EDspaces Conference Sees Growth in 2015

NEW ORLEANS — The Education Market Association’s recent 2015 EDspaces Conference and Expo, held Oct. 28-30 in New Orleans, attracted a significant number of attendees. The annual event showcases top products and provides attendees with a space to share ideas to improve learning environments.

In total, this year’s event brought in 1,790 key decision makers, product experts and exhibitor personnel all focused on how educational facilities, furniture, fixtures and equipment can impact student performance. This constitutes an attendance increase of 33 percent over 2014 and an increase of 24 percent excluding the exhibitor personnel, according to a statement by the association. This year, a total of 152 companies exhibited new and innovative products.

For the second year, the American Institute of Architects Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) also held its Annual Fall Conference in conjunction with EDspaces. The CAE helped plan many of the education sessions as well as the Expeditionary Learning & Facility Tour of nearby LB Landry High School, Ursuline Academy and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts.

Additionally, attendees were able to choose from more than 30 continuing education sessions focused on state-of-the-art, sustainable design and the changing face of learning environments. Daily general sessions highlight keynote speakers such as 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, a non-profit organization dedicated to a fundamental redesign of education in the United States.

Attendees were also among the first to see the winners of the 2015 EDspaces Innovation Awards. The awards were created to recognize manufacturers and designers for excellence in product design — focusing on areas such as seating, furniture, equipment for the learning environment. A list of winners is available here.

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. The 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 were also able to view a special exhibit entitled: “Rebuilding New Orleans’ Schools — Beyond the High Water Mark,” presented by the New Orleans chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. The 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.