IS LEED - Rackcdn.com

FALL 2018PRSRT STD

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

Bolingbrook ILPermit # 422

THE MAGAZINE OFSUSTAINABLE FLOORINGAND DESIGN

Special project previewsection

INDUSTRYTAKE-BACK

PROGRAMS

DESIGNINGFOR K–12

IS LEEDSTILL IN THE LEAD?

HOW RUBBERREINVENTS ITSELF

projects products platforms policies practices people

2018_FALL COVER_2 10/12/18 3:46 PM Page 1

Believe in Handprints Over Footprints

MOHAWKGROUP.COM

Designed for the Living Product Challenge Petal Certi�cation, �ve new introductions leave a handprint rather than footprint by giving more resources to the environment than they use during their life cycle: Nutopia and Nutopia Matrix Carpet Plank Sys-

tems, Sunweave Broadloom, Sunweave Area Rugs and Pivot Point Enhanced Resilient Tile.

greenoperations.net fall 2018 i GO i 3

PERSPECTIVES

4 gopinion

PEOPLE

14 living future institute’s

jason mclennan

PLATFORMS

26 industry-leadingtake-back programs

38 aQuafil eXpands u.s. recyclingfootprint

PRODUCTS

30 rubber refreshed

34 latest and greatestcarpet tile intros

PROFILE

16 stantec

PROJECTS

20 rockville hospital

21 centennial high school

22 municipality of breda

23 the parthenon

24 hartford hospital

25 lebao asian eatery

FEATURES

6 is leed still the leading certification system?

How flooring creates inspiringspaces in K-12

10

FALL 2018inside

4 i GO i fall 2018 greenoperations.net

GOOPINION

The leaves are beginning to change color, dependingwhere in this great country you reside. It also meansGreenbuild is right around the corner, this year slatedfor Nov. 14–16 in Chicago. Many of our readers attend

this conference religiously every year, but for those who don’t,here are some reasons why it may make sense.

1. Education: The education program at Greenbuild featuresthree days of sessions strategically planned to educate, motivateand inspire. Greenbuild features different types of learningopportunities: workshops, which allow you to earn up to sevenhours of CEUs; master series, which are high-level, advanced con-tent sessions; special sets reinvent traditional breakout sessions;summits bring together sectors of the green building industry fora day of focused networking; and tours, which provide the oppor-tunity to explore green buildings.

2. Expo: The Expo Hall at Greenbuild is the focal point ofthe event, and the center hub of energy, featuring more than 600diverse companies that will showcase a vast array of productsand services for the sustainable building industry.

3. Networking: Greenbuild is a perfect opportunity to meetwith green building colleagues, network with leading industryprofessionals and learn from international representatives fromaround the world.

4. The opening plenary featuring Amal Clooney: Clooney,a British human rights lawyer, specializes in international lawand human rights. Her clients have ranged from political prison-ers and ousted Heads of State to WikiLeaks founder JulianAssange and the Republic of Armenia. In 2016, she co-foundedthe Clooney Foundation for Justice with her husband, George.

5. Greenbuild celebration featuring Buddy Guy. At age 81,Buddy Guy is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a majorinfluence on rock titans like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and StevieRay Vaughan, and a pioneer of Chicago’s West Side sound.

6. Mindful Materials pavilion: Mindful Materials is a designindustry initiative showcasing clear communication from manu-facturers on product and material transparency. Greenbuild isbringing this leadership on material transparency to its exhibithall. This pavilion represents a unique opportunity for attendeesand exhibitors to engage in conversations about product certifi-cations in an exclusive, all-new, turnkey setting.

There are obviously many more reasons to attend, but let’sstart with these.

Steven Feldman

Six reasons to attend Greenbuild

Volume 09, Issue 03, Fall 2018. GO/Green Operations is published 4times a year (quarterly) by Ro•ElProductions Inc., 33 Walt Whitman Rd.,Suite 302, Huntington Station, NY 11746.Presort-standard postage paid in Easton,Pa., and additional mailing offices.Postmaster, send address change toGO/Green Operations, SubscriptionDept., 151 Fairchild Ave., Suite 2, Plainview, NY 11803.

Entire contents copyright 2018. All rightsreserved. Printed in the U.S.A. Material inthis publication may not be reproduced inany form without written permission fromthe publisher.

Please notify us if you are receiving duplicate copies. The views expressed byour columnists do not necessarily reflectthose of the staff or management of Green Operations magazine.

editorialsteven feldman publisher/editorial [email protected]

k.j. quinn, liz switzer, lindsay baillie, nicole murraycontributing writers516.932.7860

advertisingnadia ramlakhansales [email protected]

art/productionlisa m. ceraso-faracecreative [email protected]

headquarters33 walt whitman road, suite 302huntington station, ny 11746tel: 516.932.7860 fax: [email protected]

GOOPINION

ECONYL® regenerated nylon can be recycled infinitely. No waste. No new resources. Just endless possibilities.

ECONYL.COM © Aquafil USA

Follow us: Contact us: Visit us:

As sustainable design has evolved,so have green building certifica-tion systems. The LEED Green

Building Rating System has been the clearmarket leader for nearly two decades, butother schemes such as Green Globes andthe WELL Building Standard have gainedground as human health has become cen-tral to the sustainability movement.

There are now more than 94,000commercial projects participating in LEEDacross 167 countries and territories, andnearly 20.2 billion gross square feet ofspace participating in LEED — all of whichresults in reduced CO2 emissions, lessenergy and water consumption, andwaste diverted from landfills. Legendaryenvironmentalist Paul Hawken summedup LEED’s impact: “USGBC [U.S. GreenBuilding Council] may have had a greaterimpact than any other single organizationin the world on materials saved, toxinseliminated, greenhouse gases avoidedand human health enhanced.”

Yet because LEED certification is oftenviewed as expensive, today’s project man-agers are starting to choose to mirrorLEED’s guidelines without incurring thecost of certification while addressing thesame metrics. That begs the question: IsLEED still leading the way?

THE HEART OF LEEDHawken’s statement goes directly to theheart of why LEED will always be synony-mous with leadership in the green build-

BY LIZ SWITZER

still leading the way?

GOCOVER STORY

ISLEED


ing movement, said Rick Fedrizzi, found-ing chair and former CEO of the USGBC.Fedrizzi is now chairman and CEO of theInternational WELL Building Institute(IWBI), a leader in the global movement totransform buildings and communities inways that help people thrive.

Birthed and shaped by hundreds ofcommitted volunteers who contributedmore than 200,000 volunteer hours to itscreation, today LEED is not only the yard-stick for comprehensive measurement, italso influences tools that have evolved toprovide the measurements and bench-marks, such as GRESB and Arc (a platformto measure and communicate sustainabil-ity performance), Fedrizzi said. GRESBassesses the sustainability performance ofreal estate and infrastructure portfoliosand assets worldwide.

LEED has also become an importantpolicy development tool with governmentleaders unilaterally embracing and man-dating the initiative, which is especiallyimportant today as local and state munici-palities take the leadership role to meetclimate change mitigation goals set forthby the Paris Agreement. In the U.S., forexample, more than 400 municipalities,32 states and 14 federal agencies refer-ence LEED as a best practice for achievingsustainability goals for buildings.

“What really sets LEED apart is itworks for all building types,” said MelissaBaker, USGBC senior vice president, tech-nical core, “from homes to corporateheadquarters to neighborhood develop-ments and even entire cities — at all phasesof development.”

But perhaps LEED’s most importantcontribution, according to Fedrizzi, hasbeen its role as a catalyst for a movementthat has been able to bring every cornerof the market together, from environmen-talists and capitalists to architects andengineers, manufacturers and city plan-ners, parents, teachers, students, mayorsand governors. The collective efforts areall in the name of working together toincrease energy efficiency, advance water

conservation, reduce waste and green-house gas emissions, and improve indoorenvironmental quality in buildings andcommunities in more than 165 countriesaround the world.

“LEED made accountability mandato-ry and set a high bar for other credible rat-ing systems to come into being to servemore localized markets while at the sametime making LEED a truly global system,”Fedrizzi said. “And thanks to its third-partycertification approach through GreenBusiness Certification, it keeps the heat onthose that only want to greenwash and theprojects who only go through the motionsand try to claim performance without cer-tifying and proving it. LEED will alwayslead the way — through its massive educa-tion effort and the megaphone of its armyof more than 200,000 LEED APs, throughits continuing advocacy for policies atevery level that advance a forward-lean-ing green building agenda and through itsongoing commitment to raising the bar.”

As a mission-driven organization, theUSGBC’s vision is one in which buildingsand communities will regenerate and sus-tain the health and vitality of all life withina generation. There is room in the market-place for any organization that aligns withthat vision, Baker believes.

“In fact,” she said, “the amount of workwe need to combat climate change andrealize a sustainable future for all is notgoing to be done by just one organization.In order to truly make an impact, we need

all hands on deck and the combinedpower of entities and programs likeUSGBC, GBCI, LEED and other local andglobal sustainability rating systems toadvance our collective mission and vision.Let’s be clear: Our only competition arethose who don’t build green.”

CERTIFICATION OVERLOADRichmond, Va., interior designer JessicaRitter’s clients now opt to follow alterna-tive compliance paths. Virginia’s HighPerformance Building Act, for example,references the International GreenConstruction Code as one of those alterna-tives. In addition, the WELL BuildingStandard, she said, continues to expandthe focus of what LEED has achievedregarding sustainability and encompass-es the overall concerns related to designof environments for human interactionand well being.

“While neither of these initiativesshould take away from the value that

opposite page: the bank of americatower in new york city was the firstskyscraper to achieve leed platinumcertification.

above: the clinton presidential library inlittle rock, ark., was the first federalbuilding to receive a leed platinum ratingthanks to waste reduction, waterconservation and energy savings.

