In this issue… Herman Miller workers prepare to strike as Eureka Ergonomic expands into commercial interiors. Furniture orders remain resilient amid economic pressure, while Ikea cuts jobs and stores; Manhattan and New York tech leasing surge, secure federal facilities boom, and Google’s Chicago opening slips to 2028. Workplace coverage examines hybrid-job growth, office measurement, employee autonomy, return-to-office protests, Gen Z employment, hiring mismatches, and coworking wellness. Design stories explore human-centered AI, ADHD-supportive workplaces, integrated office planning, and Rolf and Mette Hay’s collection. Pantone embraces bold maximalism, while new products span modular furniture, executive seating, lighting, textiles, flooring, rail systems, and commercial office collections.
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Monday, September 21, 2026
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Construction material prices have surged, with steel up 23.4%, iron and steel 17.9%, copper wire 27.2%, and petroleum 34.9% since August 2025. These increases, combined with labor shortages and higher wages, are causing contractors to delay, abandon, or scale back projects, leading to reduced construction activity and heightened profitability pressure for firms.
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Office loan delinquencies reached 12% in August, while a $289 billion loan pool—33.5% of office loan volume—faces maturity through 2028, creating refinancing pressure especially in high‑vacancy markets such as Seattle, San Francisco and Houston. Despite improving vacancy rates, uneven market conditions, rising borrowing costs, and declining property values keep owners vulnerable, with construction concentrated in a few metros and office employment showing mixed trends.
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"Our members are simply asking for a decent pay offer that reflects how successful the company is. This is not a struggling company and that is largely down to our members' efforts, making the furniture in the first place.
- Kasia Naskretska, GMB regional organizer of the upcoming strike against Herman Miller in the UK
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Herman Miller Faces UK Walkout After Workers Reject Three Pay Offers
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A pay dispute at Herman Miller is heading toward a factory walkout—and to be clear, this is in Melksham, Wiltshire, in the United Kingdom, not Zeeland, Michigan.
Dozens of GMB union members demonstrated outside the company’s Portal Road factory last Tuesday lunchtime ahead of a strike scheduled for Thursday, September 24. Workers have rejected three pay offers, according to the union.
The dispute puts a familiar industry question into sharp focus: How much of the value of premium furniture should reach the people making it?
Herman Miller produces office furniture and home furnishings, with some pieces selling for several thousand pounds. GMB says the planned walkout could disrupt production for customers including Amazon and Apple. The extent of any disruption remains unclear.
GMB regional organiser Kasia Naskretska argued that workers’ pay should reflect their skills, market rates and the company’s financial performance. The union describes the business as profitable and says employees deserve a greater share of its success.
“Our members are simply asking for a decent pay offer that reflects how successful the company is,” Naskretska told the Gazette & Herald. The newspaper reported that Herman Miller had been approached for comment.
For the furniture industry, the dispute also raises a historical question: Has there ever been a strike at a Herman Miller facility before? A review of available reporting did not establish a previous example, but that does not make this a confirmed first. That distinction remains a question for the company and its labor historians as September 24 approaches.
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Eureka Ergonomic Makes a Broader Play for Commercial Interiors
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The California furniture company is expanding from home-office products into project services, with ambitions extending beyond desks and chairs.
Eureka Ergonomic is making a broader push into commercial interiors, launching a dedicated business platform and a service offering that combines furniture procurement with space planning, customization and installation.
For office furniture dealers and manufacturers, the scope of the announcement is worth watching. The California-based company is pursuing businesses, designers, developers and professional buyers with an offering that extends from workstations and seating to flooring, ceilings, lighting, cabinetry and partitions. Its stated ambition is to take on more of the coordination involved in furnishing and completing a space.
The company brings a background in ergonomic office products, home furnishings and gaming furniture. Its consumer website describes a business with its own designers, structural engineers and manufacturing facilities, selling products ranging from height-adjustable desks and office chairs to sofas, dining furniture and storage.
Founder Tom Hu was identified in a 2023 announcement from esports organizer BLAST, which selected Eureka to supply gaming chairs for its Rainbow Six Siege Atlanta Major tournament. That partnership provides one illustration of the company’s efforts to build a market around the overlap between work, home and gaming.
