CEU Sessions

As the need for workplace strategy over the past few years has expanded, so does the case for aligning client culture, business and design. In this 1-hour CEU, a case study of an organization returning to the office after the pandemic will be presented. A 6-survey series was conducted with emphasis on employee emotions, connection, and satisfaction over a 4-month period. Additional perspectives from the audience will be actively sought throughout and engaged to understand the complex array of issues at play. Recent national studies will be provided as context, and the format will shift to examining the survey results constructively to build the case for objective design.

Why is doing the right thing so hard? The design profession has been working towards sustainability since LEED began, yet effective results remain elusive. The pandemic has accelerated the desire and need to create healthy and resilient environments. Challenges are overwhelming, from regional and cultural influences, to clients, regulatory agencies, material and certification processes and construction costs. How do we implement effective solutions before it is too late? Jon, David and Joey approach these questions from different lens. They will take you on a journey to the center of this question and will share effective paths to success. The presentation will discuss the evolution of sustainability and share strategies that will positively impact climate change, occupant health, social equity and the built environment.

This presentation will explore how to effectively lead and manage organizations in the post-pandemic world. The pandemic has created uncertainty and new challenges for companies, including creating how to attract employees to the office by providing a compelling employee experience and tackling the dreaded commute. We will examine real-life examples of companies that successfully navigated these challenges, including CBRE's leadership lessons from the 2008 real estate crash, GoDaddy's transformation of its Global Technology center, and David Radcliffe's approach to the commuting challenge for Google. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of how to lead through uncertainty and practical approaches to tackle the biggest post-pandemic challenges facing companies today.

With a combined 30 years of experience in creating high quality public artworks across a variety of surfaces, communities, and audiences, the Design Museum of Chicago and You Are Beautiful are partnering for a discussion at NeoCon on the power of positivity in public art. Cities gain enormous economic, cultural, and social value through a vibrant public art program. Chicago's collection of world-class public artworks reflect its varied cultures, communities, and ideologies, and remind of us our shared values. When designing new artworks for public spaces, artists are responsible for considering participation, community building, and education as part of the design process. From there, positive messaging in public artwork has the capacity to impact our mental health, self worth, and general well being.

At a time when uncertainty about workplace and real estate is at an all-time high, we need actionable strategies for making sure that utilization is optimized and offices are "buzzy" - places where the experience of being there aligns with expectations of what the future of workplace can - and should! - be. In this course, we'll learn what constitutes "buzz," how to operationally program for it, how to incorporate it into planning principles, and how to design spaces that enhance it. We'll also look at recently-completed project examples to explore what these spaces look like, how they're performing, and what we're learning from them that we can carry through to future design work.

Explore groundbreaking new research that will change the way you think about the future of the interiors industry. Gen Z is set to make up 27% of the workforce by 2025, and the ripple effect of their impact on the industry will be felt by all generations. Discover the latest insights from top A&D firms as we reveal the results of ThinkLab's latest Hackathon. Over the past 6 months, the brightest minds in the industry have been working to challenge outdated norms and identify the most impactful ways to CONNECT with the next generation of designers. Join us for a panel-style presentation and gain unique perspective on the shifts and impacts to come. Don't miss out on this game-changing research!

In this panel discussion, the American Society of Interior Designers will bring together leading members of the interior design community to explore the latest trends in interior design, highlighting insights from the 2023 ASID Trends Report, the State of Interior Design Report, and the forthcoming Economic Outlook Report. Hear from ASID CEO, Khoi Vo, and other experts on topics ranging from demographic trends impacting a shifting design ethos, to advocacy efforts to strengthen practice rights for designers, to the current economic shifts affecting the industry, and resiliency in the industry as designers strengthen their cross-specialty skill sets.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s new 50,000 square-foot theater building and education center is an updated cultural nexus for Chicago. Our multidisciplinary presentation explores how Steppenwolf’s new spaces encourage inclusion and diversity by creating new opportunities for Chicago’s youth, accessible to a wider range of people, and how honest, durable, simple materials can enhance cultural spaces by allowing people to feel included, respected, and seen. Our discussion will explore how natural day light is admitted into the interior spaces to add beauty and functionality to the design. Each aspect of the talk will be viewed through the lens of flexibility, adaptability, and inclusion.

