Interface Flooring Systems, Buildings magazine and DuPont sponsored three panel discussions around the country in October to unveil the results of research recently completed by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA International). Entitled Satisfaction=Retention: The Tenant/Workplace Equation, these presentations revealed BOMA's findings from a recent study of office tenants around the US regarding the relationship between the built office environment and tenant attraction and retention. Linda Monroe, Buildings editor-in-chief, moderated a distinguished panel of experts from various industries who expanded upon BOMA's findings concerning flexibility, amenities, aesthetics, ergonomics, safety, lighting and others.

"There's no question that the physical environment affects tenant satisfaction and, as a result, a building's profitability," said Monroe. "But what we had hoped to accomplish here was to elaborate on the specific ways in which a better environment is good for everyone: building owners and managers, tenants, and their employees."

The schedule and panel members included:

New York, Tuesday October 15
Interface Showroom, 404 Park Avenue South

•  Gregg Popkin; Executive Director, Insignia ESG
•  Bob Laevsky; Senior Facility Manager, Vivendi Universal
•  Asher Durman; President, Green October LLC
•  Bob Fox; Principal, Fox & Fowle Architects P.C.
•  Alan Hedge; Professor, Dept. of Design & Environmental Analysis,
    Cornell University

Washington, DC, Wednesday October 16
Decatur House, 748 Jackson Place, NW

•  Karen Krackov; Senior Vice President, Trammell Crow
•  Matt Kelly; Manager, Corporate Real Properties, Freddie Mac
•  Alexis Karolides; GDS Team Leader, Rocky Mountain Institute
•  David Epstein, Design Principal, Gensler
•  Stephannie Bartos; Asst. Professor, School of Architecture,
    Carnegie Mellon University

Chicago, Thursday October 24
Interface Showroom, 440 N. Wells St.

•  Don Faloon; Executive Vice President, Prime Group Realty Trust
•  Margaret St. Andre; Manager, Corporate Real Estate Services,
    AAA Michigan
•  Bill Browning; Senior Associate, Rocky Mountain Institute
•  Jim Prendergast; Principal, Perkins & Will
•  Bill Worn; Clinical Associate Professor, University of Illinois;
     Principal, William Worn Architects