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OFS BRANDS MAGAZINE | �RD ISSUE | SUMMER ����
A PEEK INTO THE CULTURE OF OFS BRANDS
Interior Designer Highlight: Rachel Botten
Page 40
OFS BRANDS01
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONTACT US
OFS Brands
1204 East Sixth Street
Huntingburg, IN 47542
T 800-521-5381
Find your nearest showroom:
http://ofsbrands.com/information/showrooms
CONTENTS02 Welcome
A Letter from Ryan Menke, SVP Sales + Marketing
04 Roger Webb’s Journey in Design Focusing on people in a changing world
08 A Workplace Worth Working In Powerful new ways to meet the needs of employees
10 CET Designer and Spec+ Designing easier, faster, and better
13 Portfolio Introducing our newest products
25 Investing in the Future of Design Partnering with IIDA and design educators
26 A Success Story Highlighting some of this year’s best projects
30 What’s Next for Healthcare? Making sense of a changing medical landscape
33 Inspiration from Within Get to know a few of our awesome people
37 Minds Wide Open Making connections over making the grade
38 Advance in the Pursuit of WELL AP™ A Q&A with two of our newly accredited employees
39 What is WELL? An overview on the WELL Building Certification program
40 Interior Designer Highlight: Rachel Botten A journey from KSU’s Design School to HOK
42 A Message Sustained Environmental thinking, years ahead of its time
45 A Taste of Cool Springs Corporate chef Aimee Blume’s white fish picatta recipe
What’s Next for Healthcare?
Page 30
Roger Webb’s Journey in Design
Page 04
02OFS BRANDS
03GET SOCIAL
Getting Social With OFS BrandsWant to see your photo featured on our Instagram feed? Post a photo of your experience with
one of our brands with the hashtag #ofsbrands. We’ll pick our favorites and publish them each month.
@maven_west The e£ortless and cool Mention lounge chair by FirstO¤ce #OFSbrands
#FirstO¤ce #BoostStool...
@daviscorporatesolutions This space never gets old...and we love to see people enjoying the furniture. #daviscorporatesolutions #ofsbrands #beautifulplaces #guardianbuilding #furniture
#cantwaitfortheco£eeshop
@courtney383 It was a long first week back to work but we did it little man. Supporting his
mama by rockin his #ofsbrands onesie... but man am I going to miss those snuggles!
@sharabecker Friday morning work vibes #ofsbrands
@mvox #photoshoot #design #teammvox @ofsbrands #ri£table
@hildog24 Ice Cream @ The Broad Museum #ofsbrands #dga #gmbusinessinteriors
@thinkchromatic Our new Ri£ ping pong conference table is here!! #cgi #studio
#picoftheday #o¤cial #squad #dreamteam #anotherdayattheo¤ce #benchwarmers
#takincareofbusiness #custom #ofs #ri£table #teammeeting #gatherround
@lcortinaz Obviously having too much fun with recliners with @amazingallysini!!
#ofsbrands
WELCOMERyan Menke
SVP Sales + Marketing
We believe your past informs your future, and your values
inform your direction. This year marks our 80th together as a
company. It’s a milestone that compels us to think about what
has mattered to us over the last eight decades in the context of
the years to come.
Even after all this time, we’re still a family business. We’re
rooted in people and our roots run deep. Our home in southern
Indiana is much more than a geographic identity, and we care
deeply about our people—a growing community that includes
employees, partners, and customers around the globe. Treating
those we interact with like family members has grounded us
through 80 years of shifting markets and a changing world.
We’ve always started by caring about people, so we’ve always
focused on creating great experiences, not just great products.
We believe our lives are richer when the places around us
support experiences that we need as people, which is why
we design products for those places from a human-centered
perspective.
An anniversary like this is not just a moment to reflect—it’s
also an opportunity to look into the future and imagine what
we’ll do together in years to come. Technology continues to
change our lives. Nature continues to inspire our work. Every
day we learn more about how to help people thrive. Right now,
people are longing for a sense of home in workplaces, hospitals,
classrooms, and more. People need new and better ways to
create environments that truly support human experiences.
This publication documents just a few of the ways that we are
working to meet those needs.
The last 80 years represent countless meaningful experiences
in the lives of the people we work with and for. I believe that if
we stay true to our focus on people, the next 80 years will hold
many more.
@totalo�ceinteriors We are loving how this casual meeting space came together! #popofcolor
#library #meetingspace #collaborate #huddle #o¤ce #furniture #design #cambridge
#comfortable #lovewhereyouwork #lightingdesign
04OFS BRANDS
05MEET ROGER WEBB
was getting smaller, people were returning to the comfort and
style of mid-century modern design.
By humanizing their employees’ working environment with a
feeling of warmth and home, companies realized they could
retain and attract the workers that would help them weather
economic turmoil without significant cost. This previously
untapped benefit, combined with decisions to opt for pay cuts
instead of layo£s, resulted in unemployment staying relatively
stable, even at a time when it might have risen sharply.
Significant social, economic, and cultural shifts like these have
influenced my work throughout my career. To create designs
that meet human needs is a task with continually evolving
requirements, tools, and inspirations. The products I’ve designed
for OFS Brands have been very much inspired by these e£orts
to bring a sense of home to other environments. They have also
been the result of years of research and experience, cultivated
since I started my career back in the 1970s.
THE ADVENT OF THE MODERN WORKPLACE
In 1975, I left the Royal College of Art to join the o¤ce of Prof.
Robert Heritage, a prominent designer. Heritage had made his
name in the 1950s designing residential furniture, especially
sideboards (now collector’s items and sold through top auction
houses), chairs, sofas, and track lighting, then an innovative new
product. However, it soon became evident that new projects
were migrating to contract furniture. This shift correlated with
declining manufacturing and manual work and increasing white
collar work—a signal of the coming knowledge economy.
In 1978, I designed my first o¤ce chair. At this time, synchronised
mechanisms, five star bases, twin wheel casters, gas struts, and
columns were all new and exciting components to be explored—
and yet, no restrictive standards had yet been devised.
The chair was based around an articulating steel frame,
elasticised seat and back membranes, encapsulated in molded
foam. An elegant minimalist design, it proved to be remarkably
successful, but somewhat di¤cult to manufacture. Also, while the
chair had positive lumbar support, the sprung (but flat) seat and
back panels were insu¤cient for long-term use. Still, the project
provided me enthusiasm, curiosity, and an early understanding of
task-seating ergonomics.
By the time I founded Roger Webb Associates in 1989, the same
year the World Wide Web was launched for commercial use, the
o¤ce market had exploded along with technology. Almost all
my first commissions were for ergonomic work chairs and wire-
managed system desks.
STARTING WITH THE SIT
While working for a specialist pre-form plywood manufacturer,
I had the opportunity to do in-depth research on the human
back and its form. I built a seating rig based around a bag of
polystyrene beads that people could sit against. We could
capture the person’s form by pumping the air out of the
bag, leaving a cast of the back. This method produced three
archetypal back shapes from the sample of 23 people we tested.
We used these shapes to design “o£-the-shelf” pre-formed
ergonomic plywood chair backs for the client. These shapes
could then be machined, upholstered, and fitted to any task chair
range. Two of the shapes conformed to the standard “s-shaped”
vertical plane, but the third also wrapped around the back
to provide positive pelvic and lumbar support. All three were
remarkable commercial successes, but the latter became the
best-seller—over 150,000 units each year.
