriel. We share the ambition to create exceptional materials that perform beautifully over time,” said Claus Møller, Gabriel’s chief commercial officer. “Bringing these two worlds together gives our customers even more freedom to find the right expression, performance and solution for their projects.”
The companies positioned the partnership around their complementary manufacturing and market strengths, pairing Ultrafabrics’ Japanese production expertise with Gabriel’s European sales reach.
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Federal agencies use inconsistent methods to measure building occupancy, resulting in an incomplete picture that often omits vacant or unassigned space. This hampers compliance with a law requiring a 60 % occupancy rate and obscures potential savings from consolidating underused space. The GAO recommends revising guidelines to require reporting of all agency‑controlled and GSA‑controlled spaces and to standardize measurement approaches.
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|  www.facilitiesdive.com
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The office market is tightening as new construction pipelines dry up, leaving large tenants struggling to find contiguous blocks of 50,000 sq ft, especially in top‑tier Class A buildings. While overall availability remains high, only a small fraction of buildings can offer such large, high‑quality spaces, with trophy options dropping to under 1% in many markets. Flex space is growing and filling some gaps, but premium office supply is scarce, driving higher rents, longer search times, and increased competition for the limited premium inventory.
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|  propmodo.com
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Starting rents for the most expensive U.S. premium office space have risen 33% above pre‑pandemic levels, outpacing the median growth of 14%. Demand is concentrating in top‑tier buildings, especially in Manhattan and San Francisco, while availability declines reflect both stronger tenant demand in trophy properties and supply reductions from conversions and demolitions in lower‑grade assets. Overall office activity remains below pre‑pandemic levels, with the gap between elite and average spaces expected to widen.
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|  allwork.space
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Office leasing activity has risen in transaction count but deal sizes are about 13% smaller, keeping total leasing volume roughly 8% below historic levels. Growth varies by market: San Francisco, New York, Nashville and Miami exceed pre‑pandemic benchmarks, while San Diego, the East Bay, Austin, Seattle, Boston, Washington D.C. and Denver lag behind. The shortfall is driven by limited supply of updated space, high construction and financing costs, and slow renovations, which constrain large tenants despite stable per‑worker space needs.
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|  www.globest.com
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Technology companies are driving strong leasing activity in Silicon Valley’s R&D market, creating intense competition for the limited high‑quality space that offers superior power, ceiling height, and loading capabilities. A CBRE report notes a 55% year‑over‑year increase in leasing, with tech and AI firms accounting for more than half of the demand, marking the sector’s strongest quarterly performance since 2019.
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|  www.globest.com
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Tenant commitments are driving new office construction, with 77.2% of Q3 starts pre‑leased, especially in Manhattan where build‑to‑suit projects are 96% pre‑leased. Overall, 55.5% of 24.1 million square feet under construction or renovation is pre‑leased, and large financial firms account for the majority of committed space. Downtown locations hold 75.3% of the pipeline, while speculative projects face lower leasing rates and higher cost pressures.
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|  www.globest.com
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Higher interest rates and market uncertainty are causing commercial real estate deals to be repriced, delayed, or shifted to refinancing, while CB RE reports a 28% rise in global property sales revenue and a strong 80% increase in data‑center infrastructure revenue, forecasting continued growth in critical infrastructure services.
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|  allwork.space
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Immigration enforcement actions have intensified labor shortages in construction, with nearly two‑thirds of builders reporting impacts on their workforce and some projects seeing a 70% drop in available workers, driving up labor rates and overall construction costs. Combined with rising material prices—up 6.3% year‑over‑year—and competition from higher‑paying data‑center jobs, these factors are making it significantly harder for builders to complete projects.
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|  www.bisnow.com
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Industrial Facility, the London studio founded by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, explores how objects like chairs and shelves relate to their surroundings, emphasizing repairability, longevity, and thoughtful design. Collaborations with brands such as &Tradition, Itoki, and Mattiazzi have produced innovative pieces—Kape with replaceable upholstery, Rombe’s minimal‑wall‑impact shelving, Hakusan’s sleek plywood‑steel chair, and a reimagined Windsor chair—demonstrating a commitment to functional beauty, sustainability, and contextual awareness.