Continued on page 8



Continued from page 7LEED has brought to the marketplace, norshould they degrade its importance inany way,” said Ritter, a senior associate atGlavé & Holmes Architecture. “They havecertainly broadened the perspective to alarger set of compliance methodologies.”

Seattle architect Myer Harrell, princi-pal and director of sustainability forWeber Thompson, said lately he is alsofinding fewer of Weber Thompson’sSeattle-area projects (primarily multifami-ly and commercial office private develop-ment) are pursuing LEED certification.One reason for that is local codes, zoninglaws and other regulations now requirehigher levels of sustainable design consid-erations as a code baseline, making LEEDcertification seem less of a market differ-entiator than in other parts of the county.

“It used to be that LEED was a stan-dard for increased development areathroughout much of the city; now it’s anincentive in a few specific targeted areas,”Harrell explained. “While we still seeLEED being pursued in those zones, othergreen certifications are also being offeredin exchange for development incentives.”

Additionally, Harrell said the growingnumber of green certifications — each withdifferent methodologies, metrics and per-ceived market values — has created “certi-fication choice overload” and confusesowners and project teams. “There arenow many flavors of sustainable designwhereas LEED used to be the sole stan-dard for green certification,” he noted.“Every time a new certification program isintroduced I sigh and know that whilewell-intentioned, every new pathway maybe creating more opportunity for ownersto throw up their hands in despair ratherthan delight in all of the options available.”

DETERMINING FACTORSWhile other systems have their place inthe market, architect Sandra Leibowitz,founder, owner and managing principalof Sustainable Design Consulting, believesit remains to be seen which systems will

be maintained and updated in as robust amanner as LEED.

“I am not bothered by the existence ofalternate green building standards butrather by their potential reasons for adop-tion on a given project,” she said. “Thedetermination of a system as the best fitfor a project should be based upon itsapplicability to the project type, familiarityto its design and construction profession-als, responsiveness to owner-driven prior-ities, availability of technical resourcesand its third-party certification process. Arating system should not be selectedbased upon a perception, often misguid-ed, of reduced cost or of weaker technicalreview.”

It has been shown that green buildingapproaches, LEED in particular, do nothave to cost more than conventional con-struction. In some cases, particularly inwhich projects target higher or more com-plex levels of green building, there maybe added upfront costs of 1% to 4%. They

are proven to be recouped relativelyquickly and within the first few years,Baker pointed out.

“LEED has never been, nor will it everbe, a perfect system,” Leibowitz noted.“Yet it continues to be America’s mostpopular by far thanks to a combination ofits technical rigor, industry engagementand adaptability to different project typesand local contexts.”

Even with the growing number of cer-tifications, LEED continues to be the lead-ership standard for the market, accordingto Minneapolis architect Douglas Pierce,global resilience lab co-director and sen-ior associate at Perkins+Will.

“Its breadth covers almost every topic,from energy and carbon to human healthand fitness,” he said. “Certifications likeWELL have a narrow scope focus thatdoesn’t address important issues such asenergy efficiency, but they dig in deep onhuman health. So they make great com-panions to LEED.”

1800 k street inWashington, d.c., wasleed certified silverfor existing buildings:operations &maintenance, or leed-ebom, shortly afterleed v4 was launchedat greenbuild 2014. itwas the first building inthe u.s. to achieve anyleed v4 certification.it also earned goldunder the earlierleed-ebom 2009.

GOCOVER STORY

See all the patterns, colors and complete specs at roppe.com

1.800.537.9527 proudly made in the

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE

TIMBERSNORTHERN

P R E M I U M V I N Y L P L A N K

Northern Timbers meet FloorScore® and are made in the USA using over 50% of locally sourced raw materials from within a 100-mile radius. Planks are available in 4” and 6” widths for more design options.

Envire® Rubber Sheet is a high performance formulation free of Red List Chemicals including PVC, phthalates and halogens. Envire® is made in the USA and comes in 6’ wide sheets for a more seamless installation.

R U B B E R S H E E T A N D T I L EENVIRE

® Red List Chemical Free

Welcome students and staff to an environment that is functional and sustainable.

Commercial WARRANTY

20202020YEARYEARYEARYEAR

De s i g n i n gthe perfectspace in a

K-12 education environment isa challenging job. The space must

inspire students to learn while keep-ing them safe and comfortable, all with-

in the demands of shrinking budgets. The driving force impacting interior

design within K-12 schools is the notion of theactive learning classroom. Educators are

reportedly encouraging students to be proactivein their learning paths while evolving teaching

styles allow for a shift in design thinking for a typi-cal classroom space.

“The traditional learning space is taking cues fromboth higher education and corporate settings, wherecollaboration and communication are both celebratedand encouraged amongst students, their peers and fac-ulty members,” said Catherine Wolfe, CID, NCIDQ, senior

GOFEATURE

TheLearningCURVEK-12 environments look to flooringto help create innovative, engagingspaces BY K.J. QUINN

above: suppliers like armstrong flooring can offer options thatcoordinate with a school’s branding, offering floors in bright colors

that can also stand up to the daily activity of students and staff.


interior designer at Ashley McGraw Architects, Syracuse, N.Y.As specifiers design environments that inspire creativity and

collaboration — such as fab labs, maker spaces and green screenrooms — they are making learning applicable to the real world.

“We continue to provide flexible and agile spaces that canreadily respond to future changes in education,” noted AimeeEckmann, FAIA, ALEP, LEED AP BD+C, pre-K12 practice leaderand associate principal at Perkins+Will, New York. “Throughoutour designs, we encourage transparency to make teaching andlearning visible, as well as to increase passive supervision tosupport safety and security.”

The flow of spaces, connection and transparency are all crit-ical for a successful 21st century grade-school environment. Anintegral part of interior design is the floor, used to create a “spacewithin a space” and identify collaborative or breakout areas forgroup discussions. “[Flooring] can also create a space in front ofa built-in bench for a group of students to meet, or a place to puta table and two chairs for a student and tutor,” noted AnneWeber, AIA, LEED BD+C, senior vice president at CannonDesign,New York. “The second way flooring helps is by creating conti-

nuity between spaces, such as the classroom and the hallway,making the hallway an extension of the classroom.”

Flooring offers opportunities to reinforce school identity bychoosing products associated with the institution’s brand. “Withthe options to transition from hard and soft surfaces and use avariety of colors, the designs can create environments that alignmore closely with a school’s evolving teaching styles,” saidJeremy Nyboer, director of marketing strategy, Interface.

WHY HARD SURFACE IS GAINING GROUNDK-12 represents the lion’s share of the education sector, account-ing for approximately 75% of flooring sales with the remaindergenerated from colleges/universities, according to industry esti-mates. The amount of flooring sold for K-12 applications is aided,in part, by the passage of funding to support school construc-tion and renovation. “Bond money has remained very strongthrough the public K-12 sector,” reported David Dembowitz, sen-ior vice president sales, education, Mohawk Group. “On the ren-ovation side, it remains strong as collaborative spaces becomemore prevalent in the K-12 market.”

Through the first six months, the K-12 flooring market waspacing ahead of last year and expected to generate roughly

above: lvt is gaining popularity in the k-12segment as these environments move away fromvct and embrace more modern, trending visualswhile taking advantage of the many benefits luxuryvinyl has to offer, including easy maintenance and

comfort underfoot.

left: macarthur elementary school in binghamton,n.y., features corridor flooring in densified polished

concrete with decorative aggregate. this floor provides alook and performance similar to terrazzo but is less

expensive and offers a more organic, natural feel.

Continued on page 12


collaborativesocial spaces, similarto those found in open

office layouts, are becomingincreasingly popular in k-12

environments. ryan middleschool in fairbanks, alaska, picturedhere, features an open area with access

to lockers and flexible classrooms.

Continued from page 11$650 to $750 million in sales. “I think that’s attributed to theamount of pent-up demand,” said Kieren Corcoran, director ofperformance markets for Patcraft. “It took quite a while forschools to have their bonds pass since the 2008 recession.”

Most of this work involves hard surfaces, accounting for anestimated 50% to 60% of flooring sold to K-12 spaces. Producttypes vary as grade schools encompass a wide range of enduses such as classrooms, athletic facilities and office spaces. “K-12 clients are looking for flooring solutions that meet the quadru-ple-threat criteria of versatility in design: durable, safe and sus-tainable, and low maintenance,” explained Robert Brockman,segment marketing manager-commercial, Armstrong Flooring.

While performance, health and safety requirements areimportant selection criteria, flooring needs are changing to sup-port new learning environments. “A lower life-cycle cost is veryimportant for K-12 interiors,” Mohawk’s Dembowitz said.“Ultimately, vendors are stepping up by working to create prod-ucts that protect students in the learning environment and bydeveloping flooring that lasts longer and is easier to maintain.”

Armstrong reports that its Diamond 10 technology lowersmaintenance and labor costs with a surface coating that helps itsresilient floors look newer longer by resisting scratches, stainsand scuffs. “Keeping floors clean takes less time, and materialsstand up to just about anything students can throw at them,”Brockman said.

As there is more awareness about floors’ maintenance andlifetime costs, school officials are seeing the budget-friendly ben-efits of investing in quality products. “They tend to opt for prod-ucts with longer estimated useful lives and lower installation ormaintenance costs,” Interface’s Nyboer said. “This mindset ofinvesting in long-lasting products is driving the growth of LVTand carpet tiles in schools.” By comparison, some schools com-pensate for smaller budgets by looking for options that are lessexpensive upfront.

As much as facility managers and superintendents areevolving in terms of their need for stylish and cost-effectiveproducts, they are also becoming increasingly interested in sus-tainability and creating healthier spaces for students and faculty.Within the flooring industry, a commitment to material health isbecoming a standard, as Environmental Product Declarations(EPDs) and Health Product Declarations (HPDs) help fine tunethe process of identifying healthy products for commercial inte-riors. “In most cases, as a designer I like to review the existingflooring throughout a building and see if it is a viable option forthe renovation project,” Ashley McGraw’s Wolfe said. “If the exist-ing product is failing or does not meet our sustainable goals forthe project, I will then introduce a compatible product.”