The commercial results of this project convinced me of the
importance of long-term comfort and ergonomic support. We
have incorporated this consideration into so many designs that
it’s now a part of our design signature.
So when we designed Genus Range for Highmark, the form of
the chair’s mesh and elastomeric backs were crucial. Mesh tends
to want to pull flat, so we spent considerable time prototyping
and developing a frame profile that allowed the mesh to be
manipulated into a shape that provides good pelvic and lumbar
support. The Genus elastomeric, on the other hand, is molded
and easier to deal with. The challenge with elastomeric is getting
the back to respond to each individual’s distinctive shape and
form, but when it works well, this material provides a high level
of comfort.
We applied the same attention to the back shapes of the Genus
side chair and High Density Stacker. The side chair is only
available in mesh, but it proved no less challenging, as the back
ROGER WEBBCalls Home: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
Graduate of Leeds Polytechnic and The Royal College of Art.
Worked for Prof. Robert Heritage and then Design Manager
of Antocks Lairn Group. Co-founder of D+D before starting
Roger Webb Associates in 1989.
www.webbassociates.co.uk
Roger Webb and David Lancaster with Rick Rademacher review Heya Sketch Studies for Heya by Roger Webb
ROGER WEBB’S JOURNEY IN DESIGNFocusing on people in a changing worldWritten by Nick Blessinger Director of Product Marketing
A few months ago, the OFS Brands design workshop in southern
Indiana received a wooden box, almost like a shipping crate, layered
and outfitted with numerous holes and tracks.
The crate was a seating rig, sent for testing from across the
pond by Roger Webb and David Lancaster of our London design
partners, Webb Associates.
Soon after, the Brits arrived themselves to collaborate with
counterparts from our team. When they started, the rig still
didn’t look much like a chair—but for these two, the aesthetic
design always comes after they figure out the “sit.” Working with
collaboration, humor, and care, Roger, David, and the rest of the
team slowly refined an elegant frame and the upholstery for the rig.
During dinner together in town later, Doug Shapiro of OFS Brands
asked Roger how designing furniture has changed since he started
in the industry.
Roger laughed before responding, “Well, first of all Doug, you
weren’t even born yet. A lot has changed, but what is still the
same for me is that I still start with hand sketches from my draft
table. Technology can help bypass steps if you want those steps
bypassed. To me, drawing and sketching is still the same and always
the place to start.”
Soon after, the pair returned to their home o¤ce in Chiswick
(a leafy West London suburb) to draw, craft, fiddle, scrap, and
tinker. Here, they research and observe, carefully thinking through
how people will interact with their next creation. It’s this attention
to detail that enables them to translate the abstract idea of what a
person needs into a beautiful, functional design.
THE JOURNEY OF DESIGN BY ROGER WEBB
I started working with OFS Brands soon after the financial crash
of 2008. Amid pressure to drive down costs, companies in London
still needed ways to attract talent, retain valued sta£, and improve
productivity.
At this time, demand for ergonomic seating was slowing. The
2000s had seen desks transform into benches, influenced by
the mass production and availability of flat screen monitors.
The removal of large monitors freed up desk space and design
parameters, initiating a cultural and technological shift.
One solution that quickly gained momentum in this context was
creating attractive o¤ce environments that combined the resources
of a work environment and the amenities of a home environment. I
originally termed them “the spaces in between,” but now, they are
known as “third spaces.”
The busyness of the 2012 Olympics would later make it necessary
for many London employees to work from home, furthering this
trend of the residential aesthetic in the workplace. As technology
“ Our aim has and always will be: to design products that sit harmoniously in their environment, creating experiences for people that turn the ordinary to the extraordinary.”
06OFS BRANDS
07SECTION
size is smaller and o£ers less area to manipulate the mesh into
shape. The high density stacker, molded from polypropylene,
manages to use this flexible material to follow the same back
form as the others.
FOCUSING ON THE FEELING
Back forms were also a major consideration in the HUG chair we
designed for Carolina. As a healthcare chair, this piece already
had to meet numerous functional demands—such as ease of
sitting down and getting up, which we accomplished with
armrests placed as far forward as possible; ease in cleaning to
ensure infection control; and the stability and durability to last in
a tough environment. But, most of all, we knew this chair needed
to provide something else: comfort for someone on the road for
recovery. Physical hugs have been shown to have positive e£ects
on wellbeing and health, so we sought to provide that same
sensation in a chair.
Aesthetically, we wanted to incorporate a residential, crafted feel
in the detail of the frame. We took inspiration from mid-century
Scandinavian furniture, instilling our own language and identity
with a carefully crafted chamfer that runs around the framework
to give it a lightness. It’s a traditional detail, used over the
centuries to remove sharpness on wood edges, but we now can
harness the extraordinary dexterity of CNC machines to produce
this frame with remarkable precision.
COLLABORATIVE CREATION
Today I work on a team of three designers. David Lancaster
joined me just after the millennium. He studied fine art sculpture
in school, but decided to use this interest in more practical
applications during a postgraduate furniture design course.
While I am a member of the baby boom generation, David falls
into the latter half of Generation X. He came on board just as I
was investing in CAD and in need of graduates with software
expertise. David’s growing knowledge and skill allowed us to
faithfully translate our designs to a wide variety of manufacturing
materials and processes.
The third member of our team is Sam Arnold, a Millennial trained
as a product designer at Bristol University. Sam brings a unique
perspective because of his deafness, a quality that in no way
detracts from his design, and allows him to help us design more
intentionally for all human needs and abilities.
We subscribe to the “form following function” school of thought,
and enjoy the process of taking ideas from an initial sketch idea
right through to production. Our design process today starts
with observation, interrogation and analysis. The nature of work
varies greatly in government, commerce, education, healthcare,
and leisure, and we look for common threads uniting these
disparate organizations and activities.
INSPIRATION FROM INSIGHTS
Our analysis methods provided the inspiration for Heya, a new
seating line from OFS. The evolution of open plan o¤ces has led
to a decline in aural and visual privacy. While these environments
have many advantages, such as quick communication, easy
collaboration, proximity to support, and belonging to a
community, there are also many numerous disadvantages, such
as distraction, lack of privacy, poor acoustics, an inability to
concentrate or focus.
In Heya, we have created small rooms, in the form of high
back seating that provides privacy, a place to contemplate,
focus, and escape. Grouped together, Heya forms spaces for
co-creation, breakout, collaboration, and socializing. We wanted
to create a design that was flexible enough to meet all of these
requirements. When set into open plan landscapes, these pieces
break up the o¤ce by provide islands of privacy, complete with
built-in access to power.
Although Heya is a working tool, our most important criteria is
the comfort and experience of the user. We built a number of
seating rigs to test and establish the level of comfort we wanted
to achieve and field tested the results. At the same time, we
developed a residential aesthetic and visual softness with which
to present the rig.
CRAFTING EXPERIENCES THAT MATTER
The constant in all our designs has been a priority on the human
experience. When I set out as a junior designer in the 1970s,
the primary technology available was the dyeline printer and
the telephone. Over the years, layer upon layer of additional
technology has changed the way we work. But furniture, while
having changed in function and context, has stayed critically
relevant to the physical and emotional needs of people.
Our aim has and always will be: to design products that sit
harmoniously in their environment, creating experiences for
people that turn the ordinary to the extraordinary.
