Here it comes again, one of our favourite events — IIDEX/NeoCon Canada, the country’s most comprehensive exposition and conference for the design, construction and management of the built environment. Held every September, IIDEX is now in its 26th year. And with the transfer of its ownership to the recently strengthened IDC (Interior Designers of Canada), the 2010 edition promises to be bigger and better than ever.
A pair of expos-within-the-expo make a welcome return: the Green Building Festival and Light Canada Expo & Conference.
IIDEX and the Green Building Festival (established in 2005) enjoy a strategic partnership in the creation of the most comprehensive exposition focused on sustainable products and services for the built environment. It includes an international conference and expanded product exhibits.
A partnership between IIDEX and the Toronto chapter of the IES (Illuminating Engineering Society), Light Canada is the country’s largest lighting expo and conference. It showcases the latest in interior, exterior, commercial and architectural lighting products, plus lamps and lighting controls; it also highlights advances in sustainable lighting, LED technology and new materials.
Also returning in 2010 is Material World, showcasing the latest new and sustainable materials from around the world. A special exhibit, YP Picks, features Yabu Pushelberg’s favourite materials from the design firm’s award-winning projects. Plus, this year’s Think: Material, the interactive exhibit, includes a special feature called Fractal Garden — showcasing the merging of landscape architecture and design from Jardin de Mtis, the renowned international garden festival held every year at Reford Gardens in Grand-Mtis, Que.
Always a big draw at IIDEX is the international keynote series. This year’s speakers include Arik Levy (Design), the Paris-based designer, technician, artist, photographer and filmmaker; Craig Dykers (Architecture), senior partner/director of Snhetta in Oslo and New York; and Avi Flombaum (Innovation), co-founder of New York-based Designerpages.com.
All this plus new products from over 300 exhibitors; retail, hospitality and public-spaces pavilions; receptions, tours and more. Held at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, the IIDEX/NeoCon expo runs Sept. 23 and 24, while the conference runs from Sept. 22 to 25.