OULU, FINLAND—Scandic has signed a long-term lease agreement with property developer SRV for a new 144-room Scandic Go in Oulu, Finland. The hotel will be centrally located in northern Finland’s largest city and is expected to open during the second half of 2025. The new Scandic Go will have a strategic location in downtown Oulu with direct access to the main square, the historic market hall and many popular restaurants and shops in the heart of the city. Often referred to as the capital of northern Finland, Oulu is a hub for technology, science, and education, appealing to domestic and...

RACINE, WIS.—Dominion Properties, developer of two LEED Platinum multifamily buildings in southeastern Wisconsin, has just achieved LEED Gold for its boutique Hotel Verdant that utilizes geothermal, solar and wind technologies—a renewable energy trifecta not found in any other U.S. hotel. The 80-room property, with a Scandinavian vibe, is located in downtown Racine, Wis., and was once the Zahn’s Department Store building. The building sat empty for 40 years until Dominion Properties transformed it into a business anchor for downtown Racine. Dominion Properties’ Michael O’Connor and his business partner Christopher Adams are the visionaries behind the hotel project. They first met while...

EAST LONGMEADOW, MASS.—Excel Dryer, the global leader in touchless hand hygiene solutions, recently unveiled a comprehensive office expansion and renovation project. This initiative, rooted in the company’s mission to lead through innovation, aimed to merge beauty, health, wellness, and sustainability into its workplace. The project’s insights and methodologies are set to educate through a unique continuing education unit (CEU) course, offered by Architectural Record magazine in its Continuing Education Center, serving as a detailed roadmap of Excel Dryer’s innovative journey. Guided by the WELL Building Standard as a principal framework, the renovation serves as a case study showcasing Excel’s commitment to integrating the latest...

ATLANTA—Interface, Inc., the global flooring solutions company and leader in sustainability, launched several new flooring collections in the first quarter, offering hardworking, high-quality, and high-performance solutions for commercial interiors. With these latest introductions, Interface continues to expand its product portfolio by combining style and performance, meeting its customers’ design and space-specific needs, all while offering the lowest carbon footprint carpet tile products in the industry. Introduced as two new product extensions of Interface’s expansive Open Air collection, Stria and Open Ended bring subtle, sophisticated color to the platform. Interface designed the styles to work together, with Stria incorporating subtle, textured accents, and...

LAGUNA BEACH, CALIF.—Soul Community Planet (SCP) Hotels, a holistic hospitality company serving those who value wellness, social good and the environment, announced the opening of the Laguna Surf Lodge by SCP Hotels, a classic, beachfront experience in one of California’s most iconic destinations. Located in the heart of Laguna Beach, Calif., the 41-room eco surf lodge sits directly on the sand of the town’s legendary beach, an easy walking distance to the acclaimed art galleries, eateries, and boutiques of Laguna Beach village. The hotel immerses guests in the nostalgia of California’s fabled surf scene, while offering modern nature-based wellness experiences, locally...

VILLAREAL, SPAIN—Xtone, Part of the Porcelanosa Group, has just launched several new designs in North America: Tura, Bianco Lasa, Calacatta Antico & Terre Greige. These large format porcelain slabs are offered in a variety of finishes and thicknesses, and adapt to any environment and application, achieving greater continuity and visual aesthetics. These large format slabs allow for the materialization of ideas through a durable, elegant, and functional material. Xtone porcelain slabs are an ideal material for both indoor and outdoor use with endless application possibilities from flooring, countertops, to decorative elements and more. Xtone large format porcelain slabs are applicable...

DENVER—Proluxe Lighting, a leading manufacturer of premium LED lighting innovations for residential and commercial applications, introduces Neonflex Pro-Dual, a static white dual bend neon alternative that provides seamless lines of direct view lighting for architectural-grade interior and exterior applications. Neonflex Pro-Dual features bend technology for vertical and lateral directional bending with 3000K CCT and a high 90+ CRI that delivers up to 223 lumens per foot, while consuming only 3.05 watts per foot. The maximum run is 16.4 feet operating on 24V DC. The direct view lighting is dimmable from 5 percent to 100 percent with most ELV and TRIAC dimmers. IP67-rated and...

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO—Sandos Hotels & Resorts announced the completion of 336 nature-inspired and family-focused rooms at its Sandos Caracol Eco Resort. The renovated rooms and suites have been integrated into the property’s signature Eco Collection, which offers three categories of jungle-inspired accommodation options. Nestled amidst the Riviera Maya’s lush coastal landscape, the innovative 941-key property invites guests to explore the region’s mesmerizing flora and fauna from the comfort of its latest ecology-conscious suites, specifically designed with families and the environment in mind. Additionally, as part of this phase of the renovation, two reimagined culinary concepts have been introduced at the...

NEW YORK—Designtex, a leading company in the development, design and manufacturing of applied materials for the built environment, announces the launch of Elemental Wright, a new collection of textiles, wallcoverings and custom materials that are rooted in the iconic teachings and philosophies of Frank Lloyd Wright. The collection draws inspiration from Wright’s pioneering approach of incorporating nature within the built environment for improved well-being. Elemental Wright expands on some of Wright’s most pioneering principles, such as looking to nature to learn from its essential geometric systems and color palettes, making beautiful design accessible through his Usonian philosophy and encouraging his...

CHICAGO—Plans are taking shape for the 55th edition of NeoCon (held June 10 to 12 at THE MART), the world’s leading platform for commercial space design, as show management announces a power-list of thought-provoking speakers, dynamic activations, best-in-class brands, and the newest movers and shakers impacting the built environment. The three-day event offers opportunities to connect, learn, and experience the latest trends and innovations across verticals, from office to healthcare. Attendees, who hail from large enterprise companies to design professionals representing markets ranging from Workplace, Healthcare, Hospitality, Retail, Real Estate, Education, Public Space, and Government can register for this...