08OFS BRANDS
09WORKPLACE
A WORKPLACE WORTH WORKING INPowerful new ways to meet the needs of employees
Written by Wesley Edmonds District Sales Manager | Atlantaand Nick Blessinger Director of Product Marketing
Picture a Monday morning. The elevator has just opened onto
the floor where your employees work. Are they excited to step
o£ that elevator? As they file out, are they able to find focused,
shared, or team-oriented environments to work in? Do your
spaces enhance or detract from the culture you’re trying
to create?
Today, we have access to an overwhelming amount of
information on how we should work—more than ever before.
Simply knowing who to listen to and how to actually apply this
knowledge can be a challenge.
Luckily, there’s a proven approach that will help you e£ectively
filter and apply research: start with your people. You don’t
need to be an ethnographer to notice how people work. Your
employees might not be able to accurately describe what they
want from a workspace, but observing their behavior will always
reveal what really matters to them.
Once you understand your people, you can approach findings
and trends with a new lens. For every piece of content, you
can ask a direct question: “would this meet the needs of my
employees?” When you actually know your people’s needs, you
can cut to the core of what you’ve read and evaluate if it applies.
With the foundation of this human-centered approach, let’s
walk through some powerful new ways to meet the needs of
employees and future-proof your workplace.
INDIVIDUALS NEED CHOICES
To do our best work, we have things we all need from our
workplaces. Depending on our role, responsibilities, and
personality, we make choices about how and where we try to
meet those needs.
For example, across all generations of workers, people are
gravitating toward unassigned communal working spaces. Pam
Light, Senior Vice President at HOK in Los Angeles, describes
this trend: “Clients ask me, ‘what’s this space over here you
planned with nobody’s name on it?’ I respond with, ‘that is where
the most work will get done.’ We purposely plan in 30% to 40% of
communal space, because the research and our experience shows
how important it is to productivity and overall culture.”
Take a close look at how your organization works. Do your people
have ancillary spaces to work alongside others? Are they trying
to meet this need in another way? Planning communal spaces in
addition to primary workstations gives people the option to work in
the ways that best suit them at di£erent points in their day.
HOMEFULNESS AND WELLBEING
At heart, everyone needs to feel secure, comfortable, and valued.
In the o¤ce, we can model the way that your home can meet
these needs.
When employees feel that work has elements of home, a place
where they feel comfortable and well, the di£erence will be
reflected in the lives of employees and the bottom line. Workplaces
that provide a sense of home help employees achieve greater
wellbeing—increasing productivity and ensuring the longevity of a
space.
One crucial way to focus on wellbeing is providing opportunities
for movement. Extended periods of sedentary working in just one
spot, whether standing or sitting, can be detrimental to mental and
physical health. Instead, you can empower and inspire employees
by creating di£erent spaces that they can choose to move through
during their day.
ADAPTIVE REUSE
There are nearly 10,000 shared workspaces today. Co-working,
co-living lifestyles are informing new spaces and changing the way
we work.
Impending lease regulation changes suggest that companies will
use shorter leases and less permanent spaces. Similarly, team-
based organizational theories like those proposed by General
Stanley McChrystal (in Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement
for a Complex World) are taking root all over the world—flattening
organizational charts and denouncing current hierarchical
structures.
These shifts translate into considerations like carefully balancing
dedicated personal space with shared space and companies leaving
20% of their space unfinished for “what’s next” in the coming 2-3
years. Similarly, furniture increasingly includes temporary walls
that create functional “rooms within a room”—keeping floor plans
flexible and putting agility at the core of the space.
A FINAL THOUGHT
Brian Graham, interior and industrial designer, recently shared this
thought on the role of design in creating a space: “I think the key is
that you still need a designer who synthesizes everything together.
It’s like an orchestra … you have all these musicians with these
disparate instruments and at some point somebody has to grab the
baton and wield it into a symphony and make the music. Designers
are more challenged today than ever before and they’ve never been
more essential to every aspect of a business.”
If you design this way, from a perspective informed by the needs
of the people you’re designing for, you can create workspaces with
options that are destinations—not dead ends, habitats that capture
a sense of home and inspire wellbeing, and environments that
foster the agility of your organization.
“ At heart, everyone needs to feel secure, comfortable, and valued. In the office, we can model the way that your home can meet these needs.”
10OFS BRANDS
11CET DESIGNER AND SPEC+
Imagine designing a space and specifying furnishings in half
the time; abandoning disparate software programs in favor of a
single solution; letting software handle the technical details with
complete accuracy; producing visualizations of a designed space
in full photorealistic clarity, even in video and virtual reality; and
doing this all before a single cent is spent on furniture.
CET Designer and Spec+ make this possibility a reality.
Developed by Swedish technology company Configura, CET
Designer is an intelligent, highly visual, and intuitive space-
planning software. It’s a simple, quick, and accurate solution that
handles every step of the sales and order process. And it’s a
solution that OFS Brands has fully embraced..
We first partnered with Configura for its CET (Configura
Extension Technology) Designer Extension in June 2015. This
extension, dubbed Spec+, launched in November of that year.
We’ve been adding OFS Brands products ever since. Using the
extension, you can already specify numerous products, including
our First O¤ce STAKS series and the Ri£, Element, Quest, and
Impulse G2 product lines, with more on the way.
ALL-IN-ONE TOOLIn CET Designer, users work with representations of our products
that look and behave like actual objects. Users simply drag and
drop these components into 2D and 3D layouts. Behind the
scenes, CET Designer tracks each component, calculates pricing,
and prevents errors.
Users can create and generate quotes, photorealistic
renderings, movies and VR experiences, installation drawings,
reconfigurations, and bills of materials all in one place—in other
words, everything needed to propose projects and place orders.
“It’s awesome,” says Jessica Vaz Lankhorst of McWaters,
a dealership in Savannah, Georgia. “I’m specifying a lot of
OFS Brands products now because they’re in the CET Designer
Spec+ Extension. It’s so easy to learn about the products and
choose them through this solution.”
Jessica appreciates the many details already included in
the Spec+ Extension: “OFS Brands has included details like
hardware pulls and furniture edges. And they have fabrics
that are ‘graded in’—image tiles from textile companies like
Maharam, Momentum, Arc-Com, CF Stinson, and Designtex.
A lot of other manufacturers haven’t taken their CET Designer
Extensions to this level of detail, but OFS Brands has—and that
means I can give my clients an incredibly clear picture of what
they’re buying.”
In coming months, we plan to incorporate more products into
the extension—a process we can expedite because of our
extensive adoption of Configura technology.
“Knowing how important time, rapid product adaptation, and
accuracy are to designers and salespeople, we continue to
expand our presence in CET Designer,” says Ryan Menke, our
Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Integrating
intelligence with highly specified products epitomizes our
pursuit to deliver value to our dealer-partners.”
FOCUS ON THE DESIGN, NOT THE SPECAshley Meiring and her colleagues on our internal design and
product application team have been helping dealers make the
transition to CET Designer and Spec+.
“It’s so nice to have everything together in one place and all
of the technical details working in the background. It saves us
a lot of time because we don’t have to use multiple software
tools to complete a project—we just use CET Designer. And
making changes is so easy—sometimes just the click of a
button. It’s probably cutting our spec time in half,” says Meiring.
The added simplicity and speed of working with the extension
enables our dealers to focus on design. More time and less
headache when specifying means more space for creativity
and inspiration.
“One of our biggest goals is to give our dealers and designers
the right tools they need to sell our products,” says Hank
Menke, our president and CEO. “CET Designer makes selling
our products fun, easy, and accurate. Most of all, it makes
customers’ experiences great.”
When Configura first introduced their technology to the
American market 11 years ago, many manufacturers and dealers
were hesitant or resistant to adoption, but this has all changed.
