Preview: NeoCon East Bows in Baltimore October 28

Highlights of conference include "The New Day for Government Design," a panel discussion moderated by IA Interior Architects principal Kay Sargent, and the IIDA Principals' Roundtable moderated by Interior Design publisher, Mark Strauss.

Nicholas Tamarin -- Interior Design, 10/23/2009 12:00:00 AM

Crab cakes, Orioles, Edgar Allen Poe. Baltimore's many pleasures are well known—and about to increase now that NeoCon East is set to descend upon the Baltimore Convention Center from October 28-29.

Cosponsored by Interior Design, the seventh annual Mid-Atlantic design exposition for commercial interiors with a focus on the federal government is expected to bring in nearly 10,000 industry professionals who are responsible for repairing, retrofitting, and greening city, county, state, and federal buildings.

Highlights of the 250-exhibitor conference include "The New Day for Government Design", a panel discussion on the changes the industry can expect due to the stimulus bill, moderated by IA Interior Architects principal Kay Sargent, and the IIDA Principals' Roundtable moderated by Interior Design publisher, Mark Strauss.

 
At this year's NeoCon East, Allermuir introduces Pause, the perfect place to go when not at a desk or in traditional meeting environments. Haworth, Inc. introduces Compose Desking/Benching Enhancements

Over 40 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) seminars covering 14 educational tracts will be available to show attendees, including career development, facilities managements, green design, government services administration, health care, office design, hospitality, institutional, residential, and lighting.

A slew of special events are also scheduled for the weekend, including the State of the Design Professional Discussion presented by the Design Leadership Forum of D.C., the "Dream Team" Design Excellence Awards Ceremony, Show Floor Booth Parties—an end-of-the-day celebration featuring appetizers and cocktails on the show floor. Pecha Kucha Night, the conference's kick-off event, will feature participants presenting slideshows of 20 images shown for 20 seconds to reveal their work and inspirations.

Duff Goldman, the chef and baker behind the Food Network reality show Ace of Cakes, will deliver the conference's keynote, "The Icing on the Cake", and highlight the parallels between the A&D industry and his creations, which require him to create a design concept, adapt to client needs, and think on his feet.


On the shoe floor, DIRTT Environmental Solutions introduces Write Away, a film that turns any wall section into a dry-erase marker board.

Images courtesy of Merchandise Mart Properties.