Step Inside

Located in Fulton East, 215 N. Peoria, Chicago, Illinois, Tarkett’s 10,000 square-foot showroom welcomes customers and industry influencers with gorgeous displays featuring new and long-favorite flooring product collections, designed for collaborative and productive workspaces.

The Fulton Market District has transformed into a notable design destination; and the showroom is no exception. In addition to showcasing Tarkett’s latest product collections, the showroom serves as a daily workspace for local employees, as well as a gathering space for client meetings and events. Visitors will find large conference rooms, private offices, open collaboration areas, and a full kitchen—all surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows to bring in plenty of natural light. Here, clients can access Tarkett’s entire library of product solutions, making it an ideal place to gather inspiration for current projects.

They can also enjoy a cozy balcony and expansive rooftop that offers 360-degree views of the Chicago skyline.

Design Days

From June 9–11, 2025, Tarkett is joining leading commercial interior brands in hosting the fourth-annual Fulton Market Design Days. The theme for this year’s showroom is “What resonates with you?” promoting the launch of Tarkett’s latest carpet tile collection: Resonant Spaces.

The collection celebrates the notion that we are influenced by the profound and resounding energies that surround us. And something magical happens when a space resonates with you—an invisible flow of energy, a positive feeling, a harmonious rhythm that draws you in and connects you to your surroundings.

Throughout the showroom, Tarkett demonstrates how good interior design—particularly with flooring and floor accessories—sparks creativity, flows effortlessly, and inspires constantly.

“Well-designed spaces have the power to provide comfort and sanctuary,” says Omoleye Simmons, vice president of design at Tarkett. She continues,

We instinctively expect the spaces we spend time in to resonate with us in some way to provide that level of comfort. As we connect with the energy of the spaces around us, we are inspired to contemplate the unseen beauty that exists beneath the surface of our daily lives. This allows us to be our true selves to engage and enjoy that space.

“The Resonant Spaces collection of carpet tile merges art, science, and design to create workplaces that invite exploration and appreciation of those unseen energies, evoking a sense of depth and intrigue.”

Ultimately, the collection provides the flexibility to create comfortable, collaborative workplaces that infuse employees and occupants with confidence and a sense of trust. Inspired by the invisible threads that tie together people, space, and energy, Resonant Spaces provides the foundation for comfortable interiors that support heightened creativity, deepened focus and lifted spirits. The collection features three harmonious patterns in nine soothing colorways—all available on Tarkett’s fully circular ethos^® carpet tile backing.

Made with up to 79% recycled content, ethos is a sustainable solution for high-traffic spaces where ease of installation and healthy materials are a must. It is non-PVC and Cradle to Cradle Certified^® Silver. The backing can truly contribute to the circular economy by being fully recycled back into itself through Tarkett’s ReStart^® take-back and recycling program.

Styles are also available in Flex-Aire cushion carpet tile.

Three must-see products

In addition to this year’s featured collection, Tarkett is also showcasing a full portfolio of flooring and accessories—the Tarkett Solution SPECtrum—further demonstrating an ability to meet the needs of every type of space. Highlights include:

• The 2025 Johnsonite^® Colors of the Year is a vibrant celebration of nature’s living language, available on all Johnsonite products, including wall base, rubber tile, stairwell management solutions, and finishing accessories. Inspired by the brilliant hues found in flora, fauna, and bioluminescent beings, these six colors are a testament to how the natural world communicates, attracts, and builds community. Each shade embodies the beauty and purpose of nature’s most remarkable designs, inviting us to speak boldly and live harmoniously in spaces that feel vibrant and alive.
• The High Frequency carpet collection, available in three styles, reverberates with positive energy and creativity. Ideal for exuberant interiors, the collection is available in carpet tile and durable Powerbond^® hybrid carpet. Powerbond RS is the world’s first soft surface flooring Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly^®.
• The Color + Light collection of luxury vinyl tile is inspired by the interplay of color and light to enhance spaces and offer a glimmer of joy. Made on Tarkett’s Contour® platform that features a 32-mil wear layer and Techtonic protection, Color + Light delivers unmatched durability—while unleashing imaginations to create perfectly crafted environments from the ground up.​

Design Day events at the Tarkett showroom

During Design Days, the Tarkett showroom will be open June 9–11, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. There visitors can learn more about the company’s flooring solutions. Additionally, Tarkett will be hosting several events and speaker sessions, including:

• Monday–Wednesday, June 9–11, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., The Tarkett^®Lab

Happening during showroom hours, this is an interactive, hands-on experience where creativity takes center stage.