CET Designer is now the de facto space-planning technology
standard for the contract furniture industry.
“People get it now,” says Johan Lyreborn, Configura’s co-
founder and CEO. “They intuitively knew all along there was a
better way to sell products, but change can seem scary—that’s
human nature. Yet when you get down to reality, what’s scarier
is not changing, not adapting, not embracing the future. And
that’s what CET Designer o£ers—the future of space planning,
right now.”
Hank Menke agrees: “We need to be at the forefront, and we
need to help our dealers be there too. CET Designer o£ers a
simple approach to specifying option-rich products, delivering
a straightforward yet highly versatile tool so designers can
quickly and clearly communicate their intent.”
CET DESIGNER AND SPEC+Designing easier, faster, and better
Written by Wes Harper Director of Dealer Advancement
“ Knowing how important time, rapid product adaptation and accuracy are to designers and salespeople, we continue to expand our presence in CET Designer”
12OFS BRANDS
13PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIOIntroducing our newest products
Check out more images of our new products on ofsbrands.com
Kintra Design: OFS Brands Design Studio
“Just like innovation, inspiration can be the simplest form of a process or product.”
– John Phillips VP Design
14OFS BRANDS
15PORTFOLIO
Lona Design: Luca Marelli
Eleven Standing Table Design: Xchange Design
Wyre Design: OFS Brands Design Studio
16OFS BRANDS
17PORTFOLIO
Rowen Design: Graham Design
18OFS BRANDS
19PORTFOLIO
Beck Tables Design: OFS Brands Design Studio
STAKS Design: PLD
Heya Design: Webb Associates
20OFS BRANDS
21PORTFOLIO
STAKS Design: PLD
STAKS Design: PLD
Coact Design: OFS Brands Design Studio
22OFS BRANDS
Elani Design: Beck & Beck Design Associates
Saven Design: Studio 3
23PORTFOLIO
Boost Design: OFS Brands Design Studio
24OFS BRANDS
25INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF DESIGN
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF DESIGN
Partnering with IIDA and design educators
Written by Doug Shapiro VP Marketing
An investment in the source of something,
rather than just its products, can be
di¤cult to sell. The long-term nature of
actions like planting a tree can feel like
money down the drain, with a payo£ that
doesn’t show up for decades.
But investing in the source is important.
It signifies a repayment of what has been
borrowed to grow your organization. For
about half a century now, we’ve been
repaying what we owe to the hardwood
forests of southern Indiana.
As furniture manufacturers, for much of
our history the lumber from these forests
was our most important resource—a
resource that was diminishing rapidly.
While the decision to start planting trees
and managing forest lands wasn’t one
with immediate returns or e£ects, we
now own and responsibly manage almost
10,000 acres of FSC forest land.
Our choice to invest in the source of
what we make has been instrumental in
the reforestation e£orts of the region
and an important metaphor for us as an
organization.
This is why, when it comes to design we
think the same way—we’re investing in the
source. In recent years, we have begun to
view the student design community as our
greatest opportunity to foster a crucial
component of our industry.
This e£ort began as a conversation with
Cheryl Durst and the IIDA headquarters
team who dreamt up the “Future of
Design Sponsorship.” Together with IIDA,
we found creative ways to engage with
students and help them grow.
The highlight of these opportunities
during 2016 was hosting students in
our showrooms across the country to
discuss their futures with professionals
in the industry of commercial design.
The insights we gained from these
conversations with students in these
spaces came together in a new, powerful
design publication entitled “The Future of
the Industry” (available on IIDA.org).
In addition to these student roundtables,
we sponsored IIDA’s Career Bootcamp,
Campus Center Awards, and the IIDA
Student of the Year Award, and worked
closely with IIDA in drafting up their
annual Student Design Competition.
We’re already looking forward to future
collaborations in 2017 and beyond.
The process of working with IIDA
to connect to and support the next
generation of designers has inspired and
encouraged us. It’s an investment we
know is worth making.
Hug Design: Webb Associates
Serony Design: Studio 3
26OFS BRANDS
27SUCCESS STORIES
Photography by Kurt Johnson
SUCCESS STORIES
The main lobby features a three-story ceiling
flooding the space with natural light, while bright
colors and modern furniture give the building a
hip-vibe. The main public area of the facility
includes a large community room that is available
for anyone to reserve.
The second floor contains several small themed
sitting rooms, where employees can meet. Themes
include steampunk, beach, underwater, Lego, a
“Thought Bubble” room and others. There’s also a
game room complete with tennis table and outdoor
balcony. The third floor houses the executive o¤ces
and several conference rooms.
MAZUMA CREDIT UNIONOverland Park, Kansas
DESIGNER
Praxis 3
DEALER
Level 5
FEATURED PRODUCTS
01 STAKS Crossover Casegoods by FirstO¤ce Agile Swivel by FirstO¤ce
02 Boost Ottomans by FirstO¤ce
03 Ri£ Table Tennis by OFS
04 Applause Tables by FirstO¤ce
05 Eleven Collaborative Table by OFS Flexxy Swivel by OFS
06 Custom Conference by OFS Arise Swivel by OFS
www.mazuma.org
03
06
04
01
02
05
28OFS BRANDS
29SUCCESS STORIES
Photography by Edward Duarte
HR&A is a workplace for an urban planning firm
located in a high-rise complex in downtown
Los Angeles.
To address their stated need for an open
work culture, the design divided the workplace
into interlocked pairs of semi-private spaces.
There are no traditional private o¤ces. Open and
semi-private work areas dovetail with a library,
lounge, a phone booth and 2 conference areas.
The space frames aerial views of the city, bringing
in light and transparency and in a way keeping the
planners connected to their city.
HR&ALos Angeles, California
DESIGNER
CHACOL, Inc
DEALER
Western O�ce Interiors
FEATURED PRODUCTS
01 STAKS Crossover Casegoods by FirstO¤ce HB Task by Highmark
02 Eleven Collaborative Table by OFS Flexxy Swivel by OFS
03 Ri£ Table by OFS Mile Marker Cabinetry by Carolina
04 Madrid Swivel by OFS Intermix Collaborative Conference by FirstO¤ce Boost Ottoman by FirstO¤ce
www.hraadvisors.com
0101
02
04
03
01
30OFS BRANDS
THE MEDICAL VILLAGE
A multi-service ambulatory care center (MACC) or “medical
village” is a group of specialty care physicians located in a
central facility or campus. A medical village o£ers a complete
range of services on an outpatient basis, including some surgical
procedures.
When dealing with these sort of centers, it’s key to know what
entity is operating the campus: such as the broker community,
the hospitals themselves, a group of physicians—possibly under
a group purchasing organization (GPO) linked to the acute
care facility. Connecting with the party really behind real estate
decisions is crucial to penetrating these campuses.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Projects dedicated to behavioral health account for over half
of all specialty healthcare construction. There are four types of
behavioral health facilities:
• Forensic Care (serving the criminally committed or patients
who pose a danger to others)
• Inpatient care (treating addiction, depression or anxiety
disorders)
• Residential Care (“locked down” care facilities, but not for the
criminally incarcerated)
• Outpatient Care
Since outpatient care can be as simple as a local doctor’s o¤ce,
and forensic care has specialized requirements, we are focusing
on inpatient and residential care facilities for our product
development e£orts.