The interaction of people, workspace, and technology is an ecosystem that has been evolving for years, and the pandemic only accelerated this trend. We believe that office spaces—both physical and virtual—should be designed based on how people work today, incorporating technologies that provide a consistent experience regardless of location. Adopting this design approach sets a standard for an inclusive and seamless work environment that promotes well-being and productivity. This presentation will introduce the concept of AV Equity to address the technology tools, design approaches, and new behaviors that are needed for all to do their best work. The concepts will be demonstrated by case study examples and inspirations that serve as a call to action for everyone who contributes to the designed workplace experience.

See the possibility of adaptive reuse to research environments. This interactive discussion will challenge the possibilities for the conversion of unexpected building types into workplace and research environments while prioritizing planet impact and design innovation. Our knowledge sharing of two different West Coast project case studies have pushed boundaries to expand thinking, while sharing the opportunities and challenges.

Knowledge: The presenters will inform the audience of current metrics, statistics and data around adaptive reuse, carbon reduction impacts and evaluation.

Query: Leading the audience through a series of interactive queries, the presenters will lead a discussion around the possibilities and limitations for repurposing assets in unexpected ways.

Inform: The presenters will share case studies for various adaptive reuse scenarios and the outcomes from these studies.

To demystify the process of building and designing sustainably, we propose the idea of featuring HUSH, Material Bank, and EHDD in conversation to discuss the research, process, and decisions necessary in sustainable design and construction projects. HUSH will present a case study of sustainable experience design, discussing how the studio makes the invisible systems of sustainable buildings visible to inspire and empower audiences. Material Bank will present on sustainable material choices addressing how designers, architects, and builders can better understand the sustainability of materials and the resources available to make these decisions more accessible. EHDD will present their embodied carbon calculator, addressing how these tools work and how audiences can use them to estimate/quantify the impact of their material choices on the environment.

Many products are marketed to designers and architects touting antimicrobial benefits, yet antimicrobials are also flagged as chemicals of concern by many authoritative lists. This has created confusion around if or when using these treated products makes sense. Using recent research results, we will dive into this chemical class by focusing on one common use: as a textile treatment. Architects, designers, specifiers, and purchasers will become informed about when and where to use antimicrobial treatments on products, understand the downstream effects, and be able to talk with manufacturers of treated building products about the need for antimicrobial treatments in the built environment.

How can the new post-pandemic era enhance the values that are “broken“ in the interior design engagement with clients and improve the vitality of the profession in this time of economic, environmental and societal instability? This interactive presentation with a design research analyst, a CRE, and a commercial interior designer, will probe the issues that accelerated the shift from designing environments to designing experiences. Workplaces demand new experiences to remain relevant and future-proof, while trends toward well-being, sustainability and DEI gain new urgency. Our expert panel will unpack the drivers that dictate a new design mission, and provide insights on how commercial designers—as experts on the impact of design on human behavior/experience—can leverage these challenges to reassert their present and future value to commercial clients.

Brands are communicated through stories. We have designed successful interiors that tell unique and powerful brand stories from the first moment of the experience all the way through to the touchpoints and materials. We will illustrate and analyze retail and hospitality case studies of award-winning interior designs that create immersive and unique branded environments which deliver a strong brand narrative for visitors. Projects: Barbie Shanghai flagship for Mattel, Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Clubhouses at JFK, Newark and LAX Airports, and Flightclub New York and LA locations. Each of these projects articulates the brand promise and tells the story with a visceral and intuitive visitor connection. Each of these projects was awarded Best-of-Year Design Award from Interior Design Magazine as well other national and international awards.

Stress and mental health issues are increasingly pervasive at work. No matter the source of the stress, its effects are felt rippling through our lives at home and the workplace—impacting our well-being, relationships, job satisfaction, and performance. The workplace can act as a buffer to help employees reduce stress and build resilience. Resources come in many forms, from the built environment to social support. A workplace that is optimally designed provides people with resources that are most relevant to combat stressors, build resilience, and contribute to improved performance. From original research conducted by Haworth, we have gained a unique understanding of what workplace resources employees value the most, and the quantifiable impact they can have on mitigating stress and improving performance.