Eureka also has a Chinese operating presence. Its Chinese-language corporate website identifies Foshan Eureka Technology as a wholly owned subsidiary of U.S.-based Eureka Ergonomic LLC and describes a broader business spanning home furniture, medical and eldercare products, pet grooming and furniture, modular buildings and commercial-space procurement. The company’s capabilities, by its own account, extend well beyond the consumer desk business.
Although Eureka is new to our coverage, it has previously sought exposure to the contract furniture industry. The company appears in NeoCon’s 2019 exhibitor directory, placing it at the show years before the latest commercial-business announcement. The new initiative builds on that earlier presence and what Eureka describes as an existing project business.
Eureka says it has supported more than 5,000 projects across more than 15 industries and space types and collaborated with more than 800 design professionals. Those are company-reported figures; the announcement does not break out project size, revenue or the share attributable to commercial offices.
The new business website is intended to bring product specifications, design resources, case studies and project inquiries into one place. Eureka also is offering professional pricing and project assistance through a trade program.
The commercial strategy rests on selling a larger package of products and services. Eureka says it plans to combine design, product development, sourcing, customization and project execution, while gradually adding building-related components and selected smart-building and security products. The pitch is fewer vendors for customers to manage and more of the project handled by one supplier.
Several details of interest to the contract market remain open. The announcement does not explain how independent office furniture dealers would participate, identify leadership for the commercial business or disclose its sales targets. It also leaves the scale of Eureka’s existing commercial operation unclear.
For dealers and specifiers, the next question is how Eureka will organize delivery of that broader offering—and where channel partners will fit as it pursues more complete interiors projects.
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China-Based Nexomensa Expands Office Furniture Offering, Adds U.S. Stock
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Nexomensa, a commercial office furniture brand operated by China-based Shenzhen Tanjiang Technology Co., Ltd., has expanded its catalog to more than 100 products and added 14 U.S.-stock options as it pursues business furnishing projects across the United States.
The expansion combines a broader assortment with selected customization and project-based quotations, positioning Nexomensa to supply reception areas, private offices, conference rooms and workstations through a single source. The company says the U.S.-stock options are intended to shorten fulfillment times.
The expanded catalog includes 26 executive desks, 22 reception desks, 14 office desks, 10 conference tables and 18 office chairs, along with sofas and storage products.
Although its announcement emphasizes service to the U.S. market, Nexomensa lists its corporate headquarters in Shenzhen, Guangdong, on its company website.
“Commercial furniture purchasing rarely stops at how a product looks,” said Zoey Johnson, brand manager at Nexomensa. “Buyers are balancing floor plans, workflow, storage and delivery windows, often across several rooms at once.”
Customization on selected products includes materials, colors, finishes, dimensions and left- or right-side configurations. Customers can also submit drawings for evaluation.
For business and bulk orders, the company provides quotations based on product selection, quantity, delivery destination and project requirements. The announcement did not specify delivery windows for the U.S.-stock assortment or identify where that inventory is warehoused.
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Emeco Brings Back Its Original 1944 Wordmark
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Emeco is reintroducing its original hand-drawn wordmark, returning to an identity that has appeared on the aluminum sign outside its Hanover, Pennsylvania, factory since the company’s founding in 1944.
The move connects the furniture maker’s branding to its manufacturing roots. Established to produce chairs for the U.S. Navy, Emeco built military-specification furniture designed to withstand use aboard warships and submarines. More than eight decades later, the company continues to handcraft recycled-aluminum furniture at the same factory using its 77-step process.
“A while back, I looked up at the original sign on our Hanover, PA factory building, standing proud since 1944,” said Emeco’s Gregg Buchbinder. “Then I walked into our workshop, where our chairs are still built with raw handcraft, sweat and human care. I realized that the sign on the building says more than our name. It’s our signature.”
The revived wordmark retains the uneven lines and unconventional proportions of the original. Buchbinder said those characteristics reflect the handwork behind the company’s furniture.
“Those uneven, unique details are not mistakes, they are the signature of true craftsmanship,” he said.
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Kentwood Office Furniture Rebrands as Kore Commercial Environments
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Kentwood Office Furniture, a Allsteel and KImball dealer, has changed its name to Kore Commercial Environments, adopting an identity the company says better reflects its expanded range of workplace services.
