In the February 2003 issue of Contract magazine:

focus
46 Don't Get Too Comfortable
Like a stylish pair of shoes, guest seating is allowed to sacrifice some comfort for good looks

48 As You Like It
Kimball's new Xsite Sytem aims to banish inflexible workstations and wasted space from the office

50 Masterpiece Theater
Bang & Olufsen's streamlined plasma television, BeoVision 5, is pleasing to the eye, even when it's turned off

green focus
54 The Fiber at Your Feet
Is there such a thing as guilt-free carpet?

material
56 People's Choice
Whether it's polished to a high sheen or left au natural, stone has universal appeal

trends
58 At Ease
From product design to interior layouts, crafting comforting environments is becoming an industry-wide priority

design
60 East Like a Star
Wolfgang Puck expands his food empire with Vert, a Los Angeles brasserie by Engstrom Design Group that blends Old World durability with Hollywood charm

64 Invisible Excellence
Designs by lauckgroup have gracefully hidden what truly matters most to i2 Technology

68 The New Democracy
SmithGroup's design for Charles Schwab's corporate offices in San Francisco gives employees a new kind of freedom

essay
74 Improving Grades
The physical condition of our public schools is improving, but a few trends in designing for K-12 suggest the work is never done

design
76 Rooms to Grow
With the help of 10 architectural firms, the Robin Hood Foundation uses design to educate and inspire in New York City's public schools

82 Ivy Transplant
RMW helps The Wharton School spread its seed to the West Coast without losing sight of its Pennsylvania roots

86 Open House
Minneapolis-based Cuningham Group Architecture created Crosswinds Arts and Science Middle School with visual and emotional connectivity in mind

90 Active Design
Hyper is not usually a word you want associated with children, but at St. Clare's Early Childhood Development Center on Staten Island, it was an outright design goal

practice
94 Design Business Outlook
Contract's annual market analysis looks at the prospects for economic recovery, and reveals where designers might find real business opportunities in 2003

departments
22 editorial
24 industry
38 exhibition
40 resources
100 critique
102 perspectives
103 ad index