SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIF.—Native Trails, the eco-chic California company known for its luxury, artisan-made kitchen and bath products, is expanding its NativeStone Collection for 2015 with four new sinks and vanity tops. The new products—available in June—include: Palomar Vanity Top with Integral Sink, Olivos Bar & Prep Sink, Malibu Bar Sink and Cabrillo Bath Sink. The entire NativeStone collection, which includes sustainable concrete kitchen, bar/prep and bathroom sinks, made its debut in 2014. It is the company’s most affordable kitchen and bath product line to date. Handmade by artisans in Vietnam, NativeStone is a very strong blend of cement...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The world’s top-performing companies are prioritizing sustainability as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts, and a majority of them are using LEED, the world’s premier green building program, to achieve their goals, according to a new survey released by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The study looked at Fortune 200 companies, most of them users of LEED and members of USGBC. “We launched LEED 15 years ago so that the world’s leading businesses would have a tool that would deliver the immediate, measureable results they need to prove that what is good for the environment is also...

BETHLEHEM, PA.—AltusGroup, a North American network of 19 precast concrete manufacturers, several International Affiliates and select Innovation Partners has published a technical brief outlining how insulated precast wall systems provide a sustainable exterior envelope solution by allowing buildings to reduce energy usage and costs.The brief also discusses the resiliency benefits of the concrete enclosure systems. Precast concrete—and specifically CarbonCast technology featuring carbon fiber grid wythe connectors—is designed to withstand harsh weather and remain durable over time to extend the product’s lifespan. This, along with sustainable manufacturing practices, can reduce a building’s carbon footprint while enhancing long-term cost effectiveness.The five-page...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Designing and maintaining the systems that keep a hotel property running smoothly and efficiently is an important job, but one that may not even be noticed unless they stop functioning. The new, fourth edition of Hospitality Facilities Management and Design, was written by David M. Stipanuk, Professor Emeritus, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, and published by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI). It provides readers with a solid foundation in planning, operating, and maintaining the equipment and systems needed by every property.The book takes a systems approach to hospitality facilities issues, while also providing a...

JEKYLL ISLAND, GA.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced the opening of The Westin Jekyll Island, a 200-room, convention-class, beachfront hotel on Georgia’s acclaimed barrier island. It is one of six new Westin hotels opening in North America this year and follows the brand’s 200th opening worldwide in 2014. “The Westin Jekyll Island is a terrific new addition to the Westin brand’s growing portfolio and provides a restful retreat for travelers on one of the most beautiful barrier islands in the United States,” said Bob Jacobs, Vice President of Brand Management for Sheraton and Westin. “This spectacular new Westin hotel...

OMAHA, NEB.—International planning, architecture, engineering, interior design, and program management firm LEO A DALY announced that it celebrated Earth Day 2015 with a worldwide day of volunteerism on April 25. An estimated 625 employees and family members in 31 offices spent the Saturday after Earth Day in a variety of community-focused cleanup activities.The Earth Day event, which mobilized volunteers in the United States and China, was coordinated by The Futures Council, a group of LEO A DALY company leaders who take on special initiatives to push forward the firm’s vision of “enhancing the quality of the human experience, and...

ATLANTA—Interface, the global manufacturer of modular carpet tile, has been awarded LEED-CI Gold certification for its flagship Atlanta showroom which opened last July. Occupying a 6,900-square-foot space in Brickworks Atlanta, a restored industrial building dating back to the 1880s, the facility posed unique challenges as Interface’s design team sought to meet the energy efficiency criteria set by the USGBC while preserving the foundation and original historic character of the interiors. Among the noteworthy solutions that earned Interface its Gold level rating: • Lighting power is reduced by more than 30 percent.• All workspaces regularly occupied by employees are day lit...

DUBAI, U.A.E.—InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced the signing of a management agreement with Diamond Developers to launch the second Hotel Indigo in the U.A.E. Hotel Indigo is IHG’s boutique brand and each Hotel Indigo property is designed to reflect the local neighborhood it is located in. From the design of the building to the hotel’s artwork and locally-inspired menus, each Hotel Indigo property is unique to its surroundings, so no two properties are the same. In addition, guests can look forward to immersing in stories of the neighborhood through creatively crafted spaces reflecting the area’s heritage—a key cornerstone of...

ARCHBOLD, OHIO—WoodTrac introduces its decorative wooden Ceiling System for commercial and residential use. The system has the appearance of a custom-crafted three-dimensional ceiling. Each ceiling can be individualized with the combination of different molding profiles and molding and panel finishes. Molding profiles include colonial, cove and tear drop shapes while molding and panel finishes consist of abbey oak, bank alder and paintable white ceiling options.For a more traditional ceiling appearance, WoodTrac offers an additional panel finish—a knock-down textured surface. Additionally, the WoodTrac ceiling system has the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain-of-Custody Certification. Builders, architects, designers and developers using WoodTrac...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council announced that it will now recognize energy and water requirements from the Living Building Challenge (the Challenge) green building system within the LEED green building program.“USGBC and the International Living Future Institute, developers of the Living Building Challenge, share a common commitment and goal to transform the way we design, build and operate our buildings,” said Scot Horst, Chief Product Officer, USGBC. “The Challenge plays an important role on the green building performance curve and is a complement to LEED.”Added Horst, “The LEED steering committee approved this approach; in the world of rating...