• Monday, June 9 , 2–3 p.m., The Future Is Circular: Advancing Innovation Through Collaboration

Join leading industry experts for a dynamic panel discussion on how innovation, partnership, and bold thinking are accelerating progress toward a circular economy. Speakers: Ren DeCherney, Director-Built Environment, Cradle to Cradle; Benjamin Holsinger, Director of Sustainability, Gensler; Cameron St. Dennis, Strategic Recycling Manager, Tarkett Sports.

• Monday, June 9, 3:30–6:30 p.m., Rooftop cocktail reception

Raise your glass, collaborate with industry leaders and influencers, and enjoy 360° city views.

• Tuesday, June 10, 10–11 a.m., Aging Well in a Purpose-Built Environment CEU

Develop by Tarkett, this course examines environmental design interventions that support cognitive health, visual acuity, and physical safety. This session offers a 1 HSW LU (Health, Safety and Welfare Learning Unit) continuing education credit for IDCEC, AIA, and EDAC. Speaker:  Sandra Soraci, EDAC, LEED AP, NCIDQ Director, Healthcare and Senior Living Segment Strategy.

• Tuesday, June 10, noon–1 p.m., Neurodiversity in the Workplace

Businesses and organizations have a greater awareness about individuals with neuro-sensitive and special needs, such as ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. But to make workplaces more inclusive, we need to embrace design principles that accommodate various personality traits, work styles, and neurotypes. This panel discussion will share research findings, case studies, and other insights on how we can design with neuroinclusion and special needs, such as ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. Speakers: Kay Sargent, Senior Principal | Director of Thought Leadership, Interiors, HOK, Kristi Gaines, Ph. D., IIDA, IDEC | Graduate School Associate Dean, Texas Tech University and Althea Kearney | Operations VP, 2 Hour Learning

• Tuesday, June 10, 2–3 p.m., Spaces of Connection 2.0

For the 2024 Healthy Building Summit, more than 40 experts from around the industry gathered to discuss how space is intentionally designed to enhance human connection. The attendees included designers, architects, end users, researchers, building science, and manufacturers. This panel discussion will share priorities and approaches to creating spaces of connection—and, more important, how to measure the impact of our decisions. Speakers: Jonathan Stanley, Tarkett (facilitator); Rex Miller, Mindshift; Kati Peditto, PhD, DLR Group; Raechel French, Austin Independent School District.

• Tuesday, June 10, 1:30–2 p.m., ICON Educations Learning By Design Awards

This is a celebrate of the most influential people impacting educational spaces. The ICON in Education Design Awards recognize educators, administrators, architects, interior designers, and industry consultants—all change agents who go beyond the norm to innovate learning environments. Meet the 2024 and 2024 winners.

Want to Join Us During Design Days?

Go Beyond the Showroom

New Products | Find a Rep | Order Samples | Life Cycle Cost Analysis Tool

The post Come Inside Tarkett’s Fulton Market Showroom appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

Meet the Team:

Why does King Living choose to do all its internal design in-house?

At King Living, we believe that no one knows the brand better than our own people. Designing in-house ensures that our creative vision remains pure and uncompromised, staying true to the essence of our brand. This approach also allows us to be highly agile, making adjustments and tailoring designs to suit specific regions, including Chicago and Costa Mesa.

By maintaining control of the design process, we can deliver a cohesive and authentic brand experience across all markets.

How do you ensure your creative design concepts appeal to a US audience?

The US market is incredibly diverse, with consumer preferences varying significantly from state to state. To address this, we take a hyper-localised approach, ensuring our showroom designs resonate with the unique demographics and tastes of each area. While all our showrooms share a consistent brand DNA that reflects King Living’s identity, we introduce subtle adaptations for each region. Whether it’s in Sydney, London, Singapore, or the newly opened showrooms in Chicago and Costa Mesa, our designs consider factors such as the showroom location—whether in a mall or a freestanding site—and the local lifestyle preferences, creating a tailored yet cohesive experience.

King Living has such a strong sustainability legacy with its products. Are there any specific sustainability standards incorporated in the showroom buildouts?

Sustainability is at the heart of everything King Living does, and our showroom buildouts are no exception. We design our fit-outs with minimal impact, adhering to a streamlined aesthetic that reduces material usage. Additionally, we collaborate closely with local governments and landlords to meet environmental requirements and ensure sustainable practices are embedded in every stage of the showroom development process.

What is unique about King Living’s showrooms that appeals to a commercial interior designer?

The uniqueness of King Living’s showrooms lies in our furniture. Our products are the focal point, showcasing the modularity and versatility that set us apart from other retailers. This “King Difference” appeals to commercial interior designers who value functional yet stylish solutions. Our showrooms are curated to inspire, offering design flexibility and showcasing the innovative possibilities our products provide.

How does the King Difference come across within the showroom space?

