Come Along With Us: NeoCon 2013 and DIRTT Chicago 2013
June 17, 2013
Comfy shoes are not required for reading today’s NeoCon post; simply sit back and enjoy as we dive into recapping the fabulous debuts and finds at NeoCon 2013.
Let’s begin with the most exciting news and that is with Herman Miller receiving high honors in 5 categories. Running through the list we begin with the award for Showroom and Booth Design and Herman Miller captured both of the Best of Competition and Large Showroom Winner! Below are the other high achievements received:
Awards for Herman Miller
Entering the Herman Miller showroom at this year’s NeoCon had a buzz of energy around something very new. Researched and developed over the course of the last 4 years, Herman Miller captured the attention of many with the launch of the Living Office concept. An excerpt from Brian Walker, CEO of Herman Miller, explains that the “Living Office is a wonderful, multi-dimensional response to all the changes we see happening around us. I’m deeply excited about it because it reaffirms one of our fundamental values – people are at the center of everything we do.”
Living Office helps people customize their methods, tools, and places of work to express and enable shared character and purpose. It is based on what is fundamental to all humans and evolves continuously in response to change. It is a more natural and desirable workplace that fosters greater connection, creativity, productivity, and ultimately, greater prosperity for all.
An Engine of Prosperity: In the new landscape of work, a dynamic equilibrium of shared passion and profit delivers greater performance and value for both individuals and organizations. Living Office generates this mutually reinforcing engine of prosperity.
Expect to see more in the future on this workplace transformation from Herman Miller!
Up next is a look at DIRTT Environmental Solutions and how they wowed visitors at DIRTT Chicago 2013 with a look from all angles in healthcare, residential, education, and technology. Here’s a clip from their website in how DIRTT describes what they do:
“At DIRTT we don’t make products, we build projects. While our components are best in class, it is the way you use them that makes them special. You tailor them to your needs and they are built quickly in a protected, clean factory ready for installing in your space.”
At Intereum, our Green Learning Center is full of ideas on how to create and define your own space. So if you weren’t able to attend Chicago this year and explore offerings from DIRTT (or from any manufacturer for that reason!), please stop in to Intereum and we’ll show you around.
Save the Date: Summer is Coming
May 24, 2013
Memorial Weekend is here and that unofficially marks the start of summer! Taking this opportunity to welcome warmer weather also gives us a chance to share some very fun and important calendar dates for the months ahead.
The most talked about event in the industry, NeoCon, will be underway in Chicago from June 8 – 12. Herman Miller is making their exciting debut of the Mirra 2 chair and the new Living Office. If you don’t plan to attend – no worries – we will have a full recap to follow.
![photo[4]](http://intereum.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/photo4.jpg?w=288&h=384)
Reverting back to MN for the next event in June is the MNCAR “10th Ever” Golf Tournament (bring back memories?). The tournament will be held at The Legends Golf Course on Tuesday, June 25th with the tee-off scheduled for 11:30. An Intereum crew will be there so be sure to visit with us at hole #16!
For those that are involved more on the healthcare side of work (whether as a designer, architect, facilities manager, student, etc), we want to invite you to our Healthcare CEU featuring Planetree’s story of healing environments that are centered on patient care. This is also on Tuesday, June 25th, beginning at 4:00 here at Intereum. Light appetizers and refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to Jen Zeller if you’re interested in attending: JZeller@intereum.com
July will be sprinkled with various outings and events so be sure to follow our Facebook and Twitter accounts to see what summer happenings we’ll be up to.
August will get a running start with MinneCon on Thursday, August 1st at the Depot. Intereum will be exhibiting alongside Herman Miller for the day. There will be a great CEU from Herman Miller presented by Betty Hase on the topic of “Context for Creativity“. Betty will explore how the physical environment can facilitate or inhibit behaviors linked to creative function and innovation. Also at MinneCon is the all-day event for students called Pique. This provides students with invaluable insight into the world of commercial design.
The lineup for September and the following months will be chalk-full of great events, too. But for now, enjoy the long weekend as we remember and honor those who have served our country.
Herman Miller: Covered In Good Design
May 3, 2013
Last Wednesday Herman Miller Inc. made an exciting announcement that they acquired the designer textile company, Maharam Fabric Corp. Since 1902, Maharam has created interior textiles for commercial, healthcare, and residential interiors when founded by Russian immigrant Louis Maharam. Four generations later, brothers Michael and Stephen Maharam are the company’s CEO and COO and optimistically speak of the new relationship with Herman Miller.