When we define resilient building, we usually mean the ability to withstand weather events that threaten exterior structures. But a resilient building also needs safe conditions inside – where the people are! What happens on the outside can impact the inside. Learn how to expand your definition of resiliency to safeguard both the interior and the exterior of a structure and human health. Gain insight into emerging materials science related to resiliency including current research of the impact of climate on material emissions and the presence of long lasting “forever” chemicals called PFAS.

As part of its commitment to research-based standards development, the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) scans the interior design industry looking for data, trends, and other information as to what designers (and therefore students) will need to know to be prepared for successful practice. Scans of economic, demographic, environmental, and technological trends are invaluable for charting the future in increasingly uncertain times, but so too for looking deeply into the interior design profession itself. Future Vision presents a thoughtful look at what interior design practitioners, educators, and allies think about the evolution of the profession and the perceived gap between interior design values and practice. Our panel of distinguished speakers will discuss how closing the gap may require disrupting the whole ecosystem.

When it comes to public buildings, the majority of people favor traditional over contemporary styles of architecture. Traditional and historic architecture is often characterized as being a better fit in our neighborhoods and communities, with a warmth and familiarity that seems to be lacking in many contemporary buildings. And yet, many of these so-called traditional buildings were considered controversial and deemed progressive for their time. This session examines some of the outliers of historic architecture which were innovative for their time, explores how our baseline of normal has shifted, and how progressive thinking has played a role in traditional architecture.

A case study in mass timber design to explore how workplace interiors can support and advance sustainability goals. Beyond the renewable nature and visceral appreciation of wood these buildings offer, the material properties expose design opportunities unique to the structure unlike more common steel and concrete offices. This session identifies the conditions to anticipate and how to develop a lasting solution. With restrained material use, optimized energy systems, and infrastructure strategies for future changes, this facility is designed to support a government organization striving to build by example. In addition to targeting LEED Platinum certification, upon completion in 2023, the five-story, 207,000 square foot County Office Building in Northern California will be the first net-zero-energy civic building constructed with mass timber in the country.

Diversity and equity are the building blocks of population health--with this in mind, how can healthcare systems convey an atmosphere of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) through their environments? This presentation will focus on a case study at Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center. There we developed “personas” representing the area's diverse demographics. These personas provided the perspective to help the design team imagine the individual experiences and emotional connections that tie people to place. To further celebrate the area's diversity, PSH leadership created a DEI-focused art program. The art committee and selected artists represent a diverse group and artwork includes subjects with diverse skin color, body types, cultures, geographies and abilities. We will discuss the unique process used to build this program.

3D spatial technology already pervades the architecture and design industries and its much-discussed cousin, "the metaverse", has evolved to the point where it's of the visual quality, low cost and ease of accessibility across digital devices that it's poised to transform the industry. Join this interactive CEU session where you'll learn from a builder of the tech and a business implementation specialist about the truth behind what's possible with the technology, how to think 'beyond the goggles' about the capabilities of the technology, and dive into real world use cases of how your business can integrate a metaverse channel. From how to expand and create greater accessibility to your showrooms to bringing ecommerce into 3 dimensions and beyond - this session has you covered.

In today's evolving workplace landscape, addressing current needs and anticipating future requirements is crucial. This presentation explores the essential practice of Workplace Research and its role in creating a productive and efficient environment. The approach, which includes three essential stages: planning, execution, and evaluation, will be discussed with real-life examples provided to demonstrate how to execute these steps. This approach enables continual improvement and adaptation to the ever-changing needs of the workplace. By the end of the presentation, attendees will have a comprehensive understanding of how to navigate the dynamic workplace and will be equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to conduct successful workplace research.

