LaGrange, GA – The new Milliken Contract showroom will be the first space to use the balloted version of the U. S. Green Building Council's LEED® for Commercial Interiors Rating System in the Chicago Merchandise Mart, the world's largest commercial building.
Milliken has registered Showroom 1149 for LEED-CI certification and will introduce new products and the space during NeoCon® on June 11-13, 2007. Project team members include LEED administrators Catalyst Partners; designers Q studio; and commissioning firm DBHMS. With a range of LEED experience from novices to seasoned accredited professionals, all are fully engaged with this process for a high-design project located in the massive 75-year-old building. In addition, the Merchandise Mart management and staff have been enthusiastically supportive.
"We at Catalyst Partners feel very fortunate to have been selected as the LEED administrators by Milliken, who we salute as a pioneer of a new paradigm for the design and management of corporate real estate holdings," says Keith Winn, LEED AP and president of Catalyst Partners.
LEED-CI was developed specifically to give power for making sustainable choices to tenants and designers, who do not always have control over whole building operations. The rating system is proving to be a challenging but realistic framework for sustainability with special attention given to the lighting design, the material selected and IAQ management during construction. Milliken carpet and Millicare® cleaning will also contribute to the certification.
Designers John Seegers and Catherine Severson of Chicago-based Q studio, were pleased to have natural light, which is very limited in the building. The innovative lighting solution includes daylight responsive lighting at the windows and independently controlled zones, as well as finishes to increase reflectivity.
"One design challenge was to remain true to the natural light and keep the space open. By having less structure we were able to provide views and natural light for over 75 percent of the showroom space," explains Seegers.
Chicago-based Q studio (www.qexperience.com) derives from the design philosophy of Question Everything. Q studio steps back from pre-conceived ideas about what an environment should be and approaches the design from the perspective of someone experiencing it for the first time. This method allows Q to create a unique solution that sends strong messages about brand, character and identity.
Catalyst Partners (www.catalyst-partners.com) is a West Michigan-based consortium actively engaged in the development and implementation of sustainable design protocols for buildings, interiors and products.
With an eco-heritage of more than 100 years, Milliken Floor Covering (www.sustainablecarpet.com) is the textile industry's standard-bearer for sustainability. Manufacturing is guided by a philosophy of Respect to the Earth, using fewer resources to produce more. Milliken carpets are PVC-free, chlorine free, third-party certified and 100 percent recyclable.
For additional information, contact Nancy Rogers of BOLDface Communications at (404) 231-5789 or [email protected].
