September/October 2021

Eco-Promenade pavers with Umbriano Finish in French Grey, Grenada White, and Winter Marvel & Unigranite pavers
Case Study
Paving Systems

Vibrant Streetscape Plaza Serves as Community Destination

Evanston’s Fountain Square employs a pedestrian-oriented, curbless plaza design, while delivering an effective stormwater management solution with permeable pavers. Evanston, Ill.’s Fountain Square Plaza dates back to the late 1800s and has a long-lasting history as a cultural center and an integral piece of the city’s urban fabric. However, the pre-existing fountain and surrounding plaza areas were in poor condition and in need of repair. Meanwhile, the city continued to grow and it lacked a place that could safely support downtown festivals and events. When funds were allocated to tackle the infrastructure improvements and a plaza redesign, the city turned to the communit

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Bifold Liftstrap Doors
Case Study
Doors/Entry Systems

Bifold Doors Give University of Illinois Renovation Project a View from the Top

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign finished building its new 107,650-sq.-ft. world-class football performance center, which included access to a rooftop terrace. The Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Performance Center is a $79.2 million facility that serves as a world-class home for the Fighting Illini football program. A standard of excellence permeates every square foot—from the state-of-art sports medicine suite to the strength and conditioning complex and the player’s lounge, complete with a bowling alley, game room and barber shop.On the third floor, the rooftop terrace required an incredible level of consideration to maintain this carefully curated, high

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DuChateau - Celestio Legno Collection
Advances
Surfaces/Finishes

Honeycomb Pattern

The Celestio and Celestio Legno Collections expand Duchateau’s Inceptiv wood wall panel line and feature LED backlighting options and style-forward patterns suited for commercial or residential space. Both collections are offered in eight artisan-crafted, geometric-inspired designs from grids to hexagons to abstracted linework in colorways including American Walnut, Olde Dutch, Iceberg, Lugano, Noir, Oxford, Smoke and Stout. The Celestio Collection is mounted on acrylic.

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Petracer - Triangle Collection
Advances
Surfaces/Finishes

Triangle Tile

Italian ceramic tile is prized for its functionality—durability, ease of maintenance, hygiene, and resistance to water and frost—as much as its aesthetics. One of the latest designs expanding the versatility and value proposition is the Triangle Collection. Petracer’s makes the triangle become the icon of an agile and flexible style, expressed through simple, elementary lines. These tiles have a dazzling effect on interior spaces and the patterns lend a burst of energy to floors and walls.

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Advances
Living Wall Systems

Sustainability Can Be Productive Too

Sagegreenlife’s Productivity is a self-contained living wall partition featuring a writing surface on one side and a living wall on the other. The partition can be easily relocated and is low maintenance. The living wall features Biotile tiles with a layered rock fiber called Rockwool to evenly distribute water, oxygen and nutrients across the living wall. With 24/7 remote monitoring and control operating over a 4G network with sensors and programmable irrigation, Safegreenlife’s living wall system may just be the most advanced greenery on the market.

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Advances
Living Wall Systems

Mobile Living Walls

GSky’s MOBILE Versa Wall offers a way to bring more green into the interior in a solution that is flexible enough to accommodate the changing layouts currently demanded by the corporate world today. Tank pump and irrigation are included in each unit, which hold up to 12 gallons of water and eliminate the need for a water feed and drain. Built-in lighting guarantees plants will remain full and healthy. A single, smart-control unit makes it simple to control the lighting and irrigation. Made in the U.S., the MOBILE Versa Wall measures 79-in. high, 40-in. wide × 19-in. deep.

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Unifying Plaid Design: The wood look provides a warm focal point for the room, and the red and black accents throughout offer a contemporary spin on the classic plaid design—a unifying design theme that’s carried throughout the building.
Case Study
Ceiling Systems

University of Kentucky Off-Campus Apartments Honor City Equestrian Heritage

In addition to showcasing Lexington’s equestrian heritage with a custom plaid design, the architect solved installation challenges with a versatile aluminum ceiling and wall solution that offered convincingly real wood finishes. With a total enrollment of almost 30,000 students, the university relies on residence life and housing as key elements of its student experience, both on- and off-campus.Therefore, when Core Spaces—an integrated company focused on developing and managing real estate for colleges and universities—began exploring ideas for a new project in Lexington, Ky., the company focused on creating a warm, welcoming off-campus apartment building th

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Advances
Decorative Glass

Classy Glass

As businesses look to create safer spaces in shared settings and workplaces, many are looking at materials like glass to help create social distancing pods. Arden Studio glass won’t easily scratch or discolor over time, but is easy to clean, disinfect and move as needs change. Offering infinite combinations of colors, sizes and printing options, buyers can customize the glass with logos, custom colors, patterns, artwork and company branding, elevating the glass surface from functional to an integrated element of the interior design.In an age of social distancing, glass panels are designed and engineered to enhance working, support learning and help create safer work environments.

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Steelcase Pod Tent
Advances
Contract Furnishings

Camp Out at the Office

Looking for ways to create a compelling work experience to welcome people back, Steelcase turned to an outdoor gear designer to draw up ideas for a new, post-COVID working environment. The Pod Tent is a freestanding pod that limits distractions in the open office by providing individuals with a comfortable and private space to do their best work. The tent is lightweight, easy to move, and ventilated via a standard open-air roof and door.

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Nathan Allan Glass Rush Textured Glass
Advances
Decorative Glass

Let It Flow

Inspired by the mesmerizing movement of water, Rush Textured Glass is designed to simulate the stirring flow of moving water. This new, textureless clear design is the result of a unique custom mold creation, previously only available in straight linear patterns. Produced in clear, low iron, bronze or black glass, the panels can be produced as large as 5 ft. × 10 ft. and up to three-quarters of an inch thick.

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