NeoCon East is the most cost effective event for attendees to enhance their expertise or earn required continuing education credits. During the show, all 60-minute seminars are free to government employees with an employee ID and all seminars sponsored and hosted by GSA are free to all attendees. Visit www.neoconeast.com for a complete listing of special exhibits and awards, association forums and special events. The following is a summary of NeoCon East seminars:

Enhancing Collaboration in an Office-Intensive Workspace

Wednesday, October 17 • 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. [W01]

Hear how an office-intensive, closed work environment can enhance communication. Explore a solution-based approach counterintuitive to the paradigm that open office provides the only means for collaboration. Challenge current workplace trends and a one-size-fits-all design approach. Learn the importance of listening to clients and approaching their culture with no preconceptions. [Intermediate]

Sean Wayne, AIA, IIDA, LEED AP is the principal and director of interior design for Hickok Cole Architects in Washington, D.C.

Color Evolution 

Wednesday, October 17 • 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. [W05]

Take a look at today’s worldly social and economic shifts, creating color and design trends for 2012 and beyond. This unique session shows six personas, each conflicted with contradictory qualities, creating a new world of possibilities. Innovation and process are discovered at the mid-point of the tug-of-war. Increase your understanding of the social, political and environmental factors driving color. Discover the color trends that may be incorporated into commercial interiors. And leave with new inspiration for using color in your own design projects. Attendees will benefit from a video presentation and discussion during this seminar. [Basic]

Reesie Duncan is the creative director of Shaw Contract Group in Cartersville, GA. Carrie Edwards is the director of workplace marketing for the Shaw Contract Group in Cartersville, GA.

Creating and Measuring a Telework Environment: The GSA Living Lab

Wednesday, October 17 • 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. [W08]

Discover the importance of measuring and optimizing real estate in order to create an efficient and effective work environment for employees. Using GSA as a case study, gain the benefit of the lessons learned and best practices used during the transition to a mobile work environment. Leave with a checklist that will help you ensure both the success of the physical environment and the best employee experience. Build your skill set now so you’re ready for the next mobile office project. [Basic] [OF] [HSW]

Tracy McMichael is senior manager of performance environments at Herman Miller in Zeeland, MI. Gavin Bloch is chief asset officer of the General Services Administration in Washington, D.C.

Managing Design: Science, Art, or Magic?

Wednesday, October 17 • 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. [W12] 

We all know design is the fun part. And bringing design from concept into reality is the hard part. Learn how smart managers, owners, and executives ensure they get what they want, what they ask their design professionals to provide, their contractors to build, and their clients to embrace. Focus on the early critical factors that make or break the ability to meet project goals. Learn to identify and put into place the optimum project team. And finally, identify the biggest obstacles project managers must negotiate to complete projects on time, on budget, and on the mark!  [Advanced]  

Elise Friedman Shapiro, IIDA, is a project manager at Kramer Consulting in Washington, D.C. Jeffrey Kramer, AIA, is president of Kramer Consulting in Washington, D.C. Timothy Jaroch is the managing general partner for David Nassif Associates in Wellesley, MA.

Integrating New Lighting Technologies into Architecture

Wednesday, October 17  • 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. [W16]

New energy codes have changed the way we design lighting. Learn how to develop concepts supporting sustainable design practices using new energy efficient light sources. Discover how to creatively integrate lighting to make an impact on a space using LED in coves, back lit elements. Understand how vertical illuminance differs from horizontal illuminance. Compare LED to traditional sources with their characteristics, efficiency, challenges and surprises. Basic terminology, practical advice and examples of lighting applications will be explained. [Intermediate] -

Maureen Moran, IALD, IESNA, LC is principal and owner of MCLA Architectural Lighting Design, a 100% women-owned firm in Baltimore, MD. MCLA has been certified as a DSLBD in DC, MBE by Maryland Department of Transportation and Nationally by Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.

What's Driving Change in the Federal Workplace?

Wednesday, October 17 • 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. [W21]

The changing economy is causing sweeping changes in the federal workplace. These changes are being facilitated by rapid developments in technology, enabling the federal workforce to quickly adapt to new ways of working and collaborating beyond the walls of the traditional office cube. This session, will review the current design trends and initiatives that are shaping this radical workplace change and how it can benefit both the organization and its employees. [Intermediate]

Dianne Juba, IIDA, interior designer GSA Office of Workspace Delivery, Washington, D.C.

"You're not Listening -- I Need an Office!" 