To that end, an increasing number of resilient products carry

sustainability certifications from independent auditors.For example, Armstrong resilient floors are FloorScore certi-fied. FloorScore provides third-party certification that productsare tested and comply with the California Department of PublicHealth (CDPH v1.1) Standard Method for Testing and EvaluatingVolatile Organic Chemical (VOC) Emissions. As part ofFloorScore certification, manufacturing processes, supply chainand chemical sources are verified and audited.

LVT — the leading resilient subcategory — checks a lot ofboxes for K-12 building needs and almost every area of theschool offers growth opportunities, experts say. For example,new floating floor options provide a thicker product with soundabsorption and better wear resistance, while rigid core prod-ucts are said to provide more versatility. Plus, the striking resem-blance of LVT floor designs to natural materials like wood andstone is a major draw for designers seeking to replicate theirlook and feel. LVT is gaining market share at a tremendous rateas K-12 embraces LVT in place of the traditionally used VCT,which has a more institutional look and feel, proponents say.

The latest WPC products offer color and design flexibility,enabling designers to apply numerous looks into learning envi-ronments. The finish, pattern and color options along with larger sizes can create spaces that look and feel more sophisti-cated. “We do often see a desire for wood-look products towarm up spaces; LVT’s pattern choices can accomplish that,”Perkins+Will’s Eckmann said. “Depending on the backing that isspecified, it can also be a comfortable material for users.”

While LVT gains popularity in K-12, other flooring optionsare finding use throughout these buildings as well. For example,investments are being made in premium products such asceramic and porcelain tile and terrazzo as their durability andlongevity make them worthwhile for high-traffic areas such ascorridors, lobbies and bathrooms. Rubber and linoleum arepositioned as healthy flooring choices as design preferencesshift toward non-PVC-based products.

“We are seeing many natural rubber floor products utilized,”Eckmann added. “They are durable, sustainable, comfortable tostand on and easy to maintain.”

Sealed or polished concrete remains a strong alternative as

GOFEATURE


schools attempt toreplicate trendy industrial looks foundin retail stores and restaurants while maintaining sustainabilityand ease of maintenance. “The use of this raw material is a sus-tainable approach due to its durability and low cleaning/mainte-nance needs,” CannonDesign’s Weber said. “Its maintenance isalso easier than vinyl floor tiles as vinyl requires sealing and reg-ular waxing to create a protective coating.”

Still, not everyone is sold on polished hard surfaces as moreschools choose non-finish floors with acoustical properties whilestill utilizing soft surfaces in different areas. “We are seeing moreprefinished/mill-finished hard surfaces in particular,” Mohawk’sDembowitz said. “This reduces cleaning chemicals that canaffect the building environment and the external environment.”

TRENDING VISUALSThe opportunities with colors, sizes and patterns to create a nur-turing, engaging environment is paramount to schools as theirmain purpose is to welcome the students and facilitate theirengagement. Aesthetics within flooring are as unique as theschools selecting it.

“Depending on the personality of the school, flooring aesthet-ics range from bright abstracts to neutral wood looks,” saidMichelle Carpenter, director of education and government,Shaw Contract. “The commonality among all flooring used with-in education is that it must be durable enough to withstand ademanding environment while still providing the foundation fora vibrant and healthy learning space for our children.”

To that end, many schools choose “timeless” colors or neu-tral tones for their spaces. “Students and faculty alike crave araw space that they can make their own so neutral palettes hon-oring natural stone and wood tones with pops of vibrant colorsbring life into a space,” Wolfe explained. “Flooring that mimics


stone, concrete and wood are often sought after to create time-less design.”

Suppliers are responding by providing solutions featuringrealistic, nature-inspired wood and stone visuals and timelesstextures with an enhanced level of performance that stands up tothe demands of student traffic. “Armstrong Flooring designs helpcreate the optimal learning environments — from the bold brightsof an elementary school to the subdued, natural designs popularin secondary classrooms,” Brockman said. “Our wood, stone andtexture patterns are trending in this segment as in others.”

The movement toward biophilic design remains a signifi-cant trend, an approach which creates a connection to natureinside of a space and can boost health, wellness and productiv-ity. “Biophilic design is playing an increasingly important role innew construction and renovations,” Interface’s Nyboer said.“The use of biophilic design has shown to have a positive impacton student engagement and academic performance.”

Many natural designs replicated in hard surfaces foundinside K-12 buildings are biophilic in nature. “This could beeither in a wood plank or stone pattern,” Nyboer said. “Thegrowth of biophilic design has been a motivating factor influenc-ing these specifications.”

As schools move away from mundane looks, there are oppor-tunities for more stylish products like certain selections of LVTand carpet tile. An estimated 65% of flooring in K-12 is carpet tilewhile 26% of commercial LVT sales are made in this sector. Thus,it’s not surprising coordinating soft and hard surfaces in similarstyles and looks is expected to be a recurring design theme.

“Not too long ago, you would have one [type of] carpet andVCT throughout the entire school,” Patcraft’s Corcoran said.“Now we’re seeing, in a high school, for example, a wood look ina hub and LVT in corridors.”

GOPEOPLE

WHAT SPARKED THECREATION OF DECLAREAND JUST?I had the idea around Declare(which came before JUST)many years ago. I felt that weneeded the equivalent of anutritional label for buildingmaterials just like we hadnutrition labels for food. Weneeded an easy way to conveywhat was in a product, todisplay it in a consistent formatand to really be transparentaround what’s in our materialsand what chemicals we arebuying. And so, the idea wasthat when consumers haveaccess to this information they,in theory, can make betterchoices, and certainly that canhelp consumers vote with theirdollars and support productsthat are healthier for them andtheir families.

JUST emerged after that. Itwas really based on the ideaagain that we needed moretransparency in the industry interms of how people treatedtheir co-workers and how theytreated their employees andwhat their policies were. Again,with the idea that you can thendecide who you want to hirebased on how they do business,and align your values and yourbelief systems with where youspend your money. Hopefully itinspires companies to do betterwith their social practices, and Ithink it’s beginning to work.

HOW DO THESECHALLENGES HELP THECOMMERCIAL FLOORINGSPACE?There’s been a lot of interest byvarious commercial flooringmanufacturers in the LivingBuilding Challenge and then inthe other tools because, again,the leaders see this as a way ofshowing the good work they’redoing and to set themselvesapart from others that aremaybe making inferior productsor products that are less healthy.It’s also telegraphing to theflooring industry where it shouldbe headed, what it needs to bedoing differently. I think it servesas kind of a tool to help theindustry set future specificationsfor its product and aspirationalgoals, and it’s helping findcustomers who want to have thehealthiest, greenest products.

4

HOW CAN MORE FLOORINGMANUFACTURERS,ARCHITECTS ANDDESIGNERS INCORPORATEGREEN PRODUCTS ANDPRACTICES INTO THEIRPRODUCTION AND DESIGN?It’s becoming easier than ever todo what you just said. I think thework of the Living FutureInstitute (living-future.org) andthe Declare program are makingit a lot easier to find the products that are better, andthere are great events like theLiving Product Conference inPittsburgh, held this fall, where alot of people can get togetherand meet future customers andmanufacturers. There’s moreinformation out there in general.Now it just comes down towanting to do it because theoptions are out there.

5

5 QUESTIONS FOR…Jason McLennanceo of mclennan design, an architecture,planning, consulting and product design firm

WHAT WAS THETHOUGHT BEHINDDEVELOPING THE LIVINGBUILDING CHALLENGEAND LIVING COMMUNITYCHALLENGE?The Living BuildingChallenge was really the ideathat we needed to havehigher aspirations for thebuilding industry overall interms of the impact we’rehaving on the planet and ourpeople, and really try as bestas possible to define what“truly good” looks like. Soinstead of buildings that are“less bad” for the world, howdo we build buildings thatare good for the world? Whatdoes that mean? And howwould you measure that?The Living BuildingChallenge was designed toset up the highest barpossible in the buildingindustry to challenge it to dobetter in a whole host ofcategories like energy, water,materials, health, equity, etc.

3HOW DO DECLARE ANDJUST HELP FLOORINGMANUFACTURERS AS WELLAS SPECIFIERS?The idea is that you candifferentiate your product fromsome of your competitors bysharing the good things thatyou’re doing — either the goodthings you’re doing in thefactory to make your product orthe good things that yourproduct is made of. It’s a way toreward the good actors, so tospeak, by helping themcommunicate what they’redoing well in a transparentmanner to their customer base.There’s a lot of interest fromarchitects, interior designersand specifiers generally onpicking flooring products thatare healthier and better for theenvironment. These tools arereally just that — tools to helpmake it easier for specifiers tomake the right decisions.

2

1



Consistently ranked as one of thenation’s top design firms, Stantecwill celebrate the opening of 34

new education projects across the coun-try this fall. A public company with adiverse portfolio of clients and projects,Stantec’s multidisciplinary, educationdesign team builds schools, colleges anduniversities across the world.

With 22,000 employees in more than400 locations across six continents, Stantechas from its modest beginnings in 1954maintained a focus on creatively connect-

imagining the possibilities of how an expe-rience within a school or higher educationenvironment might change the trajectoryof a person’s life is something that continu-ally drives us to innovate and strive forbetter solutions.”

