BETHESDA, MD.—JW Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 hotel brands, recently announced the debut of three herb gardens envisioned and planted by renowned landscape designer Lily Kwong as part of the brand’s JW Garden program. Kwong, whose reverence for nature comes to life through her breathtaking botanical installations, is the founder of Studio Lily Kwong, a next-generation landscape design studio with a mission to reconnect people to nature. JW Marriott is guided by similar principles, with a commitment to mindfulness that allows guests to be present in mind, nourished in body and revitalized in spirit—pillars that directly...

DALTON, GA.—Shaw Industries Group, Inc. released its 14th annual corporate sustainability report. Leveraging results from the 2021 Materiality Assessment and ongoing engagement with customers, key stakeholders and industry partners, the company details progress made toward its 2030 goals. As the company continues its commitment to Cradle to Cradle design principles, it has set new goals for net zero operations and diversity and inclusion as part of its sustainability strategy. “At Shaw, we refer to our sustainability strategy as sustainability—putting people at the heart of all we do,” says Kellie Ballew, Vice President of Global Sustainability at Shaw. “That’s what drives our...

CHICAGO—S.I. Container Builds (SICBS), a startup that converts recycled shipping containers into living, rental, and working spaces, announced that it has raised $1.7 million in a seed funding round led by HPA. The round also included participation from Service Provider Capital, Chicago Early Growth Ventures, and Kyle Stenzel. This capital comes on the heels of a record quarter and will enable SICBS to facilitate production facility expansion, accelerate production, and grow its team. Today, two significant problems exist related to the housing market: a lack of availability and a need for sustainable building options. According to the Pew Research Center,...

CROSSVILLE, TENN.—Crossville, Inc. has announced its partnership with MindClick, a leader in rating environmental health performance of manufacturers and their products. Renowned for its corporate commitment to sustainability, Crossville chose to be among the early participants of MindClick’s program. All Crossville products are now included in the MindClick MSAP, with its product selections holding the rating of Leader. “As part of Crossville’s commitment to providing the best resources and solutions for design and installation clients, we continuously research and engage with the latest tools to access critical data needed to guide specification choices,” explained Heidi Vassaloti, Crossville’s Director of Strategic...

NEW YORK—Building upon the signature softness, performance capabilities, and industry-leading sustainable properties of its inaugural launch, Supreen’s new menswear-inspired patterns will debut at two premier textile booths this HD Expo, April 26 to 28, 2022. Offering a fresh yet decidedly classic upholstery option for commercial spaces from healthcare to hospitality alike, the three new timeless, wool-inspired textures were designed to outperform while still looking debonair. Reminiscent of houndstooth, heathered flannel, and tweed men’s suiting, the patterns combine Supreen’s original liquid-barrier and stain-resistance with an elevated element of luxury—available in over 54 basic to bold colorways. Continuing to exceed industry standards, the new designs...

CROSSVILLE, TENN.—Crossville, Inc. has announced the launch of Classic Grooves porcelain tile collection, an innovative porcelain tile series comprised of graphically-enhanced warm and cool neutral tiles complemented by an array of mosaics and playful decorative accents. Classic Grooves will be available May 16. Classic Grooves field tiles are made in the USA and Green Square Certified to answer sustainability standards. Classic Grooves is attuned to modern design sensibilities. It has a classic appeal yet is also eclectic thanks to an inventive surface visual and a surprising mix of designer elements. The look of the field tiles has subtle striations and...

NEW HAVEN, CONN.—Hotel Marcel New Haven, Tapestry Collection by Hilton will soon make history as what is believed will be the first net-zero hotel in the United States. The revolutionary hotel will utilize renewable solar power sources on site to generate the electricity needed for its common areas, restaurant, laundry, meeting rooms and 165 guestrooms and suites. Set to debut this spring, the all-electric hotel is currently accepting reservations for May 19, 2022, and beyond. Hotel Marcel New Haven will operate independent of fossil fuels, resulting in zero carbon emissions. It is also expected to be the first Passive House-certified hotel...

BANGKOK—Six Senses will mark its entry into the UAE market with a LEED-certified 61-room hotel and 162 branded residences along a private stretch of beach on Palm Jumeirah’s West Crescent. The strategic location speaks to the rich cultural and historical links between Dubai and one of its most precious natural resources: coral reefs and the ecosystems they support. Recognizing the significance of coral reefs to the UAE and efforts to preserve them, coral is the main inspiration for the architectural narrative, with the undulating rooflines, silhouettes, and cellular facades resembling its natural form and beauty. This creates outward-looking environments that are...

HUDSON VALLEY, NEW YORK—One of the hospitality industry’s most innovative new concepts is emerging in New York’s Hudson Valley--Moliving at Hurley House. Produced and operated by Moliving Inc., its ultra-luxury Units will be 399 square feet on the inside and will include deck space of 240 feet. With its 60 Units, Moliving at Hurley House will open this September. Moliving Units can either be “off the grid” while using solar panels with lithium battery technology to store energy or can be easily connected to the grid in a matter of minutes. According to Jordan Bem, CEO, and founder of Moliving,...

WINCHESTER, VA.—Founded on sustainable principles, Trex Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of high-performance composite decking and outdoor living products, has long been considered a leader when it comes to sustainability. That reputation and track record were recently reinforced via three distinct honors from Green Builder Media—all related to the company’s sustainable products and practices. For the 12th consecutive year, Trex has been named the “greenest” decking in the industry by the readers of Green Builder magazine. In addition to this unprecedented achievement, Trex once again received the highest score for decking in the Green Builder Media Brand Index. Rounding out a trifecta of accolades, Trex’s new Augmented Reality (AR)...