The Merchandise Mart in Chicago, Illinois, the world’s largest commercial building and the epicenter of fine design, has announced that the Merchandise Mart’s casual/outdoor-furnishings floors will be reconfigured, offering designers and buyers a more enjoyable, seamless shopping experience.

Currently, shoppers must visit casual/outdoor-furnishings tenants (many of which are intermixed with different industries) on floors 15, 16, and 17. By consolidating these showrooms on floors 15 and 16, a casual-furnishings destination will be created, helping to reenergize this already vibrant industry.

John Brennen, executive vice president of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI), says, “The colocation of the casual/outdoor furnishings showrooms to one area of the building has been requested by many buyers, by tenants, and by the International Casual Furnishings Association, over the years.”

He continues, “This relocation will allow MMPI to renovate the floor and tenants to upgrade their presentations. We are happy to realize this goal and provide a cohesive destination in the Merchandise Mart for buyers and designers to source the best in outdoor/casual furnishings and accessories, on a day-today basis and during our September Chicago International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market™.”

MMPI has been the steward of consistent growth in the casual industry; the new layout will continue to build on that growth, increasing the current 250,000 square feet by 10%. It is estimated that the restructuring and construction of the casual/ outdoor-furnishings floors