The rebrand took effect Sept. 14. Ownership and personnel remain unchanged.
Founded in 1976, the Grand Rapids-based company serves commercial clients throughout Michigan, the Midwest and nationwide. Its services include workplace strategy, design and space planning, furniture specification and procurement, project management, installation, reconfiguration and corporate relocation.
“We’ve evolved well beyond a traditional furniture provider,” said Tim Shields, president and CEO. “Today, we bring together insight, design, product, and manufacturing to create environments that make a lasting impact.”
The change comes as the company marks its 50th anniversary and positions itself around a broader commercial environments offering. Kore works with organizations, architects and designers across the corporate, healthcare, education, public sector and hospitality markets.
The rebrand includes a refreshed visual identity and four stated company values: integrity, curiosity, innovation and ownership.
“Our work is about understanding how people and organizations use their spaces and creating environments that work for them,” said Kaylyn Todd, vice president of growth and marketing.
Kore remains headquartered in Grand Rapids, with regional locations serving Michigan and the Midwest.
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FMG Names Melissa Calame Senior Director of Operations for Central Texas
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Furniture Marketing Group (FMG) has named Melissa Calame senior director of operations for Central Texas, overseeing operational strategy and execution in its Austin and San Antonio markets.
Calame brings more than a decade of experience in contract furniture, with a background spanning project management, operational leadership, customer service, showroom management and business process improvement. Her responsibilities at FMG will focus on process consistency, team development, project performance and client service.
She joins FMG from SKG Texas, where she advanced from project manager through leadership positions including director of business performance and process integration and director of operations. Most recently, she served as general manager and director of operations for San Antonio.
Her experience includes project delivery, warehouse and showroom operations, team leadership and coordination across departments. Before joining SKG, Calame held project management roles with Contract Resource Group and The OFIS.
Calame earned a bachelor of business administration from Texas State University, with a focus on business, management and marketing. The appointment adds operational leadership in two key Texas markets as FMG continues to expand across the state and beyond.
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Ikea's Small-Store Economics in Question
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IKEA will close its San Marcos, Texas, store Nov. 1, ending a brief run for a location designed to make the retailer more convenient for shoppers between Austin and San Antonio.
The approximately 35,000-square-foot store opened in July 2025. Its scheduled closing follows roughly 15½ months of operation, slightly longer than the 14 months cited in some reports. IKEA says it decided against renewing the lease and will continue investing in delivery, pickup and online shopping. It has not disclosed the location’s financial performance.
The decision raises questions about the economics of smaller furniture stores, where a limited assortment and planning services depend on a broader fulfillment network to complete the sale.
It also comes against a difficult industry backdrop. Smith Leonard’s survey showed January furniture orders flat year over year, shipments down 7% and inventories up 9%. The firm also cited transportation costs and tariff uncertainty as operational concerns. Those pressures provide context, although IKEA has not identified them as the reasons for closing San Marcos.
Competitors’ results suggest that growth remains possible, but profitability requires attention. Bob’s Discount Furniture reported second-quarter revenue growth of 8.8% and comparable-sales growth of 2.3%, while maintaining plans for approximately 20 new stores this year. However, store traffic declined and adjusted EBITDA slipped to $60.8 million from $62.8 million.
IKEA, meanwhile, continues pursuing smaller locations. An approximately 80,000-square-foot store is planned for Crocker Park in Westlake, Ohio, in spring 2027—more than twice the size of San Marcos, illustrating the variation within the format.
For furniture retailers, San Marcos puts the economics of convenience in focus. Smaller stores can bring merchandise closer to customers. Their success still depends on generating enough business to cover the showroom, service and delivery costs behind every sale.
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Most Office Chairs Were Certified for a 253lb User, New RatedSturdy Guide Explains
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RatedSturdy.com released a plain‑language guide explaining how office chair weight limits are tested, noting that the standard ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 historically used a 253 lb reference weight, now raised to 275 lb, and that higher capacities often lack third‑party verification. The guide advises consumers to check for named test standards, verify manufacturer claims, review warranties, and ensure a safety margin between personal weight and the chair’s rating, while highlighting the lack of common standards for heavier loads in other furniture categories.
