New Thinking on Work Environments: A Look Into the Future.
Thursday, May 22nd, 2008From 8:30 am to 6:00 pm
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The forum will be moderated by Dr.Jacqueline Vischer, the internationally known Canadian expert and leading researcher and author on the work environment and building occupant psychology - author of six books and numerous articles, lecturer at conferences and trade shows worldwide.
The GRET (the new Work Environments Research Group) is at the cutting edge of new knowledge about modern work environments - what’s happening now and where they are headed. Located within the interior design program of the Université de Montréal, the GRET is up-to-date on today’s news about everything that affects how people work. The GRET conference at SIDIM will include keynote presentations and panel discussions focusing on how these major changes in our work environments affect building occupants – what designers and managers need to know about the next important trends in workspace planning.
At this conference, participants will learn:- Breaking news: some surprising results from recent studies of the behaviour and psychology of people working in office buildings
- Practical applications: how to use feedback from building users to make good design decisions, to improve environmental quality, to raise morale and to have a long-term impact on worker productivity.
GRET – a group linked to the Interior design program at Faculté de l’aménagement of Université de Montréal – proposes a practical system to collect useful, constructive feedback from people occupying workspaces in order to discover the relationship between individual and environment.
At a time when every employer wants to be among the best, it is crucial for employers as well as professionals to know in-depth which elements in the working environment have a significant impact on individuals. GRET will help you identify these elements and plan action targets based upon the real needs of the occupiers.
In addition to the forum organized by GRET, the conference day will offer free periods of time to visit SIDIM and will include breakfast, lunch and cocktail. During lunch, exhibiting businesses will present their products for office outfitting.
Schedule
| 8:00 to 9:00 | Welcome and breakfast at Place Bonaventure |
| 9:00 to 11:00 | GRET Forum: 1. ‘Feedback from building users as a diagnostic tool for designers and facility managers’ – Jacqueline Vischer 2. ‘We’ve tried it and it works: how to use feedback from workers to create better work environments’ – panel presentation Teva Neuroscience, IMS Health, Pfizer Canada, Desjardins Sécurité Financière |
| 11:00 to Noon | Visit to SIDIM |
| Noon to 13:30 | Lunch and Blitz conferences by exhibitors |
| 13:30 to 15:30 | GRET Forum: 1. Keynote speaker Sholem Prasow, Vice-President Teknion Furniture Systems: ‘Combining occupant feedback with ‘greening’ your building to make work environments better for people’ 2. Expert panel discussion with audience participation: do people work more effectively in green buildings? |
| 15:30 to 17:30 | Visit to SIDIM |
| 17:30 to 18:30 | Private Cocktail reception |
Early Purchase: $200.00 until May 1st, 2008
Regular Fee: $250.00 after May 1st.
