Starnet Worldwide Commercial Flooring recently honored 14 Starnet Member Companies in the 13th Annual Starnet Design Awards. The presentation ceremony and gala celebration were held April 26, 2013 during the Starnet Annual Meeting at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, CA. With 114 submissions, awards were given in eight categories with one Grand Prize. Established in 2000 to celebrate the creativity and talent of professionals in commercial flooring and interiors, the Starnet Design Awards honors projects based on creative use of flooring, integration of flooring into the overall design concept, and the successful achievement of client objectives.

This year saw many firsts for the Design Awards. The awards process was moved entirely online through a dedicated website to facilitate the entry and voting process and to host a full gallery of projects. Because of continued growth in participation, a new structure was developed to recognize a bronze, silver and gold winner in each of the eight categories allowing Starnet to identify more projects and more great work. This year’s program also included a new category – the People’s Choice award for the best commercial flooring project as voted by Starnet members, vendors and industry press. 

Several first time winners took home the coveted Crystal Award, including Floors by Beckers who earned the Grand Prize. This entry, the LaSalle Plaza Office Tower Skyway, won gold in the Hospitality/Public Space category.

The winner projects were selected by a team of judges that included Wesley Crosby, Director of Design for HNTB Interiors; Lorraine G. Hiatt, Ph.D. Environmental Gerontologist; and Jose L. Palacios, AIA,Director and LA Practice Leader, Design for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Sponsoring judges included Robert Peoples, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) which sponsored the Environmental Achievement category; Jocelyn M. Stroupe, AAHID, IIDA, ASID, EDAC, President of the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers which sponsored the Healthcare category; and Jim Walker, CEO of the International Certified Flooring Installers Association which sponsored the Unique Installation Challenge category.

A gallery of the award-winning designs and all 114 entrants are available online at http://designawards.starnetflooring.com/gallery/.