Flote Lounge Collection by Hightower wins top honors at Best of NeoCon 2023; 114 awards presented in 50+ categories
Commercial interiors event NeoCon has announced the winners of the 33rd annual Best of NeoCon Awards. The highly esteemed program recognizes products from industry-leading companies that demonstrate unparalleled innovation and design-forward thinking. Selected by a distinguished jury of architects, designers, specifiers, enterprise clients, facility managers and top business media, each of the entries was evaluated on-site in the days leading up to the show. A total of 114 awards were bestowed upon products in more than 50 categories for Gold, Silver, Sustainability, Innovation, Business Impact, and the coveted Best of Competition honors. This year, the Flote Lounge Collection from Hightower (Showroom 1110) received the distinction of Best of Competition.
“The solutions unveiled during this year’s Best of NeoCon reflect the expanded and increasingly diverse range of needs of today’s offices, schools, hotels, restaurants, retail, public space, and healthcare facilities,” remarks Eileen McMorrow of The McMorrow Reports, Best of NeoCon Competition Director since its inception in 1990. “From products designed to promote relaxation and well-being, to solo work pods and acoustic solutions well-suited for concentration and focused work, to collaboration collections for intentional team tasks, this year’s winning products enhance the built environment and contribute to a more balanced user experience.”
Taking this year’s Best of Competition, Hightower’s Flote Lounge Collection was inspired by the support, comfort, and ease of relaxing on a pool float. With its inviting, curve-hugging seat and modern-yet-timeless aesthetic, Flote brings a sensation of buoyancy and cloud-like comfort to the user. Flote Lounge Collection also won Gold in the Furniture > Lounge Furniture Collections category.
“After a few years of tumult and uncertainty, the optimism and comfort of this collection is just what we need to see,” the jury notes. They also praise the collection for “offering a fresh perspective while paying homage to the past and looking toward the future. The inspiring design story and features like a surprising zipper detail, stitching options, and ‘hotdog’ welting exemplify the boldness and creativity behind its design. Situated on this piece, one can’t help but feel a unique and immersive experience that beckons them to stay. Committed to a better tomorrow, Hightower also recently received its B-Corp certification for social and environmental governance.”
The Best of NeoCon jury also recognized six products for its new Business Impact Awards, which honor design excellence through a business-oriented lens. A jury of discerning journalists from media outlets including Fast Company, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Human Resources Executive, Crain’s Chicago Business and 99% Invisible evaluated the curated selection of products based on each solution’s ability to positively impact both the organization and its people. Winners include: OFS’ Tate; Okamura’s Lives Post + Beam; Andreu World’s Bolete Lounge BIO; Schiavello’s Krossi Workstations; Via Seating’s 4-UP; and Makr Furniture’s Moment Collection. From a new workstation system powered by wifi-enabled technology to optimize use and employee wellness to a cushion family designed for meditative spaces, the winning products address the current and emerging trends across verticals.
See the complete list of Best of NeoCon 2023 Winners below, organized by category, award, company and product.
