Global financial services provider Deloitte recently released a new report in collaboration with independent research firm Workplace Intelligence that explores why organizations are generally struggling to improve workforce well-being and what it could take to finally make progress on this important issue.

Now in its second year, the survey revealed that employee well-being has worsened across all dimensions. For employers, the path forward will likely require a strong focus on delivering immediate impact but ultimately should shift toward a more long-term view — one that prioritizes people over profits. To achieve this, leaders should increase their support for their managers, and they also should hold themselves and their organizations more accountable. 

The report, Advancing Workforce Well-being, sheds light on what leaders should do to help move the needle on workforce well-being, digs into the role that managers and executives should play, and discusses why human sustainability should be part of the long-term solution.

Read more . . .

A master class in the elements of design with a modern point of view, Shape, Line & Color from Stinson offers ten high-performance patterns ranging from large-scale, brightly colored geometrics to sophisticated textures. Shape, Line & Color can provide a welcoming, textural anchor in a space or a dramatic center point of any environment.

All fabrics in the collection, 86 colorways across 10 patterns, are GREENGUARD Gold Certified and do not contain PFAS. Feature patterns Collage, Formation and Abstract are constructed using post-consumer recycled polyester and are produced in the U.S., helping to minimize carbon footprint.

The Best of NeoCon 2023 Silver Award for upholstery textiles was well-received by the jurors, who collectively observed Shape, Line & Color’s great design process and many applicable colorways. “This is a fun and vibrant palette with a variety of patterns to support myriad design styles. I enjoyed learning about the art behind the patterns. The collection could inject some fun in a space,” noted one juror.

Read more . . .

Newmark arranges $535.8m financing for largest-ever office-to-residential conversion in the U.S.

Global commercial real estate services firm Newmark has arranged a $535.8 million loan on behalf of GFP Real Estate, Metro Loft Management and Rockwood Capital for the acquisition and redevelopment of 25 Water Street. 25 Water Street is a 22-story, 1.1 million-square-foot office building in New York City’s historic Financial District. This transaction represents the largest ever office-to-residential conversion in the United States.

Upon redevelopment, the property will be refitted to feature approximately 1,300 residential units ranging from studios to four-bedrooms. The property’s 12’4″ slab-to-slab ceiling heights and expansive 40,330-square-foot floor plates provide an attractive canvas for residential conversion.



Fitness amenities are expected to include a basketball court, a steam room/sauna, indoor and outdoor pools and sports simulators. Lifestyle amenities are expected to include an expansive sky lounge and landscaped outdoor rooftop terrace, and multiple entertainment and coworking spaces.

Read more . . .

Experience Bradley’s exclusive WashBar technology that combines soap, water, and dryer in one complete handwashing fixture. 

No more touching dirty faucet handles. The touchless technology ensures a germ-free handwashing experience, reducing exposure to harmful pathogens.

With the soap dispenser included, you'll have access to soap right at your fingertips, making the transition from soap to water as efficient as it gets. 

Say goodbye to paper waste! The built-in hand dryer eliminates the messy water dripping across the floor. Eliminating paper towel waste is environmentally friendly, promoting sustainable practices. Perfect for high-traffic areas, the touch free WashBar fits seamlessly into airports, restaurants, schools, offices, and more.

Upgrade any restroom design with the Bradley All-in-one WashBar and provide users an enhanced handwashing experience. Visit BradleyCorp/WashBar now to transform your next commercial handwashing space.

Sustainable lab facilities in Missouri will help USDA-FSIS to address public health challenges

USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. J. Emilio Esteban, GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan, USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service Administrator Paul Kiecker and City of Normandy Mayor Mark Beckmann recently celebrated the groundbreaking for the new home of the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service Midwestern Laboratory in Normandy, Missouri.

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is the public health regulatory agency within the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) responsible for ensuring that domestic and imported meat, poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, and properly labeled.

The state-of-the-art facility will both incorporate and support science and technology to address present and future public health challenges. This facility will also support a deeper commitment to sustainability to help minimize environmental impact from construction to operation while ensuring efficiencies that save taxpayer dollars. 

Read more . . .

Manufactured in Italy and designed by renowned designer Martin Ballendat, Cala is a collection of chairs and benches with a unique seat and back that is 3D printed in recycled polypropylene mesh. The seat is specially designed to drain rainwater efficiently for outdoor use. Other new additions on display were Mellow from Sandler’s Tonon collection. Mellow is a super comfortable and generously proportioned lounge chair and sofa series plus a matching side chair, ideal for both corporate and hospitality settings.