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Manhattan’s office market has surged dramatically, with 2026 on track for the strongest leasing year since 2000 as tech, AI, finance, and law firms snap up space, driving availability rates below 10% in prime corridors and pushing rents to record highs. This boom is fueled by job growth, limited office‑to‑residential conversions, and high demand for new buildings, while smaller tenants still find opportunities in older, less‑central properties at lower prices.
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|  www.curbed.com
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New York’s tech sector is booming, now the second‑largest office user after finance, driven largely by AI which accounts for about 60 % of Q3 tech leasing. Demand is focused on prime submarkets such as Flatiron, Madison Square Park, Union Square and emerging areas like Hudson Square, while the city’s highly educated talent pool and recruitment from major firms fuel growth, though limited office inventory and strong competition from finance and law suggest tech will not overtake finance in the near term.
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|  www.globest.com
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Top‑secret secure facilities, known as SCIFs, are booming in the Washington, D.C., area as massive federal defense spending and new security directives drive demand for purpose‑built, highly protected office space. Landlords and contractors with SCIF expertise are seeing rapid growth, with firms like JLL expanding project volume by hundreds of percent and adding dozens of new SCIFs each year, while others are scaling staff and technology to meet the surge. This surge benefits specialized landlords and creates a competitive advantage for those able to deliver or upgrade SCIFs, though the market remains tight because these spaces cannot be easily repurposed for other tenants.
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|  www.bisnow.com
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Google’s move into Chicago’s Thompson Center is now set for 2028, a year later than planned, with new atrium renderings and a plaza sculpture by Sanford Biggers. The tech giant will occupy about 600,000 sq ft of the 954,000 sq ft renovated building, leaving roughly 354,000 sq ft for other tenants.
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|  www.bisnow.com
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Genuine workplace wellbeing hinges on giving employees real control over their environment—autonomy—rather than merely adding wellness amenities. It highlights research showing that self‑arranged workspaces boost productivity and wellbeing, while imposed changes erase those gains, emphasizing that the ability to shape one’s surroundings is the essential amenity.
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|  www.mixinteriors.com
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Gen Z adults are less likely to participate in the labor force and have lower employment rates than Millennials at the same age, but those who do work experience lower unemployment and earn significantly higher real weekly wages—about 12% more, translating to roughly $4,300 extra annually. This mixed picture shows a weaker overall connection to the workforce for Gen Z, yet better outcomes for the subset that is employed full‑time.
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|  allwork.space
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Nearly one‑in‑five U.S. workers say their current role has changed significantly or is completely different from what they were hired to do, with 20% finding daily expectations unclear, 30% feeling undervalued, and 74% experiencing inconsistent or delayed career‑growth conversations. The findings come from a survey of 1,023 employees conducted by ResumeBuilder.com.
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|  allwork.space
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Barclays employees in the UK are protesting the bank’s shift to a three‑day office requirement (four days for senior staff) and demanding extra pay to cover commuting costs, exemptions for long commutes, and overall compensation for the policy. The protest, led by the Unite union representing most of the bank’s 45,000 UK staff, highlights broader concerns about return‑to‑office mandates, with similar disputes occurring in the US and other sectors over additional stipends and reimbursement for travel expenses.
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|  www.fastcompany.com
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Coworking operators are adding on‑site gyms and wellness amenities to attract hybrid workers, boost morale, and improve retention, while industry research shows growing demand for flexible office space and a projected market expansion to nearly $97 billion by 2030.
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|  allwork.space
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Hybrid work demands flexibility, yet many organizations lack insight into how office spaces are actually used, leading to costly assumptions and inefficient layouts. Surveys reveal that a majority of decision makers cannot gauge space utilization without intrusive methods, resulting in wasted energy, under‑occupied areas, and misguided investments in fit‑outs. Thermal sensors and integrated data dashboards offer anonymous, real‑time usage data, enabling smarter design, scheduling, and cost savings. Leveraging AI to analyze this granular information can further optimize occupancy, reduce energy and cleaning expenses, and close the spatial intelligence gap.
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|  allwork.space
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Hybrid work has shifted focus to office attendance metrics, but raw data like bookings, badge swipes, and sensor counts fail to reveal whether the space supports productive interactions. Effective measurement combines intent, presence, and outcomes, linking operational data with employee experience to assess if the office facilitates collaboration, concentration, and value‑adding activities. This holistic approach helps leaders make informed decisions about space utilization, design, and policies.
