We recently did a minor remodel on our lobby and two conference rooms at one of my Buildings. Both spaces had all of the original colors, carpet, and finishes that were put into place when the Building was completed in 1998.
My goal for the project was to reuse the beautiful features of the existing buildout, create as little waste or environmental impact as possible, and minimize the cost. With the goal set in place, I made sure we captured and highlighted the 14-year-old light wood and Terrazzo finishes from the original installation, that are still in excellent condition. The green, aged, and stained carpet had to go. It made the Building feel dingy and its ornate pattern was dated.
I was aware there were environmentally friendly options in the carpet world, I did not realize how many there now are. The options seemed endless from the dozens of manufacturers that I could choose from, allowing me to achieve the entire objective. Working with an Interior Architect, we whittled it down to either Shaw’s Eco Solution Q or InterfaceFlor‘s carpet tiles. We ultimately decided on Shaw’s Diffuse for the conference rooms and Embellish for the small pad in the lobby, primarily because of cost.
A key point in doing a green project, especially if you want to use it to gain LEED points, is communication with the vendor(s). We made sure to convey our goals for a green project and they would need to assist by providing us with the documentation to support the ecofriendly removal and installation. The paperwork included documentation for using low-VOC adhesives and the disposal of the old carpet to the proper facility for recycling.
The new environmentally friendly carpet not only supports innovation and green products, but it gives the Building a new and fresh feel. We couldn’t be happier with the end result.