PEARL RIVER, N.Y.—Marv Hopkins, president and CEO of Hunter Douglas North America, a leading manufacturer and marketer of custom window fashions in the U.S. and Canada, announced the promotion of Ron Kass to president and COO, effective January 1, 2014. Kass will continue to report directly to Hopkins, who is being promoted to chairman in addition to his ongoing role as CEO.“Hunter Douglas and I are most fortunate, indeed, to have an individual of Ron’s high caliber and outstanding record of performance to take on this new and larger leadership role for our great company,” said Hopkins. “I have...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—As asthma rates continue to rise, the Healthy Building Network (HBN) warns that new preventive strategies are needed to address this epidemic at its source. This includes avoiding the many building materials introducing asthma-causing chemicals into the indoor environment. The materials include flooring, carpets, insulation and paints with chemicals that can cause the development of asthma.This information has been released in the new HBN report, Full Disclosure Required: A Strategy to Prevent Asthma Through Building Product Selection, which reveals that many building materials can cause the development of asthma. HBN says that building occupants can be exposed to...

MANKATO, MINN.—All that’s left is the waiting for the official plaque from the U.S. Green Building Council. When it arrives the Courtyard Mankato Minnesota will become the first hotel in the Gopher State to receive LEED certification. Considering all of the property’s green features, the honor will be well deserved. The 93-room property, about a year old, is owned by Mercury Investments L.P. Preston Lougheed is the general manager.“As far as we know we are the first Marriott in the United States to have solar panels,” Lougheed says. “It was a big investment.” The 40 kW, 192 panel system...

FARGO, N.D.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced plans to introduce its eco-wise Element brand to Fargo, N.D. Element Fargo is scheduled to open in November 2015 in the Veterans Boulevard Corridor. The hotel is owned by StaySharpe Hotels and will feature 130 rooms.Element Fargo will be located across the street from the site of the new $500 million Sanford Fargo Medical Center now under development, and just ten minutes from Microsoft Corporation’s second largest campus in North America. The hotel will also be convenient to Fargodome, home of the two-time defending FCS championship team, the North Dakota State...

NEW YORK—HOK, a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm, announced that architecture and interior design firm BBG-BBGM’s New York and Shanghai employees have joined the company. BBG-BBGM’s primary business has been hospitality design, with a focus on luxury hotels and resorts.“The addition of a premier hospitality design firm to our already strong hospitality group provides immediate benefits for HOK’s clients worldwide,” said Bill Hellmuth, AIA, HOK president. “We have tremendous mutual respect for each other and share a passion for exceptional design and project delivery. We each are committed to creating great spaces that respect their communities, delight...

SAN FRANCISCO—Smith & Fong Co., manufacturer of Plyboo bamboo architectural plywood and flooring, announced the launch of a new line of bamboo dimensional lumber, according to company founder Dan Smith.“Our Plyboo dimensional lumber was developed in response to market demand for an interior grade lumber that’s both substantial and decorative,” Smith said. “It takes all the colors and textures of plywood and flooring we offer and makes them available in a versatile lumber product that can be used for furniture, fixtures, door and window jams and other decorative applications.”Plyboo lumber is available in amber and natural, edge and flat...

CARTERSVILLE, GA.—Shaw Industries Group, Inc. has installed solar panels on the roof of its carpet tile manufacturing facility in Cartersville, Ga. The installation is expected to produce approximately 1.4 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of power annually—enough to power approximately 100 homes in Georgia each year. Feeding into the Georgia Power electric grid, Shaw will use this renewable energy to help power its Plant 15 (also known as Plant X), a facility that produces carpet tile for the commercial market.“Within Shaw’s holistic approach to sustainability, we continually explore opportunities to improve energy efficiency and employ renewable and alternative energy sources,”...

NEW YORK—One of New York’s most notable new comers to the luxury hotel scene, The NoMad Hotel, gained a LEED Gold status, making it one of the city’s three hotel properties with top LEED credentials. The NoMad, which was created by The Sydell Group, opened late spring 2012 following a renovation of the landmark Johnson building on the corner of 28th and Broadway. The building most recently housed offices before being converted to The NoMad Hotel. Stonehill & Taylor was in charge of the architecture and historic preservation.“We held The NoMad at the highest standard for the environment and...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Design and architecture firm Studio3877 has announced its move to a new and larger office in Georgetown. The move comes on the heels of the firm’s expansion, with two new employees joining the firm just this fall, and many hospitality and commercial projects on the boards. Founded by David Shove-Brown and David Tracz, Studio3877 previously occupied a shared office space in Logan Circle. The firm principals started their search for a private space this past summer as their roster of staff and clients began to expand. The 1,300-square-foot office features an open concept that allows for collaboration, brainstorming,...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—At the recent Greenbuild Conference International Summit in Philadelphia, it was announced that Greenbuild for Europe and the Mediterranean region will launch in Verona, Italy in 2014. “Greenbuild for Europe and the Mediterranean region is part of the global expansion of the successful Greenbuild Conference & Expo brand,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “USGBC and Hanley Wood entered into a strategic partnership earlier this year with plans to expand the conference and the Greenbuild brand. This new experience will serve as a platform for green building knowledge and shared expertise across...