WASHINGTON, D.C.—According to a new survey released from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), employees who work in LEED-certified green buildings are happier, healthier and more productive than employees in conventional and non-LEED buildings. The survey also shows that most office workers want to work for companies that are value-oriented, take stances on important issues like sustainability, and do their part for making a positive difference in the world. In fact, 84 percent of respondents prefer to work for a company that has a strong, concrete mission and positive values. “Employees know that green building programs like LEED help companies...

SAN DIEGO—Cali Bamboo has added four new floors to its Cali Vinyl Plus line. The colors all existed previously as top-sellers within the Cali Vinyl Pro line, which features the improved rigid core—GeoCore. These are now also available with the signature Cali Vinyl Plus cork backing—a 100 percent recycled, built-in underlayment which boosts comfort, provides Mute Step sound insulation, and helps to keep rooms cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Cali Vinyl also features a 100 percent waterproof construction, extra-thick 20mil scratch-resistant wear layer, and click-lock milling for fast DIY installations. HiFi Imaging gives these luxury vinyl...

SPARTANBURG, S.C.—The Specialty Interiors business of Milliken & Company, a leading global innovation company with textile, specialty chemical and floor covering manufacturing expertise, has secured several new key placements for its eco-elegant performance upholstery fabric, Breathe by Milliken. For Fall Market, Four Seasons has expanded its Breathe line to include a new cotton fabric called Loft and added several new colors in Everyday Twill. Breathe by Milliken will also be displayed by several new companies. Among these are Younger Furniture, EJ Victor, and Bauhaus. Younger will feature Textured and Amalfi, a cotton-linen blend in several shades and EJ Victor will...

CHICAGO—Olympia Hotel Management announces the opening of SOPHY Hyde Park, the new 98-room boutique hotel located at 53rd Street and Dorchester Avenue in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. Developed by The Olympia Companies and SMART Hotels, SOPHY Hyde Park is managed by Olympia Hotel Management and aligns with Olympia’s expertise in developing and managing independent, award-winning boutique properties that evoke a strong sense of place and become an integral part of the community. General Manager Anthony Beach is a former Hyde Park resident and an alumnus of nearby Hyde Park Academy High School. Historic South Side Chicago Neighborhood For locals and visitors alike,...

ROSWELL, GA.—Builders, architects and remodelers looking for precision-fit stone veneer options that meet today’s highest green-building standards can choose Cultured Stone Pro-Fit Terrain Ledgestone. Available in Arctic, Ethos, Trek, and Arcadia shades, the new line blends fine Cultured Stone textures and relief patterns to provide trade professionals with exquisitely engineered, contemporary design options. “Pro-Fit Terrain Ledgestone meets the highest indoor-air quality standards and, like all Cultured Stone products, it has received National Green Building Certification,” said Emily Bonilla, Product Development Manager at Cultured Stone. “This distinction underscores Cultured Stone’s commitment to create stunning products that not only beautify spaces but...

NATIONAL REPORT—As many activist groups continue to condemn the use and production of leather for ethical, environmental and worker health reasons, this byproduct of meat production is commonly found in the hotel industry. “It is used anywhere where people use wood—tabletops, floors, headboards, restaurant walls, some ceilings as well,” says Christian Nadeau, President of EcoDomo LLC. “It is primarily used for upholstery in hospitality. It is not only used in luxury hotels. Adding a touch of leather adds elegance to a product.” Increasingly, companies serving the hotel industry have been promoting their leather as a green product. How can that be?...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Valley Forge Fabrics, the largest supplier of decorative performance fabrics for the hospitality design sector, announces the launch of its Florence Broadhurst textiles collection with four distinctive patterns from one of the most influential post-war designers. Earlier this year, Valley Forge Fabrics inked a licensing deal to become the first U.S.-based licensee distributing the new collection of textiles globally, with Signature Design Archives, owner of the Florence Broadhurst archive of over 500 patterns. Four signature Florence Broadhurst patterns on fabric are selected for release by Valley Forge this year: Fingers, Steps, Kabuki, and Pomegranates. Each is constructed specifically for...

DALTON, GA.—The Home Depot  honored Shaw Industries with its Environmental Partner of the Year Award at its annual supplier partnership meeting on October 2. “The spaces where we live, work, play, learn and heal have a huge impact on our lives,” said Susan Farris, Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Communications at Shaw Industries. “That’s why we’re committed to using safe ingredients and designing sustainable products. Our commitment to Cradle to Cradle design principles for the past 20 years is evidence of that.” Today, almost 90 percent of the products Shaw manufactures are Cradle to Cradle Certified, a robust third-party certification...

Whether you’re starting from scratch or renovating a new building (hotel, school, business center, etc.), there’s more to a building than just obtaining the cheapest or most commonly used materials to get the job done. Now that more and more builders like builders in Essex are incorporating green building techniques, there are new and innovative methods that offer style, affordability, and durability, and that mesh with the 21st century. Choosing the right eco-friendly and sustainable building materials are paramount to staying on top of modern trends to make appealing buildings, as well as incorporating cutting-edge materials to ensure that your...

MENLO PARK, CALIF.—Hotel Nia, a newly opened Autograph Collection property in Silicon Valley, announces its achievement as a LEED Certified Silver building. Developed by Ensemble Investments with architectural design by Cuningham Group Architecture and LEED Engineering by Integral Group, the presentation of this award represents a milestone achievement for the 11-story, 250-room hotel, and reaffirms its commitment to sustainability and green practices. Along with adhering to sustainable attributes throughout the construction process—including over 85 percent waste diversion and 28.8 percent of total building materials manufactured via recycled materials—Hotel Nia also kept construction as local as possible, with 38.41 percent of...