Dodie Anderson, principal owner of Anderson Hardwood Floors, and Don Finkell, president

By Steven Feldman
Fountain Inn, S.C.— Anderson Hardwood Floors on Dec. 8 showed the world its state-of-the-art Bob Anderson Design Center, a 165,000-square-foot facility that consists of 30,000 square feet of office space and 135,000 square feet of warehouse space.

Named for the former president and chairman of Anderson who worked for the company for 52 years until his death in 2002, no stone was left unturned in the design and execution of the facility. For example, one of the functions of the design center was to educate potential visitors. To that end, the trees on either side of the walkway leading to the facility are examples of the main species used in Anderson products: red oak, white oak, ash, hickory/pecan, birch, walnut and heart pine. And in the lobby, the ceiling tiles are made from pressed veneer panels, and ceiling trays are made of veneer sheets in species that are used in the company’s wood flooring products.

Aside from education, the design center serves a multitude of functions:

1. A multi-purpose presentation room houses all current displays and product samples. It can accommodate as many as 70 people for meetings or educational sessions. Floor covering distributors and retailers who participate in Anderson’s mill tours will make the design center their final stop, where they will receive detailed product knowledge presentations on the Anderson family of brands: Anderson, Appalachian, Virginia Vintage and Anderson Pacific.

2. A research and design facility houses a color lab, materials testing lab, product library and presentation room where the company can discuss new product ideas with customers and focus groups.

3. A service center houses finished goods and merchandising materials inventory along with customer service and technical support operations.

4. Executive offices.