Michael Maharam stated,”Much as we’ve struggled with this decision, our philosophical kinship with Herman Miller helped make this difficult step a far easier one. Beyond our shared objectives in design leadership, we consider Herman Miller to be an esteemed organization intent on doing well by its staff, clientele and the community. We believe they have the complementary intellect and resources to ensure Maharam a bright future while valuing our spirit and ways, and permitting the continued evolution of our unique approach. Herman Miller’s potential to provide the wherewithal to pursue important new initiatives, as well as an established reach into both retail and international markets and the greatest possible strength of association, offers a powerful lever in achieving our design-centered strategic vision.”
Circles Fabric by Charles and Ray Eames
Herman Miller’s CEO, Brian Walker, is also excited about the acquisition and stated, “The combination of Herman Miller and Maharam is a natural and complementary union anchored in our shared values and built on years of business cooperation and personal friendship. Our respective and combined operational strengths and resources provide immediate, mutual strategic leverage.”
Dot Fabric by Charles and Ray Eames
The synergy between the furniture company and textile company is a natural one that will enable the two to thrive as one. We’re thrilled for them both with this exciting opportunity. Here is to many years of creativity and success!
Friday Fun Day!
April 5, 2013
Well done, we all made it another week! Let’s take some time from our regular routine and kick back while enjoying some fun and lighthearted throwback commercials from Herman Miller.
Simple, But Not Too Simple
March 22, 2013
The family of Setu chairs, designed for Herman Miller by Berlin-based Studio 7.5, has expanded into a full-line of seating and table options for working, meeting and relaxing. Crafted with a keen understanding that technology has changed how we work, where we work, and how we move about throughout the day, Studio 7.5 created a furniture solution that also can work anywhere, everywhere, and for any one.
Effortless enjoyment. Photo courtesy of Hermanmiller.com
The most beautiful part about Setu seating isn’t the visual decadence that transcends, but the simplicity. The instruction manual simply reads, “Sit down.” You have nothing to think about. Taking the same approach with the line of Setu tables, you are now free to carry on comfortably while working, meeting, and lounging in an effortless, enjoyable manner.
Story Behind the Design
Hear the design team’s concept for producing the Setu and the strategy behind the instant comfort, minimalist design, innovative materials, and now a family of options.
Good to Know: Innovation and Design of Setu
- Kinematic Spine bends and flexes with every move (nothing to tilt or tweak)
- Elastomeric fabric provides superior suspension and comfort while conforming to the body’s contours
- Multipurpose chair is 93 percent recyclable/45 percent recycled content
- Lounge chair and work stool are 90 percent recyclable/51 percent recycled content
- No PVS and MBDC Cradle-to-Cradle Silver, GREENGUARD, and level 2 certified
- Warranty: 12 year, 3 shift
Intereum’s large meeting space. Photo taken by Brandon Stengel of Farm Kids Studio, Minneapolis, MN.
One walk through our showroom and you’ll see the variety of ways we have used Setu, clearly making it a dynamic option for all types of workers in any space.
Another One for the Shelf
January 18, 2013
2012 was a year of many great accomplishments for Intereum.
As shown in the above image, company information for each year is collected and hung on banners along a stretch of hallway to demonstrate our active recognition for what the year accomplished. This is all part of the “going from good to great” foundation our company values are built around.
Amid the personal accomplishments and top honors for our company that we are truly proud of, comes an even more special recognition that takes a company-wide and team effort to achieve. We’re talking about the Herman Miller Market Share Award.
Taa-daa!
Our collection of 7 Market Share awards acknowledges that our dealership shows the great efforts we have made over the years to be a reputable resource for office furniture and services to those in the Minneapolis and surrounding areas. And, out of 51 Herman Miller certified dealerships, we have consistently placed within the top 10 year after year. For the 2012 award, we were placed as the 5th highest market share dealer in the country!
We would like to thank all of our team members who have worked so hard to make this possible and you, our customers, for turning to Intereum (when it has to work).
We*Care 2012
December 13, 2012
Intereum participated in the 16th annual We*Care event hosted at the Boys and Girls Club in North Minneapolis. This volunteering tradition has become a favorite amongst many around the office and the design community. There was a wonderful turnout of kids who packed the gym! Kids were able to get their picture taken with Santa Claus (all the while making sure they’re on his “good” list), craft Christmas presents for friends and family, take home gifts of cozy hats, mittens and gloves, play and chase around Goldie and TC, and end the evening with some delicious pizza.
This was Intereum’s third year of reaching out to the children in North Minneapolis through the We*Care event, but the BGC has been around for decades touching the family and community in that neighborhood every day. In fact, two of our Intereum employees grew up in North Minneapolis and spent many of their childhood days at the BGC.