GREEN PROJECTS As schools in the technical and careerarea partner with communities to createprograms that address the workforce gap,Stantec has taken a leading role in thatsector as well. One such project is the

ing with projects at the community level.Stantec education sector leader, archi-

tect R. Don Hensley, vice president, attrib-utes the education team’s success to thefirm’s depth of talent in design, planning,project management, leadership andmore. “But beyond our technical talent liesa true passion for educational design,” hesaid. “As parents, community members,teachers and lifelong learners ourselves,we are committed to creating inspiringlearning environments that will help oth-ers realize their own best potential. Just

GOPROFILE

Stantec’s methodology and corporate culturehelp the organization stand apart as one of the

nation’s highest-ranking design firms BY LIZ SWITZER

the fort collins utilities administrationbuilding in colorado is the world’s firstleed v4 platinum municipal building.

designwith community

in mind


innovative Yale Science Building in NewHaven, Conn., which provides interdisci-plinary research laboratories that supportwork in molecular, cellular and develop-mental biology; molecular biophysics andbiochemistry; and atomic, molecular andoptical physics.

In addition, Stantec’s design for theDaphne Cockwell Centre for HealthSciences at the LEED Gold-certifiedGeorge Brown College WaterfrontCampus, which occupies a promi-nent site on Toronto’s waterfront,consolidates the school’s dental,health and wellness, health servicesmanagement and nursing collegesinto a single, purpose-built facility for3,500 students and 500 faculty withsimulation labs, assessment clinicsand amenities. The design reflectsthe shift in the delivery of healthcareservices to integrated care.

In the K-12 sector, Stantec isknown for its technology-rich spacesthat support real-world learningexperiences, such as the first net-zero elementary school in Texas, theRichard J. Lee Elementary School inCoppell.

What further sets the firm apart,Hensley believes, is a team commitment

to lifelong learning. “We believe that todesign for education — an industry of con-stant change and evolution — you mustcontinually learn,” he said. “Our K-12 andhigher education partners really benefit

from the research and actual practicethat we bring to their projects, as we arecontinually learning and enhancing ourservices and expertise to ultimately bene-fit our partners and communities.”

This commitment is the basis ofStantec’s Research + Benchmarking (R+B)

the daphne cockwell centre for healthsciences at george brown college intoronto brings multiple medicalprofessions together in both education and practice, emphasizing the importanceof collaboration and its impact on qualityof care.


the national renewable energylaboratory in golden, colo., is a net-zeroenergy and leed platinum structure thatredefines the standard for commercialbuildings. the stantec design wasrecognized as a top 10 green project bythe american institute of architect’scommittee on the environment.


Continued from page 17program, an internal framework that pro-motes new research and ideas, and fos-ters collective knowledge.

R+B encourages Stantec staff to evalu-ate the effectiveness of their designs whilebenchmarking them against what else isworking across the globe.

This think-tank approach has resultedin the identification and forecasting offuture education sector trends like theneed for spaces that complement blendedlearning environments, distance-learningstudios that connect students across geog-raphies, small conference areas and activeclassrooms where groups can break outfrom a larger group to work together. In thefuture, Stantec’s education designs willalso promote transdisciplinary learning —fewer single-purpose buildings and morefacilities that promote collaboration — andthe use of technology to improve designsand user experiences for augmented andvirtual reality learning.

“There is no substitute for being in aplace, with people, solving problemstogether,” Hensley noted.

CIVIC DUTYStantec’s presence in the government andcivic space is also based on a commitmentto local communities. “Our vision is to cre-ate transformational buildings and sites

that elevate the spirit and enhance thesafety, resiliency and vibrancy of our com-munities,” said architect Joshua Gould, vicepresident, government sector leader. “Asone of the top sustainable design firms inthe world, we can bring advanced solu-tions for on-site water use and treatment aswell as net-positive energy innovationsthat speak to civic concerns and priorities.Civic clients are searching for ways todeliver buildings that use fewer resourcesand demonstrate their environmentalcommitment while also being responsiblestewards of their budgets. They are alsokeenly focused on the health and safety oftheir occupants.”

Stantec is especially adept at under-standing each agency’s unique require-ments and creating custom-fit buildingsbased on its collaborative charretteprocess. This method brings a diversegroup of experts to the table to solveeverything from environmental issues tomatters related to security and infrastruc-ture to ensure that solutions are well-inte-grated, cost-effective and implementable.

Some of Stantec’s most significant andsustainable projects in the governmentsector include the Fort Collins UtilitiesAdministration Building in Colorado — theworld’s first LEED v4 Platinum municipalbuilding — and the National RenewableEnergy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden,

Colo., a net-zero energy and LEED Platinumbuilding designed to help its occupantstransform innovative research in renew-able energy and energy efficiency intomarket-viable technologies and practices.By redefining the standard for commercialbuildings, the NREL project goal was to cre-ate the largest commercial net-zero energystructure on the planet and a blueprint fora net-zero energy future. The NREL wasrecognized as a top 10 green project by theAmerican Institute of Architect’sCommittee on the Environment.

Overall, there are not many otherfirms that match the breadth and depthof Stantec’s service lines and that isreflected in the company’s approach tosustainability.

“‘We Design with Community in Mind’is more than just a corporate tagline; it is aguiding principle for bringing together thefull spectrum of expertise in our team,across multiple disciplines and sectors, tohelp clients see the big picture and realizea better future for the entire community ofstakeholders,” said Rachel Bannon-Godfrey, sustainability discipline leader.“With respect to our education and gov-ernment work in particular, and the some-what challenging budgets they are facedwith, we integrate analysis of both build-ing performance and long-term cost ofownership to provide the optimal solution

the first net-zero elementary school in texas,the richard j. lee elementary schoolprovides a healthier, more sustainable learningenvironment for the community of coppell.the school’s building plan deviates from atraditional elementary school model to createsmall, multi-grade learning communities,centralized collaboration and presentationspace in lieu of a traditional library. flexiblelearning environments include an outdoorlearning lab and outdoor classroom.

GOPROFILE

Take your business to a whole new level. Call 855.391.2649 or visithpsubfloors.com to learn how your projects run smoother with Schönox Ön It.

DUST ISSUES? NOT WITH THE SCHÖNOX FAMILY OF SYNTHETIC GYSPUM PRODUCTS: AP, APF AND ASTSchönox AP and APF synthetic gyspum self-leveling compounds create a surface of superior smoothness, strength, and durability able to support any resilient flooring. Choose Schönox AST synthetic gypsum rapid-drying smoothing and patching compound to achieve a true featheredge. Schönox synthetic gypsum products offer recycled content, dust-reduced properties, low VOC’s, contributions to LEED credits while providing cleaner, safer subfloor installations.

work haRd but breathe easywith schönoxsynthetic gypsumön it.

20 I GO I FALL 2018 greenoperations.net

Rockville Hospital, part of the Eastern ConnecticutHealthcare Network, boasts a strong behavioral healthunit that provides support and specialized, sophisticated

services for many areas of mental health, including addictions,anxiety, depression and other counseling.

Jim Bell of Moser Pilon Nelson Architects worked with theAltro Aquarius and Altro Whiterock for use throughout the unit.The project had originally called for other alternatives as, Bell, afan of Altro products, thought they might better serve the hospi-tal’s needs. The Altro regional representative met with Bell andRockville Hospital housekeeping staff to present Altro flooring,showing the proper cleaning regimen. The hospital was con-vinced, and it moved forward with the installation.

For the bathrooms and other wet areas throughout the unit,the award-winning Altro Aquarius was specified for the floors,accompanied by Altro Whiterock hygienic wall panels on thewalls. The innovative surface profile of Altro Aquarius makes itideal for wet environments, fit for both bare feet and shoes, pro-viding excellent slip resistance in an area where slipping andfalling is a major concern. In addition, the soothing tones andsubtle patterns of Altro Aquarius are particularly beneficial inbehavioral health settings where patients may be negativelyaffected by bright, elaborate colors.

Altro Whiterock’s hygienic nature prevents water and mois-ture ingress, and its durable impact-resistance ensures even asledgehammer strike won’t crack its panels. Other walls can breakupon heavy impact, resulting in punctures and holes that canhouse unwanted bacterial tenants. With the increasing efforts tocombat healthcare — acquired infections in hospitals around thecountry, impact-resistant and hygienic wall products are essential.

The Rockville staff likes that the Altro floor and wall systemuses strong, smooth heat welds on both the floors and walls, elim-inating the threat of ligatures, and making it nearly impossible forpatients to pull apart the panels or sheets and harm themselvesor those monitoring their safety.

GOPROJECT

For the bathrooms and other wet areas throughout the unit,Altro Aquarius was specified for the floors as the soothingtones and subtle patterns are particularly beneficial inbehavioral health settings where patients may be negativelyaffected by bright, elaborate colors.

Altro’s suite of products created the perfect combination for the needs of Rockville Hospital

answering the call ofBehavioral Health


Centennial High School in Coquitlam, British Columbia,Canada, was established in 1967 and has more than1,300 students in attendance. A new building for the

school was completed in 2017 under the leadership ofThinkspace Architecture Planning. In addition to academic pro-grams, it offers special programs such as football, computergame design, culinary arts, automotive technology, a hockeyacademy and experiential studies.

The Centennial High School buildings are expected to fit thedistrict’s “Learning without boundaries” vision to allow for flexibleteaching spaces and new technology. For this 80,000-square-footproject in particular, superior stain and chemical resistance wasrequired for wet labs and a 3,000-square-foot super lab.

American Biltrite’s AB Pure was selected as the best optionfor superior stain and chemical resistance as well as its sound-dampening properties. It was installed at Centennial HighSchool by flooring contractor Fast Track Floors. The resiliencyand durability of rubber provides the necessary protectionneeded for a constantly transforming multifunctional facility. Inaddition, AB Pure’s environmental attributes contribute to aLEED certification.

When American Biltrite noticed a need to improve uponrubber flooring as a whole, the company created AB Pure rub-ber flooring. Released in 2015, AB Pure features a revolutionarypatented formula with superior colorfastness. This means colorswill not fade under light compared to traditional rubber formu-las. Specifically, traditional rubber floor formulations shed a yel-low haze and kept the product from holding its color. As a result,AB Pure is the only rubber flooring that can pass the ASTM F 1515 for colorfastness.