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|  www.onofficemagazine.com
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Architects and designers are confronting rapid AI adoption that promises faster, more varied design options, while grappling with client expectations for speed, the need for deeper judgment, and the importance of mentoring the next generation. Roundtable discussions reveal mixed experiences: some firms leverage AI to secure higher fees and richer concepts, others worry about AI accelerating mediocre work. Professionals emphasize teachability, mentorship, creativity, and a balance between technology and human insight, urging a thoughtful integration of AI to enhance, not replace, architectural practice.
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|  metropolismag.com
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The work‑from‑home shift has stabilized at about 26% of U.S. workdays, saving roughly 1.5 hours per remote day (≈3 hours weekly) which people use for sleep, exercise, cooking, or parenting, and has expanded employment for people with disabilities and women balancing childcare, potentially boosting labor participation and GDP by 1–2% (an extra $300‑$600 billion). It is also linked to a modest ~5% rise in fertility, improved air quality that reduces nitrogen‑dioxide exposure and associated deaths, and challenges for city centers and public transit, while the digital‑communication boom that accompanied remote work has accelerated AI adoption in the corporate environment.
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|  stocks.apple.com
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Robots can perform about a third of physical work in the U.S., but are cost‑effective in only a tiny fraction of cases—roughly 0.3% or 300,000 jobs. Structured environments like assembly lines allow robots to handle up to 50% of tasks, while unstructured settings such as construction sites see less than 2% coverage. Jobs most at risk include taxi drivers, warehouse packers, and other driving‑related roles, where automation can be both technologically feasible and economically viable. Cost reductions of around 20% could expand cost‑competitive automation to nearly 2.8 million jobs over the next several years.
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|  www.facilitiesdive.com
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Only 13% of organizations claim significant AI value, highlighting the need for strong governance, cost management, and talent development rather than simple automation. CIOs must balance AI’s potential with growing risk, focusing on governance, resilience, and scaling autonomous systems to turn investments into measurable business outcomes.
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|  allwork.space
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MillerKnoll emphasizes that modern workplace flexibility depends on adaptable infrastructure, not just movable furniture. By integrating DC power solutions and modular designs like Canvas Vista, the company aims to reduce reliance on traditional electrical systems, enabling faster reconfiguration and supporting the evolving needs of AI‑driven work. This approach prioritizes people, process, and place, fostering collaborative, agile environments where technology enhances—not dictates—human interaction.
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|  metropolismag.com
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The piece highlights five emerging design inspirations for 2027: Cheeky Wit, using humor and playful elements to create joyful spaces; Contrast, emphasizing light, shadow, and opposing visual forces for depth; Reverie, focusing on soothing colors, soft textures, and calming environments for well‑being; New Heritage, celebrating timeless craftsmanship, authentic materials, and lasting quality; and Regenerative, promoting sustainable, circular practices that restore and renew the built environment.
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|  www.haworth.com
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Modern office design must treat sound as a key element of the workspace, balancing quiet zones for focused work with dynamic areas for collaboration. It highlights how open‑plan layouts increase noise, making silence a luxury, and suggests using flexible solutions like acoustic booths that provide up to 30 dB of sound reduction, integrated amenities, and quick air turnover, allowing employees to shift between concentration and social interaction while maintaining productivity and comfort.
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|  www.mixinteriors.com
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Steelcase 2025 Impact Report Highlights Progress in Reducing Emissions and Strengthening Communities
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Steelcase’s 2025 Impact Report highlights a 33% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2019, a 22% drop in scope 3 emissions, and the activation of 324 Better Futures Community partnerships across 38 locations, engaging 200 community partners. The company logged 20,680 volunteer hours in 2025, nearing its 100,000‑hour goal early, and kept 99% of decommissioned furniture out of landfills through recycling. With 324 partnerships, 219 participants in a global design challenge, and nearly 50,000 certified CarbonNeutral® products sold, Steelcase advances its net‑zero target of 2050, aiming for a 90% emissions cut from its 2019 baseline.