The future of the design industry as we currently know it is at risk with the rise of technology that renders jobs, roles, and processes obsolete. The counterpoint is also true, where the status-quo is hindering change for the greater good. What does the future look like for designers in this new era of profound and rapid change? What is the true value of design when practiced by humans and machines? Can we create a new path forward that merges the best of humanity, nature, and technology? This talk will explore and expand the role of “Designer” within this context, as the future will need Eco Hackers, JEDI Facilitators, Tech Synthesizers, and Experience Makers.

Design has impacted every aspect of life as we know it, but what impacts how we design? During this session, Framarz Mistry provides his thoughts on the impact of AI on various facets of design, what this means for talented designers and whether artists should and how to embrace this revolution or fear it.

Current approaches for post-Covid return to the office focus heavily on interior design and furnishings. This is clearly an important component, but there should be a broader discussion of the changing nature of work and its impact on workplaces. The world of office work is in a transition period involving two key components: (1) the concept of distributed cognition and (2) the nature of distributed work. This presentation addresses how to synthesize these two components into a new framework that integrates cognitive processes (such as memory and thinking) with technology and behavioral flexibility in when, where, and how to work.

It’s no secret the environmental quality (EQ) of our workplaces can have profound impacts on our health, but its influence doesn’t stop there. The environment we work in can directly affect our cognitive abilities and overall performance. Providing work settings that promote wellness is obviously the right thing to do But how do we know if our offices are healthy, especially when “office” could mean a commercial building, a nook at home, or anywhere in between?

We will introduce the latest technology in healthy buildings and explore the sensing devices that are helping organizations and individuals adjust their workspaces for greater well-being. This science will delve into the capturing of environmental controls such as noise, lighting, temperature, and humidity and the effects they have on human performance in space plans.

This presentation will bridge awareness and action. We’ll discuss how people can begin tracking EQ, uncovering improvement areas, and enacting practical interventions—from affordable, simple actions to larger, more impactful investments—to enhance the health of their environments and themselves as occupants.

Light has the power to transform an ordinary space into an extraordinary experience. Through manipulation of color, contrast, movement and time, it influences human behavior on psychological, physiological and emotional levels. Experiential lighting can transport people into another world, creating immersive experiences with distinctive moments that lead to strong emotional impressions, memories and connections. A crafted lighting experience can communicate any mood upon arrival, move people through a space, enhance sensory experiences, or invite guests to linger and order more drinks. Good experiential lighting may trigger a photo or social media post, but great lighting impacts a developer’s bottom line while helping people be more present in life. This session will examine lighting environments and strategies in hospitality design that elicit placemaking through experiential design.

Specifying healthcare furnishings and surface materials are connected to satisfaction, safety, and infection control. Not only are decisions aesthetically based, but human health based for healthcare space endusers. Understanding the performance needs and cleaning and disinfection requirements for various types of healthcare settings is key in providing a successful, sustainable solution to maintain healthy environments. Using a collaborative process is indicative of positive outcomes. The evaluation of sustainable materials includes specifying the correct product in the appropriate application to avoid premature product failure within healthcare settings, which can be costly – both in dollars and human impacts. Join us for a deep dive into real life examples, better understanding of cleaning and disinfection protocols, and the evaluation of multiple attributes in healthcare material specifications.

In her book "Design for Identity: How to Design Authentically for a Diverse World", Jessica Bantom explores the concept of human-centered design that taps into an understanding of identity: how people live, what’s important to them, and what informs their perspectives and experiences. The pivotal tool she presents to achieve this is the Design for Identity Blueprint, a practical framework that honors humanity, celebrates diversity, promotes equity and inclusion, and ensures that the design profession mirrors and keeps up with the realities of our evolving world.
This session will explore:
• Cultural competence and how it drives innovation
• What it means to design for identity and how it shows up in the world
• The roadmap: Introducing the Design for Identity Blueprint

The office is often considered a cost burden rather than an investment and opportunity for improving occupant wellbeing and performance. Original well-intended and well-designed open-plan concepts, such as Action Office I and Bürolandschaft, have been transformed over time into high-density offices with minimal separation and partitioning – in effect a Workplace Zoo. Dr Nigel Oseland presents his research on office densities that today accommodate basic human and psychological needs, fostering better wellbeing and performance. His proposed solution, the Landscaped Office, is a revised contemporary interpretation of those earlier open-plan concepts.

