LAS VEGAS—Durkan, the hospitality brand of The Mohawk Group, recently launched a new fiber system, SmartStrand Contract. Made with DuPont Sorona renewably sourced polymer, SmartStrand Contract is specially engineered for hospitality carpeting to offer performance, sustainability and luxury. Durkan is offering both tufted and printed options made with the fiber, including Merit Select’s Lavish Luxury for guestrooms and suites. SmartStrand Contract utilizes triexta fiber—recently designated as its own fiber class by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). “Environmental and social innovation is redefining our future—not just of our organization, our customers’ businesses or the design industry, but more importantly, of the...

BUFFALO GROVE, ILL.—Embassy Suites Chicago Downtown Lakefront, which is situated in the heart of downtown, recently unveiled the largest indoor living green wall in Chicago. The 720-square-foot eco-friendly living wall in the hotel’s sky lobby was installed by Ambius, a division of Rentokil Initial plc. This green wall system, which was manufactured by GSky Plant Systems, employs a tray system featuring an energy efficient computer controlled irrigation system. A green wall, which is also referred to as a living wall or vertical garden, is a wall that is free standing or part of a building that is partially or...

SPOKANE, WASH.—The Davenport Hotel Tower has been awarded LEED Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), making it the only hotel in the state of Washington to obtain Gold status and amongst only 33 in the world. LEED is the USGBC’s leading rating system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy efficient, and high performing buildings.  “We are delighted with this news,” said Lynnelle Caudill, managing director of the hotel. “It was just over one year ago we set out to pursue LEED certification. We worked to improve our usage of energy, lighting, water and...

MILL VALLEY, CALIF.—NanaWall Systems, a producer of opening glass walls, introduces the first folding door system in the United States to feature custom-crafted frames of laminated bamboo. The Energy Star-certified NanaWall folding door system incorporates the most ecologically responsible wood-alternative material on the market today. “We chose laminated bamboo because our customers requested more ecologically responsible material to use in LEED certified projects,” said Ebrahim Nana, president of NanaWall Systems. “We already offer FSC wood but laminated bamboo takes the concept one step further and is recognized as a rapidly renewable resource by the U.S. Green Building Council.” The NanaWall is...

EWING, N.J.—Ewing is now the home of New Jersey’s first LEED-certified hotel. Element Ewing Hopewell, an eco-chic boutique hotel, has earned a coveted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Designed to be “green from the ground up,” Element hotels blend nature-inspired smart design, inspiring public spaces, and comfortable modern touches. Element, from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., made history with its 2008 launch by becoming the first major hotel brand to mandate that all its properties pursue LEED certification. Element serves as Starwood’s green innovation lab, where sustainable practices are...

COSTA MESA, CALIF.—Cadiz Design Studio continues to work with Xanterra Parks and Resorts in revitalizing their Grand Canyon South Rim properties. Located on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, the 198-room Yavapai East building now offers its guests upgraded, eco-conscious amenities. Renovations included designs that honor the beauty of the National Park’s landmark. The rooms have been transformed to showcase the park’s natural surroundings through the use of indigenous patterns, textures and colors. Green initiatives include U.S. manufactured furnishings and fabrics shipped within 500 miles of the site. Carpets and textiles contain significant amounts of recycled content and can...

WARWICK, N.Y.—Impact Enterprises, Inc. was recently awarded the 2011 ADEX Award for Design Excellence for two of its product designs. The ADEX PLATINUM Award for Design Excellence was presented to Impact for its creative and uniquely designed Surfboard Menu Cover. This menu cover design is solid wood, cherry, and has the unique shape of an authentic surfboard. This menu “board” comes with its own solid wood base which allows the board to stand vertically on a table-top, and be removed and reinserted easily. A unique wood frame was created for the “interior” side of the surfboard that allows for...

LAGRANGE, GA.—InterfaceFLOR, LLC officially rolled out its Interface Hospitality division at HD Expo in Las Vegas. Dozens of new designs have been added to the initial library of modular carpet tile patterns that specifiers will be able to access when composing a floor covering for their hospitality projects.  “Whether it’s for guestrooms, corridors or public spaces, Interface Hospitality is ready with a solution that’s equally attractive as it is practical,” said Charley Knight, vice president of Interface Hospitality. “DYF—design your floor— is the Interface Hospitality mantra, because what we’re offering is an extensive selection of patterns that can be...

HEALDSBURG, CALIF.—h2hotel, a progressively-designed hotel located just off the historic town plaza in Healdsburg, announced that it has been awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification and is the first LEED Gold certified hotel in Sonoma County. “Green design was a necessity and a natural progression for us,” said managing partner Paolo Petrone, who also co-owns Hotel Healdsburg. “Designed to use 27.8 percent less energy than the standard hotel in California, we have created an environmentally-conscious hotel without sacrificing comfort and style. h2hotel is a hotel that Healdsburg can be proud of. We continuously strive to be...

SAN DIEGO—Graham Downes Architecture, a Southern Californian design firm, announces completion of preliminary design for The Royal Beach Resort, a 25-acre seaside resort in the Eguafo District, on the Cape Coast Central Region of Ghana. The Royal Beach Resort is Central Africa’s very first luxury eco-resort and will offer the latest leisure standards based on the most current principles of sustainable development. The boutique property provides unique entertainment and relaxation programs—it is a health-oriented, recreational retreat that will attract both continental and overseas visitors; appealing to business, recreation and also family guests. Lodging accommodations comprise 120 suites where the accent is...