MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA—Cannúa, a first-of-its-kind, 18-room boutique hotel set within a protected forest in Antioquia, Colombia, is scheduled to open in April 2019. Rooted in permaculture design principles and taking a holistic approach to sustainability, this 27-acre mountain-side property intends to forge a new era of experiential travel within the region. Guests of Cannúa will be among the first to explore this renewed, flourishing destination—one of the most biologically diverse and temperate in the world—through exquisite accommodation, natural encounters, and excursions designed to build a sense of community among neighbors, partners and visitors. “As Colombia continues to evolve as a destination of natural and cultural wonders, we’re proud to be...

CHICAGO—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that it will begin offering LEED recertification for all LEED certified projects. To be eligible for certification, projects must submit 12 months of data demonstrating continued or improved performance. Once recertified, projects will meet the standards of the newest version of the LEED rating system available. This recertification will be valid for three years. “For the last 25 years, USGBC has sought to make the communities in which we live, work, learn and play healthier, more resource efficient and less damaging to our ecosystems,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, President & CEO, USGBC. “Recertification has always...

JASPER, IND.—Indiana Furniture is taking orders for new additions to four existing casegood and seating product lines: Canvas, Gesso, Delphi, and Gleem. Canvas & Gesso Casegoods—New Height Adjustable Options: Ergonomic height adjustable options have been expanded in the Canvas and Gesso lines, now providing a full collection of models that allow users to easily move from sitting to standing and back again while working. New height adjustable units offer seamless design to layer with existing components for any private office or open plan work space. Learn more about height adjustability with Canvas and Gesso. Delphi Seating—New Bariatric Models: Clean lines, five...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The 2018 International Green Construction Code was released recently by the International Code Council, ASHRAE, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Illuminating Engineering Society. The IgCC is part of the Code Council’s family of comprehensive, coordinated and modern model codes—including the International Building Code, International Mechanical Code, International Plumbing Code and International Fire Code—used around the world. The IgCC provides a whole systems approach to the design, construction and operation of buildings and includes cost-effective measures that result in lower operating costs, better indoor environments, lower impact on natural resources, and improved neighborhood connections and walkability. A...

FARMINGTON, N.Y.—Pioneer Millworks introduces Modern Farmhouse, a sleeker more modern line of wood products including flooring and paneling from sustainable and certified wood sources. Available in a variety of hardwood species, the Modern Farmhouse products are being offered in a high “clean” grade and “casual” grade both with a more uniform appearance than their reclaimed wood counterparts. “While reclaimed wood will always have our hearts, we understand that designers, architects, builders, and homeowners are at times in the market for something with a smoother complexion and less character,” said Jered Slusser, Market Manager at Pioneer Millworks. “Modern Farmhouse fits those...

SEATTLE—Hyatt Regency Seattle announced its opening, located in the heart of downtown at 808 Howell Street and near some of Seattle’s top attractions including the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Pike Place Market. With its sprawling, dynamic event space and number of guestrooms, Hyatt Regency Seattle is the largest hotel in the Pacific Northwest and new premier destination for meetings and events in the region. It joins two other Seattle-area Hyatt Regency hotels. Hyatt Regency Seattle is targeting LEED Gold Certification in 2019, which is the second highest green building rating in the world. As part of their efforts, Hyatt...

NATIONAL REPORT—Walls featuring large contiguous windows and glass doors are a popular theme within the hotel industry. Used to showcase wonderful views and provide access to grounds in summer, these features also allow natural light to stream into buildings. Creating low-energy or zero-energy buildings (ZEB) is an increasingly important goal for the sector. Hotels and other tourist accommodations are typically energy-intensive buildings, making the integration of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency measures more vital. Over the last 20 years, countries across Europe have greatly increased their use of renewable energy sources (RES), particularly in the building industry. This includes wind...

PRINCETON, N.J.—Studio Hillier, the Princeton architectural firm of J. Robert and Barbara Hillier, has been selected by StarPort Resorts, Inc. to design Port St. George, The Bahamas’ newest eco-engineered luxury resort on Long Island. The Hilliers have been honored with over 350 design awards. The scenic and tranquil Out Island will be the setting for an 882-acre luxury resort that spans two-and-a-quarter miles from Exuma Sound to the Atlantic Ocean. The project will feature a five-star hotel on a peninsula on Exuma Sound. The centerpiece, however, will be a 100-acre protected harbor where 640 pleasure crafts can be moored, making...

MILWAUKEE—Curiosity, creativity, collaboration, community, common ground—this is the inspiration behind Milwaukee’s newest independent arts hotel, Saint Kate. Named for Saint Catherine, the patron saint of artists, this first-of-its-kind hotel will offer an experience unlike any other hotel through the celebration of the arts. Expected to open in spring 2019, Saint Kate The Arts Hotel will be a place that will create discussion and drive collaboration among visitors, allowing guests to see things from a new perspective. Blending exceptional hospitality with artistic expression, the hotel’s motto, “invite participation and expect change,” will challenge visitors to keep an open mind, embrace change...

NEW YORK—Carnegie introduces Xorel Vue, a new collection of architectural textiles that offer designers new ways to define and divide interior spaces. The unique designs within the collection are created using crochet and embroidery techniques, imparting an artisanal craft quality to textiles with commercial functionality. Flexible and lightweight, Vue textiles provide varying degrees of visual privacy and filtering of light. Whether used at the window or as a vertical partition, privacy panel or space divider, the collection offers a softer and more welcoming alternative to more rigid materials typically used for those functions. Designers are also able to choose from...