BEST OF COMPETITION
- Hightower for Flote in Lounge Furniture Collections
ACOUSTICS & PRIVACY
Acoustic Solutions
- GOLD: Wolf Gordon for GATHER Acoustical Materials
- SILVER: Zintra for Zintra Organic Etch
Panels/Partitions/Screens/ Space Dividers
- GOLD: Zintra for Zintra Organic Etch
Work Pods
- GOLD: SnapCab for LinkPro
- SILVER: Schiavello for Focus Quiet Rooms
FLOORING
Carpet: Area Rugs
- GOLD: Shaw Contract for Mike Ford + Shaw Contract
- SILVER: Shaw Contract for Cultura
Carpet: Broadloom
- GOLD: Mohawk Group for Mycotopia
- SILVER: Shaw Contract for Cultura
Carpet: Modular
- GOLD: Shaw Contract for Cultura
- SILVER: Patcraft for Material Edit Soft Surface
Hard-Surface Flooring: Natural Materials
- SILVER: Bjelin for Bjelin Hardened Wood Class 33
Hard-Surface Flooring: Vinyl/LVT
- GOLD: Mohawk Group for Taking Root
- SILVER: Shaw Contract for Cultura LVT
FURNITURE
Benching
- GOLD: Makr Furniture for Moment Desking
- SILVER: Schiavello for Krossi Workstations
Case Goods
- GOLD: Tuohy Furniture for Uku Casegoods
- SILVER: Nienkämper for Vox Signature
Collections for Collaboration
- GOLD: Steelcase for Ocular
- SILVER: The Senator Group for CoLab
Conference Room Furniture
- GOLD: HALCON for OPTIC
Education Solutions
- GOLD: The Senator Group for CoLab
- SILVER: Andreu World for In Out Office Monoplace
Enhancements to Furniture Systems
- SILVER: Watson Furniture Group for Tonic Workbench
Furniture Systems
- GOLD: Enwork for Cayman by Enwork
Lounge Furniture Collections
- GOLD: Hightower for Flote
- SILVER: DARRAN Furniture for Dove Lounge
Seating: Benches
- GOLD: OFS for Rowen
Seating: Conference
- GOLD: Davis Furniture for Zen Conference
- SILVER: Dauphin HumanDesign Group for Cempa Nesting
Seating: Ergonomic Desk/Task
- SILVER: Okamura for Sphere
Seating: Guest
- GOLD: Andreu World for Casta
- SILVER: Davis Furniture for Seba Chair
Seating: Modular
- GOLD: Stylex for Luna
- SILVER: Andreu World for Hub Sofa
Seating: Sofas & Lounge
- GOLD: Carolina, an OFS company, for Elara
- SILVER: Martin Brattrud for La Duna
Seating: Stacking
- GOLD: Andreu World for Gala Pure ECO
- SILVER: Davis Furniture for Mudra
Seating: Stools
- GOLD: Allermuir for Ooty
- SILVER: KFI Studios for Vale
Storage
- GOLD: Nucraft for Compatta
- SILVER: HALCON for OPTIC
Tables: Café
- GOLD: OFS for Rowen café
- SILVER: Andreu World for Polina
Tables: Communal
- SILVER: Watson Furniture Group for Tonic Work Table
Tables: Conference
- GOLD: Davis Furniture for Vida
- SILVER: Nienkämper for Gateway Edge
Tables: Height-Adjustable
- GOLD: FlexiSpot for FlexiSpot 4-Leg Standing Desk E7Q
- SILVER: Nienkämper for Gateway Edge
Tables: Occasional
- GOLD: Andreu World for Nazar
- SILVER: DARRAN Furniture for Susu
Tables: Task
- GOLD: NaughtOne for Morse Table System
Workplace Accessories
- GOLD: Makr Furniture for Moment Board
HEALTHCARE
Flooring
- SILVER: Shaw Contract for Dappled Light
Guest & Lounge Seating
- GOLD: Carolina, an OFS company, for Elara
- SILVER: Carolina, an OFS company, for Blueprint
Patient Seating
- SILVER: Wieland Healthcare for The Soul Collection
Textiles
- GOLD: C.F. Stinson for Wellness Essentials
- SILVER: Designtex for Silicone Symphony
INTERIOR PRODUCTS & SOLUTIONS
Architectural Products
- SILVER: Nienkämper for Toko
Demountable Walls
- GOLD: Mute for OmniRoom
Signage & Wayfinding
- SILVER: Takeform for Empath | Behavioral Health Signage
Surfacing Materials & Finishes