AB Pure is PVC and chlorine free, FloorScore certified forindoor air quality, treated to resist the growth of fungus andmold, does not contain latex (an allergen) and meets AmericansWith Disabilities Act (ADA) recommendations. Ingredients arealso balanced for fire, smoke and wear resistance.

AB Pure is extremely durable with proven performanceagainst soiling, staining and scuffing. The floor is also easy toclean and maintain, which is ideal for a busy school with hun-dreds of people walking on the floors every day.

GOPROJECT

american biltrite’s ab pure was selected for the 80,000-square-foot centennial high school project in coquitlam,british columbia, canada, due to its superior stain andchemical resistance in addition to its sound-dampeningqualities. the resiliency and durability of rubber provides thenecessary protection needed for a constantly transformingmultifunctional facility.

American Biltrite offers a revolutionaryrubber solution that’s ideal for busyand demanding school settings

as easy as A B…PURE


With collegiality, knowledge exchange and closer col-laboration in mind, the social affairs sector of theMunicipality of Breda in the Netherlands decided to

convert its office into a space suited to “The New Way ofWorking.” The remaining municipal staff regard the rejuvenatedoffice space as a pilot for the new approach to office design.

The most important point of departure for the social affairssector was to create an office with lots of different places for hold-ing meetings or discussions and with flexible workstations.Despite the fact no one has their own workstation, the space mustbe arranged in such a way that all employees feel at home andcan work comfortably. The client’s other objective was to useexisting furniture in the future-proof office. The most importantreasons behind this were sustainability and social responsibility.

“To create an open space with numerous and varied placesfor working or meeting is quite a challenge because you want toprovide all the employees with what they need,” said YolandaBerix, owner of Berix Interieur, the firm that worked on the proj-ect. “It is very important that the space is well designed andappointed. The challenge is to appoint the space in such a wayas to make its layout transparent and make it clear to everyonewhat the various sections are meant for. Despite the fact we

were using furniture from various collections, we wanted to cre-ate a space that exudes unity and calm.”

Another important aspect to the project was the air qualityin the office. “While there is a lot of traffic in this part of the office,it is essential for the space to have a healthy climate and for theinterior air to be as pure as possible,” said Ron Mulder, facilitiesofficer for buildings at the Municipality of Breda. “The floor wechose for our office plays an important role in this respect.”

The products selected for the project were AirMaster DesertEcoBase and AirMaster Sphere EcoBase. Berix noted the colorsavailable from the line were an important component for the job.“We decided to work with floor fields on the ground floor toensure the structure of the space is clear. There is a yellow floorfield for the lounge chairs, a green floor field for a sitting cornerfeaturing a mix of second-hand furniture, and a dark path to thecoffee bar, which is the route everyone entering the office fol-lows. For the first floor we chose a floor in a quiet, neutral shadewith an accent color to indicate and accentuate the route alongthe working areas.”

The employees felt the need for a space in which they feelcomfortable, and with this in mind the ground floor walls weredecorated with handwritten quotes. This feeling of familiarity isreinforced by the use of second-hand furniture and the pottedsansevieria plants dotted around the office space. “Clever use ofexisting furniture with new floors have allowed us to create awork environment in which colleagues are able to work inde-pendently as well as in teams and which they find pleasant towork in,” Berix added. “This is the ideal environment for ‘TheNew Way of Working’ to flourish in.”

GOPROJECT

desso’s airmaster desert ecobase and airmaster sphereecobase were selected for the office space conversion of themunicipality of breda in the netherlands. a green floor fieldgraces the sitting area, bordered by a dark pattern guidingtraffic to the coffee bar. meanwhile, a yellow floor field wasutilized for the lounge area.

Desso products made with Aquafil Econyl fiber help complete a modern workspace with sustainability and aesthetics in mind

the new way OF WORKING


Global superstar Carrie Underwood introduced her newalbum, “Cry Pretty,” in August to music industry VIPs ata listening event held at a most improbable site for a

major music debut — the Parthenon in Nashville, Tenn. Underwood and her team at Universal Music Group (UMG)

Nashville wanted a luxurious, high-end flooring that enhancedthe event’s beautiful theme, could deliver a hospitality-gradeproduct in a tight timeframe and would offer a solution to thevenue’s acoustics issues. They found the perfect partner in hos-pitality flooring by Durkan.

The Parthenon is an exact, full-scale replica of its Greciannamesake. The open structure is made of stone and concretewith a tremendously high ceiling, 46 Doric columns and a 42-foot-high statue of Athena. For a music event, that spelled trouble.

“We reached out to Durkan for a creative way to solve theproblem,” said Gary Keffer, director of strategic marketing, UMGNashville. “The Durkan brand had the elegance in design thatwe needed and the quality we required for this particular envi-ronment and for a high-profile, exclusive event. Finding a prod-

uct that worked acousti-cally and with the aesthet-ics of the building wascritically important for us,and we couldn’t be happi-er with the outcome.”

Keffer noted that theDurkan flooring ultimatelyreduced the reverb in thespace by three seconds,

which meant those in attendance were able to listen toUnderwood’s music as it was truly intended to be heard — cleansound and crisp vocals.

For the transformation, Durkan donated 567 square yardsof Structure Revival from Definity In-Stock, a rug programoffered through parent brand Mohawk Group. The pattern bal-ances strong modern design and a softly blended palette ofblue, gray and black accented with shimmers of silver andblue opal. The program comprises select award-winning, ele-gantly designed, hospitality-grade bound area rugs availablefor quick delivery.

Two area rugs were seamed together on site to cover theParthenon’s main event space, complementing three other arearugs including large-scale runners.

Definity In-Stock was a lifesaver for the Cry Pretty event.“Timing was critical,” Keffer said. “If we didn’t address the floor-ing, we couldn’t address the sound. And if we couldn’t addressthe sound, we couldn’t have the event.”

Afterward, carpet that had been installed in a day for onenight’s use had to be removed. Both Underwood and UMGNashville were adamant that the carpet be disposed of respon-sibly. With that, Durkan’s parent company, Mohawk Industries,stepped in with its ReCover carpet recycling program to give theflooring a second act. The Cry Pretty carpet was auctioned off toraise funds for the Lifecycle Building Center in Atlanta.

for carrie underwood’s recent album-listening event at theparthenon in nashville, tenn., durkan donated 567 squareyards of structure revival from definity in-stock, a rug pro-gram offered through parent brand mohawk group. the pat-tern balances strong modern design and a softly blendedpalette of blue, gray and black accented with shimmers of sil-ver and blue opal. the program comprises of select award-win-ning, elegantly designed, hospitality-grade bound area rugsavailable for quick delivery.

Musician Carrie Underwood and herteam selected Durkan to enhance the aesthetic of her recent albumrelease party

bringing sonic beauty

to aniconiclandmark

GOPROJECT


Hartford Hospital, founded in 1854 in Hartford, Conn., isone of the largest and most respected teaching hospitalsin New England. Hartford Hospital is a member of

Hartford HealthCare, a large, diversified health care system,which — after years of planning and construction — opened theBone and Joint Institute on Jan. 9, 2017. This institute includes afive-story inpatient hospital linked by a pedestrian bridge to afour-story ambulatory center. On the third floor of the ambulato-ry center is where the Hartford Surgery Center is located andopened with its first case on Feb. 2, 2017. The surgery centerencompasses three operating rooms and two procedure rooms.

Since 1997, Constitution Surgery Alliance (CSA) has devel-oped and managed surgical facilities that provide patients withthe highest level of surgical care while delivering exceptionalfinancial returns to physician and hospital partners. Paula Chenailis the senior VP of operations at CSA, and her main responsibilityis overseeing the Hartford Surgery Center. She was tasked with

finding the right flooring to install in this surgery center. Chenailhad specific interests and criteria she wanted the flooring to meetthat included a minimally textured surface, slip resistance and aspeckled look.

“We have used vinyl sheet in the past and found it stains andwas hard to clean,” she noted. A competitive product was speci-fied for this project but, Chenail and her team wanted to look atother options after experiencing some installation issues withthe selection on a past project. The solution for the HartfordSurgery Center was Envire rubber sheet and tile, which pro-vides natural resilience, exceptional wear resistance and

dimensional stability. Envire combines the sleek beauty of sheetflooring with a palette created to bring design versatility into anyspace creating an environment that is unique and timeless. Thisproduct was developed for use in high-traffic areas and seemedthe ideal choice to utilize for this job. “With the help of the gener-al contractor FIP, we did some chemical resistance testing andslip resistance under wet conditions and were pleased with theresults,” Chenail explained.

Although the main challenge on this project was to avoidpast installation issues, several benefits were discovered afterthe installation of Roppe Envire. The flooring, according toChenail, is easy to clean, has a good feel underfoot and is slipresistant. The results of this project were not only what Chenailenvisioned but also what Jessica Andrisano, senior interiordesigner with HDR Architects — the firm on the job — envisionedas well. As reported by both individuals, there have been nocomplications after the installation, and the maintenance of thefloor has been easy — just as expected.

The overall experience for Chenail was memorable becauseRoppe directly connected on this project from the installation tothe end result and even through the cleaning process.

GOPROJECT

the flooring selected for the hartford surgery center had tomeet specific criteria, including a minimally textured surface,exceptional slip resistance and a speckled visual. roppe’s envirewas able to answer the call.

Roppe’s Envire selected after competitive products could not meet healthcare’s distinct needs

surgery center

THE SPECIAL CASE OF A

Additional benefits of Envire include: • PVC free, phthalate free and Red List chemical free• Made in the U.S.A. and meets FloorScore, NSF332Gold and CHPS criteria

• High performance, homogeneous, heat-weldablerubber compound in a smooth profile that meetsASTM F1859 requirements and can be recycled aspart of Roppe’s Impact recycling program

• Performs well where small-wheeled traffic may bepresent such as healthcare or institutional facilities,retail stores and schools


As the needs of a community grow and evolve, architectsand designers play a significant role in adapting existingstructures to fulfill entirely new purposes. Tarkett calls

this theme Purpose Positive, and it’s one of four cultural megatrends being discussed in the company’s recent NeocultureCEUs.

