Pinned - FMLink Thu, 19 Jun 2025 14:22:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 https://www.fmlink.com/content/uploads/2025/06/cropped-fmlink-favicon-32x32.png Pinned - FMLink 32 32 Best of NeoCon 2025 winners! HALCON’s ASTORIA conference and mobile communal tables win top honors among solutions lauded for design excellence https://www.fmlink.com/best-of-neocon-2025-winners-halcons-astoria-conference-and-mobile-communal-tables-win-top-honors-among-solutions-lauded-for-design-excellence/ Mon, 16 Jun 2025 14:25:31 +0000 https://www.fmlink.com/?post_type=product-service&p=49513 June 16, 2025 — The 35th annual Best of NeoCon Awards kicked off NeoCon 2025 with a high-energy ceremony at THE MART in Chicago, spotlighting the most forward-thinking products transforming the future of commercial...

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June 16, 2025 — The 35th annual Best of NeoCon Awards kicked off NeoCon 2025 with a high-energy ceremony at THE MART in Chicago, spotlighting the most forward-thinking products transforming the future of commercial interiors. A cornerstone of the commercial interiors show since 1990, the iconic Best of NeoCon program celebrates exceptional solutions spanning workplace, healthcare, education, retail and hospitality. This year, 96 awards were given to exhibitors for products across more than 40 categories, with honors awarded for Gold, Silver, Innovation, Sustainability and Business Impact. The program’s top distinction, Best of Competition, was awarded to HALCON for its ASTORIA collection of conference and mobile communal tables. People’s Choice Awards were presented June 10, giving the industry a voice in the awards.

The Best of Competition-winning ASTORIA collection by HALCON is tailored for the modern workplace and crafted to create elevated spaces for connection, conversation and community. Image courtesy of HALCON

A multidisciplinary jury of 42 architects, designers, specifiers, enterprise clients, and facility managers (FMs) — including leaders from Gensler, Corgan, CannonDesign, Marmon Mok, Shepley Bulfinch, Aflac and Walgreens — convened on-site at THE MART to evaluate submissions throughout the NeoCon show floors. An additional panel of eight business media professionals and two facility managers determined the Business Impact Awards. See the full jury list here.

The jurors were incredibly thoughtful and rigorous in their evaluations this year. The winning products aren’t just keeping pace with industry trends — they’re actively driving critical design movements, from circularity and neuro-inclusive thinking to the integration of AI and advanced material innovation. We saw manufacturers embrace empathy, rethink flexibility, and experiment with form and function, addressing the evolving ways people live, work, heal, learn and connect now.

Eileen McMorrow, director of Best of NeoCon

The Best of Competition-winning ASTORIA collection by HALCON is tailored for the modern workplace and crafted to create elevated spaces for connection, conversation and community. Jurors praised the well-appointed assortment for its exceptional design and everyday usability, highlighting its sculptural bases, refined materials and thoughtfully concealed rolling casters. With flexible configurations, integrated technology options, and meticulous attention to detail, ASTORIA offers a compelling solution for today’s dynamic environments.

“Elegance is the key word when it comes to ASTORIA. It makes the capabilities seem too good to be true. Here, you will not be sacrificing design for functionality,” notes the jury. The line was also recognized for Gold Awards in the Collections for Collaboration, Tables: Café, and Tables: Conference categories.

Shaw Contract earned an Innovation Award in Technology: Integrated Solutions for Inspiration Curator. Image courtesy of Shaw Contract.

Best of Competition finalists included Davis Furniture’s JeLa Guest, Extremis’s Panigiri, Isomi’s Knit One, and Keilhauer’s Unifi.

Other manufacturers, such as Arktura, DARRAN, Extremis, Formica Corporation, Keilhauer, Mizetto, Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering, Safco, and Shaw Contract earned Innovation Awards for products bringing bold new ideas to market through breakthrough technologies, novel features or reimagined approaches to familiar challenges.