The King Difference is brought to life in our showrooms through the careful curation of our products. We select furniture that reflects the demographics and lifestyle of the region while demonstrating the versatility of our iconic designs. For instance, in our Chicago and Costa Mesa showrooms, visitors can explore multiple configurations of signature pieces such as Jasper, 1977, and Delta. These displays highlight the flexibility and adaptability of our ranges, allowing customers to see how our products can fit seamlessly into their lives.

What multi-sensory elements are in place to inspire or delight?

Our showrooms are designed to engage all the senses, creating a memorable and immersive experience for visitors. Touch is a key focus, with customers encouraged to explore the textures of our premium upholstery and hard finishes. Smell also plays an important role; we’ve developed a signature scent that embodies King Living’s DNA, complemented by the natural aroma of our premium leathers and wood finishes. Together, these elements work harmoniously to leave a lasting impression on every visitor.

How are the US showrooms different from showrooms in other countries? What are the differences between the Costa Mesa and Chicago showrooms?

While the fundamental design of our showrooms is consistent worldwide, each location is tailored to its local market. The primary differences between our Costa Mesa and Chicago showrooms lie in the demographics and lifestyles of their respective areas. Costa Mesa’s showroom reflects a warmer climate, featuring outdoor displays year-round and a lighter, neutral colour palette with pops of colour. In contrast, at present, Chicago’s showroom is tailored to its colder climate, with durable materials like leather taking prominence, ensuring practicality without compromising style.

Interested in the U.S. showrooms? Check out:

Come inside King Living’s the new Chicago – Lincoln Park and Orange County – Costa Mesa showrooms in two of the largest interior design hubs.

What international design trends did you bring to the Chicago and Orange County showrooms respectively?

Our international expertise allows us to blend global design trends with local preferences. Both the Chicago and Costa Mesa showrooms incorporate sleek, modern aesthetics that align with contemporary global interiors while adapting to the specific needs of their environments. For example, Costa Mesa features elements that embrace indoor-outdoor living, a hallmark of Southern California design, while Chicago incorporates more robust materials and layouts suitable for a city accustomed to seasonal extremes. By merging these trends with King Living’s hallmark modularity and functionality, we’ve created spaces that resonate with the local market while maintaining an international appeal.

How do you encourage repeat customers and referrals?

At King Living, our Trade Program is designed to reward customers for their loyalty, encouraging them to spend more with added incentives like a commission program that pays designers for bringing clients to King Living. This creates a mutually beneficial relationship between King Living and our trade partners. Additionally, our King-Care® division ensures we provide ongoing support with replacement covers and parts for all King Living products, offering a sustainable solution that keeps customers returning to us and reinforces their trust in the brand.

Ready To Connect?

Book A Consultation (Costa Mesa) | Book A Consultation (Chicago Lincoln Park) | Worldwide Showrooms | Join King Trade

Photos courtesy of King Living.

Article created in partnership with King Living.

The post Inside King Living’s New US Showrooms: What Interior Designers Need to Know appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

King Living is expanding to the United States with the opening of two new showrooms in two of the largest interior design hubs with a location in California and Chicago.

Each showroom showcases King Living’s award-winning furniture, with design solutions for many commercial spaces including lounge, dining, outdoor, theatre rooms and lobbies, as well as rugs and lighting. Spoiler Alert: You’ll want these pieces in your next office project and your home. 

While mostly building out spaces for residential clients, King Living Furniture has tracked the progress of the “hotelification” of the office. Work common spaces are looking more and more like living rooms and spaces that encourage comfortability while working.

We favour a relaxed, timeless aesthetic and many of our indoor designs are offered in outdoor versions, which creates that effortless flow between rooms.

— David King, King Living Founder

Showrooms That Are More Than Product Showcases

Prepare to have “aha” moments when Interior Designers see the infinite customization possibilities of the products and experience the King Living ability to adapt designs to specific project needs.

The showrooms are hubs for King Living trade partners. In fact, designers can use the showroom as a meeting space to connect with clients, discuss projects, and explore ideas in a setting that truly brings their vision to life. It’s all about creating a collaborative environment where inspiration can thrive.

Despite rapid global growth, King Living has continued to stay true to their roots, providing customers with furniture that embodies the authentic Australian lifestyle, a trend that’s been gaining significant popularity across international markets and helping drive expansion. 

This isn’t about growth for growth’s sake, this is about our belief that we will improve the lives of customers who choose our furniture; we are passionate about bringing our designs and our engineering to those who appreciate the King Difference.

– David Woollcott, King Living CEO

Orange County (Costa Mesa), California Showroom

The first USA showroom is in an impressive space in Costa Mesa, Orange County. This California location is the ideal introduction into the American market for King Living, due to architectural similarities to Australia, as well as synergies in mindset and appreciation of an indoor-outdoor lifestyle.  