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|  workplaceinsight.net
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FlexJobs announced its 2026 Top 100 Companies for Hybrid Jobs, highlighting 77 new entrants with Bechtel leading the list, followed by Your Part Time Controller, Mass General Brigham, AECOM and Ellie Mental Health. The report identifies project management and operations as the top hybrid career fields, notes significant growth in hybrid job postings across sectors, and lists the most in‑demand hybrid titles such as Accountant, Dietitian, Executive Assistant and Software Engineer, underscoring the continued rise of flexible work opportunities.
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|  allwork.space
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Pantone introduced 224 new vibrant colors for 2026, reflecting a shift toward bold, maximalist design driven by Gen Z’s preference for expressive, high‑contrast hues, and signaling a move away from neutral palettes toward richer, more saturated palettes across branding, fashion, and product design.
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|  www.fastcompany.com
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The film offers an intimate look at Rolf and Mette Hay’s personal design collection, showcasing how their curated objects reflect a distinctive aesthetic that blends functionality with artistic expression. Through the visual narrative, viewers see the ways the couple’s choices influence contemporary interior design, highlighting the relationship between personal taste and broader design trends.
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|  www.wallpaper.com
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Teknik Ofis transforms workplace design by combining a deep understanding of client needs with customized furniture, architectural planning, and integrated solutions, emphasizing flexibility, comfort, durability, and long‑term value across offices, showrooms, and international projects.
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|  www.interiordaily.com
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Workplace lighting, visual distractions, and movement significantly affect attention in people with inattentive‑type ADHD; dimmer, indirect lighting and open‑plan spaces with visual boundaries improve focus, while bright direct lighting and excessive movement increase distraction. The study highlights that combining sensory‑friendly design elements—controlled lighting, balanced privacy, and subtle movement options—can enhance concentration and reduce cognitive load for all workers.
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|  workplaceinsight.net
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The piece highlights that despite AI and automation advances, design will stay fundamentally human‑driven, emphasizing intuition, creativity, and ethical judgment. It argues designers should use technology as a tool while maintaining control, ensuring solutions are empathetic, purposeful, and aligned with societal values.
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|  www.fastcompany.com
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Allsteel and Certified Professional Ergonomist Dr. Lauren Gant on Maximizing Workplace Wellness for National Ergonomics Month 2026
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Allsteel and Certified Professional Ergonomist Dr. Lauren Gant present an eight‑step ergonomic setup guide for National Ergonomics Month 2026, emphasizing dynamic movement, inclusive design, and the Work Geometry™ approach. The guide covers chair height, seat depth, lumbar support, armrest positioning, worksurface height, keyboard/mouse alignment, monitor placement, and the 20‑20‑20 eye‑rest rule, while debunking common ergonomic myths and highlighting how ergonomic furniture—especially the new Levra™ task chair—supports wellness, productivity, and inclusivity in hybrid work environments.
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Lacasse Continues Brand Evolution With Bluumrise Lounge Collection
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Lacasse is adding to its seating portfolio with Bluumrise, a lounge collection developed with industrial designer Francesco Favaretto, as the manufacturer continues its rebranding effort and a series of new product introductions.
Introduced September 15, the collection follows Tocco and Studio and adds another offering aimed at workplaces where comfort, design and the employee experience are increasingly central to furniture decisions.
Bluumrise pairs a curved silhouette inspired by the classic oval form with construction designed for sustained comfort. Beneath the upholstery, the collection combines webbing and coil springs, multi-density foam and a solid internal frame. Favaretto worked closely with Lacasse’s product development team on the design and proportions.
“Collaborating with Francesco brought a fresh design perspective to our seating portfolio,” said Gary Hierlihy, vice president of sales and marketing.
“The result is a collection that offers both comfort and character, while exemplifying the craftsmanship Lacasse has been recognized for over the past 70 years.”
The launch gives further shape to Lacasse’s ongoing brand evolution. Alongside its recent product introductions, the company is emphasizing its role in creating environments that support people and how they work—a direction reflected in its stated mission to “reveal human potential.”