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Bentley Named 2025 CARE Recycler of the Year What does it take to give carpet a second life?
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Bentley earned the 2025 CARE Recycler of the Year award for integrating PC4, a recycled mineral filler from reclaimed carpet, into its manufacturing process despite challenges like contaminants and equipment clogging. The company addressed supply‑chain and technical hurdles, added extra filtering, and committed to sustainability, advancing circularity in the flooring industry while continuing to seek further eco‑innovations.
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Knoll is reintroducing the Brigadier Sofa Collection, originally designed by Cini Boeri in 1978, with updated proportions, new Midnight Blue lacquer finish, and expanded upholstery options. The revival highlights Boeri’s blend of structure and softness, offering two‑seat and three‑seat sofas plus a lounge chair that serve as sculptural focal points for various interiors, from living rooms to hotel lobbies, while reflecting Knoll’s commitment to timeless, adaptable design.
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|  www.officing.com
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The Cerro swivel chair by Justus Kolberg for Davis Furniture features a seamless, single‑piece die‑cast aluminum frame that integrates arms, back, and upholstery into a fluid, visually light silhouette, eliminating mechanical joints. Designed for office environments, it offers height‑adjustable swivel/tilt functionality, a custom five‑star base available in polished aluminum or numerous powder‑coat finishes, and is engineered for disassembly and recycling, earning the 2026 Best of NeoCon Sustainability Award.
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|  www.officing.com
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Artcobell is launching the Discover Four‑Leg Café Stool, a durable, height‑adjustable, color‑customizable seating solution with lumbar support, optional upholstery, and under‑seat storage, certified to BIFMA and SCS Indoor standards, aimed at K‑12 schools and showcased at the EDspaces booth #1613 in Kansas City.
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|  www.officing.com
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LOOC, a new office swivel chair by Klöber, merges 1930s design heritage with modern aesthetics and sustainability. Designed by Jörg Bernauer, it features a foam‑free Mesh‑Box seat, tensioned surfaces, and clean contours, offering lasting comfort and a distinctive look for contemporary workspaces.
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|  www.officing.com
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Artcobell will unveil four new soft‑seating shapes—Wanderer, Trek, Hexagon, and Hexagon Lounge Ottoman—at the EDspaces event in Kansas City. Designed for K‑12 classrooms, the mix‑and‑match seats offer flexible, comfortable learning environments, come in 14‑18 inches with optional legs, and are U.S.-made, BIFMA‑certified, and SCS Indoor Advantage Gold certified.
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|  www.officing.com
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The Mitchell Group launches Nexus, a new polyurethane pattern with Hydro‑Sil™ silicone‑protected finish that offers stain and chemical resistance while mimicking genuine leather’s hand, feel, and drape. Available in 25 soft‑pastel and neutral colorways, Nexus meets commercial‑grade standards, is water‑based, PVC‑free, and compatible with Clorox Healthcare disinfectants, with samples and technical details available through the company’s website.
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|  www.officing.com
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Momentum partners with the Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts to create nine custom digital wallcoverings designed by artists with disabilities, expanding its Digital Art Library, promoting inclusion in commercial interiors, and donating a portion of sales to support Interact’s mission.
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|  www.officing.com
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Roppe is debuting its PixelArt™ Minimalist Collection—digitally printed, coated rubber flooring available in 21 colors and four tile patterns—at Boutique Design New York in November. The product uses 100 % solids LED‑UV‑cured inks and a DiamondShield Pro coating, offering chemical‑free, PVC‑free, PFAS‑free, and phthalate‑free formulations that meet GreenGuard Gold, FloorScore®, NSF/ANSI 332 Level 1, CHPS, LEED, WELL, and Living Building Challenge standards, and includes a 20‑year limited commercial warranty. Targeted at healthcare, hospitality, education, corporate, and government sectors, the collection emphasizes durability, moisture resistance, low maintenance, and indoor‑air‑quality benefits.
