Today, Contract's parent company, Nielsen Business Media, launches Green & Design, a new multi-platform initiative focusing on sustainability and the built environment. Consisting of a digital bi-monthly publication, a web portal and virtual events, Green & Design (www.greenand design.com) draws from the expertise of Nielsen's leading design and real estate publications including Contract, Commercial Property News, DDI, Hospitality Design, Kitchen & Bath Business, and Multi-Housing News.

“Green & Design’s mission is to become the leading networking and information resource covering all the developments shaping the future of sustainability in commercial and residential design,” says Patrick Brennan, Vice President, Design Media Group, Nielsen Business Media. “We will deliver the most timely and relevant content in the industry, and create a community that fosters creativity, excellence, and networking to equip community members with the tools they need to run their businesses more efficiently and more profitably.”
Each Green & Design platform will serve as an information and networking hub for the green design community—a place for industry members to find news and analysis, and products and trends driving sustainability in design.

“By leveraging the collective editorial expertise of our group of publications in the real estate design and building sectors, we are able to provide content that will be relevant for the all those involved in commercial and residential construction,” says editorial director Jennifer Busch. “Green & Design will engage the entire building and design team with the most current issues, ideas, and discussions around sustainability in concept and practice.”

Click here to view the inaugural issue.

The Green & Design Digital Publication is the first of the brand's three initiatives to launch and is an eco-friendly and sustainable digital magazine that harnesses the resources and draws content from Nielsen’s well-established design and real estate brands. In addition, through a strategic relationship with Nxtbook™, a recognized digital publisher in new media, Green & Design will offer unique digital advertising vehicles. Advertisers can drive prospects and clients straight to their Web sites and bring their advertising message to life with digital enhancements, video or audio components, as well as hyperlinks.

The Green & Design Web site ( www.greenanddesign.com) will launch in May 2009 and will be the industry’s most complete and advanced online resource for news, networking, products, projects, inspiration, and ideas. Greendanddesign.com will be the site where all the constituencies in commercial and residential design and real estate—sustainable manufacturers, design professionals, builders, developers, and property owners and managers—come together to find products, projects, and sources of sustainable design solutions. Greendanddesign.com will also include a weekly e-Newsletter that covers breaking news stories the green design industry needs to know.

Green & Design’s first Virtual Conference and Expo will take place on September 2, 2009 and will give attendees a real, in the field look at the future of green and sustainable development and design, including the trends, new opportunities, and new technologies that will shape the green design business over the next 20 years. Busy real estate executives can meet virtually with different architects, planners, product manufacturers, developers and owners, and will be able to ask questions and get the answers they need to make informed decisions about upcoming projects. Green & Design’s virtual trade show will be produced and hosted by an elite suite of editors, leading analysts and market experts drawing on the expertise of Contract, Commercial Property News, DDI, Hospitality Design, Kitchen & Bath Business, and Multi-Housing News, and is designed to draw thousands of product manufacturers and design and real estate professionals from all sectors of the industry.