DALTON, GA.—Tandus Centiva announced that it has received two Good DesignAwards in the flooring category for Thin Lines and Code Series, a Suzanne Tick design. TheGood Design program is an international design award organized by The Chicago AthenaeumMuseum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design andUrban Studies. Hundreds of entries from across the globe were submitted for consideration andjudged by a panel of distinguished design professionals, industry specialists and design press.“As the world’s most prestigious and oldest design awards program, the Good Designdesignation affirms our commitment and purpose to create floorcoverings that communicatebetter, simple,...

NATIONAL REPORT—Green walls, also known as vertical gardens or living walls, increasingly are being used in interior and exterior areas of hotels to make a green design statement. Aside from being aesthetic symbols of a property’s commitment to sustainability—perhaps even a means to earn LEED credits—green walls offer many other benefits. They can help deaden sound in large spaces, absorb and clean toxins from the air, reduce carbon dioxide levels, keep air temperatures down, improve employee alertness and energy levels, increase humidity, reduce airborne dust levels, and even help increase the property values of commercial buildings. According to Ambius,...

STAMFORD, CONN.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.’s aggressive environmental goals and design-led approach earned the company’s global headquarters the highest LEED accolades available. Home to approximately 1,200 Starwood associates representing nearly every global function, One StarPoint is the only building in Stamford to achieve the highest level of LEED certification. “We made a long-term investment in Stamford when we moved our global headquarters here and our extensive work for LEED certification is one way we continue to create a healthy and environmentally conscious work environment, which helps with retention, reduces energy consumption, and creates a more pleasant working experience,”...

PEARL RIVER, N.Y.—Now in its 64th year, the Good Design Awards, one of the world’s oldest and most recognized programs for identifying design excellence worldwide, announced its 2014 winners. Hunter Douglas, a leader in custom window fashions, received design excellence awards for its Silhouette A Deux window shadings, Solera Soft Shades and the Platinum App for motorized shades. Hunter Douglas was the only window covering manufacturer to be recognized.The award sponsors, The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design in Galena, Ill. and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies in Dublin, Ireland, received submissions from...

MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton Worldwide has reached an agreement with modular building provider CIMC to develop the first hotel at Bristol Airport (U.K.) under its economy Hampton by Hilton brand. Financed and owned by CIMC, the hotel will be managed by Hilton Worldwide.The announcement marks a strategic partnership between Hilton Worldwide and CIMC. CIMC’s innovative modular technique significantly reduces the time taken for construction by manufacturing and assembling portions of the hotel, including guestrooms and hallways, in China, before transporting them to the final site for assembly. The model helps ensure consistent quality and accelerates the build schedule on site, a...

DALTON, GA.—Tandus Centiva announces the introduction of TandusTape for Flex-Aire Modular products. Previously limited to use with ethos Modular, the convenience and cost savings made possible by the TandusTape Installation System has now been expanded to include the Flex-Aire Modular product platform.In addition to providing more flexibility in installation options, TandusTape eliminates the need for wet adhesives. Low VOCs and faster turnaround times make TandusTape an attractive choice to the end user. The introduction of TandusTape for Flex-Aire Modular expands the installation options for this backing system and enhances the opportunity to choose the installation method that is most...

ATLANTA—IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) and Carr City Centers announce a new InterContinental Hotels & Resorts property in Washington, D.C. The 278-room new build hotel will be part of The Wharf, a world-class, mixed-use waterfront development located on the historic Washington Channel. IHG, Carr and Clark Enterprises partnered together to form a joint venture with Wharf Master Developer Hoffman-Madison Waterfront to develop and own the InterContinental. The Washington D.C. property will apply for LEED Silver certification, contributing to the overall LEED-ND Gold status of The Wharf.The new InterContinental hotel will complement the iconic Willard InterContinental Washington D.C. hotel—also part of...

PORTLAND, ORE.—Viridian Reclaimed Wood announced the introduction of a new line of solid-strip paneling and flooring derived from reclaimed structural beams, according to Viridian co-owner Joe Mitchoff.“While so many of our raw materials come from ports and harbors, we’re always continuing to diversify our sources,” Mitchoff said. “This new line comes from old growth beams reclaimed from Pacific Northwest building-deconstruction and remodeling, primarily granaries and warehouses.”Available in two varieties—Granary Plank Smooth Face Naily and Granary Plank Antique—the new products are milled from a mix of Douglas-fir and pine beams reclaimed from granaries and warehouses throughout the Pacific Northwest. Both...

Vinyl or PVC materials have been a staple in hotel projects for many decades. Vinyl offers performance and a cost value that other materials found hard to match for a very long time.  Unfortunately PVC based materials also present an environmental headache that many hotel owners, builders and designers want to avoid in the future. Of course many in the vinyl industry would argue otherwise including the Vinyl Institute which represents many of the film and chemical manufacturers. Leaving aside the science for a moment which is very compelling against chlorine chemistry; you need only observe the marketplace to see...

ATLANTA—Interface, Inc. announced the appointment of Jay Gould as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the company. Gould, who was most recently CEO of American Standard Brands, will oversee global operations, marketing, and organizational development for the carpet tile manufacturing company that is a recognized leader in sustainability worldwide.“Jay’s proven track record of creating value for some of the most successful international corporations in the world drew us to him; however, it is his focus on the power of purpose that makes him the right fit for Interface,” said Daniel T. Hendrix, Chairman and CEO of Interface....