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Improve your work world at World Workplace

For educational sessions, networking opportunities, and chances to see and hear about the latest products and services in the FM arena, World Workplace 2010 Conference & Expo is the place to be on October 27-29, 2010. Sponsored by the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), World Workplace helps you keep up with industry trends, government mandates, and advancing technologies–all critical to the performance of your facility.

Renowned Speakers

The Honorable Alexis M. Herman, esteemed workforce expert and former secretary of labor, will be keynote speaker for the World Workplace. Speaking on "The Changing Global Workforce: Ways to Understand it and Leverage It," Herman will set the tone for the conference by outlining how technology and information are fueling the new economy and how increased global competition is creating a demand for high-skilled jobs and lessening demand for low-skilled work. In addition to Herman, World Workplace 2010 will feature a selection of power speakers in place of a traditional closing keynote presentation. World Workplace power speakers will speak on topics outlined in the conference's educational tracks and will complement the 80 educational sessions offered.

Focus on Sustainability

IFMA holistically embraces environmental stewardship. An entire educational track is devoted to implementing and enhancing a corporate sustainability program. A second track focuses on the costs and benefits of sustainability, acquiring organizational support for greening facilities and LEED®.

In addition, IFMA is encouraging event partners, exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees to reduce the event’s collective carbon footprint. The conference has been designed to decrease dependence on individual cars. Arrangements have been made to recycle papers, bottles, cans, and even conference name badges. Most conference planning, coordination, and information sharing will take place online, by phone, and in person to cut paper usage. Food and beverage containers, cutlery, and dishes are all glass or metal and there will be no bottled water or individually wrapped food items. The conference center uses green cleaning chemicals. Surplus supplies will be donated to a local school and extra food will be donated to a local charity.

Educational Session Tracks

World Workplace offers a wide range of educational tracks at three levels. The options are:

• Academic & Research—focuses on leading academics and research in the area of facility management.
• How-To Guides—aids in implementing or enhancing a sustainability program.
• Emerging Leaders—focuses on learning designed for the new and emerging leaders in FM.
• Executive Management—designed with the experienced FM in mind.
• Benchmarking & Best Practices—discusses best practices on operational processes, security standards, technology, and lease negotiations.
• Global Outlook—provides an opportunity for attendees to learn about international industry practices and trends.
• Industries & Interests—offers specialized topics through collaborative partnerships and IFMA's councils and special-interest groups including real estate, manufacturing, specialized facilities, public sector issues, design, and architecture.
• Maintaining the Built Environment—offers pertinent information on such topics as operations and maintenance, indoor air quality, mold and energy efficiency.
• People Perspective—addresses the latest trends in workforce issues, such as creating a positive workplace, customer service, mitigating workplace violence, ADA, career positioning, professional accreditation, personal skills improvement, mentoring, and leadership.
• Strategic Facility Planning—includes sessions on strategic planning, strategic facility planning and strategic management.
• Sustainability—outlines methods for creating and/or maintaining an environmentally sound facility. Gain insight into topics such as the costs and benefits of sustainability, acquiring organizational support for greening facilities, and LEED®.
• Trends & Innovation—provides info on the most up-to-date information and tools available, as well as access to ground-breaking concepts and systems.

Participants can receive CEU credits from several organizations:

• International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET)
• International Facility Management Association (IFMA)
• American Institute of Architects (AIA)
• HSW (Health, Safety and Welfare)
• Interior Design Continuing Education Council (IDCEC)
• The Association for Facilities Engineering (AFE)

Participants can also register for facility tours, for an additional fee. Space is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The tour options are:

• CNN Worldwide Corporate Headquarters
• Georgia Aquarium
• Southface Eco Office
• InterfaceFlor
• Georgia World Congress Center

For more information, see www.worldworkplace.org

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ORGATEC addresses international FM

From October 26-30, ORGATEC - the leading global trade fair for offices and facilities - will once again take place in Cologne. Approximately 600 suppliers from about 35 countries are expected to come to Koelnmesse in Cologne.

ORGATEC addresses all the relevant aspects of office and facility design - from planning, design and furnishing right through to the operation and management of the available space. The event is aimed at planners (interior architects and architects), decision-makers from the companies that use the products (e.g. managing directors, buyers and facility managers), and the office specialist trade. More than 62,000 visitors from 114 countries attended the last event in 2008, including 65% from EU member states and 4% from North America.

This year’s theme is the influence an optimally designed working environment can have on a company's success. Sessions will address the interplay of furnishings, lighting, flooring, acoustics, and media technology to create an atmosphere that encourages motivation, identification, and productivity.

Presentations that Enlighten

Leading experts from the areas of architecture, planning, sustainability, trade, and work research will address trends and examples of best practice in presentations lasting between 90 and 120 minutes, which will be divided into three to five short presentations by individual speakers. An expert from Jones Lang LaSalle, for instance, will discuss the topic of sustainability and the real estate business, while a representative from the Deutsche Bank will hold a presentation on existing properties and sustainability with reference to Deutsche Bank's Greentowers.

The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) is responsible for the Facility Management programming on Friday, October 29. The morning session will address "Tools for Project Success I: The Exact Requirements Analysis", focusing on the example of the project "Microsoft's NRW branch." The afternoon session will cover "Tools for Project Success II: Demanding Requirements of the Project."

