Continuing a 36-year legacy of honoring innovation in the built environment, NeoCon has assembled its 2026 jury for Best of NeoCon—the commercial design industry’s premier awards program. This year’s multidisciplinary cohort brings together approximately 45 architects, designers, facility managers, and end-users from leading firms and organizations, including CannonDesign, Gensler, HDR, HKS, HOK, Marmon Mok, Northwestern Mutual, Shepley Bulfinch, State Farm, and Walgreens, among others, for rigorous, in-person evaluations at The Mart. The 2026 program spans hundreds of entries within 46 categories, with expanded lighting classifications introduced alongside the debut of Illuminate at NeoCon, a dedicated exhibition spotlighting lighting innovation.
“We personally invite the most respected practitioners because their ability to evaluate products through the lens of real-world application is central to maintaining the program’s credibility and relevance,” says Eileen McMorrow, Director of the Best of NeoCon program. “We strive to diversify the jury across project types, firm sizes, areas of specialization, and geographic regions. Both designers and facility managers are sourcing solutions for substantial, complex projects, and that breadth of perspective is critical.”
Jury Grounded in Real-World Impact
Jurors are currently specifying for major projects across the country, including corporate headquarters, healthcare campuses, higher education facilities, and large-scale mixed-use developments ranging from 90,000 to over 1 million square feet. From global financial institutions and Fortune 500 workplaces to hospitals, research labs, and academic buildings, these projects demand high-performance, durable, and human-centered solutions. Facility manager jurors are likewise overseeing workplace transformations, campus-wide upgrades, and specialized environments—ensuring products are evaluated not only for design excellence, but for long-term functionality and operational impact.
Juror Perspectives
To ensure a well-rounded review process, the jury includes both returning and first-time participants representing diverse disciplines and markets. During on-site evaluations, jurors engage directly with manufacturers to better understand product development, materiality, and intended use.
Paola Contreras, Senior Interior Designer at HDR with 20 years of experience across healthcare, justice, and behavioral health environments, explains, “I value the opportunity to understand how products are developed and brought to market, especially those that support clarity, safety, and dignity for the people using these spaces. Being a part of the jury process offers a chance to learn from manufacturers first-hand and see how new ideas are being translated into real solutions.”
Returning juror Jennifer Leighty (pictured bottom left), who is in her 24th year at Walgreens, managing workplace experience for the company’s corporate environments, adds, “As someone who attends NeoCon regularly, having a behind-the-scenes look at how products come together is incredibly valuable. Hearing directly from the teams about their inspiration, the challenges they’re solving, and how their designs function in practice adds a level of understanding you can’t get anywhere else.”
Jessica Maples (pictured bottom right), Design Director at Gensler with more than two decades of experience designing workplace interiors, notes, “Serving on the jury offers a unique vantage point into emerging manufacturers, sustainability innovations, and creative partnerships. It’s a chance to stay informed, connect great design and products with our clients, share that insight with our teams, and help inspire the next generation of designers.”
Business Impact Awards
Returning for its fourth year, the Business Impact Awards will once again recognize products that drive organizational performance, from efficiency and cost savings to improved use of space. Finalists advance to a second round of on-site review by a panel of business journalists from outlets including Chicago Sun-Times, Crain’s Chicago Business, Forbes, Inc., The New York Times, and Wirecutter.
Honors and Awards Ceremony
Awards for Gold, Silver, Innovation, Sustainability, and Business Impact, along with the program’s highest distinction—Best of Competition—will be announced during the official ceremony on Monday, June 8, at The Mart, kicking off NeoCon 2026.
People’s Choice Awards
Following the ceremony, attendees will once again be invited to participate in the People’s Choice Awards. This digital and on-site voting initiative empowers the broader design community to select their favorite standout products from this year’s winners. Voting will be open through Tuesday, June 9, with five winners announced at the BIFMA Breakfast and across NeoCon’s social media channels on Wednesday, June 10.
Submission Rules, Deadlines, and Fees
NeoCon exhibitors are encouraged to submit entries via the Best of NeoCon online portal. Eligible products must have entered the U.S. market since June 2025 and be on display at NeoCon 2026. Products previously entered in the 2025 program are ineligible. Submission deadlines and entry fees are detailed below:
For more details on the program and entry process, please click HERE. NeoCon is open to trade, C-Suite executives, and other industry-related professionals, and registration is free for all attendees.
Pictured on the top from left to right, Peter Pelsinski and Chen-Hui Spicer. Pictured on the bottom from left to right, Jennifer Leighty and Jessica Maples. Images courtesy of NeoCon
