WASHINGTON, D.C.—Internationally recognized architecture and design firm, CORE, announces the hiring of Brian R. Judis, LEED AP. Judis will serve as the hospitality practice senior project manager, according to CORE management. Judis brings 15 years of experience managing large and often transformational hospitality projects to the CORE team. Most recently associated with Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc, where he was the director of capital expenditures, Judis implemented capital investment projects upwards of $70 million annually and was the lead manager for the design and construction of numerous hotel projects throughout the United States. His tenure at Host and,...

LOS ANGELES—Commercial carpet manufacturer Bentley Prince Street, Inc. announced that it has received a third-party verified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for its broadloom products. This achievement marks the first time a North American broadloom carpet product has received an EPD, the international gold standard for illustrating the various aspects of a product’s performance. “The significance of this EPD verification is the amount of detail and transparency required, providing the most accurate, objective picture available of a product’s true environmental impact,” said Anthony Minite, president of Bentley Prince Street. “This is the best impartial tool available to provide customers with a...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Looking down on the roof of Wyndham Worldwide’s new headquarters on a sunny day could be hazardous to your eyes. The 83,000 square feet of white roofing on the top of the company’s new corporate headquarters building in Parsippany just might reflect the sun back at you. The white roof, which helps keep the building cool during the summer, is just one of the many green features found at Wyndham’s three-level corporate office. According to Faith Taylor, vice president, sustainability and innovation for Wyndham Worldwide, the complex opened earlier this year in February and more than 800 employees...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—A new 226-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Chevy Chase, Md., on the Maryland/Washington, D.C. border is now open to the public. Grosvenor Americas, the international property development and investment company, has completed a $35 million renovation and re-branding of the original 39-year-old building. The new Courtyard by Marriott Chevy Chase is designed to meet the criteria for the Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED is an internationally recognized certification system that measures how well a building performs across a number of areas that matter most: energy...

NORTH WALPOLE, N.H.—Len-Tex Corp. announced that its entire line of contract wallcoverings has been certified to meet the indoor air quality (IAQ) standards of California’s Section 01350 for low VOC emissions. This specification developed by the state of California measures key environmental performance in building materials, primarily interior finish products. All Len-Tex wallcoverings meet the standards outlined in the section’s IAQ testing protocol, which stipulates that independent laboratories test materials for chemical emissions. In addition, Len-Tex wallcoverings have also been certified to meet the stringent criteria of the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS section 01350) in...

MILWAUKEE—Timber Holdings International, the original Iron Woods brand of naturally durable hardwood products, announced a partnership with MEISTER of Germany to be the U.S. distributor of the first Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified laminate flooring line for the United States. The new flooring is suited for both commercial and residential buildings, and complies with LEED requirements set forth by the U.S. Green Building Council for green buildings. The laminate line includes both cork backed (9.3 mm) sound-absorbing, and non-cork backed (8mm) products in 4" and 5 1/2" widths. This floor is produced using the newly-developed direct printing technology, so there...

SUNNYVALE, CALIF.—UL Environment Inc. announced it has validated environmental claims for Serious Materials’ new drywall product, EcoRock. This represents the first validation of claims by UL Environment since its launch in January 2009, and the first product in the 115-year history of Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to receive an Environmental Claims Validation. UL Environment is a wholly-owned subsidiary of UL, a world leader in product safety testing services. UL Environment validated Serious Materials’ environmental claims for EcoRock by performing assessments and laboratory tests. An audit was conducted for recycled content, environmental chamber tests were performed to determine volatile organic compound (VOC)...

SAINT-GEORGES, QUEBEC—Victor Group, a leading North American textile company, and a leader in the development of environmentally friendly fabrics, has joined the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC) as a Silver Corporate Exemplary Member, earning the distinction of being the first textile manufacturer to join at this level. The Sustainable Furnishings Council is a nonprofit balanced coalition of industry players founded in High Point, N.C., in October 2006 to promote sustainable practices among manufacturers, retailers, and consumers alike. The SFC recognizes the scientific consensus that the world is experiencing global climate change. SFC members acknowledge the tremendous urgency, and take immediate steps...

GATLINBURG, TENN.—The Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg, adjacent to The Great Smoky Mountain National Park, is on its way to becoming the first LEED certified hotel in Tennessee. The 118-unit property opened on May 28. According to Logan Coykendall, part owner of the hotel and owner of Hospitality Management Solutions, the Sevierville, Tenn.-based management company that operates it, the Hilton Garden Inn should achieve a “solid Silver” LEED rating later this year. LEED, a certification program for new and existing buildings run by the U.S. Green Building Council, offers four levels of certification: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The decision to...

LOUISVILLE, KY.—The design vision of global lifestyle brand Joseph Abboud comes to commercial interiors for the first time with the introduction of a wallcovering collection for Versa. The 14-pattern collection is inspired by Joseph Abboud’s roots in menswear, incorporating tailored details, textures resembling nubby linens, brushed silks and burnished suedes, and designs influenced by glen plaids, paisleys, stripes and damasks. Earthy organic looks also emphasize artisanal, irregular, handcrafted qualities and include interpretations of burled wood, foliage and weathered materials. Made of Type II, 20-ounce vinyl, the collection features deeply embossed 3-D textures and 20 percent recycled content reclaimed and recycled...