BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, N.Y.—SG Blocks, Inc., a leading designer, fabricator and innovator of container-based structures, and Luxembourg-based real estate developer’s U.S. affiliate Arizona Investissements US LLC., have executed an agreement to construct a prototype for mobile hospitality units. When fully completed, the total project revenue is estimated to be approximately $4.0 million. The total order, expected to be almost 50 proprietary production units, will be delivered to an initial location in Hudson Valley, N.Y., where Arizona Investissements recently acquired the Twin Lakes Resort through one of its subsidiaries. This 55-acre estate is...

NEW YORK—Nova, a new task light from Humanscale, was awarded the iF DESIGN AWARD. Recognized as a symbol of design excellence around the world, the iF DESIGN AWARD receives over 5,000 submissions from 70 countries each year. This year, Humanscale’s Nova task light won over the 67-member jury, made up of independent experts from all over the world. Nova is the latest of seven Humanscale products to win the award. Previous Humanscale products awarded this honor are the Freedom chair, Float, Diffrient Smart, M2 Monitor Arm, Diffrient Work Light II, and Switch...

SPARTANBURG, S.C.—The Specialty Interiors business of Milliken & Co., a leading global innovation company with performance and protective textile, specialty chemical and floor covering expertise, announces the continued growth of its eco-elegant performance upholstery fabric collection, Breathe by Milliken. For Spring Market, Breathe by Milliken will be featured in the new King Hickory Showroom.  King Hickory selected four colors of the Breathe by Milliken denim fabric that is 100 percent cotton. Offering the ultimate in sustainable and elegant performance, this luxurious fabric combines design and durability with family-friendly stain protection. King Hickory chose this specific fabric to satisfy customer demand for greener products featuring minimal chemistry. According to...

You do not have to look far to find examples of human rights violations by Saudi Arabia. Last year’s killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Arabia consulate in Istanbul is a recent prominent example. Saudi Arabia’s intervention in the war in Yemen is another example. According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, 56,000 civilians and combatants were killed in Yemen between January 2016 and October 2018. Terrible for such a small nation. It is certainly challenging to lift Saudi Arabia up as a country to emulate but some recent news out of the country on...

DELRAY BEACH, FLA.—GSky Plant Systems, Inc., a global industry leader in the design and production of interior and exterior green walls, announces four key hires to enhance sales and marketing capabilities and embrace growing demand for living walls such as the Versa Wall and Versa Wall XT systems. Jean-Pierre Sijmons joins GSky as Director of Global Dealer Development. In this role, he will develop dealer programs and relationships to expand GSky’s presence in North America and Europe. Sijmons brings 25 years of experience in the interiorscape industry. Since 2002, Sijmons owned and operated City Plantscaping in Denver—a member of GSky’s...

NATIONAL REPORT—As reported on Green Lodging News, the American Hotel & Lodging Assn. (AHLA) has released the results of its 2018 Lodging Survey. This comprehensive survey is conducted every two years by industry data provider and AHLA partner STR. The survey is funded by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation. The survey included all properties in the United States with 10 or more guestrooms—nearly 56,000 U.S. properties. With just under 11,500 responses, the overall survey completion rate for the 2018 survey was 21 percent, a gain of six percentage points from 2016. Nine questions fell under “Sustainability,” but other...

READING, PA.—Ambius, the world’s largest interior landscaping company, premiered their proprietary trends report, a first for the biophilic category that highlights the top six trends in biophilic design that have staying power. These architectural applications are poised to change the way people work and operate within the built environment. Part of the larger wellness movement, biophilic design integrates nature and natural patterns into building architecture in order to create a human-nature connection that can help positively change the way people work. Research shows that integrating biophilic design into indoor environments positively impacts employees in several ways: Reduced employee absenteeism; Improved...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) released the results of a comprehensive Lodging Survey, a detailed assessment of advancements in amenities, guest services, sustainability and technology, in addition to other industry trends. This recent survey underscores how hotels advance, accommodate and innovate the guest experience. Consumers can expect seamless transitions between their everyday lives and their lives on the road thanks to increased mobile compatibility, flexible dining options and welcoming accommodations. This comprehensive survey is conducted every two years by industry data provider and AHLA partner STR, renowned for providing premium data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights for...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released its annual list of Top 10 States for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the world’s most widely used green building rating system. Illinois topped the list, which ranks states based on the number of LEED certified square feet per person. The Top 10 states for LEED are home to 128 million Americans and together include more than 468 million gross square feet of LEED-certified space. Buildings that are LEED-certified create healthier spaces for people, as well as use less energy and water, reduce carbon emissions and save money for...

DELRAY BEACH, FLA.—GSky Plant Systems, Inc., a leader in the design and production of interior and exterior green walls, announces installation of a custom Pro Wall living wall system at the new iPic Entertainment corporate headquarters and theater in Delray Beach, Fla. Pro Wall systems are ideal for corporate campuses, hotels, malls, retail storefronts, apartment and condominium buildings, and more. The advanced Pro Wall green wall system features one-foot-by-one-foot pre-grown planted panels of durable rockwool, offering a highly customizable palette for vertical exterior designs of small or expansive dimensions. Additionally, the system’s waste-reducing drip irrigation design minimizes water usage. As...