The 18th Annual Starnet Design Awards were one of the major highlights of Starnet Worldwide Commercial Flooring Partnership’s Annual Meeting which was recently held in Miami.
The awards recognize creativity, professionalism, quality and versatility, and this year’s winners encapsulated the power of innovative and bold flooring installation in commercial interior design. From a critically acclaimed, environmentally conscious airport project to the renovation of a national treasure that plays host to astronauts and space-flight enthusiasts, the projects had judges and competitors seeing stars.
“Once again, we are awestruck and proud of the work done by Starnet Members throughout the country,” said Jeanne Matson, president and CEO of Starnet. “The Design Awards allow us to come together and recognize this talent and creativity. This year’s winners demonstrate to the entire industry that outstanding flooring design and craftsmanship can achieve amazing results in the commercial market. The Design Awards also allow us to showcase the collaboration between our members, vendor partners and the A&D community. It’s a team effort that strengthens relationships and fosters innovation.”
Gold, silver and bronze prizes were awarded in six judged categories: Healthcare, Corporate, Education, Hospitality/Public Space, Environmental Achievement and Unique Installation Challenge. Votes from Starnet members, vendor partners and members of the trade press selected the winners of the third annual People’s Choice Awards.
The winning projects were selected by a panel of nationally recognized and award-winning A&D professionals, including Paul Lewandowski, design principal, Lavallee Brensinger Architects; Scott MacMeekin, associate, Gensler and Megan Walker, senior interior designer, Eppstein Uhen Architects.
Honorary judges for the Environmental Achievement and Unique Installation Challenge Awards were Robert Peoples, executive director of Carpet American Recovery Effort (CARE) and John McGrath, director of INSTALL, respectively.
Grand Prize Winner/Gold in Corporate
The most prestigious award, the Grand Prize, was presented to Starnet Member Resource Colorado of Denver for their work at IMM TI. The installation at the Boulder, Colo., based digital agency also captured the Gold in Corporate.
“The entire team is honored to win both Gold in Corporate and the Grand Prize at the 2016 Starnet Design Awards,” said John Stanfield, owner of Resource Colorado. “This project allowed us to flex our design and installation muscles and create a space that supported IMM’s staff and exuded their branding. The finished product represents our original mission for the building: revitalization, productivity and identity.”
The overall aesthetic was an industrial, neutral palette to which the flooring team added pops of color in the carpet, the greenery and specific paint locations in order to align with the client’s professional but playful persona. A variety of collaborative and individual workspaces were integrated into the plan to support a range of staff work styles. Built-in nooks, standing height touchdown spaces and informal “living room” style meeting areas were all key factors in designing for company productivity, flexibility and staff satisfaction.
Gold in Environmental Achievement
The Gold in Environmental Achievement was awarded to Rubenstein’s Contract Carpets for its work on the Portland International Airport (PDX) Terminal Recarpeting. The project, which gained national attention through coverage in the Wall Street Journal, Smithsonian, New York Times and on NBC Nightly News, was done over 10 months in a fully operational airport. It saw the complete removal, reclamation and replacement of 14 ACRES of carpeting, in an airport that was known for its iconic carpet pattern.
The environmental story at the Portland Airport goes beyond recycled content, sustainability and LEED points (even though those were important factors). This project was all about the direct reuse of 14 acres of used carpet, without additional processing and direct recycling into carpet pad. Rubenstein was able to repurpose and upcycle many of the products into entry mats, area rugs, wall art, Christmas ornaments, community center carpet, flooring for a renovated 100-year-old building and a baseball practice hitting facility. In the end, they were able to salvage or repurpose 10,080 square yards of iconic PDX carpet and 10,930 square yards of "other carpet from project."
Gold in Unique Installation Challenge
This year’s Unique Installation Challenge prize was awarded to Mr. David’s Flooring International for its work on a true national treasure. The Kennedy Space Center’s Astronaut Encounter on Merritt Island, Fla., recently underwent a total system reboot. The dated complex, which includes a lobby/holding area, theater, gallery and corridors, was given a thorough refresh, and a futuristic new look promises to keep visitors enthralled for years to come.