Converting churches into restaurants, shopping malls intoapartments, office parks into universities — adaptive reuse hasbecome an artful way to both honor a community’s heritagewhile building its social and economic future. Lucky for Jina Yoo,restaurateur and owner of the new LeBao Asian Eatery inColumbia, Mo., food is the most critical installation of any adap-tive reuse project. And nothing tells the Neoculture story betterthan a perfectly executed culinary fusion.

LeBao Asian Eatery is an Asian-American fusion restaurantserving a broad menu that features ramen noodles and bao, atraditional Chinese dish of steamed buns filled with meats andveggies. This fast-casual format is housed in a two-story, 2,200-square-foot adapted Quonset hut that was once a seed ware-house. While Yoo wanted to create a slightly masculine feel, theteam worked to downplay the building’s barn-like appearance.

“The most challenging aspect of the redesign was definitelythe ceiling,” said interior designer Shelley Satke Niemeier ofSPACE Architects + Designers + Builders. “When Jina signed thelease, the space looked much as it did when it was the seed store.She wanted a refined and cozy aesthetic, particularly on the sec-ond floor, so we had to do something dramatic to make it lookterrific while controlling the acoustics.”

Working closely with a branding agency out of St. Louis,Satke Niemeier and team translated LeBao’s color palette intounique interior finishes, using branded wall graphics to tie therestaurant’s upstairs sophistication with its downstairs casualvibe. To take care of the ceiling’s aesthetic and acoustical chal-lenges, custom linear wood cladding was built.

“It was intended to look as though the ceiling is flowing natu-rally down the walls and morphing into the benches,” SatkeNiemeier explained. To further assist with second floor acoustics,the team knew they would need a soft floor covering. Tarkett’sPowerbond was chosen for its incredible durability and ease ofinstallation over adverse subfloors. “It was the perfect format forthe stairs, and it made the second floor space seem richer whilenot competing with the ceiling treatment. Though we were notconcerned about staining on such a durable product, we felt theorganic pattern would help disguise any potential spills. Jina wasparticularly concerned about soy sauce and red wine. The pat-tern in the Avant reminded us of the natural mottling in blacksteel, which was the bar top material and dining table tops.”

GOPROJECT

tarkett’s powerbond was specified inlebao asian eatery thanks to its exceptionaldurability and ease of installation over adversesubfloors. “though we were not concernedabout staining on such a durable product, wefelt the organic pattern would help disguiseany potential spills,” said interior designershelley satke niemeier. “[restaurant ownerjina yoo] was particularly concerned aboutsoy sauce and red wine.”

Tarkett offers unique advantages for an eatery born from an adaptive reuse project

neoculturehits the streets ofCOLUMBIA, MO.


GOPLATFORM

recycling

a number of major names in flooring are spearheading take-backprograms to help minimize the amount of raw materials wasted andresources used while manufacturing new products. While each initiativehas different requirements, each company has the same goal in mind:helping the environment.

COMMON GOODFOR THE

BY NICOLE MURRAY

ArmstrongArmstrong’s On&On Recycling Program is used to recycleVCP, LVT, sheet vinyl and bio-based tile (BBT). While onlythese specific offerings are approved for the program, allArmstrong products are designed with the goal of recyclingat the end of their useful lives.

Those interested in participating can register a projectfor On&On by calling the Armstrong Recycling Center todiscuss details with a staff member for screening purposes.Once a project is approved, all items and debris must beremoved before scraping up the old floor. Armstrongprovides recycling bins to dispose of the old floors and apick up is then scheduled.

In order for a project to be eligible for On&On, it musthave been completed in 1990 or later to avoid receivingolder materials that could have harmful materials.Competitors’ products will be accepted if all programcriteria are met.

Once approved, the recycler will be sent either gaylordboxes or supersacks so the material can be sent to theclosest plant where it will be grinded or melted to make anew flooring product, which on average takesapproximately four to six months.

“Every time we reuse a product, there is that much lesswaste being put into landfills and harmful chemicals beingemitted because we are avoiding the need to make thesematerials from scratch,” explained Amy Costello,sustainability manager, Armstrong Flooring. “To date, wehave avoided 50,000 tons of materials from ending up inlandfills, and that number will just continue to grow.”

flooring being removedduring a renovation project

is put in receptacles forpick up for armstrong’s

on&on recycling program.



MohawkThe ReCover carpet recycling program wasstarted back in 2006 and offers an opportunity torecycle both old broadloom and carpet tile.

The process starts by contacting the programat [email protected] and providing detailsincluding material type, amount of material andlocation so the closest partner involved can pickup the product that is being recycled.

“We coordinate the product pick up andcustomize the process according to participants’schedules and what they need to make recyclingas easy as possible,” said Dionna Reynolds,sustainability coordinator. “It is typically a prettyfast turnaround, and the program’s ease ofexecution [should] encourage others to recycleas well.”

In addition, the ReCover program also passeson Mohawk’s gently used carpet products tononprofits such as Habitat for Humanity Restoresin an attempt to meet customers’ needs in a non-traditional way.

“Just because we are not able to recyclecertain products does not mean others can’t,”Reynolds explained. “We want to do our part forour community by reusing products as much aspossible because it makes sense for both sides.”

Mohawk uses recycled content in more than500 of its products. The company operates tworecycling facilities: one that recycles 3 billionplastic bottles per year (20% of all bottles in thedomestic post-consumer market), which areconverted into Everstrand carpet, and anotherthat recycles carpet fiber into nylon andpolypropylene pellets for the automotive partsand furniture industries.

RoppeImpact is a rubber product recycling program that takesscrap materials from production or outside projects andgrinds them up into various sized pieces that are suitable forlandscaping mulch, playground surfacing or rubber crumbsthat can be used for athletic fields and other applications.

“We noticed a lot of different recycling programs thatfocus on vinyl, but there are barely any available forrubber flooring products,” said Dee Dee Brickner, marketingmanager for Roppe. “Now there is an opportunity to reuserubber flooring from older schools, healthcare facilities,

offices and athletic settings.” Once the material has been approved for Impact, packed

and shipped to be recycled, Roppe sends a letter to theparticipant stating the exact amount of flooring that had beendiverted from going into landfills.

“The ultimate goal is to keep the maximum amount of wasteout of landfills because it is not beneficial to anyone,” Bricknersaid. “Receiving a letter once everything is complete offers asense of accomplishment because the difference made isbeing put into black and white right in front of [participants].”

mohawk kicked off its recover carpet recyclingprogram in 2006 to repurpose old broadloom

and carpet tile. the manufacturer uses recycledcontent in more than 500 of its products.

impact, roppe’s rubber recycling program, takesscrap materials from production and other projects

and grinds them into smaller pieces to be used inlandscaping mulch, playground surfacing or rubber

crumbs for applications like athletic fields.


Continued from page 27

GOPLATFORM

TarkettTarkett’s ReStart Reclamation Program is a globalinitiative that began in 2010, allowing for amajority of Tarkett’s products — including TandusCentiva carpet, Tarkett VCT and post-installationwaste — to be recycled and reused in otherprojects.

“ReStart is about so much more than simplycollecting used flooring,” said Russel Bennet,recycling director, Tarkett North America. “It’s anopportunity to help our customers meet theirpersonal goals to collect and recycle old materialsso they avoid landfills and can be given a new lifeby being reused to create new products.”

Interested recyclers simply need to contact alocal Tarkett distributor and verify eligibility to getstarted. Once approved, the program will provideboxes and other shipping materials beforescheduling a pick-up and delivery time.

ReStart will also accept competitors’ materialsbut a sample must be submitted to verify thecontents meets all program standards and can beeffectively reused.

“We are actively seeking these raw materialsbecause we can put them to better use,” Bennetadded. “It is a huge plus that we accept othercompanies’ materials because it just shows thatthe goal is to build a circular economyand encourage take back, reuse, recycling andelimination of waste as the top priority.”

InterfaceInterface’s ReEntry program recycles post-consumer carpettiles from commercial buildings undergoing renovation.The used product is sent back to the company’s recyclingfacility in LaGrange, Ga., where the raw materials aregathered to be reused in new Interface selections.

“As long as the carpet tile uses vinyl as a backingmaterial, it can be accepted into the program,” said EricNelson, vice president. “This means most of the carpet tile[in the] industry can be recycled with us. The vinyl materialbeing recycled is re-melted into the backing of our newcarpet tile collections.”

The process of transporting the material depends onlocation and size of the project, but Interface works directly

with the end user or owner of the building to stack andwrap the materials and then arrange to have it picked up.

“We want to make the process as easy as possible forall parties so we can continue to feed our closed-loopsystem where the same raw materials can be utilized,”Nelson noted. “We want to take responsibility for our ownproducts and have a productive way to manage them atthe end of life.”

Since 1995, Interface has reclaimed more than 360million pounds of carpet in the Americas, feeding it throughits Cool Blue system to create a 98% recycled contentbacking. Those interested should contact ReEntry via emailat [email protected].

between 2010 and 2017 tarkett collected 99,000 tons offlooring in europe and north america through its restartreclamation project (collection of post-installation andpost-consumer flooring: vinyl, linoleum or carpet).

as long as the carpet tile being removedhas vinyl backing, it can be accepted byinterface’s reentry program.

For more information please visit our website at: www.american-biltrite.com

Nfuse technology is an overall treatment system that allows the coating to penetrate and seal the product.

Requires minimum set-up time, is simple to maintain, offers increased stain resistance and is Declare Red List Free.

Available in both tile and sheet.