Patcraft won a Sustainability Award in Technology: Integrated Solutions for Geometrix. Image courtesy of Patcraft

Products from Andreu World, HÅG, Haworth, Isomi, KFI Studios, Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering, Nienkämper, Patcraft, and The Good Plastic Company were recognized with Sustainability Awards, reflecting a strong commitment to environmental responsibility through the use of recyclable or biodegradable components, eco-conscious manufacturing practices, and alignment with industry certifications and standards.

Returning for the fourth year, the Business Impact Awards recognized design solutions driving organizational performance through smarter workflows, cost savings, space optimization, and other strategic outcomes. Judged by a panel of business journalists from Bloomberg, Newsweek, Vogue Business, Forbes and Morning Brew, among other notable publications — alongside seasoned facility managers from Northwestern Mutual and Aflac — the awards were based on first-hand product evaluations conducted on-site at THE MART, the largest privately held commercial building in the U.S. Each product was thoroughly vetted on criteria including adaptability, sustainability alignment, technology integration, productivity, wellness and user experience, and contribution to the bottom line.

Kwalu’s Ellie recliner + Sleeper Safco Collection garnered a Business Impact Award. Image courtesy of Kwalu

This year, 26 Business Impact Award finalists were selected, with 10 award recipients ultimately honored across categories ranging from furnishings and materials to architectural systems and integrated technologies. The Business Impact Winners for 2025 were:

Competition-wide, the most awarded companies were Andreu World (9), Keilhauer (6), Davis Furniture (4), Patcraft (4), and Schiavello (5) — each earning accolades across multiple product categories.

New for the 35th edition, Best of NeoCon has introduced the People’s Choice Awards, allowing the design community at large to weigh in on its favorite Best of NeoCon–winning products on-site and online. People’s Choice voting is open now through Tuesday, June 10, at 5:00 p.m. CDT, with the top five winners to be announced on Wednesday, June 11. Show attendees can vote by scanning QR codes on award-winning products throughout the building; others can vote online via the Winners Gallery.

Award highlights include:

The Best of NeoCon Awards remain a powerful snapshot of an industry in motion — where materials, systems, and furnishings are recognized in service of both people and the planet. View the full list of 2025 winners and the People’s Choice Award winners here, including images and more information about the products and designers.

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Armstrong’s Envelope platform continuously optimizes mechanical systems for significant cost and energy savings https://www.fmlink.com/armstrongs-envelope-platform-continuously-optimizes-mechanical-systems-for-significant-cost-and-energy-savings/ Fri, 13 Jun 2025 17:15:39 +0000 https://www.fmlink.com/?post_type=product-service&p=49428 June 13, 2025 — Armstrong Fluid Technology recently introduced a new integrated digital platform, named Envelope, that connects components in a mechanical system. Envelope unites Armstrong and partner solutions, delivering...

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June 13, 2025 — Armstrong Fluid Technology recently introduced a new integrated digital platform, named Envelope, that connects components in a mechanical system. Envelope unites Armstrong and partner solutions, delivering optimization through performance mapping, cutting-edge analytics and lifecycle services.

Light blue diagram with red lines showing connection of mechanical systems
Envelope digital platform unites Armstrong and partner solutions, delivering optimization through performance mapping, cutting-edge analytics and lifecycle services. Image courtesy of AFT

A core element of the Envelope platform is the ability to create detailed performance “profiles” of components in a system, and to leverage that knowledge for optimal sizing and modulation of output.

Commenting on the potential for the Envelope Platform, Pratik Sharma, Global Director, Building Services & Performance Management, stated:

The true power of the Envelope platform is in how it enables system optimization through performance coupling with partner products or solutions. Working within this platform, Armstrong, and digitally controlled solutions of all types, can connect and coordinate operations for improved performance and efficiency. Components that can be connected to the Envelope platform include chillers, cooling towers, boilers and heat pumps, made by a wide range of well-known industry manufacturers.

Learn more about the Envelope platform at Armstrong.

Armstrong Fluid Technology is a leading force in the shift toward digitalization and integration of fluid-flow systems. With advanced solutions that leverage edge computing, Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, digital twin technology and demand-based control, Armstrong provides and protects efficiency in building mechanical systems, approaching energy optimization as a whole-building challenge and advancing the practice of full lifecycle management. Focusing on HVAC, Plumbing, Gas Transmission and Fire Safety applications, the company provides energy-efficient, cost-effective solutions and performance management services to building and facility professionals around the world.