The pandemic accelerated transitions toward hybrid workplaces, the ability to work at different workplaces and locations during the week. Hybrid working is now seen by many organizations as the best way to combine the advantages of remote (home, third places) and corporate office-based work. However, as office workers now have much more flexibility in choosing both working time, activities, and preferred locations for both, they also have to make important decisions by themselves. Where can they best perform which activities, not only to optimize their productivity, but also to prevent health issues and to promote general wellbeing? This talk provides an overview of scientific research on the complex relationships between workplace design, worker health, and wellbeing, and on the reasoning behind post-pandemic individual workplace preferences.

Jules Verne literature in the 1860’s predicted and inspired life and new technologies in the 20th Century. As we predict what learning could be like in 2050, we inspire ourselves by the concept of Interconnectedness, when Learning will be influenced by the crossroads of 6 Tenets: Self, Environment, Policy, Wellness, Technology and Uncertainty, but most importantly, the connections between each of them and the intertwined relationships that will occur among them. This session will explore the potential development of these Tenets, and how their progression and interconnectedness will lead the learning/working revolution. We will share results and insights from student focus groups to better understand their take on the future learning and working experiences emphasizing ideating, innovating, disrupting and the places where learning/work happens.

Let’s talk trash: did you know that 17 billion pounds of office furniture are sent to the landfill in the US each year? This is the equivalent of 1/3 of all cars sold in our country. Realizing this is a “we” problem not a “me” problem, a team of facility owners and managers have formed an alliance to find landfill alternatives. Come on the journey from mission conception to action, taught by leaders from the Kimiko Green network. Whether you're just getting started or already have established sustainability processes, this seminar highlights industry best practices for furniture decommissioning and shares how a small group of committed individuals are paving the way to a more sustainable future.

The objective of this presentation is to highlight a social justice approach to good design. Design is about people. In a rapidly changing world, design must capture the evolving values of society. This presentation will focus on the intersection of social movements and public space. Using the Public Restroom as an example, we will discuss the influence of race, sex, gender, family structure and inclusive design.

Stonehill Taylor is a leading hospitality-focused architecture and interior design firm. Sara Duffy, Principal of the firm’s Interiors Division, leads projects from the design of the new Raffles Boston Back Bay opening this spring to the renovation of the public spaces of one of NYC’s oldest operating hotels, the Algonquin, to the guest room and public-space interior design of the iconic TWA Hotel at JFK Airport. These properties and others appeal to the identity of their clientele, inspiring a loyalty among their consumer base that defies expectations. Sara Duffy will expand on the design tips and tricks that cultivate brand loyalty among hotel-goers to convey how office designers can tap into that magic in their own work.

The act of building is destructive. It consumes massive amounts of resources, produces an overabundance of carbon emissions, and is filled with toxic substances. But if we change our mindsets around how we design, we can produce regenerative and restorative buildings that help undo these negative effects. In this brand new talk, we'll explore the 6 key mindsets you need to start designing truly living buildings for your clients. We'll look at how the virtues of: Abundance, Courage, Humanity, Patience, Authenticity, and Justice can allow you to rethink your approach to clients and projects. You'll learn how to shift your thinking about sustainability and your process. Think of this as a crash course in designing for the future, presented by a NeoCon alum and popular speaker.

One of the biggest challenges of understanding how to incorporate sustainability in the design process is knowing where to start—with so many eco-labels, certifications, databases, and tools available, it can be daunting to figure out how to break things down into manageable pieces. In this presentation, sustainability experts from Perkins & Will’s Dallas studio and Dyer Brown Associates, Inc.’s Boston office, along with Cradle to Cradle’s Built Environment Lead for North America & Australasia, will take the audience on a deep dive into the tools and resources available for architects and interior designers to understand many aspects of sustainability from a full building perspective down to specific material selections.