Indoor-outdoor living is synonymous with California and our designs are the perfect complement to this lifestyle

— David King, King Living Founder

Chicago (Lincoln Park), Illinois Showroom

Chicago was chosen as the ideal location for King Living due to it being one of the largest interior markets in the United States. The showroom, which is 9,990 square feet, is designed to create an immersive journey for customers, showcase the King Difference via every touchpoint, and spark creativity within the district’s collaborative interior design and home maker community. The Lincoln Park Chicago showroom allows customers to experience firsthand the King Living collection of sofas, living, dining, outdoor, and tables.

Chicago is one of the most incredible design destinations in the world and we are honored to be part of the vibrant community.

– David King, King Living Founder

3 Things Commercial Interior Designers Will Love

Quality & Sustainability

King Living products are crafted for longevity. Their timeless forms combine with easily removable covers (for cleaning or replacement) and a material palette selected for durability and a lifetime of comfort.

Durability

Interior Designers are impressed by the King Living mission to make lasting furniture, and particularly value that every sofa and all indoor designs with a steel frame is backed by a 25 year warranty.

Infinite Modularity & Customization Capabilities

Independent modules and components move and connect to create endless configurations ideal for clients seeking flexible work spaces. Simply bring your dimensions to your appointment and their space planning tool will configure options for you.

Designers and end users resonate with the relaxed Australian aesthetic and appreciate the extensive personalization options King Living offers. The ability to tailor every aspect of a sofa—from seat configuration to fabrics, finishes, and smart accessories — is especially well received in modern work environments.

Bonus for Designers: Join King Trade

The King Trade Program offers incredible benefits, including year-round trade pricing on all products—even during sales. Members also enjoy exclusive invitations to trade events, early access to new products and materials, additional discounts for personal purchases, and complimentary trade sample materials. It’s a comprehensive program tailored to meet the needs of their trade partners, ensuring they have all the tools to succeed with King.

Must-See Products For Your Next Project

1977 Sofa 

Honouring the simplicity of the past while embracing the innovation of the present, the 1977 Sofa redefines the meaning of timeless design. With a low profile and relaxed curves, the modular design provides complete lifestyle flexibility. A contemporary take on the first King Living sofa created in the seventies, modern materials and construction methods enhance functionality while retaining the integrity of the classic silhouette.

1978 High Back Sofa

Featuring relaxed curves and a supportive high-back for lasting comfort, the modular 1978 High Back Sofa can be rearranged to suit any space and lifestyle. Easily removed tailored covers for machine-washing or replace for a fresh look.

Myco Side Table

These tables are a designer’s dream for adaptability, available in a range of different materials and colours to create some unique tables to suit any space. Versatility to function as a side table, laptop or plant stand.

Aura Sofa

With its organic curves, the Aura sofa provides the perfect blend of form and
function. It can be positioned as a single relaxation zone or reconfigured into multiple settings, offering the flexibility to create both interconnected and defined seating areas tailored to any spatial requirement.

Seymour Chair

This chair is a unique Australian design by renowned designer, Charles Wilson. With a variety of uses, choose from a range of premium fabrics and luxurious leathers in various colors to match or contrast with your existing interior. Seymour is available with a fixed ir swivel base and three seat back option (low mid and high). All King Living covers are individually tailored and can be removed easily for cleaning or replacement.

Kato Sofa

With its modern, sleek, off-the-ground design, the Kato offers unmatched versatility through King’s unique modularity, allowing for infinite configurations to suit various projects.

Jasper Sofa

Easily rearrange the truly modular design into multiple configurations to fit any space. There’s even an option to add wireless and integrated lighting.

Ready To Connect?

Book A Consultation (Costa Mesa) | Book A Consultation (Chicago Lincoln Park) | Worldwide Showrooms | Join King Trade

Photos courtesy of King Living.

This article was created in partnership with King Living. Special thanks to: Kahn Morkaya (Trade & Commercial Manager) | Nick Lippa (Showroom Manager – Lincoln Park) | Diego Beltran (Design Consultant – Lincoln Park)

The post King Living Makes Its U.S. Debut With Two Showrooms appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

Visit the showroom:

The Showroom Story

Kimball International relocated their showroom from their long-term home adjacent to Chicago’s Merchandise Mart to Fulton Market. The new showroom immerses Kimball International in Chicago’s newest design district while creating one unified space to exhibit their broad portfolio of brands.

The site is located on the 7th floor of 318 North Carpenter, a new construction concrete loft. With a clear, open floorplate, glazing on three sides, and a wraparound roof deck, the space steeps the occupant in the surrounding urban texture and blends interior and exterior.