For Lacasse, founded in 1956, Bluumrise extends that positioning into lounge seating while broadening a portfolio serving business and institutional environments. The collection also signals the company’s continued investment in seating as part of its broader workplace offering.
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Dauphin launches its Bauhaus‑inspired Modul Space system in the U.S., offering versatile modular furniture that can be configured into storage, shelving, room dividers, media units, lockers, and other workplace elements. The company provides complimentary end‑to‑end design services—including turnkey planning, 2D/3D visualizations, and order coordination—to designers and dealers at no charge, simplifying personalized workspace configurations from concept through installation.
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|  www.officing.com
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Eureka Ergonomic launches the Serene Executive Office Chair Series, offering four models—Serene, Serene Aaron, Serene Ella, and Forma—each with distinct materials, designs, and ergonomic features to suit home, private, and modern executive workspaces, priced between $719 and $1,250.
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|  www.officing.com
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Eureka Ergonomic unveils the Mathias Collection, an executive‑seating line that blends curved‑wood craftsmanship, premium upholstery and integrated ergonomics for office and home workspaces, offering Standard, XL and Pro versions with leather or fabric options tailored to various user sizes and environments.
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|  www.officing.com
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Eureka expands its Mika decorative lighting line with a new 20‑inch globe, boosting lumen output up to 4,850 lm (140 % increase) and adding RGBW‑controlled Mika Colors, dual‑hemisphere Mika Gradient, and Mika Flare shades in aluminum (14 colors) and acrylic (amber or green) that can reach 42 inches, while offering consistent light engines, more sizes, output levels, and braided‑cable mounting options.
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|  www.officing.com
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Shaw Contract launches the Cult Classics Porcelain collection, featuring three coordinated tile options—Connector Block + Dot, Connector Subway Tile, and Graphline—in 11 unified colorways for floors, walls, and backsplashes. The line extends the retro‑timeless aesthetic of the Cult Classics family, offers sustainable benefits with over 50% reduction in Scope 1‑2 carbon emissions since 2010, and provides designers a cohesive system across multiple surface applications.
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|  www.officing.com
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Carnegie expands its Xorel Cruise collection with two new marine‑grade patterns, Seashore and Seafloor, featuring sophisticated textures, neutral palettes, and sustainable performance. Both patterns are Wheelmark‑certified, made from 75% IFR Xorel and 25% Modacrylic, and available for wallcoverings, upholstery, and panels. The Xorel Luxe upholstery line also gains Wheelmark certification, reinforcing Carnegie’s commitment to eco‑friendly, high‑performance textiles for cruise ship interiors.
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|  www.officing.com
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The Echo Collection by J+J Flooring offers 18 × 36 in. carpet tiles in two patterns—Resonance, a bold high‑contrast design, and Harmonic, a subtle tonal style—available in 11 coordinated colorways across carpet tile, broadloom, LVT, and Kinetex® formats. Made from 100 % Encore SD Nylon on Nexus backing with an optional PVC‑free Advance Modular backing, the line emphasizes performance, stability, and design versatility, aiming to create emotional connections through sound‑inspired visuals.
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|  www.officing.com
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Coronet LED’s Lalina KnifeEdge offers a field‑curvable cove lighting system with an almost invisible knife‑edge finish, allowing seamless indirect illumination on both straight and curved walls or ceilings without visible trim or hardware. The system is field‑trimmable up to three inches, fits radii as tight as 12 inches, and eliminates the need for custom fabrication, making it ideal for design‑driven interiors in hospitality, healthcare, and workplace environments.
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|  www.officing.com
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Feeney introduced quick‑ship, plug‑and‑play LED lighting kits for its DesignRail® Modern railing systems, offering configurations for up to 25 or 55 feet that include LED strips, a 24‑volt 96‑W OmniDrive® X driver, starter cable, connectors and accessories. The weatherproof, UL‑certified kits are energy‑efficient, feature long‑life LEDs with high color rendering, and come with multi‑year warranties, enabling designers and builders to easily add adjustable illumination to indoor and outdoor railings without custom orders.
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|  www.officing.com
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Sellex expands its furniture range with KLOK, a versatile multipurpose chair, and AXYS, a folding bunk bed that transfers load to the floor, both designed for flexible, space‑saving use in public environments and made with sustainable materials.