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|  www.officing.com
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Shaw Contract’s Simply in Motion carpet‑tile collection offers three 24″ × 24″ styles with layered texture and tonal gradation, allowing flexible “no‑rules” installation and easy replacement. The PVC‑free tiles contain at least 25 % recycled content, hold multiple sustainability certifications, and are carbon‑neutral, with quick‑ship availability of up to 2,500 sq yd in two weeks.
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|  www.officing.com
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Aster, a new tufted rug launching in November 2026, combines wool and linen with cut pile and bouclé to create a dynamic grid of intersecting horizontal, vertical, and diagonal stripes. The design shifts in appearance with viewing angle and light, and is offered in three colorways—White Chalk, Peach Powder, and Cocoa Beans—each highlighting the interplay of direction, material, and technique.
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|  www.officing.com
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The piece highlights a mid‑century chair produced by Wilhelm Knoll that conceals a transforming mechanism, and uses the chair’s history to explore the Knoll family’s complex legacy, noting Wilhelm’s founding of the company, Walter’s Nazi affiliation, and Hans Knoll’s later move to the United States where he built a successful furniture brand that supported the U.S. war effort. It provides quick historical facts about the Knoll lineage and their differing political ties, offering a concise overview of the chair’s design intrigue and the family’s varied contributions to furniture design.
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|  www.core77.com
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Apple’s Designers of Tomorrow exhibition at Design Miami Paris showcased emerging designers who integrate Apple products into their creative processes, featuring works such as Salem Charabi’s lamp made from banana‑palm paper, Yoonjeong Lee’s pencil‑inspired lamp, Isabel Rower’s bead‑covered chair, and Parafernalia’s MonoAmbiente 1 landscape installation. The show highlighted the theme “Design for Presence” and ran from 21–25 October 2026 in Paris.
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|  www.dezeen.com
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Orgatec 2026
THIS WEEK - 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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High Point October 2026 Market Report
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Team Stump reported an upbeat week in High Point despite high interest rates and a sluggish housing market, noting strong growth among many companies and a focus on M&A as baby‑boomers look to exit and new buyers emerge. Key topics included elevated rates affecting demand, political and trade fatigue, Canadian tariff‑driven partnerships, major bedding acquisitions, aging‑in‑place innovations, widespread AI adoption, Hall of Fame inductions, and Tim Stump’s influencer recognition, with upcoming trade shows and conferences highlighted as the next steps.
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Orgatec and idd Cologne 2026 showcase innovative workplace concepts, emphasizing human interaction, flexible design, and modular solutions. Highlights include Thonet’s 521 swivel chair, Brunner’s hospitality‑inspired office spaces, COR’s versatile “Floy” chair, EVOline’s modular power and data cubes, MAGAZIN’s “GOOD JOB!” program with workshops and networking, Dedon’s 2027 collection featuring Tricot and new material explorations, Koleksiyon’s “Composing Habitus” vision, Pedrali’s adaptable office environments, and Wagner Living’s d2 modular interior system paired with cultural events at the Akarui Festival.
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|  www.stylepark.com
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ORGATEC 2026 will run from 27–30 October at Cologne’s Koelnmesse, centered on the theme “From Rooms to Relationships: Designing Spaces in an Ever‑Changing World.” The fair is split into Workspace Solutions (halls 4, 5 & 10) and Contract Solutions (halls 6‑9), featuring international exhibitors of office furniture, acoustics, lighting, technology, modular work areas, and hospitality design. Highlights include the “Wherever Whenever – Work Culture Festival,” the Eames Pavilion exhibition, Danish Design Makers’ “Embracing Age” project, a packed talks programme on AI, leadership, and future work, and interactive workshops covering data‑driven design, collaboration, and digital product passports. Registration and full programme details are available at orgatec.com.
