Awarded Best Small Showroom and Best in COMPETITION NeoCon 2021

After winning Best Small Showroom by IIDA and Best in Show at Neocon 2019, Hightower enlisted Casework to help transform their Chicago Merchandise Mart showroom a second time. The design team wanted to retain the creativity and balance of the 2019 showroom, while creating a more energized space that exemplified the post-pandemic future of office design.

the RETURN TO WORK

With more people returning to the office after the pandemic, we wanted to highlight the beautiful flexibility of Hightower’s furniture lines. The pieces are designed to allow people to work collaboratively or maintain some space while in a public place. “We’re taking back shared spaces where socialization and collaboration are optimized; recognizing where we’ve been but igniting optimism and challenging people to look at new ways of coming together”, says Jessica Ahlering, Hightower’s Marketing Director.

creating unexpected moments

Each room of the 4,000 sf space is unique, though linked by threads of burgundy, blush, and rust tones. One of the more unexpected and visually stunning moments occurs in the atrium. We applied a Flat Vernacular wallpaper which has a trompe l’oeil effect that almost vibrates as you move through the space.

a place to linger

As with the original showroom design, we wanted visitors to linger in experience, and the lounge area allows people to do just that. Casey wanted to create the feel of a 70s sunken living room “where everybody hangs out until the wee hours of the morning.” The lounge features two u-shaped Kona Modular Sofas as well as custom textile hangings by artist Trudy Perry. (above)

Credits

Design Team: Casey Keasler and Miranda Williams

Contractor: Bushman Construction Management

Location: Chicago Merchandise Mart, NeoCon

Photography: Petra Ford

Press: Design Milk