SAN FRANCISCO—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) announced an expansion of their strategic partnership to accelerate the adoption of buildings that prioritize people, communities and the natural environment. Beginning in early 2023, the partnership will focus on streamlining the process for achieving dual WELL and LEED certifications through a two-way crosswalk and a coordinated third-party review overseen by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the premier organization for independently recognizing excellence in green building performance and practice globally. “This is the next chapter in our partnership with IWBI, which has brought global attention and leadership...

DULUTH, MINN.—Landscape Forms has announced Eric Swanson as the new President of Loll Designs, the award-winning designer and manufacturer of highly sustainable outdoor furniture. Swanson will lead Loll Designs’ Duluth, Minn.-based team with over 22 years in the industry. He joined Landscape Forms, North America’s leading designer and manufacturer of high-design site furniture, structure, LED lighting, and accessories, in 2003 as a Business Development Representative. Over the next two decades he demonstrated excellence in driving business growth, contributing significantly to Landscape Forms’ $185M business, and rising to the position of Vice President of Sales. Swanson has also been integral in the transition...

SAN FRANCISCO—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced updates to the primary version of the LEED green building certification program, LEED v4, to more directly address carbon emissions and climate change. The updates will raise the threshold of LEED v4 to encourage greater energy performance, aligning LEED v4 with the rigor of LEED v4.1, which raised the bar on energy and climate upon its release in 2018. “From day one, USGBC has been committed to the continuous improvements and advancement of green buildings standards. The new updates to LEED v4 affirm that climate is core to LEED,” said Peter Templeton,...

NEW YORK—Habitas, the rapidly growing, experience-led eco-hospitality brand with homes on three continents, continues its trajectory with nine new awards recognizing the brand’s excellence in sustainable design, innovation, and a community-based ethos. Captivating both guests and the travel industry and media, Habitas shines as the recent recipient of prestigious accolades such as Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers' Choice Awards for Habitas Tulum, Bacalar, and Namibia; Architectural Digest’s 2022 Hotel Awards for Great Design for Habitas Bacalar; and the AHEAD Americas Awards 2022 for Habitas Bacalar as Best Resort. The impressive streak of awards since June 2022 includes: Condé Nast Traveler’s Bright Ideas in Travel—Habitas brand—2022 Winner in this year’s inaugural awards; Architectural Digest’s 2022...

HUDSON VALLEY, N.Y.—Overlooking the mighty Shawangunk Ridge on 140 arcadian acres, Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection recently opened as a new, environmentally conscious, luxury retreat, fringed by fiery fall forests and a slow-rippling river. A verdant escape in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, its expansive grounds encompass orchards, woodlands, a namesake farm, heirloom gardens and fields of native wildflowers. Nestled within are 65 bespoke cabins, cottages, and suites; Thistle, an Auberge Spa; Maplehouse cooking school; and exceptional dining destinations, including the resort’s signature restaurant Clay—all inspired by the region’s wild beauty. “Fifteen years ago, my wife, Kristin, and I came to...

NEW YORK—HX: The Hotel Experience and Boutique Design New York (BDNY), two adjoining trade shows held at the Javits Center November 13 to 14, wrapped up this week with numerous first-time suppliers introducing green products and services. In addition, veterans of the two shows were back to tout the green upsides to their products and services to the thousands of attendees. It would be impossible to list all the suppliers deserving of publicity, but the following are many of them, along with a brief description of what they featured at the shows. Sapphire Beverages introduced its water in easy-to-recycle aluminum...

NEW ORLEANS—The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC) has achieved its first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, a major milestone in its ongoing commitment to sustainability. A building rating system that provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, green buildings, LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership. This official certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) makes the NOENMCC the largest LEED-certified project in Louisiana, the largest convention center project in the U.S. certified under LEED v4.1 Operations and Maintenance and the first convention center in the world to be awarded initial certification...

SEATTLE—Award-winning lighting innovator LightArt brings natural materials to light with their first curated selection of wood grain colors and shades. Introducing Woods is a collection of wood-inspired shades and laser-cut patterns for LightArt’s signature fixtures. Designed with parent company 3form’s signature Varia resin, the biophilic print materials emulate complex textures found in nature and come to life with LightArt’s LED lighting technology. Named after six prominent tree types—Black Ash, Cherry, Grey Oak, Walnut, Wenge, and White Oak—the Woods colorways showcase the diverse possibilities of LightArt’s offerings with 3form materials at their fingertips. The colors are also available with two...

BEREA, KY.—Olympia Hotel Management (OHM) has announced that it will operate the Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant, which is owned by Berea College, in Berea, Kentucky. The Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant was built on the old Dixie Highway (U.S. Route 25) and opened in 1909 in the center of town. Named after the early Kentucky explorer, Daniel Boone, it was designed by architect J. C. Cady in the Colonial Revival style. The venerable property is a member of the Historic Hotels of America and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel has welcomed a long...

CROSSVILLE, TENN.—Crossville, Inc. has announced the launch of the Stones at Large porcelain stone collection, an innovative porcelain series inspired by some of the world’s most sought-after earthen materials. Crossville’s Stones at Large delivers enduring luxury on a grand scale. Featuring warm and cool colors from marble, onyx, and quartzite, Stones at Large creatively reproduces the elegance of natural stone in sizes up to 48” x 48” with unpolished and polished surfaces. Because these stones are high-tech porcelain, the tiles offer the durability, stain resistance, and life cycle that porcelain offers, while still achieving the luminescent visual depth found in...