Debuting from November 6 to 7 in Baltimore, MD, the 2003 NeoCon East event will bring together interior designers, architects and facilities professionals specializing in commercial and government environments to set the pace for the contract industry throughout the East Coast region. In today's competitive marketplace, it is essential to uphold the mantra "good design is good business." NeoCon East celebrates this endeavor and the visionary design professionals who help to create the spectacular skylines and interiors around the region. Good design and the people, products and resources available to create it will take center stage at NeoCon East.

An increasingly necessary ingredient found in the contemporary formula for good design is the introduction of products designed with the environment in mind—"green" products that assist in maintaining a healthy planet. In recognition of the growing trend among architects and designers to incorporate sustainable design and building products into today's projects, NeoCon East presents the GREENlife™ Pavilion, a showcase of manufacturers that recognize the importance of sustainable design through both the product design and manufacturing processes (see sidebar). HOK, one of the largest design and architectural firms in the United States, supports this endeavor and a project team from its Washington, DC, office will design a unique GREENlife area as a model for integrating sustainable design with creative project solutions. The pavilion is being sponsored by Interiors & Sources magazine.

In addition, NeoCon East's education curriculum will include CEU-accredited sessions exploring sustainable design initiatives. Seminars on Thursday, November 6, include: "Respect for the Future" by David Oakey, founder, David Oakey Designs; and "GSA Can Make You Green" by Sandy Jones, environmental coordinator, GSA's Public Buildings Service. On Friday, November 7, choose from these sessions: "Roadmap to High-Performance Buildings" by Drury Crawley, manager of the High Performance Buildings Research Initiative for the U.S. Department of Energy; "Greener Office Space Does Make a Difference—How You Can Build and Manage Green," also by Sandy Jones; and the "Green Design Forum: Accessing Your Local Green Network," a panel discussion moderated by Jim Hartzfeld, vice president of sustainable strategy at Interface and chairman of the board of the U.S. Green Building Council.

For more information about NeoCon East, visit www.merchandisemart.com or call (800) 677-6278.