Artificial Intelligence rapidly becomes mainstream demonstrating the capability to generate greater production efficiencies and at times, greater creative design outputs than what humans generate. From chair design to DALL·E 2 text-to-image illustrations, to Japanese garden architecture, the technology is increasingly more powerful and disruptive and is likely to morph the practice of design as we know it. This presentation will discuss the emergent cross-industry disruption driven by Artificial Intelligence, centering on creative cognitive technology applications in product, art, and experience design. It will deep-dive into data-driven color decisions of designers/architects to demonstrate the new design decision process, and close with implications to designers as they work to apply creative technology capabilities and use of data in their design practices.

Explore Salesforce’s journey to reimagine the workplace in four key moves. Based on a robust set of global design standards, a unique culture and years of pandemic-accelerated discoveries, learn how the company is adapting their spaces to align with the changing needs of employees today. The last three years provided an opportunity to develop their next generation workplace concept, Design 2.0, at Salesforce Tower Chicago with design partner, IA Interior Architects. In this dialogue between Salesforce’s Melanie Lowe and Pietro Silva, Design Principal at IA, we’ll dive into the unique challenges and solutions of embracing the new world of work and what’s next on the horizon.

It’s time to broaden the definition of accessibility to be inclusive of LGBTQ+ users. Building codes focus on wheelchair accessibility, but there is a needs gap between code and best practice that is truly inclusive to all. Restrooms have always been an important part of design – for individuals underserved even by well-designed facilities, tremendous stress can be created. Hospitality/Retail industries have long recognized the value of enhancing the restroom experience. It’s time to bring that strategy to the workplace. The concept of gender-equitable restrooms isn't new, so why isn't it standard? Using quantitative data that we uncovered through research, we explore common barriers of cost, space use, code, and user comfort; discovering the sweet spot for restroom design that maximizes benefits to all users.

Return To Office has raised questions around how, when, and why we use space; data has answers. In this session, leaders across workplace design and building measurement will discuss ideal data sources for understanding how people use space –– i.e. what are the most reliable and accurate ways to understand objectively what employees need from workplaces today? They’ll reveal recent findings from nation-wide datasets on office use, and anecdotal insights from their work to shed light on shifting preferences among employees. Finally, they'll share how these patterns in use can impact guiding design philosophies within offices, and specific design elements. This presentation will give attendees a working playbook to consider as they evolve their own workplace to better reflect the needs and desires of employees.

The impact of building materials on human and environmental health has received increased attention, and hundreds of design firms have pledged to support healthier materials. Ensuring healthier material selections requires complex decisions and collaborations. Acknowledging this challenge, how can the industry adopt meaningful material health goals across all projects? How can we build on the work others are doing? Material health leaders from 3 firms will discuss how they are pushing for higher standards with innovative strategies for the implementation of healthier materials on projects such as material tracking and other solutions, to scale up quickly.

During this presentation, our presenters will help industry professionals fully understand and explore generative AI: what it is, isn’t, and its impact on the traditional design process. Attendees can expect to learn about the breadth of generative AI tools and how they empower and challenge creative industries to shed traditional roles and historical precedence and ultimately redefine what it means to be a designer/creator. Presenters will discuss real-world applications for generative AI as it relates to both process and product. On the flip side, we will discuss potential pitfalls, limitations, misconceptions, and pushback surrounding AI. We will address the elephant in the room: “Will it take our Jobs?”. And finally, we aim to discuss what’s next for AI in the architecture and design industry.

From bulky desktop computers, to slimmed-down laptops, to pocket-sized devices, the evolution of computing has continuously shifted the way we work and learn. Now, immersive experiences and the metaverse have entered the conversation. We are entering a new era of computing in which virtual experiences are more spatialized and braided with the physical world. So, how will immersive experiences and the metaverse impact the built environment? This session will share key drivers and tensions impacting future immersive experiences scenarios. Participants will learn how work and learning experiences are shifting and how to reimagine work and learning environments. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how physical space could evolve with the next phase of computing and to help inform their future choice making and strategies.