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|  www.interiordaily.com
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Tom Pearson’s “10,000 Rivets” collection showcases industrial‑style aluminium furniture and lighting created through experimental anodising that produces water‑droplet patterns, with rivets used both structurally and decoratively; the pieces—including tables, shelves and lamps—are displayed at the APOC store in London during the London Design Festival. Although the exhibition’s name suggests ten thousand rivets, the works contain 6,264 rivets, reflecting Pearson’s playful, process‑driven approach and his collaboration with Heavy Duty Services and photographer Studio Adamson.
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|  www.dezeen.com
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Chiara Verde introduces a suspended seating concept using laminated cork, featuring a minimal metal frame and four main parts connected by ten screws, resulting in a lightweight, load‑bearing chair that is fully disassemblable for easy transport and repair.
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|  www.core77.com
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Pedestal collaborates with Swiss design firm Big Game to create a range of accessories that enhance the functionality and aesthetics of their power strips, including a steel Power Tray for organized docking, a Cable Bagle for cord management and hanging, a Power Tower to reduce footprint, and a versatile Power Shell that can be used upside‑down. These accessories aim to reduce clutter and improve usability, though the products are currently unavailable in the United States.
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|  www.core77.com
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Venus Williams expands her design career with the “Grand Slam” collection for Crate & Barrel and Crate & Kids, featuring furniture, lighting, and décor inspired by tennis, mid‑century modern style, and her recent Milan trip, blending sophisticated materials with playful details for both adult and children’s spaces.
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|  design-milk.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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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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Trends in Commercial Projects
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RCA Studio renovated a century‑old cotton mill in Abbotsford into the Harry the Hirer Headquarters, preserving the heritage structure while adding a central void for natural light, perforated steel lift, epoxy‑finished floors, LED panels, and custom carpet. The design emphasizes collaborative spaces, modern functionality, and visible heritage features, with contributions from designer RCA Studio, builder Amicus, and photographer Veeral Patel.
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|  officesnapshots.com
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Hassell’s new Melbourne studio showcases “sustainable brutalism,” using recycled aluminium, glass, cartons, cups, and soft plastics for bespoke lighting and construction. The design reuses furniture and fittings from the previous office, tracks material transparency, and pursues Living Building Challenge certification. It rejects residential‑style offices in favor of an “anti‑home” workspace that encourages social interaction, hybrid work, and collaborative events. The project also protects 4,000 sqm of high‑biodiversity land and incorporates a monitored indoor planting strategy.
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|  www.mixinteriors.com
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Humanscale Products Support Sensory-Driven Workplace Design at Hames Sharley’s Melbourne Studio
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The Melbourne studio of Hames Sharley was transformed into a sensory‑driven, sustainable workplace that preserves its 1930s Art Deco heritage while incorporating cork walls, ergonomic Humanscale Path chairs, monitor arms, and task lighting. The design balances historic architectural elements with modern interventions to support employee well‑being, flexibility, and environmental responsibility. See more >
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Corgan’s new 40,000‑sq‑ft Los Angeles studio reimagines the firm’s workplace by blending Southern California landscapes with sustainable design, featuring a west‑to‑east color gradient, abundant natural light, collaborative zones, a vibrant café, and goals for Fitwel and Zero Carbon certifications.
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|  officeinsight.com
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Sabreen Haziq, Buffer’s brand activation and community strategy lead, showcases her workspace and workflow, highlighting a standing desk with a foldable walking pad, MacBook Pro, Apple Magic Keyboard, and various accessories that support her creator‑focused role. She emphasizes recent additions like the walking pad, a desire for better cable management, and productivity habits such as AI‑driven task offloading, clear notifications, and structured project tracking, all aimed at enhancing focus, engagement, and efficiency in her remote, globally distributed team.
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|  workspaces.xyz
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The SIHOO B300 Pro chair has the most adjustments I've seen in a chair under $300, BUT it may not be the right chair for you. Let's get Ahnest!
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|  www.youtube.com
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The Hbada X7 chair packs AI-assisted automated lumbar support, plus warming, cooling and massage systems.
