FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

20TH ANNUAL DESIGN EXCELLENCE COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS OUTSTANDING

CASUAL FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS

The Prestigious Award Honors the Year’s Best in 10 Product Categories During

The International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market™

CHICAGO (September 19, 2004) — The Summer & Casual Furniture Manufacturers Association (SCFMA) presented 10 casual furniture manufacturers with Design Excellence Awards during the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market,™ held at The Merchandise Mart, September 18–22, 2004.

The Design Excellence Awards – considered the highest recognition for design in the casual furniture industry – honor manufacturers whose products demonstrate innovation, fine craftsmanship and great engineering in 10 product categories. Approximately 35 manufacturers entered 134 product designs – the most entries received in the history of the awards – to compete for honors. A distinguished panel of industry experts judged the entries.

The Lillian B. Winchester Best of Show Award winner, selected from among the 10 category winners, will be announced on Monday, Sept. 20, 2004, at the 2004 Apollo Awards.

The 2004 Design Excellence Winners are:

Cast Metal Furniture

Japara Dining Chair

Brown Jordan by Brown Jordan International

Cast Combination Furniture

Toledo Sling Dining Arm Chair

Woodard Landgrave/Shaun Sweeney

Tubular Materials Furniture

Equinox Lounge

Barlow Tyrie

Wrought Iron/Wrought Aluminum Furniture

Sirio Chair

Kettler/MWH

Resin/Fiberglass Furniture

Cast Dolphin Table

Century Furniture/Oscar de la Renta

Rattan/Wicker/Woven Materials Furniture

Casablanca Arm Chair

Gloster Furniture/John Caldwell

Wood Casual Furniture

Equinox Circular Dining Table

Barlow Tyrie

Outdoor Lighting

Quasar Umbrella Light

Treasure Garden

Shade Products

Atlantis Pavilion w/Vector Vent

Tuuci/Dougan Clarke

Complementary Casual Products and Best of Show

Plantation Sushi Table & Stools

Gloster Furniture/John Caldwell

The International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market is sponsored by the Summer & Casual Furniture Manufacturers Association and the Casual Furniture Retailers Association (CFR), the industry’s two leading casual furnishings associations, and managed by Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI).

For more information about the Chicago Casual Market or the Design Excellence Awards, please call 800.677.6278 (MART) or visit www.merchandisemart.com.

SAVE THE DATE:

International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market™

September 14–17, 2005

The Merchandise Mart

Chicago, Ill.

MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY:

Elizabeth D. Cooley

Public Relations Manager

Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.

Phone: 312.527.7555

E-mail: ecooley@mmart.com

Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) is a trade show and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year.

MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart, Chicago Apparel Center, and 33 North Dearborn in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building in New York; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Washington Office Center in Washington, D.C.

Vornado Realty Trust, owner of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.

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