Watch Sandler Seating's NeoCon 2023 virtual showroom tour. 

Want to see 400-plus products for FM needs from 150 exhibitors and sponsors along with 50 expert-led sessions in five educational tracks? If so, Orlando is your destination when NFMT Remix returns, October 25-26, 2023.

Driving Facilities Management Forward is NFMT Remix theme. Over the years, more that 100,000 facilities pros have attended NFMT between its shows in Baltimore, Las Vegas and Orlando. They come for the conference sessions for Pro and Elite attendees. These 60‐minute sessions provide a comprehensive exploration of facilities management concepts and applications, covering crucial aspects such as technology, maintenance, operations, and space management.

The Huddles, also for Pro and Elite attendees, offer a for a casual and engaging 60‐minute chat on a front-burner FM trend. 

Conference session tracks include: Energy Efficiency & Sustainability; 

FM Technologies; Health, Safety & Wellness; Leadership, Culture & Career, and Standards & Codes.

Read about sessions we will attend . . .

In a world of ever-changing trends and design aesthetics, Davis Furniture Industries, Inc., a contract furniture design leader with an illustrious 80-year legacy, continues to dominate the Best of NeoCon awards year after year. Eileen McMorrow, editor-in-chief of The McMorrow Reports & FMLink, sat down with Rob Easton, the vice president of design and development at Davis Furniture, to unravel the secret behind their consistent success. With each jury lineup changing, one thing remains constant – Davis Furniture's unwavering commitment to design excellence.

Easton shares how design lies at the heart of the Davis brand, the importance of materiality, customer service, and the fine balance of working with both facility managers and interior designers. Accompanied by valuable comments and feedback from the Best of NeoCon jurors, this interview offers an inside look into the world of Davis Furniture Industries, where the voices of industry experts underscore the exceptional quality and innovative spirit that sets Davis apart. From the award-winning Vida Collection to the innovative Mudra stackable seating, Davis Furniture demonstrates its prowess in delivering cutting-edge, functional and visually striking furniture that stands the test of time.     

Read more . . .

Medella Well by Mohawk Group, part of the Healthy Environments collection, is PVC-Free homogeneous resilient sheet flooring that is Beyond Carbon Neutral. Inspired by the innate human connection to the natural world, Medella Well was created with the intent to provide comfort for patients and family members with a soothing sense of natural forms and texture, featuring a contemporary terrazzo visual in a palette of soft neutrals and refreshing brights. 

Medella Well also delivers high performance and ease of cleaning that healthcare and life-sciences spaces require. Suitable for the most demanding environments, Medella Well delivers natural beauty in addition to unparalleled performance.

A Best of NeoCon juror says, “Great healthcare colors! I will specify this product."

Global real estate and professional services firm JLL announced that it is now delivering integrated facilities management (IFM) and operations services to the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building Complex in New York City for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).The JLL Government Facilities Management team, supported by a large team of JLL and GSA industry experts, led the transition efforts for JLL.

Dating back to its opening in 1969, the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building is the tallest federal building in the U.S. at over 41 stories. Located at 26 Federal Plaza in the Civic Center neighborhood, the complex has its own ZIP code and is home to federal agencies.

"We are honored and excited to be partnering with the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building Complex to deliver best-in-class facility management and operations services. By ensuring the smooth operation of this iconic complex, our facilities management team plays a pivotal role in supporting the work of federal agencies and advancing the mission of good governance," stated Monique Derrick, managing director, Government & Education.

Read more . . .

Failing furniture is a universal challenge for healthcare to education to hospitality, but Kwalu’s surfaces on the Bolsena Lounge Collection solves this perennial problem by combining its guaranteed not-to-age for 10 years’ surfaces, with field-replaceable seat upholstery and a clever and easy access clean out.

The Bolsena Lounge Collection’s arms and frame are made of Kwalu’s solid surface proprietary and multi-award-winning finishes which look like wood or metal, but have none of the drawbacks like rusting or failing and degrading polyurethane coatings. Designers might be shy to select metal surfaces that could potentially rust or wood surfaces that may lose their poly topcoat quickly. So Kwalu’s full spectrum solid surfaces comprised of “Metallics that Aren’t Metal” that cannot rust, combined with “Wood Surfaces that Aren’t Wood,” offer innovative alternatives.

Read more . . .