Deutsches Netzwerk Büro e.V. (German Office Network) will put together a series of presentation on Saturday morning. Topics will include conceptualization and design of offices for public administration, psychological and social conditions for the optimal use of good offices, office consulting, and the innovative dual college degree for the office furnishings sector.

A Competence Centre Acoustics & Interior Design will present innovative acoustics solutions in concrete applications. The area will be laid out as an open-plan office in order to demonstrate how acoustics solutions can harmoniously fit within the office design. Experiments will enable the visitors to interactively gain an understanding of the acoustic effects.

Awards and Events

ORGATEC and business magazine WirtschaftsWoche will jointly present The Best Office Award, which focuses on the competing companies' management concepts. The best German office concept and the best international office concept will receive awards.

ORGATEC will also feature a “Night of Corporate Architecture". Throughout the city of Cologne, selected offices and facility buildings will open their doors to the public. Shuttle buses will carry ORGATEC visitors and the general public to successful examples of top-class work and communication areas. Topics range from office and work concepts of the 21st century (e.g. Crane House 1 in the Rheinau harbour) to sustainability (e.g. Cologne Oval Offices) and the revitalization of buildings (e.g. maxCologne, the former Lufthansa building) to facility design and furnishing (e.g. the InterContinental Cologne hotel).

In addition, one of ORGATEC's goals is to encourage networking among sector representatives. The Boulevard will feature informal communication zones and lounge areas and there will be a happy hour for participants on the evening of the first day of the trade fair.

For more information on ORGATEC, including registration details, see www.orgatec.com

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AHR Expo Mexico hosts 350+ manufacturers

The largest industry trade event in the Mexican and Latin American region, the 2010 AHR Expo-Mexico (International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition) attracts attendees from Mexico, the United States, and more than a dozen other countries. Seminars and educational sessions address topics including energy efficiency, sustainable building technology, and industry trends. More than 350 manufacturers will fill nearly 57,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space. Attendees include more than 6,000 contractors, engineers, dealers, distributors, facility managers and other HVAC/R buyers and specifiers. The event is sponsored by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). The conference will take place on October 26-28 at the World Trade Center in Mexico City. For more information, see www.ahrexpomexico.com

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NeoCon® East announces new show dates of October 28-29 in Baltimore

BALTIMORE/CHICAGO—The eighth annual NeoCon® East has been rescheduled to Oct. 28-29, 2010, at the Baltimore Convention Center, differing from the December dates originally announced.

“The Baltimore Convention Center recently informed us of a date opening in their October calendar and we quickly acted on the opportunity to accept the new dates,” said Mark Falanga, senior vice president of MMPI, contract. “At MMPI we are fully committed to NeoCon East, its exhibitors and attendees, and feel the October dates will help to best benefit those on the GSA schedule.”

MMPI consulted with GSA’s Integrated Workplace Acquisition Center (IWACenter) and they were strong advocates for securing the October dates. “I’m thrilled with the October dates as it falls within the first quarter of the new fiscal year when government buyers are flush with new budgets and looking for product for all of their government projects,” said Mark Dunkum, Director of IWACenter. “We are also excited to once again host the Quality Partnership Council (QPC) meeting in conjunction with the show which will help to foster a common understanding between customer, contractor and GSA.”

NeoCon East is the premier design exposition for commercial interiors with a focus on the Federal Design Community. It features Government Interiors, which focuses on products and services geared to federal government procurement specifiers and industry professionals who are responsible for the repair, retrofit and green building modernization of city, county, state and federal buildings.

NeoCon East showcases thousands of products on the GSA schedule and attendees may learn more about GSA and how to get involved in government projects with:

• Free 60-minute seminars for government employees
• Free GSA-sponsored seminars
• The largest concentration of products and services for commercial interiors on the GSA schedule, making NeoCon East the most cost-effective method for attendees to source products for interior design projects
• Networking opportunities with design and facilities professionals from both the federal government and public sectors.
• A GSA Integrated Workplace Acquisition Center booth on the show floor to assist attendees with the federal government.

With more than 7,500 attendees and 250 exhibitors expected, NeoCon East sets the pace for the Mid-Atlantic contract furnishings industry, focusing on the Federal Design Community. Industry professionals including architects, interior designers, facility managers, government specifiers, government designers, space planners, distributors, manufacturers, real estate professionals and students rely on this event for innovative ideas and the latest trends in interior design and architecture.

NeoCon East offers CEU accredited seminars representing a variety of important topics and covering 12 distinct educational tracks are available to show attendees, including: facilities management; facilities construction and renovation; green design; government services administration; health care; health, safety and welfare; hospitality; institutional; office design; professional development; residential and lighting.

For more information, about NeoCon East, visit www.neoconeast.com or call 800.677.6278 (MART).

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ASHRAE’s expo lands in Las Vegas  

The 2011 AHR Expo is the world’s largest trade show for the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration industry. It will offer more than 100 seminars and educational sessions. The show encompasses a Building Automation and Control Showcase, the AHR EXPO Innovation Awards Presentation, a Software Center, and New Product Technology Theater Presentations. The conference, held January 31 through February 2 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, will occur concurrently with the ASHRAE Winter Meeting. For more information, see www.ahrexpo.com

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