Floating atop an exposed rock ledge in Norwalk, CT sits HMTX Industries’ new 24,000-sq-ft World Headquarters – known as “The House Up On The Hill”. The building focuses on art, technology, and industry-leading solutions in flooring design, all while pursuing the Living Building Challenge (LBC). This session will provide a case study exploring the five-year journey to create this landmark testament to regenerative design: the vision for an expansive and inspirational space that integrates design, innovation, creativity, and community in a biophilic environment. It will explore the deft planning and complex project execution that brought the building to life petal by petal. The roadmap will demonstrate how applying the LBC can tangibly reflect corporate values while leading to a more ecologically conscious and regenerative future.

Fabrication is no longer a term isolated to technical innovators in the design and construction industries – it is a ubiquitous component of academia and rapidly gaining traction in contemporary practice. This session proposes where and how design practices acquire this knowledge base is neither standardized nor immediately accessible. Architecture and interior design have always been about the creative manipulation of data in fabricating the built environment. At this point in history, access to the design knowledge, technological acumen, and skilled services do not drive design innovation, they are necessities for professional survival. Drawing upon examples and voices and case studies from academia, practice, fabricators, this session delves into the opportunities open to design practice as it increasingly adopts a file to factory paradigm.

Learn how storytelling can innovate the design process and add value to any project. For an immersive user experience, custom features bring an artful and authentic sense of place. Collaborations with vendors and inhouse creativity offer infinite possibilities for design, often with cost benefits. Attendees will see examples of objects and artwork from a range of projects and how they engage to make spaces more memorable.

The workplace is experiencing a degree of change like we have never seen before. How do organizations, who are experiencing formalized, flexible working for the first time keep up, respond, and continue to support their employees and firm goals? Professional Services firms have typically required employees to be in the office five days a week and often rewarded employees with more square footage. This presentation will explore how this is shifting and how flexible working schedules can affect physical space. It will also discuss some ways to usher employees through this change and how the agile office can provide more resiliency to organizations while giving employees a place to connect at a time when many feel further apart.

There are many ways to approach the design of evolving education environments. The ultimate challenge lies in how new spaces will be adopted and leveraged to support student performance and wellbeing. While stakeholder buy-in is a significant factor in scaling more flexible, mobile settings, getting people to believe in the affordances of the built environment is a key gateway to opportunities for growth that support crafting high-quality learning experiences. This session will provide a checklist of considerations and prompts to address common barriers to change as educators reimagine their role and practice. It will also highlight best practices with internal thought leaders so that there is a clearly articulated set of design drivers to guide the design process and collaboratively navigate how spaces are zoned.

The goal of trauma-informed design is to create physical spaces that promote safety, well-being, and healing by incorporating the principles of trauma-informed care into design. The presentation will primarily address the significance of trauma-informed design, why it is important for wellness-focused built environments, how to participate in the process, as well as engage stakeholders in the design process. Speakers from the design and nonprofit sectors will discuss the significance of this underutilized phrase in the design industry, as well as its impact on end users. The audience will learn what it means to create purpose-built shelters and facilities that empower lives, as well as project budgeting and implementation, stakeholder integration, and the role of the design team throughout the process.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies are top of mind for many clients as they design and build new office space. Physical expressions of these strategies are necessary when designing for a more environmentally and socially conscious workforce, which differs from the standard business model of seeking profit no matter the cost. In today's post-pandemic ethos, both shareholders and employees want to see businesses take strides in making the world a better place. We advise our clients to be aware of their organization's corporate values and look for partnerships that strengthen them. These choices can make the well-being of employees throughout the workday a priority. Through a series of case studies, we will demonstrate how to tangibly express ESG and create a unique workplace experience.

As in many industries, diversity, equity and inclusion has been a major topic of discussion in architecture, design and construction. DEI experts Michael Bowman and Ron Baldwin are at the table, leading discussions in this industry on creating impactful DEI programs and initiatives; sharing their insight on strategies to build a more diverse, equitable and inclusive industry where people from all walks of life can reach their potential. Michael and Ronald plan to utilize their DEI experience to present and discuss a number of topical issues such as unconscious bias, aligning DEI goals with corporate mission, vision and values, capacity building for diverse business in design and construction arena, and creating best in class DEI programs on both the people and procurement areas of business.