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Record-Breaking Growth at EDspaces 2015

  • 11/10/15

Silver Spring, Md. — The Education Market Association (EDmarket) hosted the EDspaces Conference and Expo, October 28-30, in New Orleans to showcase the very best products and share great ideas to improve learning environments.  EDspaces brought together 1,790 key decision makers, product experts, and exhibitor personnel to focus on how educational facilities, furniture, fixtures and equipment can impact student performance — an increase of 33 percent over 2014 for total attendance and an increase of 24 percent excluding the exhibitor personnel. A total of 152 companies exhibited new and innovative products with 37 companies holding 65 sales meetings during the event for product training on all of the great new items.

For the second year, the American Institute of Architects Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) held its Annual Fall Conference in conjunction with EDspaces. The CAE was instrumental in planning many of the education sessions, and the Expeditionary Learning & Facility Tour of LB Landry High School, Ursuline Academy, and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts on Friday. In addition to the three excellent schools, participants on the bus tour visited areas in interest post-Katrina including the 9th Ward, Musician’s Village, and the Bio District.

During the event, attendees could choose from over 30 CEU-accredited sessions both on and off the floor that delivered high-quality content focused on state-of-the-art, sustainable design and the changing face of learning environments. Each day featured a General Session with keynote speakers including Jed Horne, a journalist covering Hurricane Katrina for the New Orleans Times-Picayune; Tim Cole, Sustainability Officer for the Virginia Beach City Public Schools; and Elliott Washor, co-founder and co-director of Big Picture Learning.

Attendees were among the first to see the winners of the 2015 EDspaces Innovation Awards, juried by EDmarket strategic partner, the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) in conjunction with Learning by Design magazine. The EDspaces Innovation Awards was created to recognize manufacturers and designers for excellence in product design for the learning environment.

The 2015 EDspaces Innovation Awards winners are as follows:

BEST OF COMPETITION

  • Manufacturer: Borgo Contract Seating
    Product: Pivot

FURNITURE (TIE)

  • Manufacturer: Kidsfit
    Product: The Kinesthetic Classroom
  • Manufacturer: Palmer Hamilton
    Product: Reload Train

SEATING

  • Manufacturer: Borgo Contract Seating
    Product: Pivot

SPECIALTIES

  • Manufacturer: FSR Inc.
    Product: MiniVu Collaboration Station

EQUIPMENT

  • Manufacturer: Bretford Manufacturing
    Product: Bretford TechGuard Charging Lockers

Not only were the best products on display but also the best places to learn. EDspaces showcased winners from the AIA CAE Design Awards and the Council of Educational Facility Planners International’s World Conference on Learning Environments in the exhibit hall. These jury-selected projects demonstrate quality of form, functionality, and current architectural responses that promote learning for people of all age groups.

During the exhibition, attendees could view a special exhibit in the hall entitled: “Rebuilding New Orleans’ Schools — Beyond the High Water Mark,” presented by the New Orleans chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. This local group also partnered with EDspaces to deliver truckloads of school furniture and equipment products valued at $130,000 donated by 32 exhibiting companies to children in need following the event.

For more information, visit www.ed-spaces.com.

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