Wednesday, October 17 • 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. [W22]

If research shows that 64% of knowledge workers want a private office (and only 13% actually prefer an open workstation) why do designers continue to push for open work environments? Reconsider the designs in which distractions and disruptions keep users from performing at their highest levels. Discuss the overemphasized benefits of collaborative workplaces. Bring the focus back to individual and group-centered work. Rediscover workplaces that actually support the way we work. [Intermediate]  

Dean Strombom, AIA, LEED AP, is a principal at Gensler in Houston, TX. Sven Govaars, MCR, SLCR, is the regional director of consulting for Gensler in Houston, TX.

LEED Platinum Results for Restaurants: Reaching the Next Level 

Wednesday, October 17 • 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. [W23]

Green restaurants seem to be popping up in many new markets, and for good reason, because restaurants use a tremendous amount of energy and water. But not all green design adds true environmental benefit so new design strategies have emerged to improve restaurant energy efficiency and environmental performance. Find out what these strategies are that you can use to get your next project to LEED Platinum. Through a case study of a major renovation project, see what efforts, products, and construction methods are essential for certification. Learn the specific design strategies that integrate the guest experience into environmental performance. Gain a better understanding of the LEED Platinum certification process so when the next project comes your way, you’re ready to go. [Intermediate]

David Loehr, AIA, LEED AP BD+C is a principal at HGA Architects and Engineers in Minneapolis, MN. Rachelle Schoessler Lynn, FASID, CID, LEED AP BD+C, is senior associate at Meyer Scherer & Rockcastle, Ltd., in Minneapolis, MN.

Welcome to the Clouds 

Thursday, October 18 • 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. [T41]

Web-enabled information access, or “cloud computing,” is being used by many FMs and CRE managers as a means to provide high-quality business information with minimal costs and technical support. Because Cloud computing requires neither special software nor tech support, but only a web browser, it is an ideal way to provide operational and strategic information to a non-technical audience. Cloud computing enables the use of iPads, tablets, and other thin computing devices to manage all types of information from floor plans and charts to real estate and facilities management data. Learn what Cloud computing is and why it matters to corporate real estate, facilities, and design teams. Don’t be left behind. Find out how to use the Cloud to create a collaborative design and communication environment for the design team, vendors, and corporate management. [Advanced]

Douglas Dixon is the president of VIA Design + Technologies, Inc. in Newtown, PA.

The Outdoor Office 

Thursday, October 18 • 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. [T43] 

The Outdoor Office is a project that explores the outdoor workplaces for educational and business environments. While portable work tools enable new kinds of workspaces free from indoor constraints, HVAC and lighting pose financial and environmental burdens. The Outdoor Office seeks to address these problems with new types of outdoor furniture and architectural elements. This unique project was conducted under two grants from the Graham Foundation. Examine the project’s various experimental designs and their results, including the environmental impacts. [Intermediate] 

Jonathan Olivares is the founder of Jonathan Olivares Design Research (JODR) an office dedicated to industrial design, design related research and exhibition design in New York, NY.

Designing Inside Out: Base Building Reflects Interiors 

Thursday, October 18 • 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. [T47] 

Follow this U.S. Embassy case study to see the collaborative process that can exist between architects and interior designers during the schematic design phase. See how to build a bridge from prescriptive standards of design to today’s concepts of interior spaces while creating high-performance spaces. Learn to link architect and interior designer methodologies, creating a relationship between base building and interior environments. Discuss the four main conceptual space types, and understand the organic process for real-time changes that occur between interior designers, architects, and consultants. [Intermediate] 

Paul Phillips, AIA, LEED AP, is a principal at KCCT Architects in Washington, D.C. • Barbara Currie, IIDA, LEED AP ID+C, is a senior interior designer for KCCT Architects in Washington, D.C.

Advanced Furniture Procurement

Thursday, October 18 • 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. [T56]

This session will address furniture purchasing solutions offered by GSA’s Integrated Workplace Acquisition Center, formerly National Furniture Center, and show you how to purchase the products, furniture and related services correctly. Let us help you become compliant with various Executive Orders by understanding various certifications that can be a part of your requirements. Blanket Purchase Agreements, Requests for Quotes (RFQ’s), and the National Stock Number (NSN) program will be main topics. [Advanced]

Michael Shepherd is a contracting officer for GSA's Integrated Workplace Acquisition Center in Philadelphia, PA.

All seminars will be filed with respective associations including AIA, IDCEC, GBCI and NCQLP for continuing educational credits. Registration is required as seating is limited. Seminar fees are $30 each for the A&D professional if registered by October 10 and $40 each for onsite registration. Government employees, with a government ID will receive a discounted rate of $25 for unlimited seminars. All GSA sponsored seminars under the GSA educational track are free to all attendees.   

Register for NeoCon East

To register for complimentary admissionto NeoCon East visit www.neoconeast.com. Online registration for seminars and special events is now available. Pre-registration ends October 10. For more information, call 800.677.6278 (MART) or visit www.merchandisemart.com.