NEW YORK—Designtex announced that it has received the REPREVE Champions of Sustainability award in the category of Circular Economy recognizing companies that demonstrated best-in-class use of the closed loop concept, which aims to eliminate waste throughout the product life cycle. As an innovator and leader in environmental sustainability, Designtex is committed to investing in research and development and continues to educate the design industry on the importance of incorporating these principles into every project. In 2013, Designtex introduced Loop to Loop, the result of an unprecedented collaboration with Steelcase, Canadian textile manufacturer Victor, and Unifi, to create the first upholstery...

STEVENSON, WASH.—The Columbia River Gorge’s Skamania Lodge, A Destination Hotel, recently unveiled its second pair of tree houses; the first pair opened in the summer of 2016. The new tree houses have an extra sleeping area complete with a queen bed in a nook that overlooks the Gorge and Skamania Lodge’s golf course. It allows for a broader range of options to those seeking to sleep among the trees. “We’re thrilled at the way our first two tree houses turned out,” said Skamania Lodge General Manager Ken Daugherty. “They became so popular, we wanted to be able to provide our...

NEW YORK—Wabu (Wood After Being Used), wood furniture made entirely with reclaimed wood that’s hand-crafted, affordable and easy to assemble with no tools required, is now available on Indiegogo. “It is our duty to leave the planet in better shape than we found it or at least try our best to do so,” said wabu Co-founder Carl Bardawil, who launched the company with his sister, Christelle. “Every two seconds, man destroys an area the size of a football field, meaning 80,000 acres of forest disappears every day—representing 50,000 square miles a year.” With the purchase of each piece in the wabu...

The momentum toward energy efficient buildings is transcending the harsh political climate in Washington, occurring primarily at the state and city levels in the United States, at the level of nonprofit organizations, and in other countries that are the fastest-growing source of climate pollution. Locally initiated policies for improved building efficiency have always driven the bulk of activity at the national level, both in the United States and in countries such as Russia. With the ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change, which calls for the world to pursue action to limit climate change to 1.5 degrees, we see...

SAN DIEGO, CALIF.—Cali Bamboo announced the launch of GeoWood, an engineered hardwood combining real timber layered over GeoCore—Cali’s stabilizing limestone composite foundation. This technological breakthrough yields rock solid hardwood flooring with exceptional AquaDefy water resistance and comes at a lower price point than solid wood planks. The full GeoWood collection will include real oak, hickory, maple, walnut, and bamboo. Flooring will be available for purchase in Spring 2018. Nothing Beats Real Wood Perfect for those looking to redesign on a budget, Cali GeoWood puts real hardwood floors within reach. Its easy DIY installation and upkeep saves additional money throughout the entire life...

NEW YORK—Early-adopters of new eco-friendly wabu, affordable hand-crafted furniture pieces made entirely from reclaimed wood, can now visit getwabu.com to enter the company’s fan queue for an opportunity to earn exclusive rewards prior to wabu’s official launch on January 26, 2018. Wabu, an acronym for Wood After Being Used, is furniture made with reclaimed wood that’s handcrafted, affordable and easy-to-assemble (in less than two minutes) with no tools. Wabu will soon be available for pre-order on crowdfunding site Indiegogo. “It’s our duty to leave the planet better than we found it or at least try our best to do so,” said...

NEW YORK—Registration is now open for the 2018 Hospitality Design Exposition and Conference (HD Expo), the hospitality design industry’s premier tradeshow. Thousands of designers, architects, purchasing agents, owners, operators, brand executives, and other hospitality design professionals from across the country will come together May 2nd through 4th at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas to see exceptional products on the show floor, learn from and be inspired by the people and projects moving and shaping the industry today, and networking at the various networking events. Conference highlights include the show’s signature Owners’ Roundtable that puts attendees face-to-face with hotel owners,...

CALHOUN, GA.—With new visuals in wood, stone, and abstract patterns, Mannington Select LVT brings a large selection of pattern options, a broader range of colors, and compelling color coordination across product platforms. All of this, combined with a new premium construction, elevates Mannington Select to the pinnacle of the Mannington Commercial LVT product offering. The collection offers a color update to existing wood patterns, including Chatham Oak, Princeton Cherry, Barnwood Plank, and Mountain Pine—then extended to add key neutrals. The design team added new wood species such as a stylish and modern Maple, a dark antique Walnut, a distinguished classical...

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA—The Halifax Convention Centre hosted its official opening ceremony last month. “The Halifax Convention Centre will attract thousands of new visitors from around the world to our province,” said Premier Stephen McNeil. “It will build on our booming tourism economy and help build a stronger Nova Scotia.” The centre features 120,000 square feet of flexible event space including a mix of multi-purpose and meeting space including a ballroom with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking downtown. The configuration was enhanced from the original design with more natural light, an above ground ballroom, two distinct convention levels and a floor of dedicated meeting...

NEW YORK—Duravit has joined forces with Kansas-based Studio 804, Inc. to promote the benefits of innovative, adaptive architecture and design. Studio 804, Inc. is a not-for-profit that annually builds and designs a home that represents sustainable, affordable, and inventive building solutions. Duravit will donate a variety of bathroom products for the 2018 house, highlighting the impact of forward-thinking, modern bathroom design. “Our partnership with Studio 804 is a testament to the value of their program,” states Duravit USA President Tim Schroeder. “The effort, research, and care that goes into every Studio 804 project is something Duravit is incredibly proud to...