Mr. David’s Flooring International, of Itasca, Ill. and IN-teriors in collaboration with Cunningham Group Architecture, received the Grand Prize for their work at the Corporate Client Meeting Space in Verona, Wis.

Starnet Worldwide Commercial Flooring Partnership presented commercial flooring industry honors on April 11 during the 14th Annual Starnet Design Awards Ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Each year, the Starnet Design Awards recognize the relationships between Starnet members and the A&D community by spotlighting the innovative use of flooring in commercial design. Flooring professionals from North America gathered as Starnet celebrated the creativity

and professionalism of the A&D community and its Members, as well as the quality and versatility of Starnet Preferred Vendor flooring products.

“We’re always excited to take this time to celebrate the talent of our members and the amazing projects that result from the relationships between our members, our vendor partners and the A&D community,” said Jeanne Matson, president and CEO of Starnet. “Participation this year set yet another record: 146 entries – up 28% from last year’s record-setting event.”

Gold, silver and bronze prizes were awarded in six adjudicated categories: Healthcare, Corporate, Education, Hospitality/Public Space, Environmental Achievement and Unique Installation Challenge. Starnet Members, Vendor Partners and members of the industry press voted to select the winners of the second annual People’s Choice Awards.

The winning projects were selected by a panel of A&D professionals, including Lori James, IIDA, LEED AP ID+C, principal of SmithGroupJJR; John Nelson, founder and principal of design, NELSON; and Mia Marshall, IIDA, LEED AP, NCIDQ, principal of EHS Design.

Sponsoring judges for the Environmental Achievement and Unique Installation Challenge Awards were Robert Peoples, Ph.D, executive director of Carpet American Recovery Effort (CARE) and John McGrath, director of INSTALL, respectively.

Grand Prize Winner and Gold in Hospitality/Public Space

The most prestigious award, 2014 Grand Prize, went to Starnet Member Mr. David’s Flooring International, LLC. of Itasca, Ill. and IN-teriors in collaboration with Cunningham Group Architecture, Inc. for their work at the Corporate Client Meeting Space in Verona, Wis. The installation also captured the Gold in Hospitality/Public Space.

“We’re honored to win the grand prize for the 2014 Starnet Design Awards,” reports Michael Zmijewski, President of Mr. David's Flooring, LLC. “I honestly didn’t think our jobs had a chance of winning because of all the truly amazing entries submitted this year. The entire project was incredible, as it was built into the side of a mountain. All parties involved really did phenomenal work.”

The Corporate Client Meeting Space features a five story underground training facility for a software development company. Two 24,000 sq.ft. pre-function spaces were designed to embrace a subterranean theme mixing prehistory, fantasy and legend. One was based on ice, the other on rock.

The design team was tasked with immersing clients in the concept when the spaces are used as pre-function lobbies for special events while maintaining a sense of adventure and discovery when they are divided with operable partitions for smaller training events. Abstracted oversized graphics on the floor were created with 22 individually designed carpet panels, 13’ wide and 81’ long. In the Ice Cave area, carpet reminiscent of splintered ice shards complements handpainted murals depicting prehistoric remains encapsulated in ice. The project featured products from Starnet Preferred Vendors Milliken Commercial, Johnsonite, and Chapco Adhesives.

“Out of the 40 Hospitality/Public Space entries received, this project demonstrated the many ways that design can influence emotion,” stated judge Marshall. “The overall design allowed for a 360° experience.”

Gold in People’s Choice

The Installation at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) was completed by Starnet Member Universal Metro, and took the Gold in People’s Choice and Silver for Unique Installation Challenge. FKP Architects of Houston, TX embraced CHOC’s message, “The Future is Bright,” translating the hospital’s commitment to leadership in children’s health and well-being into a creative and capturing design. Floors throughout the renovated space included a series of colorful floor murals and several different flooring products from Starnet Preferred Vendor partners Armstrong Commercial Flooring, American Olean, ARDEX Americas, Daltile, Henry Adhesives, Mannington Resilient Floors, and Tandus Flooring. The precision water jet pieces in 35 different colors were part of a project that included installing over 50,000 sq.ft. with class III infection control processes to insure the safety of the patients in an active hospital setting.

