Chicago Showroom Earns Certification through Innovative Design and Reuse of Materials CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--INVISTA, makers of Antron® carpet fiber, has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for Commercial Interiors for the Antron® brand Studio showroom in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. The showroom, created by Design Collaboratives, Inc. of Chicago, features minimal internal structure and utilizes many of the original 1983 finishes and furniture. This minimizes waste and the need for new materials by creating a multi-use, transformable space similar to a theater stage that can easily change its personality and functionality depending on the event. INVISTA directed the design team to reuse as many of the existing finishes as possible. Some of the finishes original to the showroom include: Multiple floor-to-ceiling glass space dividers Six hundred feet of millwork surfacing Furniture, including classic chairs and tables The design also addresses future needs and reduces future waste through the use of technology to minimize materials needed for new graphic updates. Controls for the HVAC and lighting will reduce overall energy use in the showroom, optimizing energy performance. Other elements that contributed to LEED-CI Gold certification are: LED accent lighting Zero-VOC paints and adhesives 100% recycled no-formaldehyde substrates Energy Star appliances Renewable energy credits for showroom power needs Environmentally Preferable Product certification of Antron® carpet fiber “This showroom is a real-world example of our holistic view of sustainability, which goes well beyond mere building or product related features. Almost indefinitely extending the useful life of our showroom space through flexible, innovative design and the use of durable materials ensure that the environmental benefits certified by our LEED Gold designation can be sustained,” said Melissa Noebes, Antron® brand manager. “This parallels our Antron® brand sustainability approach, creating products that perform for years beyond expectations thus reducing the waste associated with replacement and lowering their total environmental burden.” The showroom will be continually used throughout the year for Antron® ASAP seminars that are designed to educate new designers on issues including carpet and fiber specification, aesthetics options in carpet and sustainability. According to Noebes, “There is no better place to teach designers about sustainability than in a showroom that features 20-plus year old materials to create a fresh, new and functional space. We’re looking forward to another 20 years in the showroom and seeing what the next reuse of these materials will bring.”