The only rubber flooring tile that is “Occupancy ready”.

technology TM

Introducing our RevolutionaryPatent Pending


Today’s com-mercial floorcoverings are

practically bulletproof.Innovation — particular-ly in hard surfaces — isimproving styling, real-ism, performance andmaintenance. And whenyou factor in the myriadproducts bearing third-party-certified green labels,the A&D community finds itincreasingly difficult to dis-cern one offering fromanother.

But one classic flooringcategory that continues toreinvent itself is rubber. A pop-ular choice for commercialspaces over the last 20 years,rubber was once considered anindustrial and performance-dri-ven product that was not as

attractive as other options. Designers usedto associate rubber with stair treads andwall bases, relegating the flooring optionsto certain market niches, namely educa-tion and healthcare.

“Over the past decade, the rubberflooring industry has made great strides inbringing products to the forefront ofdesign with new styles, colors andshapes,” noted Haley Plank, marketingmanager, Flexco. “Now we have a high-performance product with modern style,and rubber continues to grow its share.”

Today, rubber sports a new lookthanks to the introduction of a broaderspectrum of colors, patterns and texturesto complement any design theme andcoordinate with other spaces. “Retail andhospitality are finally taking a good look atrubber flooring because it is so durable,”said Dee Dee Brickner, LEED GA, market-ing manager, Roppe. “With the newerstyles, shapes or patterns and trendingcolor options, rubber flooring can becomean integral part of the overall design thatalso functions well for the space.”

Indeed, rubber shed its reputation asan ugly duckling and is now valued forboth its functionality and fashion. Theproduct comes in many formats, fromsheet goods and tile to rolls and mats. “That

Industry experts explain why therubber flooring offered today is

better than ever BY K.J. QUINN

GOPRODUCT

top: the pentagonals rubber tile collection from johnsonite, a tarkett company,is inspired by one of the world’s most intriguing geometric puzzles — searching for five-sided shapes that tile the plane. in the last century, only 15 such pentagons have beendiscovered and tarkett has selected three of them to debut in this rubber flooring line.

bottom: nora systems’ norament arago collection offers selections with naturaltopography of open stonework that helps evoke a sense of calm.

TAKE ON A COMMERCIAL A REFRESHING

CLASSIC


protect the pattern and color; therefore,no additional chemicals are required formaintenance other than neutral pH clean-ers. Nora, for example, has a non-coatedsurface, so “you don’t need to be con-cerned with the material and labor costsof recoating or worrying about how muchtime you will get out of the product beforehaving to strip and recoat,” Cole said.

Continued innovation is allowing man-ufacturers to reduce cleaning and mainte-nance costs associated with rubber andimprove its sustainability. AmericanBiltrite has made these positive changeswith the introduction of Nfuse technology.“The ‘occupancy ready’ flooring eliminatesthe need for set-up cleaning and dramati-cally reduces ongoing cleaning require-ments and costs,” Tickle noted.

The end result of these and other tech-nological advances is rubber’s total cost ofownership — a major concern for anydesigner — being among the lowest of allflooring categories. “Durability; naturalresilience; resistance to stains, mildewand mold; comfort underfoot; ease ofmaintenance and life cycle costs are allcontributing factors in the popularity ofrubber flooring growth,” Roppe’s Bricknerexplained.

As rubber is less expensive to main-

has all turned around because end usersare seeking flooring products with high-performance attributes,” said Tim Cole,vice president, marketing, Nora. “As far asthe improvements in style, Nora has start-ed to reach beyond the speckled orflecked flooring that is inherent to rubberflooring design and starting to introducecollections that bring new styles, colorsand possibilities to our customers.”

One of the most important changes inrubber in the last decade are advances incolor technology. Case in point: 20 yearsago, black, brown, grays and dark blueswere the mainstay of color offerings whilelighter colors tended to have a bluish oryellow cast to them. “Moving the years for-ward, color technology has helped createpalettes of infinite colors that are cleanand crisp, and American Biltrite AB Purecan even hold its color without fadingunder UV lighting,” noted Mark Tickle,director of marketing. “Hand-in-hand withthese advances has come styling such asorganic patterning, granite, slate, ham-mered and geometric profiles, which areused in combination with chip, tone-on-tone and marbleized styles.”

SAFER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE What’s more, rubber requires no finish to

tain, one of its strongest selling pointsremains a constant: durability. Whilesome slip-resistant floors are effectivewhen new but wear down over time,experts say rubber can last for 20 years ormore if properly maintained. “One of ouroldest projects of the pastille or studdedrubber design is a 50-year-old installationthat remains in Germany’s FrankfurtAirport to this day,” Cole said.

While its longevity is a sustainableattribute itself, after rubber’s useful lifeends it can be recycled into other prod-ucts like landscaping mulch. “Rubber’s no-finish maintenance program meansunwanted chemicals, such as waxes orstripping chemicals, aren’t entering ourwater systems,” Flexco’s Plank said.

Indeed, designers are turning to rub-ber for its environmental benefits and rec-ognize its contributions to meeting sus-tainability requirements. The product

left: the freeflex collection from flexcooffers limitless design possibilities with 6 x 36, 12 x 36 and 18 x 36 tiles available in avariety of styles and colors.

right: ab pure rubber sheet by americanbiltrite often finds its way into healthcareand educational settings.




GOPRODUCT

design and more cost effective.”What’s really turning heads are the

fresh looks and colors being used to eithercreate soothing interiors or add playful-ness to a space. “We’re elevating the lookof rubber tiles and always working to cre-ate more organic aesthetics, recreating thelook of natural [materials] with the way weflow colors together and give them a moreweathered feel,” Murray said. “Our newstyles work beautifully in a much broadervariety of applications, including work-place and hospitality.”

The increasing selection of floor pat-terns support a more natural aestheticwhile forgoing traditional speckled and

marbleized rubber floors. “Commercialspaces are also being influenced by hos-pitality and residential design aesthetics,”Ecore’s Wilson noted.

If the last 10 to 20 years are any indica-tion, rubber flooring is expected to remainahead of the curve in terms of longevityand design. “As with anything, the productingredients and formulations have beenimproved upon,” Roppe’s Brickner added.“Our demands for how it performs haveescalated to higher standards, and manu-facturers are meeting the demands of thedesign/build industry which results in bet-ter functioning floors.”

NEW VISUALS HELP INFLUENCE SPECSAs an increasing number of designers rec-ognize the benefits of rubber flooring,opportunities are expected to grow in thecommercial market. “We design new rub-ber tile collections with the goal of expand-ing their use beyond the typical healthcareand education applications,” said JanetteMurray, senior designer, resilient, TarkettNorth America. “We’re combining the lookof stone and other natural materials withthe performance properties of rubber, soit’s a great choice for large lobby areas,workplace, public spaces and hospitality.”

With the wide variety of patterns andtextures available today, rubber is report-

edly used in retail and hospitality spacesmore often. “Additionally, different shapesand sizes lend themselves to creatingattractive designs for hotel lobbies, health-care waiting rooms, and more specificapplications such as childcare centersand children’s healthcare spaces wheremore festive coloring and design arerequired,” said Jeff Robinette, senior prod-uct manager, Tarkett North America.“Advanced formats in rubber tiles, such asthe variety of plank and tile sizes offeredby Tarkett’s Johnsonite brand, as well asthe new Pentagonals collection launchingthis year, make intriguing layouts easier to

contributes to LEED credits and overallwell-being of a building. It is built withantimicrobial features which makes itimpervious to many types of bacteria,viruses, molds and fungus.

“Low VOCs, high slip resistance andcomfort for all-day use are some of the fac-tors driving designers to this product cat-egory,” American Biltrite’s Tickle said.“Hospitality, public buildings and retailare all increasing the use of rubber in theirfacilities due to better acoustical values,easy cleaning, safety and visuals.”

New profile options that couple famil-iar patterns, such as stamped concrete,position rubber as an aesthetically appeal-ing and stylish option with exceptional per-formance value. “Add the fact that manu-facturers like Roppe are working hard todevelop formulations that meet the varietyof sustainability criteria, such as the avoid-ance of chemicals of concern, and you nowhave what could be considered the perfectflooring option to meet that trifecta of style,performance and sustainability,” Bricknernoted. Roppe’s rubber flooring formula-tions are all free of Red List chemicals.

Flexco’s rubber products are PVC-freeand also do not contain any chemicals ofconcern found on the Red List. “Because itis low-VOC, it makes a great choice forindoor environments,” Plank pointed out.“In addition, Flexco also offers several tex-tures that exceed ADA recommendationsfor slip resistance.”

Ecore reports that its “itstru” technolo-gy allows it to fusion-bond limitless wearlayers to a 97% post-consumer recycledvulcanized composition rubber backing,which “results in products with anti-fatiguecapabilities that meet and exceed all stan-dards for low VOC emissions,” said ChuckWilson, product market director. “This rev-olutionary technology also allows fordynamic design capabilities while achiev-ing our mission: We transform reclaimedmaterials into performance surfaces thatmake people’s lives better.”

ecore commercialflooring’s forestrx was installedat uW health’suniversity hospitalin madison,Wis. forest rx fea-tures 5mm of ecore’scomposition rubberfusion-bonded to theback of a heteroge-neous vinyl layer.


Professionals in the architect anddesign community are invited to puttheir skills to the test via with Roppe

Corp.’s My Contours design competition.This contest offers practicing designers thechance to create and display a new covebase profile design with the potential for thewinning design to become the 15th profile inthe company’s Contours Profiled Wall BaseSystem.

Designers accepting this challenge canlook to existing profiles that are currentlybeing used in the flooring industry for inspi-ration while also trying to produce their

BY MARA BOLLETTIERI

GOCOMPETITION

own original looks or design solutions.Applicants can submit one or more profiledwall base designs in CAD files and detailedPDF. Budgets associated with the designs arenot necessary, but they must be one-of-a-kindand not similar to any profiles already in themarketplace.

