The annual HD Expo + Conference, which I will be attending, will kick off at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas next week. The event will run from April 30 to May 2 and will include many opportunities to learn about sustainable products on the trade show floor with hundreds of exhibitors in attendance—including 145 first-time exhibitors. Conference sessions will touch on topics ranging from equity, inclusion, and diversity to circular design strategies. Among the first-time exhibitors this year are Light and Green (LED architectural lighting), AGIC Energy (energy management systems), Coulee Coffee Co. (self-adapting automated pour-over coffee maker that uses...

RALEIGH, N.C.—Recycled glass countertop manufacturer Gilasi, and CaraGreen, the trusted source for healthier building materials, announce the availability of the Gilasi Resort Collection—recycled glass countertops made in the U.S. This terrazzo style palette of new colors is inspired by the serene beauty of the beach with a nod to the environment in its composition of varying glass sizes from small granular pieces to larger, chunky geometric styles. These colors incorporate the mixed glass sizes with touches of real seashells, evoking the essence of coastal sands and sparkling seas, adding a touch of contemporary elegance to any commercial space looking to...

BEND, ORE.—MindClick, the hospitality industry’s data and analytics solution for environmentally and socially responsible design and purchasing, is expanding its reach with its Hospitality Sustainable Design Collaborative. Created with support from Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and Highgate Hotels, along with trusted suppliers, the Collaborative is a free program intended for interior designers, specifiers, and purchasing decision-makers. The Collaborative includes an online educational series, an accreditation program, and awards and recognition program. The first program in the online educational series, “Climate Change & Carbon Emissions, How Design Choices Can Make a Local and Global Impact,” was held on April 9 and had 234...

OULU, FINLAND—Scandic has signed a long-term lease agreement with property developer SRV for a new 144-room Scandic Go in Oulu, Finland. The hotel will be centrally located in northern Finland’s largest city and is expected to open during the second half of 2025. The new Scandic Go will have a strategic location in downtown Oulu with direct access to the main square, the historic market hall and many popular restaurants and shops in the heart of the city. Often referred to as the capital of northern Finland, Oulu is a hub for technology, science, and education, appealing to domestic and...

RACINE, WIS.—Dominion Properties, developer of two LEED Platinum multifamily buildings in southeastern Wisconsin, has just achieved LEED Gold for its boutique Hotel Verdant that utilizes geothermal, solar and wind technologies—a renewable energy trifecta not found in any other U.S. hotel. The 80-room property, with a Scandinavian vibe, is located in downtown Racine, Wis., and was once the Zahn’s Department Store building. The building sat empty for 40 years until Dominion Properties transformed it into a business anchor for downtown Racine. Dominion Properties’ Michael O’Connor and his business partner Christopher Adams are the visionaries behind the hotel project. They first met while...

EAST LONGMEADOW, MASS.—Excel Dryer, the global leader in touchless hand hygiene solutions, recently unveiled a comprehensive office expansion and renovation project. This initiative, rooted in the company’s mission to lead through innovation, aimed to merge beauty, health, wellness, and sustainability into its workplace. The project’s insights and methodologies are set to educate through a unique continuing education unit (CEU) course, offered by Architectural Record magazine in its Continuing Education Center, serving as a detailed roadmap of Excel Dryer’s innovative journey. Guided by the WELL Building Standard as a principal framework, the renovation serves as a case study showcasing Excel’s commitment to integrating the latest...

ATLANTA—Interface, Inc., the global flooring solutions company and leader in sustainability, launched several new flooring collections in the first quarter, offering hardworking, high-quality, and high-performance solutions for commercial interiors. With these latest introductions, Interface continues to expand its product portfolio by combining style and performance, meeting its customers’ design and space-specific needs, all while offering the lowest carbon footprint carpet tile products in the industry. Introduced as two new product extensions of Interface’s expansive Open Air collection, Stria and Open Ended bring subtle, sophisticated color to the platform. Interface designed the styles to work together, with Stria incorporating subtle, textured accents, and...

LAGUNA BEACH, CALIF.—Soul Community Planet (SCP) Hotels, a holistic hospitality company serving those who value wellness, social good and the environment, announced the opening of the Laguna Surf Lodge by SCP Hotels, a classic, beachfront experience in one of California’s most iconic destinations. Located in the heart of Laguna Beach, Calif., the 41-room eco surf lodge sits directly on the sand of the town’s legendary beach, an easy walking distance to the acclaimed art galleries, eateries, and boutiques of Laguna Beach village. The hotel immerses guests in the nostalgia of California’s fabled surf scene, while offering modern nature-based wellness experiences, locally...

VILLAREAL, SPAIN—Xtone, Part of the Porcelanosa Group, has just launched several new designs in North America: Tura, Bianco Lasa, Calacatta Antico & Terre Greige. These large format porcelain slabs are offered in a variety of finishes and thicknesses, and adapt to any environment and application, achieving greater continuity and visual aesthetics. These large format slabs allow for the materialization of ideas through a durable, elegant, and functional material. Xtone porcelain slabs are an ideal material for both indoor and outdoor use with endless application possibilities from flooring, countertops, to decorative elements and more. Xtone large format porcelain slabs are applicable...

DENVER—Proluxe Lighting, a leading manufacturer of premium LED lighting innovations for residential and commercial applications, introduces Neonflex Pro-Dual, a static white dual bend neon alternative that provides seamless lines of direct view lighting for architectural-grade interior and exterior applications. Neonflex Pro-Dual features bend technology for vertical and lateral directional bending with 3000K CCT and a high 90+ CRI that delivers up to 223 lumens per foot, while consuming only 3.05 watts per foot. The maximum run is 16.4 feet operating on 24V DC. The direct view lighting is dimmable from 5 percent to 100 percent with most ELV and TRIAC dimmers. IP67-rated and...