A year-round destination for the commercial interiors industry, The Mart in Chicago has three full floors of year-round showroom tenants and is the host of NeoCon, the premier contract design exposition and conference. The newly redesigned 7th Floor Exhibit Hall showcases the best products and services by category, all on one floor. NeoCon runs from June 13-15 this year; A+A recently interviewed Julie Kohl, vice president- exhibitor sales at NeoCon Showsthe about the 7th Floor:
What’s the 7th floor all about?
The 7th Floor Exhibit Hall is a dedicated space for companies to set up shop just during NeoCon show dates. This year, from June 13-15, the 7th Floor Exhibit Hall, which has been recently redesigned, will play host to nearly 300 brands. It showcases the best products and services by category, all on one floor.
Themes?
NeoCon 2016’s theme is “Design That Works.” With its smart categories & efficient layout, the 7th floor is a ready-to-spec resource for design that is emblematic of this theme, offering solutions characterized by superior functionality and performance.
Intent?
The intent was to create a highly focused 7th floor with the best of the best in product offerings from Interior Building Products, Finishes and Furniture, Technology and Flooring. The exhibit hall’s floor plan respects the tactical way that the A&D community specifies products. It allows them to connect with product categories they work with every day in a more efficient way.
Who’s represented? What kinds of designs?
Feature areas include: Interior Building Products/Materials & Finishes, Furniture & Fabrics, Flooring, and Technology. From innovative, noise-reducing textiles, to space planning technology, the 7th Floor Exhibit Hall will have solutions for nearly any interior commercial space.
Inspiration?
We were inspired to create special areas as we understand product divisions are crucial for thoughtful design. The layout mirrors the way that interior designers and architects work every day.
Target Market?
Architects and designers, facility managers, real estate professionals, end users, and distributors.
The challenges of putting it all together?Getting the right mix of products organized in an easy to navigate layout across 200,000 SF of exhibit space can of course be a challenge! Our team dedicates a year to the planning, so thankfully we have enough time to get the details right.
How does it fit into and relate to NeoCon overall?
The NeoCon brand has been offering product solutions to the architecture and design community for nearly 50 years and it has been the continued goal, year after year, to engage cutting-edge solution providers. When you add our 7th Floor Exhibit Hall to the equation, which features a rich, all-encompassing selection of cutting-edge products, it’s easy to understand why NeoCon has become the must-attend event for the industry.
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