The driving principle behind the design is a shift from seeing the “showroom” as a place of exhibition to being a series of experiences. The showroom is reframed as a design consultancy, rather than a sales floor.

A two-sided volume defines the center of the plan; hospitality bar on one side, design studio on the other. Visitors circulate around this central mass exploring different vignettes – lounge, collaboration, heads-down, wellness – while in constant dialogue with the outside. Bold, saturated colors and texture-rich materials create the feeling of a social space, rather than a museum of furniture.

Project Details

Kimball International’s Chicago showroom was conceived with WELL standards in mind from the beginning. All of the major social and work spaces have direct access to natural light, while electric lighting is precisely zoned and controllable by the occupant for maximum comfort. Abundant plantings give freshness and delight to the air, while connecting the interior with the exterior. The roof deck is programmed with both active spaces for gaming as well as quiet, contemplative spaces to relax and experience the outside. A robust food service and prep kitchen area encourage mindful eating and food preparation and give ample space and facilities for the storage and preparation of healthy, home-prepared meals.

Continuing the theme of the showroom as an extension of and connection point to the city, a bold, faceted portal with integrated lighting and plants frames the threshold condition between the public elevators and the showroom, creating a mental border between “inside” and “outside” in the interior of the space.

Kimball International has a long history of partnering and foregrounding local artists in the cities where they have showrooms. In the Chicago showroom, Kimball International partnered with fiber artist Windy Chien to create a whimsical swagged light fixture (see below) over the serving bar. The delicate macrame and spontaneous draping act as a counterpoint to the structured geometries of the surrounding architecture.

3 Must-See Products 

The Kithara Collection by David Edward

Designed by Brad Ascalon, Kithara will be launching in the fall of 2023. The collection will include lounge seating and coordinating occasional tables with stunning design elements. From hand-stitched details on the arms with a contrasting stitch color option to mortise and tenon joints in the rounded, artisan Walnut or Maple frames, Kithara showcases bold talent and creative energy.

EverySpace by Kimball

Kimball introduces a new, modular workplace platform that can create workstations for any situation. EverySpace is a comprehensive solution that puts the user at the center of its design. It can flex and flow as needs change and work styles evolve. Designed in collaboration with CSD Studio, EverySpace offers adaptable architecture that supports users throughout their day.

EverySpace brings personal, human feeling into highly functional spaces. Its beauty and attention to detail in conjunction with its multitude of storage and casework configurations make the user feel like their station is tailored to fit their specific needs and work style. To say that it can be used across an entire floorplate is not an exaggeration. Its customizable platform gracefully accommodates individual wants and spatial needs.

Tessera by National

Tessera’s comprehensive portfolio includes casegoods, storage, wall panels and shelves, conference and occasional tables, and benches. Showcasing a contemporary vibe with a floating top aesthetic, Tessera desks and workstations feature a sleek and angular design. Its vast array of storage options allows the user to tailor it to their personal needs, while adjustable height worksurface options create maximum productivity and versatility. The unique wall panel allows storage, shelves, and surfaces to be strategically placed to add visual interest and functional elements. The tables collection offers solutions for meeting spaces and gathering areas. Utilize Tessera’s coordinating benches to provide a creative and comfortable seating experience.

Showroom Tours

Open by appointment M-F 9:00–5:00. For a tour of the showroom, please contact Elisa Gutierrez.

Showroom Address:

• 7th Floor, 318 N Carpenter St, Chicago, IL 60607

Design Team

• Peter Randolph, AIA
• Mel Chotiner, NCIDQ
• Emily Koss
• Carla Arroyo

Photography credit

• Kendall McCaugherty | Hall + Merrick + McCaugherty

The post Step Inside Kimball International’s Chicago Showroom by Eastlake Studio appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

The Showroom Story

Partners by Design worked hand in hand with JSI’s creative team to move their Chicago showroom from the Merchandise Mart to a Fulton Market light-filled and brand-centric space that was more than a showroom – it’s a place where the JSI family and its clients gathers to have fun, learn about their history, and craft the future.

JSI believes in the power of inspiration, and when people are inspired to “Love What You Do” (one of their guiding principles), the possibilities are limitless. In order to rouse that creative spirit in its visitors, the Partners by Design team developed an architecturally flexible background that was clean and modern, where fun, cheeky, unexpected wow moments could be layered over and switched out year after year. The goal was a physical environment that conveys JSI’s brand, placed its culture at the forefront, and celebrated & empowered people to love what they do!

That contemporary aesthetic was tempered through the lens of JSI’s rich history and legacy of quality craftsmanship. Founded in 1876 in Southern Indiana, the showroom features artifacts and imagery that honor the tradesmen and women who built the company, preserving its legacy for future generations. Many of the architectural components, such as the reception display, the corridor’s slat walls, the pantry’s millwork, and the library’s hanging wood planks were all produced in-house by JSI’s team of craftspeople.