GROWTH IN THE SECTOR
The healthcare sector is flourishing. Current forecasts predict
between $36 and $40 billion in healthcare construction
spending. The majority of that spending will be dedicated to
“small project build,” meaning ambulatory and surgical care, a
trend indicative of the changing healthcare landscape.
31HEALTHCARE
“What we do know is hospitals have been fiscally healthier and more solvent than ever before. The reduction and virtual elimination of transient care has been an economic boom for the industry. ”
For the last 20 years, we’ve been fortunate to travel all over
this country while working in contract furniture, specifically
healthcare furniture. Over the years and in all areas of the
country, there’s been one topic of conversation that always
comes up, even now: “What’s next for healthcare?”
Today’s political environment has brought healthcare to the
forefront of discussion. As the United States spends about a fifth
of our total GDP on healthcare, this is understandable.
Additionally, our healthcare system will soon receive a huge influx
of people moving into higher levels of care: the Baby Boomers.
This generation, born from 1946 to 1964, represents almost a
quarter of America’s population. In fact, this group of 77 million
people is so large that someone in the USA turns 65 every 10
seconds.
In this country, we have about 1 million sta£ed hospital beds,
but we soon will have 77 million potential patients. This looming
demand on the system from chronic illnesses for the Boomer
population will create problems across the board. So how do
we handle the strain of an unprecedented population in need of
medical care? What’s next for healthcare?
THE RISE OF THE AMBULATORY FACILITY
This trend is becoming so prevalent it’s basically now a feature of
the industry. Ambulatory facilities (facilities providing outpatient
medical care) were the most planned construction projects for
2016 and are again in 2017. In both urban and suburban metro
areas, these projects often also include micro-hospitals: miniature
inpatient facilities of roughly 15,000 to 50,000 square feet and
five to fifteen beds.
INFECTION CONTROL
Again, this trend isn’t really a trend—more of a harsh reality.
Infections acquired in hospitals (nosocomial infections)
account for more than 90,000 deaths every year. This trend
reflects increased e£orts to mitigate the spread of pathogens.
Adaptations include single patient rooms, o£set shower and sink
drains, new materials for surfaces and flooring, and advanced
technology for post-care cleaning of rooms. This cleaning
technology includes such as Xenex’s disinfection robots that
use UV-light emissions to kill germs. When designing a space
for any care facility, infection control must always be part of the
discussion.
MODERNIZATION OF THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
Emergency departments have long been the default place to
get even non-acute care for those with nowhere else to go.
This creates bottlenecks and often causes patients to receive
unnecessarily expensive treatment. Hospitals are reconfiguring
their emergency departments to handle forecasted increases by
creating new rapid treatment areas in which patients with less
serious conditions can be diagnosed, treated, and discharged
without ever entering the main emergency department.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR HEALTHCARE?Making sense of a changing medical landscape
An avid outdoorsman and self-taught mycologist, Jarod Brames has always loved the woods
of southern Indiana. Growing up in the area, he gained an appreciation for the natural beauty
of plant life, cultivating an early interest in the interactions between ethnography and botany.
Jarod is the director of sustainability at OFS Brands, a role that’s inspired by his passion for
nature as he looks for creative ways to keep production in balance with the environment.
On his interest in mushrooms:
“Mushrooms were always a little more mysterious than plants. So I wanted to learn as much as
I could about them… my interest really stemmed from the process of growing them myself.”
On the best part of his job:
“I like being able to tell the story of how di£erent things make the company sustainable and
how they relate to people, rather than just focusing on the numbers—trying to explain why.”
33INSPIRATION FROM WITHIN
JAROD BRAMESOUTDOORSMAN, SELF TAUGHT MYCOLOGIST
Vital Stats
AGE: 36
CALLS HOME: JASPER, IN
OCCUPATION: DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY, OFS BRANDS
Social Hangouts
INSTAGRAM: @JARODBRAMES
LINKEDIN: JARODBRAMES
“I like being able to tell the story of how different things make the company sustainable and how they relate to people...”
32OFS BRANDS
INSPIRATION FROM WITHINThere are people who love what they do so unconditionally that they bring depth
to topics that seem flat. They strike a curiosity in people they meet that opens up
an entirely new world of beauty and perspective. They list fact after fact and tell
story after story of their history with their passion.
These are just a few of these awesome people that make up our OFS Brands family.
34OFS BRANDS
George Ellis is a man of many interests. As the corporate pilot for OFS Brands, he’s been flying leaders and guests
in and out of Huntingburg for over a decade. It’s a gig that has a£orded him chances to visit places as far as
Alaska, having recently returned from a fishing trip up there. While his hobby time is currently spent building his
new home, he’s also a cook, fisherman, and gardener.
On what he appreciates about OFS Brands:
“It’s nice to work for a company with so much history. A third-generation family business, you don’t see it much
anymore—and they’ve really made me feel like I’m part of the family.”
On the most di�cult part of his job:
“The flying part is easy. It’s the customer service and making sure the experience is the best it can be...that’s the
part I work the hardest at—the details. The small things make a di£erence.”
GEORGE ELLISOUTDOORSMAN, GRILL MASTER, PILOT
Vital Stats
AGE: 48
CALLS HOME: JASPER, IN
OCCUPATION: CORPORATE PILOT, OFS BRANDS
“It’s nice to work for a company with so much history.”
Nicole Durcholz has been designing warm and welcoming spaces with
OFS Brands for five years now. Having worked her way up from an
internship with the company, she now works with other members of
the design team in the Blue House Studio on the OFS Brands corporate
campus. Moving to this residential space from an open floor plan has
been an experience that has provided her greater freedom, focus, and
feeling of family with her coworkers. In her free time, Nicole gives back
by mentoring high schoolers through a local ministry.
On sources of inspiration:
“I know I do commercial interiors, but I like drawing inspiration from
residential interiors… I always have felt like residential interiors translate
really well because you want to feel that comfort of home in the o¤ce.”
On her favorite recent project:
“Definitely the Los Angeles showroom. I got to work on it with Pam
Light, who designed STAKS and Focal Point. She’s just fantastic—
learning from her is awesome. She’s a huge inspiration because of how
she handles herself in the workplace… she’s a really good mentor.”
NICOLE DURCHOLZYOUNG LIFE MENTOR, DESIGN ENTHUSIAST
Vital Stats
AGE: 27
CALLS HOME: JASPER, IN
OCCUPATION: INTERIOR DESIGNER, OFS BRANDS
“I have always felt residential interiors translate really well because you want to feel that comfort of home in the office.”
37MINDS WIDE OPEN
For much of education’s history, people
have seen child prodigies as the pinnacle
of success. Society praises and rewards
these students for their ability to master
complex theories while others their
age are just learning the fundamentals.
Prodigies often go on to do influential
and important things, and people often
attribute that success to the mastery of
knowledge they’ve gained.
Today, the value of sheer mastery is being
challenged. In his book, Originals, author
Adam Grant sheds light on prodigies
and why only some have a lasting
impact. Grant argues that while the
ability to understand existing knowledge
is significant, it’s those who are able
to contribute original thought that
really change the world. He argues that
creativity, not just comprehension, always
underlies systemic change in culture,
business, and society. In other words, it’s
not enough to just understand—change
depends on invention.
This idea is new to the way we’ve
always thought about education. The
education system today results from
decades of trying to just help students
better understand. The implementation
of flexibility, movement, and choice has
allowed for more and more individuals
to learn in the way best for them. But
these innovations still don’t approach the
concept of original thinking.