The winner for the competition will beannounced in May 2019 in Roppe’s pre-NeoCon marketing coverage. The winner willreceive a cash prize of $1,500 along with atrip to NeoCon in Chicago, June 10-12, 2019.What’s more, the company will give wide-spread exposure pre-NeoCon to the winningcove base and designer as part of the prod-uct’s introduction to the flooring market.

Applicants are invited to submit theirdesigns. There is no entry fee required. Thesubmission deadline is Dec. 31.

To submit entries or for more information,visit roppe.com.

roppeholds cove base

contestfor design pros

roppe’s cove base competition allowsindustry professionals to create a design that could be selected for the company’s

contours profiled Wall base system.


new horizons

GOPRODUCT

EF Contract: Rust Dyepeople usually think of rust as somethingto be repaired, but the process ofoxygen, water and heat working togetherto create color and patterns can bebeautiful. rust dye draws from theancient technique of using rust’s amazingvariety of color to dye textiles whilecreating a sense of weathered patternsfound where nature meets the builtenvironment. the manufacturing processfor rust dye reflects ef contract’scommitment to reduce water use, and tooptimize and continue to find innovativeoptions for reducing material use andincreasing recycled content.

J+J Flooring: Solar Studythe sun not only sustains life — it alsoinspires. the solar study was inspired byold and new technologies, fromcyanotypes to photovoltaic solar panels.

j+j is an epa green power partner andis committed to clean, renewable energyfor electricity use as well as havingachieved a 24% water reduction in 2017.

Atlas: Adapt adapt collection from atlas features fourcarpet tile patterns that speak tonature’s transformation and ability toadapt to its ever-changing surroundings.the collection is constructed of antronlumena solution-dyed type 6,6 nylon, anenvironmentally preferable product. inaddition, these products are nsf 140certified, carry the cri green label plusdesignation and utilize recycled rawmaterials in their construction. all of theproducts in this collection contain 26%recycled content: 17% pre-consumer and9% post-consumer.

The latest carpet tile introductions feature biophilic designs, advanced visuals andunprecedented sustainable attributesBY LINDSAY BAILLIECarpet manufacturers were on a mission at NeoCon 2018 to make a statementwith their latest carpet tile introductions. Many of the new products wereinspired by nature and natural elements, each backed by their own sustainablestory. Following are some introduction highlights from the category:

old favorite

for an



Interface: Visual Code visual code, a global carpet tilecollection from interface, marries theworlds of high tech and high touchthrough pairing images of glitchgraphics and technicolor circuitry withsimple textures that recall traditionalwoven fabrics and rugs. the collectionwas designed to foster engagement

Patcraft: Dichroicthis carpet tile collection features asweeping color gradation creating anombré effect that can shift and evolve invarious ways depending on a range ofinstallation choices. designed to mimicthe effect of glass transparency, the twodifferent product shapes — facet and 24-inch x 24-inch carpet tiles — play withoptical perceptions using a series ofsolid gradients.

designed to create a new platformfor commercial flooring, dichroicincorporates the warmth of soft surfacewith the durability and cleanability ofhard surface. dichroic utilizes amultilayer, non-woven compositeproduced from plastic waste to create afelt-like construction. featuring up to35% recycled post-consumer petfiber, dichroic is constructed withecoWorx backing and is backed bypatcraft’s environmental guarantee thatthe company will reclaim and recycle theproduct at the end of its useful life.

with the natural world and real, high-touch objects like handcrafted materials and goods. visual code is made with 100% recycled nylon and is also carbonneutral through its entire lifecycle, at no extra cost to customers, as part of the company’s carbon neutral floors program.

Tandus Centiva: Garden Walk this warm array of color and patterngently alludes to organic materials fromthe outdoor environment and embracesthe imperfect beauty of the naturalworld. each sophisticated design carriesdeep, soothing tones that create atranquil atmosphere and lends itself tofeelings of well-being. the garden Walkcollection is available in a variety ofconstructions, including tarkett’s ethosmodular with omnicoat technologybacking, which is made with post-consumer pvb film from recycledwindshields and safety glass. ethosmodular with omnicoat technology iscradle to cradle silver certified v3.1and ilfi living product challengeimperative certified with a health andhappiness petal. garden Walk isprotected with fluorine-free eco-ensuresoil protection technology.



GOPRODUCT

Shaw Contract: Inside Shapesthis year at neocon, shaw contractintroduced a new carpet tile collectioncalled inside shapes, a collaboration withstockholm-based design studio form usWith love. the line is made up of four

shapes, 12 colors and 17 premixes thatprovide a creative toolkit for dynamicenvironments. the collection is made witheco solution Q nylon, ecoWorx backingand is cradle to cradle silver certified.

Bentley: Discordjagged lines at sharp angles layeredwith frenzied organic scrawls definediscord. but while the subversivepatterning sets the tone, itsimultaneously gives way to a harmonyof colors: 14 options carefully chosen tocreate subtle yet meaningfulinteractions on the floor. in fact, discordis really all about color; its paletteencourages coordination of warm andcool neutrals that shift into bolder hues.

together, they fortify movement andbalance the mood and energy of anyspace. discord is cradle to cradle, nsf140 and cri green label plus certifiedand produced in a leed-eb:om gold-certified manufacturing facility. alongwith environmental product declarationsand health product declarations, discordalso carries a declare label and hasachieved lbc-compliant status throughthe living building challenge.

Mohawk Group: Nutopianutopia is a new living productchallenge petal-certified carpet planksystem inspired by the idea of “urbanfabric” (where humankind coexists withbuildings, streets and otherinfrastructure). created to transitionacross the floor or create defined areasin the built environment, four biophilic 12-inch x 36-inch styles can be usedtogether as a cohesive system orseparately depending on the desiredconfiguration, end use and budget.

as part of nutopia’s petalcertification and to leave a handprintrather than a footprint, mohawk groupengaged in a special conservation strategyto offset the water used in the collection’sproduction. mohawk group has partneredwith hampton university in virginia toinstall 152 low-flow showerheads resultingin an annual water savings ofapproximately four million gallons.

MEETLockTiles®The LockTiles® laser cut edges interlock

around each other and will always fit

together, in all directions, no matter the

size of the area. This unique carpet tile is

specifically developed for customers

who want the best within flat woven

carpet tiles and simultaneously want the

exclusive look of broadloom. fletcocarpetsusa.com


Aquafil USA doesn’t just talk the talk— it walks the walk. According toKathy Long, the company’s brand

communications manager, Aquafil USAcurrently has plans to open its second car-pet recycling plant in the country. Themanufacturer, which is dedicated to a “cir-cular economy” in all facets of production

from start to finish, will be unveiling itsnewest recycling plant in Woodland,Calif., with operations expected to beginbefore the end of the year.

“The purpose of these plants is to cre-ate a circular economy, enhance ourEconyl Regeneration System and revolu-tionize the industry,” Long said. “These

BY MARA BOLLETTIERI

GOPLATFORM

above: aquafil usa’s first recyclingplant was recently opened in phoenix.

shown here is the exterior of the plant.

Aquafil USA expandsrecycling footprint with second plant


plants play a huge part in getting Aquafilclose to its goal of producing Econyl yarnfrom 100% post-consumer waste.”

To date, Aquafil has invested $25 mil-lion between the two new carpet recy-cling facilities. The first plant was recentlyopened in Phoenix. The company choseto open its second site in Californiabecause the state is a major supplier ofcarpet waste, and it also provides incen-tives and subsidies for carpet recycling.The flooring category is challenging andpricey to transfer across the country, soAquafil thought it was logical to open a

facility where carpet waste is gathered.Both locations can recycle 36 millionpounds of carpet annually to make sure itdoes not go to landfill.

Aquafil’s investments in technologycan deconstruct carpet into three layers —face fiber, filler and backing — and has discovered three distinctive streams forthis excess to guarantee the whole carpet is recycled. Approximately 24 millionpounds of nylon face fiber will go intoAquafil’s Econyl Regeneration System,which prevents the usage of petroleum,decreases carbon emission and giveswaste an infinite number of lives withoutforegoing quality, according to the compa-ny. Around six million pounds of backing(polypropylene) will be converted intopellets to be sold into the injection mold-ing industry, and filler (calcium carbon-ate) will be used for cement manufactur-ing or road construction.

“Each year in the U.S., an astonishingfour billion pounds of carpet is discardedin landfills — the equivalent of 6,060 hump-back whales,” Long explained. “EachAquafil carpet recycling plant will have

the capacity to collect and treat 36 millionpounds of carpet per year, making a siz-able dent in the waste stream.”

So far, the company has partnered withmore than 160 brands on this recyclingmission, including popular names such as ADIDAS, Volcom and Stella McCartney,as well as with carpet manufacturers like Interface, Milliken, ManningtonCommercial and Tarkett Group.

Does Aquafil plan on building morerecycling plants in the country? “Yes, [we]hope to continue to build recycling plantsin the U.S. in different areas of the country,”Long noted. “Unfortunately, due to the largeamount of non-nylon 6 carpet in the collec-tion stream, it is virtually impossible to recy-cle anything without some support fromthe communities — like in California. Carpetrecycling cannot be carried on by the recy-cling industry alone.”

both of aquafil’s recycling facilities willprocess 36 million pounds of carpet annually. shown here is the interior ofthe plant in phoenix.

Altr

o C

ant

ata

™

Ad

he

sive

-fre

e, s

mo

oth

co

mm

erc

ial

oo

ring

Altro Cantata: An adhesive-free oor that will be music to your ears

Altro Cantata is a compact 2.2mm oor. Available in 16 soft-look shades ranging from subtle natural tones to vivid

colors, it sets the tone for corridors and general areas in a whole range of environments. As well as creating stunning

surroundings, Altro Cantata is installed without using an adhesive, making installation time, and the disruption that goes

with it, minimal.

With its 12% rapidly-renewable bio-based content, 5% post-consumer recycled content and phthalate-free construction,

Altro Cantata helps achieve sustainability goals.

IS LEED - Rackcdn.com

Documents