GARDEN GROVE, CALIF.—Sterling Sleep Systems’ modular mattress system will be part of the winning Sustainable Suite that will be on display at Hospitality Design Expo 2010. The mattress system was included in the winning Sustainable Suite Design Competition entry by WATG, a destination design firm. WATG led the creative design and specification process, in conjunction with IDEO, an innovation and design firm which brought expertise on human-centered sustainability. The U.S. Green Building Council, in conjunction with the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and NEWH, organized the Sustainable Suite Design Competition—a competition for interior designers to showcase the best hospitality...

RALEIGH, N.C.—In October, the Raleigh Convention Center joined an elite group of convention centers—those that have earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. In Raleigh’s case, it earned LEED Silver, joining the Phoenix Convention Center, Spokane (Wash.) Convention Center Expansion, and the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Ore., as LEED Silver recipients. The Raleigh facility earned the LEED designation a little more than a year after the center opened in September 2008. The Raleigh Convention Center is owned and managed by the City of Raleigh. According to Laurie Okun, director of...

LAS VEGAS—Under a canopy of fireworks illuminating the night sky, ARIA Resort & Casino opened its doors last week and welcomed its first guests. Located at the heart of CityCenter, ARIA is the centerpiece of the urban resort destination. Its debut signifies the official grand opening of this city-within-a-city, following two weeks of celebrations for the reveals of Vdara Hotel & Spa, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas and Crystals retail and entertainment district. Featuring a combination of striking architecture, sustainable design, high-end service and amenities, the ARIA has dramatically altered the skyline of the world’s most famous boulevard. “ARIA and CityCenter...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Valley Forge Fabrics was presented with a Merit Award from Interior Design Magazine for being a finalist in the 2009 Best of Year Awards. The finalists and winners were announced on December 3 during a celebration at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. In the Best of Year Product category, Valley Forge was applauded for the Volumes of Velvet pattern Nixon. This was designed exclusively for Valley Forge by Jonathan Adler. Best of Year Product Design honorees were selected by interior designers and architects via an online vote October 5 to 11, and winners were...

MCLEAN, VA.—Home2 Suites by Hilton, the mid-tier, extended-stay hotel chain targeting value-wise business and leisure travelers, announced the groundbreaking of its first hotel, the 119-room Home2 Suites by Hilton Fayetteville, N.C. The hotel is being developed by Alabama-based LBA Properties, a group of companies providing comprehensive hotel development and management services, on behalf of Apple Real Estate Investment Trust Companies (Apple REIT Companies). The hotel is expected to open in the 2010 fourth quarter. “Home2 Suites is a true complement to the current Hilton Worldwide portfolio,” said Paul Brown, president of global brands and commercial services for Hilton Worldwide. “All...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in accordance with the G.I. Bill, has agreed to reimburse veterans, eligible dependents and reservists for the cost of any of the LEED Professional Exams administered by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). “We are honored to be a part of the VA’s aggressive effort to help veterans gain the skills and credentials required for full participation in the new, green economy,” said Peter Templeton, president, GBCI. “For those veterans who are pursuing a career in green building or a related field, this support for attaining LEED credentials can go a long...

LAS VEGAS—Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas, a hotel located at the new CityCenter on The Strip, has achieved LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). It is the first hotel in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group to receive a LEED rating, and marks the sixth LEED Gold certification for CityCenter, which is one of the world’s largest sustainable developments. “Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is known for demonstrating its leadership in the hotel industry,” said Rajesh Jhingon, general manager of Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas. “We are honored to have the Group’s first LEED Gold certified hotel.” Mandarin Oriental Highlights • The...

NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS—Mr.greenpoints has launched a website to help architects, contractors and builders sort through the confusing green building product marketplace. Mr.greenpoints provides product sustainability information based on user-defined criteria as well as a clear summary of the growing number of certifications that confirm and validate green product attributes. In addition, the website will allow users to determine when a product may help achieve regional materials credits by calculating and ranking the mileage from the manufacturing location to a project site, a feature not currently available anywhere else. Regional credits are intended to help limit energy use on transportation,...

ANN ARBOR, MICH.—NSF International, the developer of the only American National Standard for sustainable carpet, announced that InterfaceFLOR, a leading manufacturer of modular carpet, has received certification to NSF/ANSI 140: Sustainable Carpet for both their GlasBac and GlasBac RE products. InterfaceFLOR’s facility in Chonburi, Thailand, is the first manufacturing facility outside of North America to achieve this certification. The NSF Sustainable Carpet Standard was developed to help drive the carpet industry toward a more sustainable future by providing a national standard that can be used for developing environmentally-friendly carpet. NSF International certifies carpet to ensure it meets all of the...

LAS VEGAS—Affirming its commitment to bring a new level of environmental consciousness to the Las Vegas Strip, CityCenter has earned its fifth and sixth LEED Gold ratings from the U.S. Green Building Council with the certification of Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas and Veer Towers. The accomplishment completes the certification process for all CityCenter components opening this December, and marks the highest LEED achievement by any hotel, retail district or residential development in Las Vegas. The 18-million-square-foot metropolis is one of the world’s largest sustainable communities. “From its inception to design, development and construction, we had one single goal in mind...