Purchasers of building materials and items such as furniture that contain building materials should always be mindful of formaldehyde risks. Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas used in making building materials. It is used in pressed-wood products, such as particleboard, plywood, and fiberboard; glues and adhesives; permanent-press fabrics; paper product coatings; and certain insulation materials. In certain concentrations it can be cancerous. By the beginning of June this year, virtually all composite wood products manufactured or sold in the United States, as well as products made with composite wood components, must meet tough formaldehyde standards. As a result, manufacturers of...

From global hotel operators like Hilton, Marriott and InterContinental Hotels Group to independent hoteliers like the Broadmoor, more hospitality professionals are using modular construction to open properties faster and meet green building goals. “We believe the modular process will be a game changer for our valued development partners, especially during a time when labor shortages can be a challenge to timely openings,” said Karim Khalifa, Marriott International’s former Senior Vice President of Global Design Strategies. The company’s commitment to this building process is highlighted in its Modular Construction Initiative, which called for 50 hotel deals in 2017 to incorporate pre-fabricated bathrooms...

Humanscale has joined the growing list of companies utilizing commercial fishing nets in their products. The company just introduced its Smart Ocean chair that incorporates almost two pounds of recycled fishing net material. Sourced from Bureo, an emerging venture developing innovative solutions to prevent ocean plastic pollution, this is the first tangible product of its new partnership and marks the first product available to purchase from the consortium of companies under the NextWave initiative. “Fishing nets comprise approximately 10 percent of the plastic pollution in the ocean today,” says Humanscale Founder and CEO Robert King. “Our partnership with Bureo helps...

NEW YORK—Humanscale introduces the Smart Ocean chair, an inventive adaption of the Diffrient Smart chair that incorporates almost 2 lbs. of recycled fishing net material (NetPlus). Sourced from Bureo, an emerging venture developing innovative solutions to prevent ocean plastic pollution, this is the first tangible product of its new partnership and marks the first product available to purchase from the consortium of companies under the NextWave initiative. “Fishing nets comprise approximately 10 percent of the plastic pollution in the ocean today,” says Humanscale Founder and CEO Robert King. “Our partnership with Bureo helps further our goal to achieve a net...

HOLMDEL, N.J.—Somerset Development announced that it has received approval to construct a hotel at Bell Works, the revitalization of the renowned two-million-square-foot Bell Laboratories into the iconic “metroburb” located in Holmdel, N.J. Granted by the Holmdel Planning Board, the approvals will allow Somerset to build a single-story, 200-unit hotel facility on the roof of Bell Works, adding a new use to its diverse mix of office, retail, childcare, health and wellness uses at the rapidly transforming campus. “This decision marks the latest development in our work to turn this formerly vacant, single-tenant campus into a thriving, self-contained metropolis in suburbia,” said...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Greenbuild, the world’s largest green building conference experience, is coming to Europe April 17 to 18, 2018 and will take place in Berlin, Germany at the Radisson Blu Hotel and Meeting Center. Greenbuild, founded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), offers a forum for the green building community to unite, change lives, revolutionize business and address pressing issues, such as air quality, human health, energy use and global climate change. “Greenbuild’s expansion into the European market is reflective of the tremendous leadership and demand from the green building community to learn from and push each other to advance...

SPARTANBURG, S.C.—Leading global innovation company with textile, specialty chemical and floor covering manufacturing expertise, Milliken & Company’s Specialty Interiors business, has extended its sustainability leadership by recently joining the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC) and being honored by Unifi as a REPREVE Champion of Sustainability. Milliken Specialty Interiors has joined the Sustainable Furnishings Council as a qualifying member, pending successful application for higher-level recognition. The Sustainable Furnishings Council shares Milliken’s commitment to taking immediate steps to minimize carbon emissions, reduce other pollutants and remove unsustainable materials and chemical inputs from furnishings product platforms. The organization exists to raise awareness and expand the...

TORRANCE, CALIF.—LEDtronics announces its new All-Weather, UL-Listed Filament-look LED String Lights that answer the demands for brilliant, mood-setting lighting with all the benefits of energy-efficient LED technology. These versatile LED string lights are ideal for applications such as special outdoor occasions, garden or backyard parties, or providing a decorative flair to outdoor restaurant porches, shopping plazas, hotel pool areas, decks, driveways and patios, as well as for sign perimeter lighting. The 48-foot, IP65-rated waterproof black string cord holds 24 1.5-watt S14 LED lamps with a bulb separation of 2 feet. It features industrial-grade outer neoprene rubber sockets that endure years of...

CHICAGO—After five years of intensive development, the Green Infrastructure Foundation announces the release of the Living Architecture Performance Tool (LAPT) v.1. The LAPT is a rating system and best-practice guide with a goal of certifying that green roofs and walls are planned to achieve certain measurable and replicable performance benefits. Providing performance benchmarks will increase the efficacy of living infrastructure and bolster industrywide credibility. Designers, building owners, and maintenance professionals can use the LAPT to optimize the range of benefits possible from their projects, while policy makers can also use the tool to maximize public benefits and create effective...

MOLINE, ILL.—Element Hotels, part of Marriott International, and Ctwo Hotels, announced the opening of Element Moline, marking the debut of the eco-conscious, extended-stay brand in Illinois. With the support and inspiration of the Moline Historic Society, Element Moline offers guests eco-friendly and wellness-focused amenities within the historical surroundings of one of Moline’s oldest buildings. Part of the hotel is housed in the O’Rourke Building, a warehouse that was originally built in 1916. “We are thrilled to be bringing Element Hotels to Illinois for the first time with the opening of this landmark property,” said Marlon Whyte, Senior Global Brand Director...