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2025 Coverings Installation & Design Awards recognize masterful tile and stone projects https://www.fmlink.com/2025-coverings-installation-design-awards-recognize-masterful-tile-and-stone-projects/ Mon, 19 May 2025 01:43:57 +0000 http://v4.fmlink.client.tagonline.com/2025-coverings-installation-design-awards-recognize-masterful-tile-and-stone-projects/ May 18, 2025 — Coverings, the preeminent event for the ceramic tile and natural stone industry in North America, has bestowed Coverings Installation & Design (CID) Awards to 22 exceptional...

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May 18, 2025 — Coverings, the preeminent event for the ceramic tile and natural stone industry in North America, has bestowed Coverings Installation & Design (CID) Awards to 22 exceptional tile and stone projects that deliver distinction in creativity, craftsmanship and outstanding use of materials for tile and stone applications.

The annual CID Awards program offers designers, architects, builders, installers, contractors and other industry professionals a prime opportunity to showcase and be celebrated for their masterful design work and superior installation skills. The 2025 award recipients were honored at the CID Awards Reception and Ceremony, held April 30 in the Galvanize Lounge at Coverings 2025 in Orlando, Florida.

This year’s winners were recognized for their exemplary achievements in the design and installation of tile and stone across residential, institutional and commercial projects. Projects were judged by a panel of editors and industry leaders who evaluated the project submissions based on 10 categorical designations: Artistic Design, Artistic Installation, Commercial Ceramic Tile Design, Commercial Ceramic Tile Installation, Commercial Stone Design, Commercial Stone Installation, Residential Ceramic Tile Design, Residential Ceramic Tile Installation, Residential Stone Design and Residential Stone Installation.

2025 project entries receiving special recognition were selected across the following eight award categories: Commercial Ceramic Tile Design, Commercial Ceramic Tile Pool Design, Commercial Stone Installation, International, Residential Ceramic Tile Design, Residential Ceramic Tile Installation, Residential Stone Design and Residential Tile Pool Design.

2025 CID Award Winners – Design and Installation:

Watsonville Brillante. Image courtesy of Coverings

Artistic Design
Watsonville Brillante
Community Arts & Empowerment with support from LATICRETE
Watsonville, CA

Artistic Installation
Wavetronix Glass Murals
Unique Mosaics LLC
Springville, UT

Commercial Ceramic Tile Design
Johnson Lexus ArtWork and Craftsmanship
MVE+ Partners Inc.
Durham, NC

Charleston Place Hotel. Image courtesy of Coverings

Commercial Ceramic Tile Installation
Johnson Lexus ArtWork and Craftsmanship
Art Tile of NC
Durham, NC

Commercial Ceramic Tile Installation
Wind Creek Casino Chicago Southland
Bourbon Tile & Marble
Chicago, IL

Commercial Stone Design
Charleston Place Hotel
Sunray Flooring Company
Charleston, S.C.

Commercial Stone Installation
Tre Dita Restaurant
Bourbon Tile & Marble
Chicago, IL

Residential Ceramic Tile Design
Clarkston Primary Bathroom
Armina Interiors
Clarkston, MI

Residential Ceramic Tile Installation
A Sophisticated Spa
DW Sanders Tile & Stone Contracting
Atlanta, GA

Residential Stone Design
Ebony Acres
Rob Bowen Design
Safety Harbor, FL

Residential Stone Installation
Private Residence – Central Florida
Stone Tile Group
Orlando, FL

2025 CID Award Winners – Special Recognitions: 

Tre Dita Restaurant project installation process. Image courtesy of Coverings

Special Recognition: Commercial Ceramic Tile Design
Tikka Charcoal Grill
Olbos Studio
Hicksville, NY

Special Recognition: Commercial Ceramic Tile Pool Design
Thompson Hotel Custom Pool
Nuovocorso SpA
Houston, TX

Special Recognition: Commercial Stone Installation
St John’s Catholic Chapel Champaign, Illinois
Daprato Rigali Studios
Champaign, IL

