Lancaster, Pa.—Armstrong Commercial Flooring’s Striations biobased tile (BBT) was used to help capture the grand prize for Canada’s Terra20 in the Association for Retail Environments (A.R.E.) 2013 Design Awards within the Sustainability Awards competition. Terra20 is Canada’s largest one-stop store (15,000-sq.-ft.) entirely dedicated to green merchandise and carrying more than 12,000 products from cosmetics to home décor items.
More than 300 projects were entered into the 2013 A.R.E. awards, which produced 72 awards in 23 categories.
“We are pleased to be recognized for both our sustainability and our style,” said Patricia Fanty, marketing manager, Armstrong Commercial Flooring. “Being able to offer a durable solution to a major need in the commercial industry by incorporating cutting—edge designs with sustainable options—is what Armstrong is all about.
Striations BBT creates strong visual lines for a distinct, yet subtle style for the store interior. Used in the creation of Terra22, a retail store in the Pinecrest Shopping Centre, located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Striations BBT tile brought an upscale look in a sustainable floor. According to Armstrong, this project demonstrates that you don’t have to make sacrifices when choosing to be eco-friendly; the sustainable features combined with improved durability and cracking resistance make these tiles perfect for multiple building applications.
Striations BBT meets ASTM F2982 (standards), contains rapidly renewable U.S. grown plant materials and features 10% pre-consumer recycled content. The FloorScore-certified offering is eligible for Leadership in Environmental Energy and Design (LEED) points in four categories, including EQ4.3 (low emitting material), MR 4.0 (recycled content), MR Credit 6.0 for rapidly renewable resources, and MR Credit 5.0 for regional materials depending on project location. Terra 20 was designed by Toronto-based Jump Branding & Design and Ottawa-based EMA Architects.
“The choices we made in the design and construction of Terra20 needed to incorporate elements that reflected the retailer’s values and those of their customer community, providing a foundation and expectation of the brand,” said Eric Boulden, principal, Jump Branding & Design. “The decision to use LEED as a guideline and incorporate sustainable and recycled products was imperative in the design rollout. Striations BBT offers a bio-based alternative to vinyl composition tile that contributes to LEED.”
From the shelves to what’s on them, the store fulfills the new retailer’s mission to encourage a sustainable lifestyle. A Green Council of local experts vet store products and signage invites shoppers to weigh in and influence what gets put on the shelves. Built to LEED standards, it tells stories that resonate with LOHAS and eco-curious shoppers alike, such as the cashwrap made of logs from the bottom of the Ottawa River.
Now in its fifth year, the A.R.E. Sustainability Awards competition draws entries from around the world. Winners range from sustainable retail pioneers to first-time green builders. A panel of sustainability-minded industry professionals including designers, suppliers, and consultants judge the entries in this division. The only competition focused on green building in retail, the A.R.E. Sustainability Awards is a division of A.R.E. Design Awards. Entries are judged on innovation in design, integration and benchmarks. The highest honors go to super-sustainable projects that emphasize good design.