- SILVER: Zintra for Zintra Organic Etch
Wall Treatments
- SILVER: Astek for Ascend
LIGHTING
Decorative
- SILVER: BuzziSpace for BuzziPebl Light
Task
- GOLD: Koncept for Yurei Co-Working Light
OUTDOOR
Fabrics
- SILVER: Carnegie Fabrics for Al Fresco
Furniture: Seating
- GOLD: Nardi S.p.A. for Net Lounge
- SILVER: Andreu World for Gala Pure ECO
Furniture: Tables
- GOLD: Allermuir for Tibo
Integrated Solutions
- SILVER: HALCON for OPTIC
Upholstery
- GOLD: Camira for Camirarevolution
- SILVER: C.F. Stinson for Shape, Line & Color
INNOVATION AWARDS
- Acoustic Solutions: Zintra for Zintra Organic Etch
- Architectural Products: Okamura for Lives Post + Beam
- Carpet: Area Rugs: Shaw Contract for Mike Ford + Shaw Contract
- Hard-Surface Flooring: Vinyl/LVT: Patcraft for Material Edit Hard Surface
- Integrated Solutions: Thinkspace for Neuron Activation Pod
- Workplace Accessories: Vaask for Vaask
- Tables: Occasional: Andreu World for Alla
- Seating: Modular: SIXINCH for Elevate
- Seating: Sofas & Lounge: Schiavello for Vali Sofa Collection
- Seating: Stacking: Davis Furniture for Perle
- Lounge Furniture Collections: DARRAN Furniture for Dove Lounge
- Seating: Benches: Mizetto for Lumber
- Seating: Conference: Dauphin HumanDesign Group for Cempa Nesting
- Seating: Ergonomic Desk/Task: Haworth for Fern 75th Anniversary & Digital Knit Project
- Seating: Stools: Dauphin HumanDesign Group for Allora Poufs
SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS
- Upholstery: Camira for Camirarevolution
- Flooring: Shaw Contract for Dappled Light
- Furniture: Seating: Andreu World for Gala Pure ECO
- Tables: Occasional: Andreu World for Bolete Occasional BIO
- Tables: Occasional: BOLD Furniture for retreeve Tables Collection
- Tables: Conference: Mantra Inspired Furniture for EarthPly Collection
- Tables: Communal: Andreu World for Tamara
- Acoustic Solutions: BlockO for BlockO Four & BlockO Six
- Hard-Surface Flooring: Vinyl/LVT: Mohawk Group for Taking Root
- Specialty Flooring: HMTX Industries for The Mycelium Collection of SRP
- Seating: Modular: Andreu World for Hub Sofa
- Seating: Sofas & Lounge: Via Seating for Vooom
- Furniture Systems: Schiavello for Climate Workstation System
- Lounge Furniture Collections: Nienkämper for Beam
BUSINESS IMPACT AWARDS
- WINNER: Seating: Sofas & Lounge: Andreu World for Bolete Lounge BIO
- WINNER: Architectural Products: Okamura for Lives Post + Beam
- WINNER: Workplace Accessories: OFS for Tate
- WINNER: Benching: Schiavello for Krossi Workstations
- WINNER: Collections for Collaboration: Makr Furniture for Moment Collection
- WINNER: Seating: Ergonomic Desk/Task: Via Seating for 4-UP
- HONORABLE MENTION: Flooring: Mohawk Group for Medella Well
- HONORABLE MENTION: Guest & Lounge Seating: Kwalu for Padua Collection
- HONORABLE MENTION: Seating: Sofas & Lounge: Schiavello for Vali Sofa Collection
- HONORABLE MENTION: Seating: Benches: OFS for Rowen
- HONORABLE MENTION: Seating: Conference: Allermuir for Famiglia
BEST OF COMPETITION FINALISTS
- Demountable Walls: Mute for OmniRoom
- Tables: Communal: Andreu World for Tamara
- Tables: Conference: Davis Furniture for Vida
- Seating: Stacking: Andreu World for Gala Pure ECO
- Education Solutions: The Senator Group for CoLab
See the full list of Best of NeoCon 2023 winners, with images and descriptions, or the complete 2023 Best of NeoCon Gallery of Entrants and Winners, sortable, on the NeoCon website.