In Humanizing the Education Machine,
Rex Miller and his colleagues trace the
development of the modern classroom,
showing how societal trends and
innovations have brought us to where we
are now. Miller then describes examples
of how taking an approach centered
on empowering students to make new
connections can lead to success, both for
individuals and entire programs.
If, as Grant and Miller suggest, we focus
on students and their needs, we can help
our kids to go beyond just mastering
material; we can help them think
creatively and originally.
All throughout the education system,
perceptive teachers, administrators,
districts, and universities are already
moving in this direction. But it’s not
enough—we need deep systemic change.
We’re at a key turning point for the whole
learning community. It’s time to teach
students how to think in a new way: with
minds wide open.
This simple concept of “minds wide
open” calls for a new definition of
learning, one that we must support by
thinking intentionally as we design the
spaces where learning happens. Learning
is about more than understanding or
remembering information and concepts:
learning is about taking in information,
observations, and experiences and
translating that knowledge to new ideas
through imagination and creativity.
We have the opportunity to create
learning environments based entirely
around imaginative learning with minds
wide open. These environments can
create opportunities for empowering
students to develop a passion for
learning. In designing spaces for
education, we can be part of this
change—a change that will inspire the
curiosity, innovation, and original thinking
our world desperately needs.
MINDS WIDE OPENMaking connections over making the grade
Written by Nick Blessinger Director of Product Marketing
38OFS BRANDS
39WELLBEING
Why was this so important for you personally to get this certification?
Jarod:
As Director of
Sustainability I
am frequently
asked questions
regarding the
emissions, chemical
content data, and overall
impact our furniture products have on
human health and well-being as well as
the impacts to the environment. Pursuing
my WELL AP credential was the perfect
opportunity for me to take a deeper dive
into all aspects that a£ect human well-
being in the built environment.
Vanessa:
I obtained my
LEED®AP in
2008 and with
jobs specifying
the need for
green building
expertise, the LEED
credential is a clear
commitment to professional growth. With
a renewed industry focus on occupant
wellness in the built environment, I
wanted to further my professional
commitment to sustainability, health
and wellness by obtaining my WELL
AP. I believe that in addition to LEED
and other established design and
construction-focused sustainability rating
systems, the WELL Building Standard will
continue to evolve into a more prominent
standard of focus in the future.
Jarod, What did you find most interesting in your WELL education journey?
Jarod:
I probably found it most interesting
that Light and Sound can have such
an e£ect on our overall well-being. We
are taught from an early age that we
are supposed to eat well, get enough
sleep and exercise. We also have natural
senses that can tell us if the air is stale or
the water tastes funny. I don’t feel that
it is as obvious or noticeable when bad
lighting or sound reverberation and lack
of absorption is impacting our moods,
internal rhythms and ability to perform at
our best.
Vanessa, What would you say to others in the industry wishing to pursue WELL accreditation?
Vanessa:
The WELL Building Standard is very
impactful in its ability to put people at
the center of design, focusing on the
benefits our built environment can have
on human health and well-being. When
I decided to pursue this credential I had
many questions – Where do I start? What
should I focus on? How do I ensure I’m
prepared to pass on my first attempt?
For others who may feel it’s important
to join this movement, here are some of
my suggestions on becoming a WELL
AP: Spend an adequate amount of time
studying the materials. I spent 2 months
reading the materials, reviewing flash
cards and quizzes, but dedicated the final
week prior to my exam to focusing solely
on the WELL test prep.
Memorization is key! I focused on various
memorization techniques suggested in
the exam preparation guides that were
very helpful. Example – 12-34-45-56-65-
76-88 is mentioned in a study guide and
denotes the features that serve as the
cuto£ numbers between preconditions
and optimizations of the 7 concepts.
I also found or created references
to remember certain features I had
trouble recalling specific information
on. Examples – NiCoLe is MeAn with
Aresnic. This represents feature 31
inorganic contaminants, part 1 dissolved
metals of nickel, copper, lead, mercury,
antimony and arsenic. Once I had the
reference to the inorganic contaminants
themselves memorized, it became easier
to memorize mg/L limits of each.
Ensure that you feel prepared, but
don’t overload yourself with too many
resources or references. The amount
of materials available online can be
overwhelming. My suggestion is to focus
heavily on the WELL Building Standard,
WELL AP Candidate Handbook, and
WELL AP Exam Preparation Guide (must
purchase) through IWBI, and additional
resources available to purchase through
GBES (Green Building Education
Services) and GBRI (Green Building
Research Institute).
We should put people first. We spend
90% of our time indoors and the
buildings where we live, work, learn
and relax have a profound e£ect on
our well-being and how we feel. It’s
our responsibility to focus on best
practices that create the healthiest indoor
environments as possible. This is why I
chose to become a WELL AP.
Jarod, What has changed about the way you view space after this education?
Jarod:
Before beginning my WELL education
I felt I was fairly knowledgeable about
how buildings operate and what systems
influence occupant health and comfort.
After my WELL education, I realized
I wasn’t! The WELL Standard does a
phenomenal job covering nearly every
aspect that could potentially impact
the health, comfort and overall well –
being of a building’s occupants. It is a
standard that provides guidance on how
to construct spaces that do much more
than providing shelter, work stations
and break rooms. It provides guidance
on how to construct spaces that are
dynamic and truly take care of their
occupants.
OFS BRANDSCEU OFFERING
DESIGNING FOR TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE
Supporting the continuum from research to community application.
In collaboration with the Institute for Patient Centered Design and sponsored by OFS Brands.
With the goal of improving healthcare outcomes, this course will examine the relationship between scientists and clinicians as they partner to develop medical innovations and best practice for health delivery. Translational Science can impact the design of a medical facility as well as traditional research space. This course will examine research “think tank” facilities and discuss design ideas for creating a hybrid of research and clinical spaces to facilitate this collaborative research.
THE CREATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WELL BUILDING INSTITUTE AND THE WELL BUILDING STANDARD
Third party certified through collaboration with Green Business Certification Inc.– the certification body for the LEED Green Building Rating System.
The presentation outlines the criteria supporting certification in which 100 performance metrics, design strategies, and policies work harmoniously with LEED which is now a known acronym standing for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Therefore you could say that LEED is for environment and WELL is for people.
FROM FOREST TO FURNITURE
Understanding the Role of Wood Based Materials in Sustainable Design
This course covers the sustainable use of wood and wood fiber in all of its roles in commercial and healthcare furniture, beginning with proper forest management.
TAMBIENT LIGHTING
This session looks at current industry findings and outlines a path to align furniture and lighting to deliver a future friendly, healthy and engaged human experience. At the end of this course, participants will recognize employee engagement, environmental satisfaction & choice as a primary driver of organizational success. They will also understand how portable o¤ce lighting changes the ROI equation.
Imagine if the building or an interior was
designed to be good for your health and
wellbeing? And without you knowing it.
What if there was a symbol of commitment
that reinforced when you walked through the
door that you could automatically take a deep
breath and the air would be as clean as nature
had intended, or the water you were given
was pure, easily accessible and added to your
wellbeing? What if the snacks made available
were rich with minerals and vitamins and the
surfaces within the break rooms or cafeterias
were always sanitary cleaned and designed
for mindful eating? Imagine an o¤ce where
the lighting actually increased your ability to
concentrate, keep focused and engaged all
day without you having to reach for ca£eine
or a doughnut to sustain or increase your
energy level?
So many questions but what are the answers?
And do the answers o£er solutions that are
a£ordable for all budgets? Welcome to a
WELL Certified Building or Interior!
