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IHFC's Main Wing Gets Update
October 13,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on October 14, 2010
The oldest of
High Points Market buildings has undergone a refurbishing over the last six months. As part of the
International Home Furnishings Center's ongoing capital program, the Main Wing will greet Market features a number upgrades inside and out.
At the Main Street entrance, the antique terrazzo with its "The Heart of Furnitureland USA" logo has been resurfaced to its original state. Overhead, a new canopy sign replaces one that had existed since the 1970s.
"We were excited to take on this project," said David Lees, president of
LOF Graphics, the High Point company responsible for the new sign design and installation. "With the new design, we are capturing the feel you get on the Commerce Street and Green Drive entrances with the brushed aluminum panels and the IHFC logo, bringing that look to Main Street."
"Visitors will see a lot of updates to the interior of the building, as well," said Tom Mitchell, IHFC's president and CEO. "We expect our exhibitors to refresh their showrooms each market, so we too must invest substantially in refurbishing our building for our attending buyers."
Approaching its 90th year, the Main Wing was called the most significant real estate venture in the city's history when it was proposed in 1918. With a construction price tag of $1 million, the Main Wing, then called the Southern Furniture Exposition Building, was completed in 1921. Within 18 months the new property was fully leased, and the furniture trade show was on its way to becoming the worlds largest and most influential.
Mark Silver of
Suburban Construction, the company handling the remodeling of the Main Wing lobby said, "Visitors will see all new flooring with porcelain tiles, updated restrooms and a new cherry reception desk."
With all the new up-fits, the IHFC and their contractors have been careful to remain consistent with the Main Wings early-20th century style. "There's so much history in the Main Wing," Mitchell said. "We're proud of it and want to keep that personality intact while tying it in with the entire IHFC complex."