Meet Randy (or Santa!), an essential employee who specializes as our Estimator and has worked at Intereum for 11 years. Randy has fond memories of the club because it was a place for him and his friends to go to stay busy, have fun, and stay out of trouble. The Boys and Girls Club was a place that he could always count on for having a snack after school and even dinner. He learned how to play hockey, basketball, and how to box and swim. He later went on and won the Minneapolis Golden Gloves Championship! He formed great relationships with the volunteers, coaches, and policeman at the center and still remembers words spoken from his hockey coach who said, “Don’t settle for less. Don’t settle for less in the rink or outside of the rink.” Those words, the people, and the BGC helped him become the person he is today: A person that gives back to the community and children through his coaching talents of football, wrestling and love for sports.
We are also fortunate enough to have the talented shop skills of Jack, another BGC Alumni. Jack became a member of the Boys and Girls Club the day he turned seven. He remembers this day proudly as his older brothers (BEING older brothers) teased him that he wasn’t old enough to become a member. So when his seventh birthday came along, he marched down to the center and bought his pass and showed it off to his siblings. Jack knew just the sort of things he was interested in at the club. It’s not to say that he didn’t like the game room or the gym but it was the workshop where Jack’s true colors came out! From the age of seven to this day, Jack has known his way around a workshop extremely well. In his early age, he was making boats, cars, and the like. And just as he had a love for tools and building objects, he had a natural curiosity for blowing up his works of art. Safe to say that it was never a big deal because he could always make a new one!
Without the BGC it is possible that both Randy and Jack would not have had the opportunities to explore such a wide range of activities that later became the obsessions, then passions, and now lives. The Boys and Girls Club was an asset for the two and is invaluable to the children today, to the community, and to the city. We are thankful for the opportunities they provide for kids of all ages and ethnics. We are proud to join with them and help their community of children.
Time to cast your vote for the Best Designed chair! Voting is available online at Intereum’s Facebook page from November 6th to December 7th! The first place winner will receive an Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman. Second place winner will receive the Nelson Bench. And those coming in 3rd through 5th will each receive an Eames Walnut Stool. View the pictures of each chair on Facebook.
How to vote on our Facebook page:
After clicking on our Facebook page, find the Good Design Challenge App. This will pull up each chair identified by a number and simply click on the Vote button. Don’t forget to spread the word. Thank you and good luck to our participants!
Eames Wire Base Low Table
November 2, 2012
Production and technology rapidly changed after WWII. Materials used in production were also part of this new way of life and Ray and Charles Eames excitingly began to play with these elements. From plywood to plastic, their goal was to make an end product that was not only a beautiful piece of art, but a piece that could be mass-produced and used by all. It wasn’t long until the Eames started experimenting with wire rods in their designs. Through this material the Eames Wire Base Low Table was born.
It is said that leftover plywood from the Elliptical Table was used for the top. Stack one on top of the other or scatter it around a room to be used as an end table and it will be sure to bring style into your room. To celebrate Ray Eames’ 100th Birthday this year, Herman Miller is offering these fun pieces in Ray’s favorite bright pops of color! Now in red-orange, cobalt blue, and yellow-gold these little beauts are only being offered until March 31, 2013 while supplies last!
Image from Hermanmiller.com
Extend the craftsmanship and beautiful design of this piece by using it outdoors. Now available in a stunning stone top, you can use this durable piece on your patio, by the pool, in an entryway, and more. Leave it to Ray and Charles to make a piece of furniture that is ever so beautiful and practical!
Eames Wire Base Table from Hermanmiller.com
Sneak Peek of Changes Coming
May 29, 2012
Intereum is excited to introduce changes that are coming to our showroom. Here’s a glimpse behind the scenes of the new Herman Miller Canvas workstations we’ll be working in.
Herman Miller Canvas Office Landscape 120 Degree
The current buzz indicates work environments are starting to mirror and reflect company cultures and performance (click here to read or listen to MPR’s latest look into the modern office). The Herman Miller Canvas systems furniture offers structure, surface, surround, storage and support for individuals or collective teams. While raising the performance level of our workstations and work environments, we’re creating an energizing workspace, sure to ignite even better ways to work.
Herman Miller Canvas Beam
The new office of today isn’t about being tethered down; it’s about connectivity, transparency, collaboration, technology, and doing it all by occupying less space, using less paper, and physical presence.
Herman Miller Canvas
Canvas gives you choice: Flexible, beautiful, and scalable. Depending on the worker style, Canvas solutions vary from private workstations to open, public collaborative settings.
Herman Miller Canvas
Herman Miller certainly understands the changing work environments and so do we. At Intereum, we’ve always been about providing better ways to work; for you, for us, for customers. Stop in to see the complete transformation at our Plymouth office this summer. We promise you’ll be inspired!
AT INTEREUM.COM
ON FACEBOOK
ON TWITTER