WELL is a culmination of seven years of
rigorous research in collaboration with
leading physicians, scientists and industry
professionals. The WELL Building Standard
is administered by the International WELL
Building Institute and is third party certified
through collaboration with Green Business
Certification Inc. – the certification body for
the LEED Green Building Rating System.
A WELL Certified Building or Interior o£ers a
stamp of approval that the building or interior
will actually contribute to your health and
wellbeing, and in some ways without you
knowing it. The criteria supporting certification
identifies 100 performance metrics, design
strategies, and policies and is meant to work
harmoniously with LEED which is now a known
acronym standing for Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design. Therefore you
could say that LEED is for environment and
WELL is for people.
At OFS Brands we have utilized the framework
of the WELL Building Standard to not just
provide education to further the knowledge
and support of our partners on the criteria
within the standard but to utilize design,
program and product strategies to support
health and wellbeing, eventually evolving
our own showrooms and o¤ces to meet
the criteria that leads to WELL Building
Certification.
Learn more about the WELL Building
Certification process BEFORE you’re client
asks you to help implement it!
Director of Product Education, Vanessa Englert, WELL AP™, LEED®AP, and Director of Sustainability Jarod Brames, LEED Green
Associate, WELL AP™ are both associates with a long OFS Brands tenure and a passion for doing things the right way. They both
passed the WELL AP test this March. We sat down with them to get some advice for anybody out there considering the pursuit of
this achievement.
WHAT IS WELL?The WELL Building Certification Program
Written by Paul Anderson Vice President of Wellbeing & Development
ADVICE IN THE PURSUIT OF WELL AP™
40OFS BRANDS
“ My advice would be to soak up as much as you can, but don’t take yourself too seriously. After graduation, the learning has only just begun. Make time in school to experiment and explore what gets you excited about design.”
Rachel is an interior designer at HOK
in Los Angeles. While at Kansas State
University, she was part of the Interior
Architecture and Product Design
(IAPD) program, which partners with
OFS Brands to help students get
exposure to the industry during their
undergraduate studies.
Why did you choose to pursue a career in interior design? I’m pretty cliché—I grew up playing
with Legos, building Barbie houses,
and drawing floorplans in chalk on my
driveway. I knew I loved design, but the
idea that you can impact someone on
a more intimate level through furniture,
textiles, or lighting drew me to interior
design specifically. Americans spend
the majority of their time indoors, so
what better way to make a positive
impression on someone’s daily life?
The IAPD program has a special place in the hearts of many of us at OFS Brands. What did you take away from the program?My experience during IAPD is one of
my favorite memories from college.
OFS Brands has a special place in my
heart, too. Partnering with OFS Brands
during that program really opened
my eyes to an area of design I had
never really thought about before—
contract furniture. I fell in love and
hope someday to be able to pursue
that further in my career. When looking
at furniture now I have a greater
appreciation for the research behind
the design as well and how it was
constructed. My favorite memory from
the class would absolutely be getting a
tour of Cool Springs, driving ATVs, and
trap shooting!
Tell us what it’s like to work with Pam Light?Pam is awesome. Obviously. She is
a great role model as a designer, a
woman, and a leader. Her ability to
walk into a room and have everyone’s
attention and respect is so inspiring. I
most admire her honesty, humility, and
positive attitude. She treats everyone as
an equal. Despite being the most insane
multi-tasker, she is never too busy to
answer my questions and explains not
only ‘what’ but ‘why.’ If I can accomplish
even half of all Pam has done for the
design community, I would be perfectly
happy. She is the embodiment of
Shakespeare’s quote, “Though she be
but little, she is fierce.”
Being 2 years into your professional career, what has taken you by surprise?The biggest surprise to me has
been that every day I’m learning
something, and that I will never know
everything. There are so many layers
to our industry and I feel like I’ve
barely scratched the surface. It’s both
intimidating and exciting.
What inspires you?I get inspired by the little things—like
the stitching on a chair or a detail on
the corner of a building. Things that
many people might overlook remind me
what is so cool about design—because
it’s all around us. I also get inspired by
the energy and passion of other people.
For example, the buzz at NeoCon
makes me so excited to be in our
industry and want to match that with
my own energy.
What advice would you have for an interior design student in college right now?My advice would be to soak up as much
as you can, but don’t take yourself too
seriously. After graduation, the learning
has only just begun. Make time in
school to experiment and explore what
gets you excited about design. Take full
advantage of things like 3D printers or
wood shops—even if it’s just for fun.
Travel as much as possible and take
inspiration from everywhere you go.
Sketch! I know it seems annoying and
outdated sometimes, but it is so helpful.
INTERIOR DESIGNER HIGHLIGHT:RACHEL BOTTENA journey from KSU’s Design School to HOK
Interview by Doug Shapiro VP Marketing
42OFS BRANDS
43A MESSAGE SUSTAINED
At this time, agricultural lands (originally created by clear cutting
native forests) were beginning to be depleted of their nutrient
bearing soils. Poor soil results in poor crop production, which
in turn leads to poor farmers, poor economic growth, poor
communities, and continued deterioration of the environment.
Bob saw a solution but needed help to achieve it. So he reached
out to his broad network, formed new relationships, and called
on multi-disciplinary partnerships to create a proposal around
regional zoning, conservation education and basic changes in
Federal agricultural policy.
Firstly, Bob proposed zoning that added value to rural
landowner properties, making it easier to sell worn-out farmland
to forestry development. In addition, he proposed planning
for better land use, that determined development on the basis
of social, recreational, and economic value. This was an early
attempt to give nature a dollar value, despite the challenge of
valuing something with worth that goes beyond what is visible
or measurable.
Secondly, he called for increased conservation education. Bob
believed there should be a full-time position in the State o¤ce
to train public educators on proper conservation principles and
requirements. He petitioned Indiana University to expand its
recently established Urban A£airs Center into an environmental
center with emphasis on city-rural relationships. This e£ort
contributed to the development of the Indiana University
School of Public and Environmental A£airs in 1972. This school
is now the largest public policy and environmental studies
program of its kind.
Bob also challenged Purdue University to increase research
and public discussion on conservation topics, collecting data
for foresters and woodworking industrialists. He dreamed of
one day creating a Southern Indiana Hardwood Institute. A few
years later, Bob was an original board member for the Indiana
Forest and Woodland Owners Association and a frequent
contributor to its periodic newsletters and outreach e£orts.
He was also instrumental in establishing the Indiana Forest
Education Foundation, donating tracts of land to be managed
for education and providing funds to support its mission.
Finally, and perhaps most ambitiously, Bob’s proposal called for
a basic change in federal policy regarding crop and cropland
subsidies. At the time, farmers could receive money through
crop price supports, but these supports incentivized farmers to
use all of their land for crop production, regardless of demand.
The government used supports to ensure consistent crop
supply by purchasing any surplus. This means of controlling
crop commodity supply and demand was viewed by many as
a wasteful practice because the government often disposed
of the surplus they purchased and over-production further
degraded the value of the land.
Bob also suggested changing acreage reserve payments,
which incentivized landowners to not grow crops on highly
erodible land. At the time, measures only required a three
year commitment and still allowed certain farming activities
on the property. Bob proposed longer term commitments to
encourage the planting of trees and classification of woodlands
for public recreation.
In 1985, the first farm bill was introduced and the modern day
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) was established. The
new CRP included incentives for landowners to plant trees for
long-term vegetative cover, wildlife habitat, and native plant
habitats. The program addressed not only erosion control but
water quality and environmentally sensitive areas. Much of the
bill’s language was very similar to what Bob had written 17 years
earlier.
