Sustainability Forum at Uptic Studios

Join us for a discussion on sustainability in furniture design and manufacturing. This session focuses on material selection, product transparency, lifecycle performance, and third-party certification.

Mike Hanson of Watson Furniture will present: “LEVEL by BIFMA: The Definitive Certification Program for Sustainable Furniture”

This accredited course provides a structured overview of LEVEL®, the third-party certification program based on the ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard.

The presentation will also include an overview of Watson Furniture’s sustainability practices, including responsible material strategies, waste reduction initiatives, and the application of LEVEL® certification.

Watson Furniture maintains LEVEL 3 certification across major product categories, reflecting performance criteria related to environmental impact, material health, and social responsibility.

This Sustainability Forum is co-sponsored with Contract Design Associates. Contract Design Associates is a Spokane-based furniture supplier and workplace solutions provider that partners with Watson Furniture. Their collaboration supports the specification of high-performance, sustainably certified furniture for commercial interiors throughout the region.

Continuing Education Opportunity
Architects attending this event will earn 1.5 LU/HSW continuing education credits through AIA. Interior designers may earn IDCEC continuing education credits, and professionals seeking sustainability credentials may earn GBCI continuing education credits.

What You’ll Learn

• The structure and intent of LEVEL® certification
• Environmental, health, and social impact assessment categories
• Differences between first-party claims and third-party certification
• Certification tiers (LEVEL 1–4) and performance benchmarks
• The role of material transparency and chemical evaluation
• Relevance of LEVEL® within LEED and WELL projects

Networking & Collaboration
This forum is part of our ongoing quarterly series, designed to foster connections among professionals in architecture, engineering, construction, education, and community development. Attendees will engage in interactive discussions and network with like-minded individuals who are driving positive change through mission-aligned sustainability practices.

We look forward to welcoming you to this engaging and thought-provoking event, where sustainability and purpose come together in meaningful ways.

Date: March 5th, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: Uptic Studios, 402 E Sprague Ave

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Host or Publisher AIA Spokane