Chicago • NeoCon

For the first time in NeoCon’s history, a lighting fixture took home the Best of NeoCon Award. The slim Brazo LED task light beat out 426 other entries, an indication of the growing importance of the adjustability, sustainability, and ultimately, the health of our personal work spaces. - Eileen Ragsdale

Scraps to Riches
Raw scrap materials are re-employed as Ecotech unglazed porcelain composite tiles. The tiles are available in up to 70 percent recycled content in four speckled colors and two textures that ensure interior and exterior continuity. Five sizes are engineered for jointless installation and four levels of shade variation are available per carton. Stone Source, New York City. www.stonesource.com

Panel, Panel on the Wall
WoodWorks Ekos Walls are the lightest of them all. Panels hang on a spline system and are comprised of wood veneer on a recyclable mineral fiber substrate that’s 40 percent lighter than MDF core. Easier on the pocket, schedule, and environment than custom millwork, Ekos also offers acoustical benefits and decorative accessories. Armstrong World Industries, Lancaster, Pa. www.armstrong.com

Pause for Applause
Mark Kapka may have intended the Pause multiple seating composite for healthcare, but the line is fresh enough to compliment any public seating area with its soft angles, light scale, and quilted upholstery accents. Standard features include modular components, repositionable arms, and integral bariatric support provided by the sturdy concealed beam structure. Brandrud, Auburn, Wash. www.brandrud.com

Step Into the Light
Inspired by Cambodian stone temple ruins, Jiun Ho's Kambuja and Chelna table lamps steal the spotlight. Stepped milky white glass bases are awash with light cascading from narrow opaque white linen shades topped with frosted Pyrex glass diffusers. With two three-way incandescent lamping at 100-watts max each, these glass temples radiate. Boyd Lighting, San Francisco. www.boydlighting.com

Rise and Shine
Designed to perform, Isla acrylic wallcovering’s durable, thick-layered "flake" construction aptly hides multiple imperfections. Combinations of up to three standard color flakes can be mixed in one of three flake sizes, but it's the broad range of high sheen solid colors, especially Midnight, that really shimmer. Designtex, New York City. www.designtex.com