Another key design driver was JSI’s focus on family and hospitality, which led to many relationship-focused layouts and soft, inviting spaces. The showroom set a new standard for workspace design, offering a comprehensive collection of lovingly crafted versatile products and solutions that foster collaboration, productivity, and well-being. The design includes a cozy fireplace lounge, a bright café space with an adjoining patio, a flexible library and collaboration room, and an art-filled conferencing and private office suite, each of which provides ergonomic solutions that embody the authentic nature of materials. It’s a remarkable showroom that showcases JSI’s dedication to providing exceptional furniture solutions for work and life.

Project Details

Branding elements are thoughtfully integrated into the space, showcasing JSI’s identity, craft, and heritage. Visitors will encounter artifacts and imagery dating back to the late 1800s, built with the provenance of a company that owns and operates the oldest continuously operating furniture factory in the US, and one that received the first-ever US patent issued to a factory in their industry. But there are also many playful and unexpected moments that highlight JSI’s young and modern personality – Easter Eggs abound in custom wallcoverings, tile patterns, and artwork throughout the space, bringing a smile to visitors. These branding elements serve as a reminder of the company’s legacy and the values they uphold.

Custom solutions are at the heart of JSI’s craft capabilities, recognizing the unique fingerprint of each project. By prominently featuring a broad range of custom offerings, JSI put its own special touch on both the furnishings and architectural details, allowing architects, designers, and dealers to visualize the possibilities of customized solutions that seamlessly integrate with their specific design visions and functional needs.

The showroom serves as an experiential platform where visitors can physically engage with the furniture, test ergonomic features, and immerse themselves in various work environments on display. It can be utilized as a hub for industry events, workshops, and interactive demonstrations, fostering a vibrant community of professionals passionate about innovative workspace design. The showroom becomes a collaborative space where industry leaders and design enthusiasts can gather, exchange ideas, and explore the possibilities and impact of design.

Inaugural Year Highlights

The journey of our showroom space in Fulton Market has been incredibly successful and fulfilling. There is something to be said about the phrase – “if you build it, they will come.” We have had tremendous feedback from tour groups enjoying the space and experiencing our furniture firsthand, and our reps have done amazing work in curating events that shine light on community events that support the design industry including hosting Bizarre Bazaar benefitting IIDA Illinois, encouraging young girls in business through hosting a roundtable of female CEOs for Female Strong, and much more.

Our Fulton Market showroom is a success story in showcasing exactly what we were hoping for – a place for people to gather, interact, collaborate and enjoy themselves – all in the presence of beautifully crafted furniture made by people who love what they do.

Must-See Products

Cosgrove

Cosgrove is the quintessential, slimline executive chair that embodies mid-century sleekness. The quilted back detail enhances its refinement while ensuring comfort. With its solid wood or black polyurethane arm cap detail, materiality is celebrated. The smooth texture provides a comfortable hand as the polished aluminum loop arm seamlessly curves downward.

Kindera

Kindera is a performance recliner that focuses on the patient to provide seamless, engaged care. Providers flow through their work naturally as they utilize intuitively located adjustment controls. With the patent pending Trans4rm system, Kindera allows either recliner arm to retract into the frame, creating a smooth platform for safe transfers.

Satisse

It’s rare that a metal seating line offers the range to not only provide comfort and style, but also innovation. With its comforting design and diverse offering, Satisse provides options for guest, lounge, patient, and bariatric, while introducing the patent pending MagLinx connectors to make rearranging and installation a breeze.

Project Summary

Partners by Design’s new JSI showroom is one of the most authentic brand representations, created in big part by JSI’s own resources and craft experience. It’s a welcoming space with a relatable soul, a place to collaborate and create, and a place for individuals to find passion and fulfillment in their work.

Please contact Ashley Delano at Level Reps for a showroom tour.

Tours are available by appointment only. Please visit 345 N. Morgan Street, Chicago IL 60607, and you’ll be escorted to the 6^th floor!

Design Team

• Arthur Garcia-Clemente, Senior Designer
• Esther Hah – Project Architectural Designer
• Jennifer Jacque – Project Director
• BIG – Contractors
• Lumen – Project Management
• CBRE – Commercial Real Estate
• JSI Marketing & Design Team

Photography credit

• Ross Floyd

See where the showroom is now:

The JSI Showroom: Revisiting Fulton Market Innovation

The post Step Inside JSI’s Fulton Market Showroom by Partners by Design appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

The Showroom Story

Tarkett opened a new showroom in Fulton Market in June 2022. In addition to its 10,000 square-foot space, Tarkett has access to the building’s rooftop patio with 360° views of the city skyline. Overall, the space is designed for the needs of today’s workstyles, with natural light, access to the outdoors, and flexible spaces for both independent work and collaboration.

