Mayor Giuliani to kick-off planning and design event.

InterPlan - the Eastern U.S./Canada's premiere commercial interior planning and design event - is shaping up to be a bigger and better show than ever in '97.

In addition, BATIMAT N.A., a new exposition covering the commercial and residential building construction and design markets, will be co-located with Interplan at Manhattan's Jacob Javits Convention Center, October 29-31. The shows together represent one of the nation's fastest-growing marketplace events.

New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani will "kick off" the three-day, Wednesday through Friday event with a keynote address on "Designing and Building the City of the Future" - a subject that should be of particular interest to the shows' anticipated 15,000+ attendees, which will include facilities executives, real estate professionals, building developers, construction specifiers, architects and interior designers.

Other keynote presenters will be Ellen Albert, vice president of Planning & Design at MTV Networks, who will speak on the role of design at MTV, and Nick Luzietti, AIA, principal and Director of Interiors at VOA Associates, who will explore how the cinema influences design.

Henry Dicker, Group Show Director at Miller Freeman, Inc., co-sponsor of InterPlan and the expos' management company, says that it looks like the show will again be a sellout. "Relocating to the Javits Center was timely," says Dicker. "With BATIMAT running concurrently with Interplan this year and the American Society of Interior Design's 'Design Power' expo joining them next year, we needed room for expansion."

To date, over 300 exhibitors have committed to booths for the two expos. Interplan exhibitors include: Canon, Dauphin, DuPont, Egan Visual, Formica, Furniture Source International, Italian Trade Commission's Ceramic Tile Division, Haworth, Herman Miller, IKEA, Interface Flooring, JOFCO, Maharam and Waldmann Lighting. BATIMAT exhibitors include: Andersen Windows, Architectural Grille, Coffman Stairs, Forest Homes, Lightstyles, MAXITILE, Perma*crete, Red Devil and Senco Fastening Systems.

In addition, there will be more than 35 CEU-accredited conference programs at Interplan and BATIMAT; the International Interior Design Association's (IIDA) coveted national Product Design Awards; the 4th Annual Interplan Booth Design Competition; national, regional and local chapter association breakfasts, luncheons and cocktail receptions, and a book-signing event to honor the noted designers and architects who have contributed recipes to a special cookbook, Delicious By Design, a joint venture by Miller Freeman, Inc. and Steelcase WorkLife New York to benefit The Momentum AIDS Project.

On Wednesday, October 29th, the first night of the show, Designer's Saturday, Inc. will host its famed Metropolitan Museum of Art Gala. Last year, more than 3,500 guests enjoyed dancing at the Temple of Dendur, networking in The American Wing and a special viewing of the Met's major fall exhibition. Immediately preceding the Gala, the A&D Building will hold its annual "PreMet Fete," and the following evening, Thursday October 30th, the New York Design Center will host its showroom event, "Streets of New York."

Interplan, the commercial interior planning and design event, is the premier marketplace event in the Northeast for the commercial interior design and facilities management industry, showcasing products such as furniture, textiles, wall-coverings, carpeting and lighting. InterPlan is co-sponsored by Designer's Saturday, Inc. and Miller Freeman, Inc. Designer's Saturday, Inc. is a not-for-profit trade association of contract interiors manufacturers. Miller Freeman, Inc. is a publishing and trade show management company.

To receive more information about exhibiting at or attending InterPlan, call 1-800950-1314, ext. 2611, or visit Interplan's Web site at http://www.interplanshow.com to register on-line.