ANCHORAGE, ALASKA—The 114-suite TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Anchorage, Alaska is scheduled to open the week of November 17, making it the first in Alaska. It is also Alaska’s first LEED certified hotel. The TownePlace Suites Anchorage Midtown will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by Denali Land, LLC and managed by Stonebridge Companies of Denver. Located in Midtown and five miles from Ted Stevens International Airport, the hotel offers guests convenient access to the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, the Alaska Railroad Train to Denali National Park and the Alaska Native Heritage Center.“We are pleased to introduce the TownePlace...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In recognition of the importance of sustainable parking facilities and practices to the development of sustainable communities, the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), the certification body for the U.S. Green Building Council’s global LEED green building rating system, signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Parking Institute (IPI), the world’s largest parking association, and the Green Parking Council (GPC).“Sustainability in parking is integral to building a greener future, not only structurally, but also by shaping transportation networks that support more livable, walkable communities,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, President, GBCI. “This agreement will also expand the GBCI’s portfolio and...

LOS ANGELES—EcoChic Lifestyles, an eco-friendly wood and metal furnishings company founded in 2012 by Megan Risdon, has moved its corporate headquarters from Vancouver, B.C. to Los Angeles. The company designs and manufactures furniture and home furnishings from reclaimed wood sourced from tropical fishing boats and iron from former bridges.“From homeowners to hotel designers and restaurateurs, our customers love the rich history, super quality and vibrant color of our reclaimed teak and metal furnishings,” said Risdon. “In just two years, we’ve demonstrated a tremendous market potential for our distinctive, stylish look and sustainability edict. Now, we’re ready to take advantage...

KALAMAZOO, MICH.—Landscape Forms introduces the next generation of products in the company’s 35 Collection, a family of site furniture elements with a youthful spirit and a mission to promote social life in outdoor spaces. The new additions are all in the family, created in collaboration with design partner frog design, the innovation powerhouse renowned for the SONY Walkman, the Apple computer, and software applications and mobile products for Microsoft and Disney. The results are three designs that continue the collection’s subtle integration of natural and architectural forms and take 35 fast forward.“The 35 Collection has been extremely successful,” says...

SIOUX LOOKOUT, ONTARIO—Most sea shipping containers that end up in the United States or Canada from points west never get shipped back. Trade imbalances can have burdensome repercussions on the environment. Many shipping containers are recycled for their steel but occasionally the containers are creatively reused—even in construction. Case in point is the recently opened Days Inn-Sioux Lookout in Sioux Lookout, Ontario. The 60-room Days Inn, a Realstar Hospitality franchised hotel that is managed by Liberty Hospitality, is comprised of 120 sea shipping containers on two levels. The modular units were prefabricated off-site in Calgary, Alberta by Ladacor Ltd.The...

At Greenbuild 2014 in New Orleans, Mahesh Ramanujam, the President of the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) said that the GBCI intends to broaden its mandate. Today, the GBCI is known for supporting the third party verification efforts for the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. But going forward, Ramanujam said the GBCI intends to host new third party environmental programs that will address third party certification of the following four concentrations of the built environment: energy efficiency, sustainable landscape, health and wellness, and financial markets. The rating systems for energy...

WHEELING, ILL.—The Brentano Design Studio, led by Iris Wang, celebrates 25 years in 2015. The textile house has grown from a modest eight patterns in 1990 to an international design leader. “I feel very blessed,” says Wang, founder of the company. “So many people have helped Brentano get to this point. My husband E-Kwan and I have two sons, and with this company, it’s like we’ve raised a third child. Brentano holds a unique place in the industry, and I’m thankful, as an artist and businesswoman, that our point of view has been so well received.” Wang often...

DALTON, GA.—Displayed in new architectural folders, Tandus Centiva introduces two new styles, Substrate and NuGrain, expanding the company’s luxury vinyl tile products in the marketplace.Substrate is an intuitive new material for the floor plane developed by Suzanne Tick and Terry Mowers with the Japanese concept of finding singular beauty in the transient nature of pared down objects. As a luxury vinyl tile, Substrate brings the look of textile scrim to the floor in an enduring format with the look of irregular fluidity and modest imperfection. With a 32 mil wear layer and deep embossing technique, Substrate has a similar...

BROOKLYN, N.Y.—Now more than ever, when you check into NU Hotel Brooklyn, you stand a very good chance to land a guestroom that features a locally-inspired mural painted by a Brooklyn artist, as the hotel now has a total of 15 guestrooms outfitted in NU Perspectives, a program which brings local Brooklyn artists into the guestrooms and allows them to use the walls as their canvas.“What started as a side project has really transformed the character and personality of our guestrooms,” said Independent Collection Area General Manager Javier Egipciaco. “It’s an honor to showcase the unique work of such...

MIAMI—InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announces the opening of the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Bogota Zona Financiera. The new-build, 99-room hotel is a LEED Gold certified property and is located in the heart of Bogota’s financial district. The hotel is part of a mixed-use development comprised of two towers, one of which houses the hotel and a second offices and retail stores. The new Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bogota Zona Financiera hotel is the fifth IHG-branded hotel in Bogota and is 15 miles from El Dorado International Airport. The property is conveniently located near local businesses, embassies,...