The showroom was designed by Kuchar, a woman-owned boutique based in Chicago. Project designer Rachel Benitez said the space draws inspiration from the dynamic Fulton Market neighborhood and its industrial roots.

“The space is surrounded by floor to ceiling windows, so one is surrounded by natural light, downtown views, urban living, and the constant movement of the former industrial district. A sophisticated, neutral palette creates a clean backdrop for gentle nods to the neighborhood’s character. The aesthetic is truly a celebration of the floor,” Benitez said.

After two years of remote work, Tarkett has recognized a growing desire to reconnect as more people shift toward hybrid work styles that better support their overall wellbeing. It was this process of coming together as individuals to build and create that inspired Tarkett’s Collaborative collection.

The new collection emerged from a collaborative mark-making process led by Tarkett’s vice president of design for its commercial business, Omoleye Simmons. As a former art educator, Simmons has experience coaching designers in technology and concept development, translating art to product. That process is evident in the collection’s design patterns, which were created by layering the marks of different team members, integrating and transforming them into something much greater than the sum of its parts.

“In creating this collection, our goal was to celebrate hyper collaboration through cooperative artwork,” Simmons said. “We embarked on a hands-on exploration that included mark-making, spraying and brushing watercolor paint, and layering paper. We experimented across design studios, sharing steps in the design process—selecting each others’ creations to merge with our own and offering feedback along the way.”

Showroom Details

In addition to showcasing Tarkett’s latest product collections, the showroom serves as a daily workspace for local employees, as well as a gathering space for client meetings and events. Large conference rooms, private offices, open collaboration areas, and a full kitchen are all surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows and enjoy access to a small balcony and expansive rooftop. Clients are able to access Tarkett’s entire library of product solutions, making it an ideal place to gather inspiration for current projects.

The Fulton Market District has transformed into a notable design destination, brimming with restaurants, entertainment and some of the world’s leading architecture and design brands.

3 NEW Must-See Products

Layered Duality

Debuting at Design Days, the Layered Duality collection of high-performance flooring brings together diverse forms, textures, and colors to create a dynamic sense of unity for interior spaces. Contrasting aesthetics combine with a mindful approach to materials, delivering a unique level of harmony to any room or area. The collection features four soft-surface patterns and two non-PVC plank and tile patterns.

Johnsonite Color of the Year

Demonstrative of its leadership in color, the new Johnsonite Color of the Year program brings new palette inspiration to customers’ designs. This year, Johnsonite’s color expert Janette Murray has developed not one, but seven inspiring new colorways for Color of the Year 2024: Sophisticated Raspberry, Aged Denim, Golden Joy, Earthen Brown, Retrospective Orange, Artful Sage, and Nostalgic Pink. The new shades are available in Johnsonite rubber flooring tile, rubber and vinyl wall base, and rubber and vinyl stair treads.

Powerbond® Hybrid Carpet

Powerbond® hybrid carpet, the world’s first certified asthma & allergy friendly® soft-surface flooring, combines the look and feel of carpet with the durability and cleanability of a resilient surface. It was specifically developed to address potential problems associated with indoor air quality and building-related illness. Unlike most soft-surface floorcoverings, Powerbond provides a wall-to-wall moisture barrier to ensure leaks and spills are easily extracted and never reach the subfloor, helping to prevent conditions favorable to mold growth. Powerbond’s unique construction is available in hundreds of Tarkett designs and can be combined with Tarkett’s Imaginations® custom cutting program to display unique visuals such as brand names, logos, mascots, wayfinding or communications.

Showroom Summary

• Tours: For a private showroom tour, please contact: Rachel Brewer.
• Location: Tarkett at Fulton Market is located in the Fulton East Building at 215 N. Peoria, Floor 10, Chicago, IL 60607.

Tarkett Design Team

• Omoleye Simmons
• Leigh Wright
• Leslie Grissom
• Emily Jolley
• Jess Vera
• Rachelle Roberts
• Janette Murray

Photography 

• Courtesy of Tarkett

Go Beyond the Showroom

Tarkett’s ReStart® Recycling Program: Keeping Old Flooring Out of the Landfill

The post Take A Tour Of Tarkett’s Fulton Market Showroom  appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

Partners By Design (PBD) partnered with Allsteel to create a new type of client Experience Center in the vibrant Fulton Market district in Chicago, one of the fastest growing markets for Allsteel and the HNI family of brands features with more than 150 products from Allsteel, Gunlocke, HBF, HBF Textiles, Corral, Norman Copenhagen and Zilenzio. The site is the entirety of Floor 3 at the new Sterling Bay building located at 345 N. Morgan.

