Starnet Honors Top Flooring Installations
One of the highlights of Starnet’s spring meeting was the 19th Annual Starnet Design Awards, which honored commercial flooring design projects from across the country. From iconic international sports venues to a children’s hospital to a whimsical corporate headquarters, this year’s winners captured the flooring installations that are driving commercial interior design forward.
“The Design Awards served as a reminder that 25 years of dedication to excellence in flooring design, installation and environmental stewardship has helped to create some of the most incredible commercial spaces in the country,” said Jeanne Matson, president and CEO of Starnet.
This year’s panel of judges included Deborah P. Elliott, co-founder and design principal at ID Studios in Solana Beach, Calif.; Stephanie Crane, principal at Shlemmer+Algaze+Associates in Culver City, Calif.; and Sascha Wagner, president and CEO of Huntsman Architectural Group in San Francisco. Honorary Judges for the Environmental Achievement and Unique Installation Challenge Awards were Robert Peoples, executive director of Carpet American Recovery Effort (CARE) and Robert Varden, vp of Certified Flooring Installers.
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Grand Prize Winner | Gold in Unique Installation Challenge | Bronze in People’s Choice: The most prestigious award, the 2017 Grand Prize, was presented to ReSource New Jersey for their work on the NBC Sports 2016 Summer Olympic Studio in Rio de Janeiro. This was a technically challenging project, made more difficult by a limited installation window in a location half way around the world.
“The project, without a doubt, is off the charts in terms of design, installation, and creative execution,” said Design Awards judge Robert Varden. “Not only was the project completed halfway around the world under intense pressure, but the amount of custom work, including hand cut angles and radial designs is impressive and daring.”
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Gold in Environmental Achievement: The Gold in Environmental Achievement was awarded to New York’s Architectural Flooring Resource for their work on Komar Brands Corporate Headquarters in Jersey City, N.J.
“The key environmental story of the Komar Brands Corporate Headquarters revolves around the floorcovering material,” said Design Awards Judge Robert Peoples. “Kinetex Propel Tile by J+J covers more than 70,000 square feet of the headquarters. In addition to LEED contributions and Platinum NSF/ANSI 140 Certification, the product possesses a recycled content that is greater than 55% and is 100% closed-loop recyclable.”
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Gold in Corporate: Couvre-Planchers Labrosse of Laval, Québec, Canada, was awarded the Gold in Corporate for their work on the Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton offices in Montreal.
“The important role that flooring plays, coupled with how well it integrates with the architectural elements, is a testament to the project’s design and execution,” said Judge Sascha Wagner. “It is really impactful and makes a bold statement without being overwhelming. Plus, it’s part of a larger, integrated theme based around specific color choices.”
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Gold in Healthcare | Gold in People’s Choice: Both the Gold in Healthcare and People’s Choice were awarded to Starnet member Axis Interior Systems, Hamilton, Ohio, for the company’s work at the Dayton Children’s South Campus Specialty Care Center. The flooring design was also intended to set the standard for future projects, including the hospital’s main campus patient tower expansion.
“This was a tough category to judge with a lot of stiff competition,” said Stephanie Crane. “However, the Dayton Children’s project stood out for multiple reasons. From multiple elements in one space, to creative and inspiring colors and patterns, it is an ideal solution for a children’s medical center.
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Gold in Education: Two new buildings at Bates College, which offer a blend of student amenities with a sophisticated residential design twist, are the recipients of the Gold in education. Completed by Starnet member Paul G. White Interior Solutions of Portland, Maine, the project is home to more than 240 students and the College Store, as well as the campus mail and printing center, Post & Print.
“This is a sophisticated project that is well integrated with the architecture and overall interior design,” Wagner said. “Color, pattern, scale, and the variety of the flooring all worked in tandem to provide students with a beautiful and functional space.
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Gold in Hospitality/Public Space: The Gold winner in Hospitality/Public Space was an enormous undertaking, completed in a whirlwind of concrete slurry and carpet fibers. The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is home to America’s newest NHL franchise. The project by Starnet member MasterCraft Floors was almost as ambitious as starting a hockey franchise in the middle of the desert.
Design Awards Judge Deborah Elliott was especially impressed with the project, stating, “This is one of the most complex and sophistical sports complexes I have seen. The scale of the carpet is especially impressive and the transition of color is balanced and sophisticated. It’s a beautiful facility.”
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Gold in Mixed-Use Developments: The Gold in Mixed-Use Developments was awarded to CFS Interiors and Flooring in Eagan, Minn., for the company’s work on Encore, a new facility located in Minneapolis. The team from CFS provided the client with a complete in-house solution, producing a modern, contemporary aesthetic that was both high-end yet functional, comfortable, and approachable.
Wagner was most impressed with the material selection in the project. He said, “There are bold choices throughout in terms of high contrast patterns in a neutral pattern. The design is cohesive and hangs together quite well.”
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Excellence in Imagination: A special honor was also bestowed to a project that the judges unanimously praised, and who felt deserved special recognition. In direct response to the incredible creativity and execution displayed in its Adventure in Wonderland project, the Excellence in Imagination Award was given to Mr. David’s Flooring in Itasca, Ill. A corporate office home to a sprawling software company, the built space takes visitors down the rabbit hole of absurdity that is Alice in Wonderland.
“This project screams creative solutions and offers up a number of design opportunities,” Crane said. “From mixed materials, to patterning that is reflective of the theme, it’s hugely creative, fun, interesting, and fantasy-like.”