PALO ALTO, CALIF.—S2A Modular, creator of the first electrically self-sustaining, custom and smart-connected #GreenLuxHome luxury residences, apartment buildings, multi-family homes, hotels and commercial buildings—announced the significant expansion of its executive and sales teams with the appointment of four chief officers and three sales managers who are positioned to help manage the company’s aggressive strategy to rapidly scale its modular home manufacturing capabilities throughout the United States. At the core of these executive appointments is Larry Braden, S2A Modular’s new Chief Financial Officer. Braden brings more than three decades of corporate finance and compliance experience and is now in charge of...

One of my favorite events of the year, the HD Expo + Conference, originally slated to be held early next month in Las Vegas but canceled due to COVID-19, is going virtual from Tuesday, May 5 to Thursday, May 7. Via webcast there will be 12 free sessions and 40 presenters. A+D professionals can earn up to 12 CEU/LU credits. Among the sessions: “Emerging Trends: Leading-Edge Concepts in Wellbeing,” and “NEWH Green Voice: Technology for Healthy Buildings.” Speakers for the wellbeing session include: Kevin Boehm, Co-CEO, Co-Founder, Boka Restaurant Group; Kane Sarhan, Co-Founder & CCO, THE WELL; Aaron Richter, Senior Vice...

ATLANTA—Interface, a worldwide commercial flooring company and global leader in sustainability, announces its participation in Design for Health by Mindclick, a virtual event that showcases this year’s Design for Health display, the first-ever designed by Baskervill Architects in Marriott International’s Design Library. Design for Health will take place on Earth Day, April 22, at 11:30 a.m. EST. The event will feature Lara Shortall, MindClick’s Director A&D Solutions, as well as exhibit partners Baskervill, Fairmont, Fil Doux, and Interface. Kenn Busch of Material Intelligence will moderate the virtual event, bringing Baskervill’s design vision to life by leading Mindclick Sustainability Assessment Program...

DALLAS—LEO A DALY, the global planning, architecture, engineering and interiors firm, announced that Ellen Mitchell-Kozack, AIA, LEED BD+C, WELL AP, SEED, has joined the firm as Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer. In this role, she leads LEO A DALY’s strategic initiatives in sustainable design worldwide, including Environmental Social & Governance, alignment with the UN Global Compact and Sustainable Development Goals, carbon footprint assessment and social impact. She is based in the firm’s Dallas design studio. Mitchell-Kozack is a nationally recognized voice in sustainability and public interest design. As Senior Vice President, Director of Sustainability at HKS, she led the firm’s...

SACRAMENTO, CALIF.—INOX is now offering an antimicrobial coating for its line of stainless steel products, including commercial and residential door levers and pulls, deadbolts, panic devices and push/pull plates. INOX MicroArmor Antimicrobial Coating is a powder coating infused with antimicrobial technology that is applied during the hardware’s manufacturing process and works to inhibit the growth and reproduction of harmful bacteria, mold and mildew by up to 99.9 percent. “In light of the current COVID-19 health crisis, it was incredibly important to us to focus our research and development on products that can help lessen the spread of harmful bacteria and...

A while back I heard from Aly Valiani, President of Houston-based New Horizons Hospitality, Inc. regarding his company’s two LEED certified hotels. I finally had a chance to chat with him about the properties this past week. The first hotel is the 172-room LEED Silver certified Hilton Garden Inn Houston NW/America Plaza. The second is the 146-room Hyatt Place The Woodlands. I was curious to know how Valiani’s company had benefited from the LEED certification. First, Valiani told me his company’s seven Houston area hotels are currently averaging just 5 to 10 percent occupancy. Business has been hurt not only...

PALO ALTO, CALIF.—S2A Modular – creator of the first electrically self-sustaining, custom and smart-connected “GreenLux” luxury residences and commercial buildings—has launched a nationwide search for locations to build eight MegaFactory facilities that will drive positive economic impact for regions, cities and municipalities. “With two S2A MegaFactories already under construction, we’re immensely excited to begin the process of selecting eight additional sites to build our next eight facilities—which will create hundreds of jobs and help stimulate local, regional and state economies,” said John Rowland, President and Co-founder of S2A. “Electrically self-sufficient and smart #GreenLux residences and commercial buildings have created a...

SAN FRANCISCO—Sustainable interior finishes pioneer Smith & Fong Co. announced the introduction of six new colors to its award-winning Durapalm line of palmwood flooring. Smith & Fong was the first U.S. company to manufacture, import and market palm flooring and plywood products to the North American market. Its Durapalm line is now a center of renewed design and innovation for 2020 and beyond, according to company founder and co-owner, Dan Smith. “We have worked hard to develop a strong supply of high-quality palm from our sources in India. And the success of this has enabled us to develop the next generation of...

BETHESDA, MD.—SpringHill Suites by Marriott announced a new marketing partnership with Society6 to bring custom curated Gallery Walls for guests to enjoy at over 450 hotels across North America. Merging the affinity for art and travel, The Gallery Wall in each hotel features artwork from one of ten geographic regions. Each Gallery Wall is an expression of that region’s distinct spirit and style. The announcement with SpringHill Suites marks the first large-scale marketing partnership between Society6 and a hotel brand to empower local, independent artists. The Gallery Wall will be on display in every SpringHill Suites lobby, with each art...

SOLON, OHIO—Tarkett, a worldwide leader in innovative and sustainable flooring, has launched Fabricate, the latest commercial carpet developed in partnership with menswear designer Jhane Barnes. Barnes developed Fabricate to effectively hide soil and coordinate easily with other flooring selections in the space. Using an innovative design technique she developed and Tarkett patented, Barnes flipped and rotated a series of tiny repeating modules, creating an almost-solid visual. Each six-foot repeat includes more than a thousand rotating motifs, making the overall pattern impossible to find. To complete the design, Barnes created a palette of today’s most dependable neutrals, plus some bright pops of...