The Experience Center vision was conceived as a hospitality focused venue with a program that includes a series of interactive design/collaboration areas, an immersive learning space, and several hospitality hotspots, throughout the full floor environment. Priority was placed on creation of functional and flexible spaces that reflects Allsteel + HNI’s commitment to empowering change and collaboration to serve as a model for workplace environments of the future. This facility will serve as Allsteel’s signature client interaction space, providing a more central and convenient hub for future collaboration engagements while highlighting the innovative design flexibility that is required in agile and hybrid workforces of the future.

Throughout the entire design journey for this project, the PBD team focused on developing a space to celebrate and encourage collaboration, a space that is designed to help their clients and design community do more, together. Focusing on creating the “ideal” collaboration workplace in a post-pandemic world, the PBD and Allsteel embarked on a collaborative process between designer, maker and client. This partnership led to a design that is inherently conscious of place, with an original concept rooted in the user experience. Marrying an innovative use of space, materials and form-making with highly functional spaces, the Allsteel Experience Center achieves understated luxury with effortless collaborative spaces while setting a new bar of workplace collaborative design.

The critical design challenges faced by the project team was to design a collaborative and engaging client experience space – a place that would celebrate and encourage collaboration, be a destination for education and inspiration and be an experience for clients trying to solve meaningful workplace challenges and transform their ways of working environments in a post-pandemic world. Allsteel wanted “a space that was designed to do more”. The design teams’ goal was to create a typology of space focused on promoting in-person collaborative interactions, supported flexibility and adaptability of collaborative space types and positions, seamless integration of technology within an environment that merged commercial and residential aesthetics, comfort and warmth. This new space provides Allsteel with the opportunity to share and participate in the broader story of their brand but more importantly, it is a place to help their clients transform their workplaces for the better, in a collaborative and human-centric way.

This new Experience Center workplace is an evolution for the Allsteel + HNI which aims to support and elevate clientele experiences with a more agile and hybrid workforce format, enabling further engagement of the physical office with cultural connections via sustainable design. The project narrative embodies a figure-ground perception, whereby mass + void elements create relationships, define place-making which is enriched via activity within formal and informal places for gathering, collaborating and mindfulness. The planning solutions connect the full floor workplace environment via flowing architectural elements that ebb & flow between anchor spaces with gentle curved formed expressed in architectural elements of varying scales and conditions. These architectural elements define edges, form containers and become objects defining space, vistas and paths throughout the space.

The design embodies the latest diversity and inclusion learnings including, gender neutral facilities, a diversity of settings and wellness facilities. There are also increased solutions for all users and accessibility designed into wayfinding and furniture designs. The Experience Center design is built on shared experience and learnings to develop examples of how new workplace environments should evolve and be implemented. PBD designed the Allsteel + HNI Experience Center for the new hybrid way of working through a provision of settings and flexibility that promotes heightened in-person experiences. In creating an environment that is warm and welcoming to all employees and visitors, PBD focused on an environment that is supportive and provided optionality for how, when and where people will work and collaborate in the new office environments.

Project Details

The showroom embodies HNI/Allsteel’s initiative of “Design to Do More”. Not only does the space showcase Allsteel’s furniture product but also a space for the community. The design flexibility allows for a range of hosted events from intimate dinners to large catered presentations, and the technology to broadcast to design communities beyond Chicago.

Three Must-See Featured Products

Allsteel’s O6 Task Chair

Admix by Allsteel

SoCo by The HON Company

Project Summary

• Project Management: CBRE
• GC: Skender
• Branding: Spark
• Millwork Carpenter: Parenti & Raffaelli, LTD
• Engineers: Salas O’Brien
• Sustainability Consultant: NOVO Sustainability

Showroom Tours

For a tour of the showroom, please contact Allsteel here.

Showroom Address:

• 345 N Morgan Ave, Chicago, IL 60607

Directions:

• Green and Pink Line – Morgan CTA stop, walk 2 blocks north on Morgan Ave.
• Southbound on 90/94 – Exit at Randolph, right on Randolph and head west until Morgan Ave, turn right and head north to 345 N Morgan Ave.
• Northbound on 90/94 – Exit at Lake Street, left turn on Lake and head west until Morgan Ave, turn right and head north to 345 N Morgan Ave.

PBD Design Team

• Tom Rowland – Managing Principal
• Jenna Nelson – Principal
• Tuan Nguyen – Senior Designer
• Esther Hah – Architect

Photography credit

• Tom Harris Photography

The post Take a Tour of Allsteel’s Fulton Market Showroom by PBD appeared first on Work Design Magazine.