Gold in Healthcare (sponsored by AAHID)

Starnet Member, D.S. Baxley dba DSB+ in partnership with Arc Tec, Inc. was awarded the Gold in Healthcare for their work at Intuitive Surgical Inc. (ISI), Sunnyvale, CA. The goal for ISI was to create a pristine, futuristic and inviting space to highlight the advanced equipment and technology. Overall, the space had to create an environment appropriate to world-class visitors.

“Healthcare design is moving away from institutional and leaning towards creative and inviting environments,” said judge Nelson. “The use of contrasting colors and various shapes in this space created that warmer environment.”

Floorazzo flooring system by Starnet Preferred Vendor MATS, Inc. was used for the project. The installation team faced challenges due to the size of the tiles and intricate detailing that the space required.

Gold in Corporate

A total of 48 entries were submitted for the Corporate design category, once again making it the largest and most competitive category in the Design Awards. Starnet Member Image Flooring, LLC and 360 Architecture won Gold for the AMC Theatre Support Center in Leawood, KS.

Working hand-in-hand, they were able to demonstrate the role flooring can play in the overall aesthetic of a space without overpowering other elements. The concept involved custom carpet tiles printed with scenes from classic films, including Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and Casablanca. The tiles were meticulously sorted and randomized to get the exact effect desired. The project required over 2,000 lineal feet of curved transition and 18 colors of wall-base. Starnet Preferred Vendors awarded included Johnsonsite and Milliken Commercial.

Gold in Education

The Education category continues to grow, with a total of 31 entries this year. Starnet Member Vortex Commercial Flooring in collaboration with Edge Design, LLC achieved the Gold in Education and Bronze in People’s Choice for work completed at the College of DuPage McAninch Center in Glen Ellyn, IL.

From a design vision driven by empowerment, art, rhythm, tempo and movement, the concept “Marching to the Beat of Your Own Drum” was born. The flooring design became an abstract piece of art within itself.

“The college stimulates the senses and inspires creativity,” stated judge James. “This design rose to the top because they took a risk, played with patterns, color and scale to achieve beautiful results.”

The main lobby conceptually depicts a piano, guitar and beats of music in abstract rhythmic frequencies. Carpet tile in shades of gray with bright, saturated inlays were selected to help encourage a tempo in step throughout the main corridors, in student niches and more specifically as an introduction to key spaces and smaller theatres located within the building. Starnet Preferred Vendors included ARDEX Americas, Johnsonite, Mannington Commercial Carpet, and Tandus Flooring. Carpet products featured Antron® fiber.

Gold in Environmental Achievement (sponsored by CARE)

Starnet Member Paul G. White Tile Company partnered SMRT Architects and Engineers and TRO/JB to find innovative ways to reduce energy costs, achieve LEED certification, and bring a sense of the natural world indoors at the MaineGeneral Medical Center, Alfond Center for Health, Augusta, ME. They received the Gold in Environmental Achievement.The design concept started with a vision statement and narrative: “Comfort, Memory, Experience: A Journey to Wellness, Healing Enhanced by Nature” and was manifest through lean process improvement, way finding, finishes, furniture and artwork. The facility is currently trending toward LEED Gold Certification and projects $1.2 million in energy savings and 12 million gallons of water conservation annually. The design team included the following brands products containing recycled content adhering towards the strong commitment to sustainability: Altro Floors, American Olean, DalTile, ECORE International, Johnsonite, Mannington Resilient Floors, MATS, and Tandus Flooring. Other Starnet Preferred Vendors utilized included American Marazzi, Tile, ARDEX Americas, Koster American, and MAPEI-APAC. Carpet products featured Antron fiber.

Gold in Unique Installation Challenge (sponsored by INSTALL International Standards &

Training Alliance)

Starnet Member ReSource New Jersey along with Clickspring Design were awarded the Gold in Unique Installation Challenge, Silver in People’s Choice, and Silver in Corporate for the NBC Sports Winter Olympics Studios in Sochi, Russia. The project was recognized for a complex pattern of vinyl tile and plank, installed flawlessly, under a compressed timeline and on the other side of the world by two INSTALL trained foreman mechanics from the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters Union Local #251. Starnet Preferred Venders included Amtico and Spray-Lock Premium Eco Adhesives.

For more information about the 2014 Starnet Design Awards and/or to view all entrants and winners, please visit http://designawards.starnetflooring.com/.