Special Recognition: Commercial Stone Installation
Taylorsville, Utah Temple
KEPCO+
Taylorsville, UT

Special Recognition: International
Flow House
Dubbeldam Architecture + Design
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

St. John’s Catholic Chapel Champaign, Illinois. Image courtesy of Coverings

Special Recognition: International
National Children’s Museum of South Korea
Office Ou and Junglim Architecture
Sejong, Republic of Korea

Special Recognition: International
Resonance Pattern Series
SCG Decor Public Company Limited
Phuket, Thailand

Special Recognition: Residential Ceramic Tile Design
TUR APARTMENTS
OOIIO ARQUITECTURA
Carabanchel, Madrid, Spain

Special Recognition: Residential Ceramic Tile Installation
Hill Country Glamour
GB IV Designs
Dripping Springs, TX

Special Recognition: Residential Ceramic Tile Installation
Hofer Relaxation Area
Tile Creations LLC
Huron, SD

Special Recognition: Residential Stone Design
CRYSTAL COVE
CANTERA INC.
Newport Coast, CA

Special Recognition: Residential Tile Pool Design
Frank Lloyd done Wright
Mosaicist, Inc
Arlington, TX

The judging panel for the 2025 CID Awards included: Andrea Lillo, Designers Today; Bart Bettiga, National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA); Catherine Hoy, Frank Advertising, representing Tile of Spain; Chris Abbate, Novità Communications, representing Ceramics of Italy; Eric Astrachan, Tile Council of North America (TCNA); Jennifer Richinelli, Stone World and Stone & Tile Insider; Kathy Meyer, Tile Council of North America (TCNA); Laura Rote, Green Building & Design; Nyle Wadford, Neuse Tile; Rocamador Rubio, Trade Commission of Spain, representing Tile of Spain; Sara White, Novità Communications, representing Ceramics of Italy; and Scott Carothers, Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF).

The 2025 CID Awards are sponsored by Stone World, Stone & Tile Insider and TileLetter.

To learn more about the Coverings Installation & Design (CID) Awards, please visit Coverings CID Awards. For more information and to register for Coverings 2025, visit: Coverings.

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IFMA urges Congress to preserve Energy Star and other critical building sector programs https://www.fmlink.com/ifma-urges-congress-to-preserve-energy-star-and-other-critical-building-sector-programs/ Fri, 16 May 2025 10:55:40 +0000 http://v4.fmlink.client.tagonline.com/ifma-urges-congress-to-preserve-energy-star-and-other-critical-building-sector-programs/ May 18, 2025 — In response to reports that the Trump Administration is considering terminating the Energy Star program, the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) strongly urges the U.S. Congress...

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IFMA logo Dec 2021

May 18, 2025 — In response to reports that the Trump Administration is considering terminating the Energy Star program, the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) strongly urges the U.S. Congress to support the continuation of Energy Star and other essential programs that serve the building sector.

For decades, IFMA has recognized and championed the business case for energy efficiency — highlighting its role in enhancing U.S. economic competitiveness, reducing environmental waste and strengthening national security.

Consumers and businesses alike rely on Energy Star ratings when making informed decisions about appliances and equipment. Eliminating this publicly funded resource without consulting the industries and individuals who depend on it is shortsighted and irresponsible.

Dean Stanberry, immediate past chair of IFMA

Facility managers face the realities of energy management every day. Commercial buildings are among the largest consumers of electricity in the United States, making them key targets for energy-saving opportunities. Facility managers not only reduce operational costs through energy-efficient strategies but also educate building occupants on best practices and emerging technologies.

Energy Star is not just for U.S. households — it’s a global benchmark with far-reaching influence across commercial facilities of every type. From HVAC systems to lighting, life safety equipment and manufacturing tools, Energy Star provides independent, trusted confirmation of quality and efficiency. Facility managers, building owners and employers depend on this program to maintain healthy, sustainable workplaces that support core business functions.

Michael V. Geary, CAE, President & CEO of IFMA

IFMA says it remains committed to collaborating with policymakers and industry stakeholders worldwide to promote efficiency, innovation and sustainability in the built environment.

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