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|  www.mixinteriors.com
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Trends in Commercial Projects
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Shepley Bulfinch Unveils New Boston Studio at 200 State Street
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Shepley Bulfinch opened an 8,750‑sq‑ft Boston studio at 200 State Street, designed for hybrid work with flexible zones, wellness amenities such as a gym, yoga studio, and lobby café, and a maker space, emphasizing biophilic design, daylight, and advanced technology to support both on‑site and remote staff while reflecting the firm’s historic roots and commitment to employee well‑being. The studio’s layout prioritizes collaborative and focus areas, curated archives, and wellness spaces, enhancing equity, accessibility, and a seamless collaboration experience across the firm’s multiple locations.
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Space Matrix redesigns Airbnb’s Singapore headquarters into a welcoming, flexible workspace that emphasizes connection and hospitality, featuring a barista bar entrance, neighborhood zones for focused, collaborative, and social work, warm natural materials, adaptable partitions for varied group sizes, and integrated technology to support hybrid work while reflecting both global brand identity and local character.
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|  officesnapshots.com
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Holcim’s Zug headquarters serves as a living showcase for sustainable material innovation, featuring a 180‑meter vegetated “green lane” that links physically separate office wings. The design uses modular “building blocks” of 3D‑printed, carbon‑prestressed, woodcrete, and low‑carbon concrete, with raw shotcrete walls and recycled‑material flooring. Open, non‑hierarchical spaces promote flexibility, collaboration, and acoustic comfort, while passive climate systems and adaptable layouts ensure long‑term sustainability and resilience.
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|  www.onofficemagazine.com
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Simon Pickles, an engineering manager and founder of Analogue Desk Co., showcases his dual-purpose oak desk that serves as both a home office and a workshop. The setup includes a presence‑controlled lighting system, a Zigbee sensor, Nanoleaf backlighting, a custom IDX Phase gauge, and various tools and accessories such as a soldering station, magnifier, vise, and an electronic drum kit.
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|  workspaces.xyz
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Onni Group is reverting a planned Fulton Market (Chicago) apartment tower back to a 900,000‑square‑foot, 30‑story office building at 357 N. Green St., with Stream Realty Partners handling leasing. The project features average 30,000‑sq‑ft floor plates. Meanwhile, law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has signed a lease for about 94,000 sq ft across two floors at 167 N. Green St., displacing former tenant MoLo Solutions. Fulton Market maintains the lowest vacancy rate downtown at 17.8% and commands market rents just under $55 per square foot, roughly $16 above the CBD average.
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|  www.bisnow.com
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Bill Barr’s Torridon Law is expanding with a 36,000 sq ft sublease at 1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, marking a 66 % increase from its current 22,000 sq ft space. The move follows a $15 M renovation of the 445,000 sq ft building, which also hosts various tenants and a ground‑floor restaurant. Torridon has been rapidly hiring former government officials, including Mike Pompeo and other ex‑administration figures.
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|  www.bisnow.com
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CF Stinson Brands Earns Five Nightingale Awards for Healthcare Textiles
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CF Stinson Brands earned five Nightingale Awards at the 2026 Healthcare Design Conference + Expo for its new Young At Heart (Gold) and Daydream (Silver) textile collections, recognized for design excellence, innovation, and sustainability. Both collections feature Hyphyn® biodegradable vinyl that degrades over 90% in two years, USDA‑certified BioPreferred® polyurethane with 30% biobased content, and GREENGUARD Gold certification, eliminating PFAS and PFOAs, highlighting the company’s commitment to high‑performance, eco‑friendly materials for healthcare environments.
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Artcobell Appoints New Executive Leaders to Guide Next Phase of Growth
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Artcobell announced the appointment of Stephen Fitchett as CEO and Stan Pissarski as Vice President of Operations, reinforcing its commitment to the K‑12 education market. The new leaders will focus on strengthening operations, sharpening the product roadmap, and building scalable growth while preserving the company’s strong brand and dealer relationships.