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|  shopping.yahoo.com
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Proskauer Rose expanded its Times Square office to about 478,000 sq ft, adding roughly 60,000 sq ft on the 31st and 32nd floors and extending its lease by 15 years to 2046. The firm now occupies 93 % of the 1.1 million‑sq ft building, with rent increasing 5.8 % YoY to $84.68 per sq ft.
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|  www.globest.com
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Empire & Co. Adds EVP to New York team
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Empire & Co. appoints Erica Leiderman as Executive Vice President for New York City, bringing over 13 years of commercial interiors experience to strengthen sales leadership, client relationships, and the firm’s East‑Coast expansion. The hiring underscores the company’s focus on enhancing workplace environments, leveraging Leiderman’s deep industry network and personal ties to the firm, while CEO Peter Gaslow highlights the immediate credibility and growth this addition provides to the New York market.
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Empire & Co. Expands Atlanta Team with Senior Account Executive Kyle Zurak
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Kyle Zurak joins Empire & Co. as Senior Account Executive for Atlanta, bringing nearly four years of commercial furniture sales experience and a professional baseball background, to strengthen the company’s regional presence and support growth initiatives such as a new flagship showroom and a 70,000‑sq‑ft warehouse.
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Allseating Expands U.S. Representative Network With Two New Partnerships
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Allseating expands its U.S. representative network by partnering with Seibold + Baker in Illinois and Wisconsin and Melissa Meeks & Associates in Indiana and Kentucky, enhancing regional presence and giving dealers, designers, and specifiers broader access to its commercial seating portfolio.
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WVH® Establishes East Coast Distribution Center to Accelerate National Fulfillment
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WVH® opened a 108,000‑sq‑ft East Coast distribution center in Chester, Virginia, handling 60 % of U.S. order volume and complementing its Arizona hub, with strategic access to Interstates 95 and 64 to improve supply‑chain capacity and service for architects, designers, and contractors across the eastern United States.
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Actiu has its full U.S. catalog live on CET.
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Actiu’s full U.S. catalog is now live on the Configura Marketplace, offering a complete range of seating, tables, acoustic booths, soft seating, and specialized terminal beam seating with accurate pricing and local options. This integration enables effortless drag‑and‑drop specification, budgeting, and immediate access to the entire U.S. portfolio, simplifying workflow for designers and planners.
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Landscape Forms Partners with DMA Lighting to Expand Lighting Representation in Southern Idaho and Surrounding Intermountain Region
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Landscape Forms partners with DMA Lighting to represent its lighting portfolio across Southern Idaho and neighboring Intermountain regions, leveraging DMA’s local expertise to expand sustainable, dark‑sky‑approved outdoor lighting solutions for communities such as Sun Valley, Ketchum, and McCall.
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The 2026 NexGen Rising Stars program honors emerging education leaders under 40
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The 2026 NexGen Rising Stars program honors education leaders under 40 for their dedication, innovative thinking, and impact on student success, recognizing them at the EDspaces Plenary Session on October 28, 2026 in Kansas City and featuring them in Essentials Magazine and on social media, while fostering a community for collaboration, mentorship, and idea exchange. To learn more about the impressive list of NexGen Rising Stars, visit: https://www.edmarket.org/nexgen/winners.cfm
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SUITE NY Unveils New Showroom Featuring Exclusive Special Editions of GUBI Designs by GamFratesi
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SUITE NY opened a new 7,000‑sq‑ft penthouse showroom on Park Avenue South, showcasing exclusive GUBI designs by GamFratesi hand‑upholstered in custom textiles from Brooklyn artist William Storms. The launch marks the brand’s 20th anniversary and includes upcoming U.S. debuts of Swiss label Seitz and Giopato & Coombes’ NOKORI collection, alongside a curated display of iconic design chairs and collaborations with leading international designers.
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The writer questions the value of acquiring multiple chair companies, noting that while acquisitions can bring market access, products, and relationships, many differences between chairs are minor. They advise focusing on how acquisitions affect customers, territories, and compensation, and suggest staying if the job remains rewarding, but considering a move if brand connection and trust are lost.
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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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![[Photo_ Pantone]](https://img.publicate.it/i/1580x1052x9.coords.DO.0x4,95601173020528-100x95,04398826979474/56396/6ab00623c2e3ecf724268760_Photo-Pantone.jpeg)
