PORTLAND, ORE.—More than 100 professionals from the architectural, design, facility management and building trade community came out to advance their education on the impact of the environmental movement within the building community as part of the first sustainability tradeshow. The event was hosted by local flooring contractor Floor Solutions.

Held at the Multnomah Athletic Club, “Paths to a Greener Future - Emerging Trends in Green Design” featured educational seminars that counted toward continuing education units (CEUs), a tradeshow that included more than two dozen of the industry’s leading suppliers to the contract market, and a keynote address by Steve Bradfield, director of environmental affairs for Shaw Industries.

“We are very pleased with the success of our first show,” said Robb Siegenthaler, managing member of Floor Solutions. As a member of the Starnet buying group and with the capacity to be a total solutions contractor “our goal was to create awareness surrounding the impact that being green has within the commercial building trades.”

The four hour-long seminars were taught by industry experts, which allowed for the classes to be eligible for CEUs, and included:

• Cherie McNabb of Forbo Flooring Systems on “Sustainable Products Standards Training.”

• Jim Sandy of Tandus on “A Path to Sustainability.”

• Amy Close-Pepe of Nora Rubber on “A GreenGuard Presentation.”

• Stanley Hulin of Future Floor Technology on “The Green Story in the Chemical World.”

Bradfield’s keynote was on “The Next Generation of Floor Covering: Sustainable by Choice” and was open to all attendees.

Siegenthaler said while the seminars allowed attendees to get an in-depth look on various green topics, the tradeshow itself gave them an opportunity see the latest products, services and programs that commercial flooring has to offer when it comes to environmentally friendly building needs.

Among the featured vendors was: Amtico, Architectural Directions, Armstrong, Pacific Mat, Atlas Carpet, Bentley Prince Street, Invista, Cambridge, Constantine Carpet, Eco-Timber, Flintile, Forbo, InterfaceFlor, J&J/Invision, Mannington Commercial, Markle & Associates, The Mohawk Group, Nora Rubber, Port Décor, RB Rubber, Sea Pac Sales, Shaw Contract Group, T&A Supply, Tandus, The Cronin Co. and Wanke Cascade.

In keeping with the green theme, the event offered an environmentally friendly grand door prize: an EcoMotion electric car. Russ Pitkin of Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects was lucky enough to walk away with the keys.

The event was so successful, Floor Solutions officials said this will not be just a one-time deal. Siegenthaler confirmed, “We are confident that we have created excitement among Portland professionals regarding sustainable flooring options and are already looking forward to next year’s show.”

For more information on Floor Solutions, please call 503.295.2070.