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Henricksen Appoints Brenda Lemmer as Senior Business Development Manager, A+D
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Brenda Lemmer joins Henricksen as Senior Business Development Manager, A+D, bringing 17 years at Knoll, founding the representation firm COLLECTION, and a strong background in interior design, mentorship, sustainability, and leadership within the Twin Cities architecture and design community.
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Jonathan Bodway and Steve Duncan
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BŌK Modern Appoints New Principal & General Manager and Creative Design Lead
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Jonathan Bodway joins BŌK Modern as Principal & General Manager and Steve Duncan as Creative Design Lead, bringing extensive architecture, construction, and design expertise to strengthen the firm’s design‑assist capabilities, focus on early collaboration, sustainable material choices, and innovative metal solutions, aiming to enhance project delivery and create high‑quality, sustainable architectural outcomes.
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Kimball International’s “Experience as Medicine” Booth at HCD Wins Best Brand Storytelling Award
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Kimball International’s “Experience as Medicine” booth at the 2026 Healthcare Design Conference won the Best Brand Storytelling award by showcasing how thoughtfully designed environments can reduce stress, foster belonging, and support healing. The booth featured interactive vignettes, a Curiosity Bar highlighting experiential health benefits, and speakers discussing design friction and mentorship in healthcare. Through these elements, Kimball emphasized that the physical space is an active part of patient and caregiver care, enhancing overall health outcomes.
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Woven Together in NYC: An Industry Taking Care of Its Own
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The event brought together designers, donors, and volunteers at Grand Brasserie in NYC to support The Common Thread for the Cure, a foundation providing confidential financial grants to furnishings and design professionals and their families affected by breast cancer, highlighting personal stories and raising awareness and funds for essential medical and living expenses.
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Momentum Introduces QuickShip | Assured Textiles for High-Volume Contract Projects
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Momentum launches QuickShip | Assured Textiles, a domestic upholstery program for high‑volume contract projects that reduces typical 16‑18‑week lead times to four weeks for orders up to 1,000 yards. The initial offering includes 36 SKUs across nine patterns, featuring fabrics with 100,000+ double rubs, bleach‑cleanability, PFAS‑free stain resistance, Prop65 compliance, and GREENGUARD Gold certification, targeting hospitality, workplace, education, multifamily, senior living, and retail interiors.
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NeoCon 2027 Call for Programming Opens October 28
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NeoCon will open its 2027 Call for Programming on October 28, 2026, inviting proposals for talks, CEU sessions, and workshops across categories such as workplace, healthcare, hospitality, lighting, sustainability, and inclusion, with submissions due by January 18, 2027. The event runs June 13‑16, 2027 at The Mart in Chicago, featuring virtual and on‑site CEU sessions, hands‑on workshops, and NeoCon Talks with Spotlight Sessions, especially highlighting new lighting innovations through the Illuminate at NeoCon exhibition.
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Kimball InternationalEarns Innovative Extension Award During CET Experience Conference
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Kimball International earned the Innovative Extension Award at the CET Experience Conference for integrating DesignSuite into CET, streamlining designers’ workflows by consolidating project access and drawing audits into a single platform. This achievement highlights the company’s focus on enhancing design technology efficiency and user experience.
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Ask Stephen - Loved Salone? Your Next Big Move Could Be at ORGATEC.
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Stephen advises balancing scheduled meetings with flexible time at ORGATEC, networking with clients, dealers, designers, and overseas colleagues, grouping appointments by hall, and visiting key exhibitors such as Haworth, BuzziSpace, Hushoffice, Kvadrat, Muuto, and the Eames Pavilion. He recommends attending speaker sessions, exploring Cologne’s attractions and social events, taking notes and photos, and following up promptly, while maintaining professionalism throughout the trip.
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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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