Today, environmental sustainability and human health and
wellbeing have become a central focus for organizations. Most
modern organizations have integrated these priorities into their
mission statements and business practices.
Five decades ago, Bob was labeled a “conservationist” for these
views—not necessarily a title many people admired at the time.
But Bob pushed on despite the naysayers. Maybe he saw that
the status quo was causing severe damage. Maybe because he
could feel the impending departure of something he cherished
and felt responsibility for. Whatever his reason, he felt that time
was running out. So, Bob put pen to paper and proposed a set
of priorities that were years ahead of their time.
Bob and his colleagues’ e£orts both figuratively and literally
planted the seeds of conservation for this region. Today, in this
small corner of the state, we can delight in the shade they knew
they would never sit in.
“Today, environmental sustainability and human health and wellbeing have become a central focus for organizations. Most modern organizations have integrated these priorities into their mission statements and business practices.”
“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade
they know they shall never sit in.” — Greek Proverb
On Sunday, January 28, 1968, the Indianapolis Star published
an article detailing a vision for the future of southern Indiana’s
environment and inhabitants. The article used language around
conservation and environmentalism that was uncommon for
the time, but we hear frequently today. The vision proposed
collaboration between people in government, academics, and
private corporations to create a conservation project that would
benefit the natural ecosystems, communities, and economic
activity of this area.
The author of the article was Robert H. (Bob) Menke. At the
time, Bob ran Styline Industries (which would later become
OFS Brands), and was an Indiana University trustee and former
state representative. His unique experience in these di£erent
domains equipped him to lead a new e£ort to revitalize the
region’s forests.
Bob wrote fervently and often about the immediate need to
introduce forest conservation programs in the region: “Time is
running out. Forestry conservation is needed to save the land
and the prosperity of its people in Indiana.”
A MESSAGE SUSTAINEDEnvironmental thinking, years ahead of its time
Written by Jarod Brames Director of Sustainability
44OFS BRANDS
45A TASTE OF SPRING
OFS BRANDS | COOL SPRINGS EDITIONS | VOLUME 1
SPR I N GWITH CHEF AIMEE BLUME
A TASTE OF COOL SPRINGSAn excerpt from our new Cool Springs cookbook with recipes inspired by spring
Written by Aimee Blume Corporate Chef
White Fish Picatta
Serves 4
INGREDIENTS• 4 mild white fish fillets (about 6 ounces each)
• Salt and freshly ground pepper (to taste)
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons minced shallot
• ¼ cup Chardonnay wine
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice and lemon zest
• ¼ cup chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons capers (drained and chopped)
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
DIRECTIONS
1. Season the fish lightly with salt and pepper. Coat the fish with
flour, and shake very well to remove any excess.
2. Melt the butter in a wide nonstick skillet over medium-high heat
and wait until it foams and subsides. Don’t let it brown. Place
the fish gently in the pan and cook, turning once, each side of
the fish for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the center is opaque and
flaky and both sides are golden. The timing on this depends
entirely upon the thickness of your fish. If the fillets are very
thick and the outside is golden while the center is raw, finish
gently in a 350° oven while you make the sauce. If the fish
cooks thoroughly in the pan, remove and keep warm.
3. Add the shallot to the remaining butter in the pan and sizzle for
1 minute. Add the Chardonnay, lemon juice and zest, and
raise heat to boil. Permit to reduce until the wine is syrupy.
Add the chicken broth and reduce until of the appropriate
saucy texture. Add capers and parsley. Taste and add salt or
pepper to preference.
4. Place the fish on warmed plates and spoon over a generous
amount of sauce. This dish goes very well with pasta, spaghetti
squash, or mashed potatoes—something to soak up the
delicious tangy and buttery sauce.
Aimee’s NotesAny mild white flesh is terrific served Picatta-style, which means lightly coated with flour and sautéed in butter, then served with a pan sauce of lemon, white wine, shallots, capers, and parsley. The most traditional meats to use are veal and chicken, but my personal favorite is a mild, firm white fish such as halibut or grouper. Pork tenderloin would work as well, and vegetarians will enjoy this recipe made with slices of zucchini or eggplant.
2017 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
OFS BRANDS SHOWROOMLOCATIONS
__________________________
June__________________________
12-14 NEOCONChicago, IL
Over 49 years NeoCon has evolved into one of
the most recognized and attended trade shows
in the industry, and 2017 will be no exception.
With over 100 CEU seminars and 500 leading
companies, 50,000 design professionals are
expected to visit the Merchandise Mart during
this year’s show.
If you are one of the many visitors, be sure to
visit the OFS Brands showroom on the 11th floor,
Space 1132. You’ll be glad you did.
neocon.com
__________________________
September__________________________
22-24IIDA ADVOCACY SYMPOSIUMChicago, IL
Join IIDA at the third annual IIDA Advocacy
Symposium in Chicago for a three day weekend
of sessions, speakers, and panels focused
on the advocacy topics that matter most to
commercial interior designers. Learn critical
skills, including how to build relationships with
decision-makers, work with other stakeholder
groups, and promote grassroots involvement.
Connect with passionate, dedicated, and
persistent commercial interior design advocates
from across the country.
iida.org
_________________________
October__________________________
25-27ED SPACESKansas City, MO
EDspaces, The Future of Education Facilities,
is the gathering place for architects, dealers,
pre k-12, colleges and universities, independent
manufacturers representatives, exhibitors,
and corporations. Learn about trends and
experience the latest products and services to
enhance student learning.
ed-spaces.com
_________________________
November__________________________
11-14HEALTHCARE DESIGN EXPO + CONFERENCEOrlando, FL
With more than 100 educational sessions
providing the latest research, trends and
strategies in the healthcare design industry,
in addition to the educational sessions, you’ll
have the chance to connect with industry
leaders from around the country, as well as
take in the exhibit hall – featuring hundreds
of providers giving demonstrations and
showcasing the newest innovative healthcare
products and services that support the
design of hospital and clinic environments.
The conference is designed to provide
comprehensive, carefully planned content,
along with inspirational keynotes, panel
discussions, facility tours and networking.
hcdexpo.com
30INTERIOR DESIGN HALL OF FAMENew York City, NY
The black-tie event begins with a cocktail
reception that fills all three Grand Ballroom
Salons. A special VIP reception is held
additionally with invited guests ranging from
Hall of Fame members, benefactors, editors,
members of the press and diamond, platinum
and gold sponsors. Dinner and the awards
ceremony follow the reception. Carol Cisco,
publisher, Interior Design, and Cindy Allen,
editor in chief, Interior Design, host the
awards ceremony. An inspirational
documentary of each of the inductees is
shown, and inductees are present to accept
their awards. It is the Academy Awards of the
interior design industry.
interiordesign.net
ATLANTA1362 Collier Road NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
404-231-4347
CHICAGO222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Ste 1132
Chicago, IL 60654
312-222-9377
DALLAS150 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Ste 207
Dallas, TX 75207
214-571-0366
HUNTINGBURG1204 East Sixth Street
Huntingburg, IN 47542
800-521-5381
HUNTINGTON BEACH5559 McFadden Avenue
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
800-441-4975
LOS ANGELES523 West Sixth Street, Ste 220
Los Angeles, CA 90014
310-453-0212
NEW YORK1250 Broadway, FL 3501
New York, NY 10001
212-337-9676
WASHINGTON DC1602 L Street NW, 5th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
202-331-1063
