Center City Green in Charlotte, NC

(ORLANDO, FL—APRIL 28, 2010)— What better way to start off Coverings 2010 than with a slew of awards and honors? In fact, two new initiatives honoring excellence in tile and stone launched here at the international industry’s international show and conference. For one, “Coverings Select,” sponsored by Contract magazine, a panel of judges was engaged to identify the best new products introduced to the U.S. and international markets since the close of Coverings 2009 in a variety of categories. The second, “PROJECT: Green” was all about bringing attention—and recognition—to imaginative and innovative use of tile and stone materials in sustainability-driven projects. Here are the outcomes of both programs.

Coverings Select
It’s no easy task deciding which new products warrant salute, yet a group of industry experts narrowed it down to 14 choices in the “Coverings Select” program. The categories and those named for this new designation were:

Artisan Tile/Stone
The Yoga Tile Collection; B.A. Schmidt Arts & Enterprises
Egg & Dart Grande; Syzygy Tileworks

Equipment and Machinery
Legend CT; Samich USA

Glass Tile
Muse; Oceanside Glasstile

Installation Material Systems
FreeStyle Linear Drain System; Noble Company
Smart Spacer; Smart Spacer

Mosaic Tile
Avani; Oceanside Glasstile
SONITE La Concha Mosaics; Dara, Inc.

Natural Stone
Light Stone Wall Neocantera; Neocantera Board S.A. De C.V.

Other-Engineered Stone
NISA Jade Stone; Shine Artificial Stone

Other - Marketing Tool
Next-Generation Spec Tool; Polycor Inc.

Porcelain/Ceramic Tile Floor
UltiMetal; Crossville, Inc.
Cesare Magnus; StonePeak Ceramics

Porcelain/Ceramic Tile Wall
Mauk; Lea North America, LLC


PROJECT: Green
Twelve tile and stone projects with a strong sustainability back-story were featured in a “PROJECT: Green” exhibit produced by Coverings in partnership with Environmental Design + Construction (ED+C) magazine. In addition to enjoying exposure during the four-day period of the show, the projects also will be profiled in an upcoming issue of ED+C.

With a nation of architects and designers looking to the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to help set sustainability standards, it was imperative the organization’s own newly built headquarters set an example. So, Envision Design specified StonePeak Ceramics 12”-x-24” Limestone Gray porcelain tile for the lobby and reception area of the D.C. digs, which were completed in 2009. The project was one of four cited in the Commercial category.

Another of the Commercial category honorees was Whole Foods Market located in Dedham, MA, where Trikeenan Tileworks, was the resource for a variety of decorative tiles applied in more than 5,000 square feet of wall surfaces, from the seafood, meat, bakery, deli and cheese departments to food prep and restroom areas. In choosing Trikeenan tiles, Whole Foods, which is renowned for its environmental stewardship, appreciated their local production within 500 miles; the recycled content, which is between 50% to 85%; the long life cycle; and, low carbon footprint.

A mosaic mural commissioned for a 12-story parking deck at Center City Green in Charlotte, NC, and composed of approximately 250,000 loose ORGANIKS 100% percent glass tiles was another “PROJECT: Green” honoree. Mosaic designer Jeannette Brossart created the graphic artwork of circular color bursts, and the entire building project, completed in 2009, is registered for Silver LEED status.

The Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Moderna, Italy, took the fourth spot in the Commercial category, for its incorporation of large-format ceramic tiles from Laminam on the exterior lower level of the building. Additionally, Casalgrande Padana Unicolore series porcelain tiles with Bios treatment were integral to the labs within the space, contributing to the antibacterial needs of the interiors and their certification by Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and by ISO 14001 and EMAS.

Three projects earned recognition in the Residential/New category. Central Florida’s first LEED Gold certified home, featuring RealStone Systems stone walls produced from pre-consumer recycled quartz, driveway pavers cut from salvaged terrazzo flooring and, of course numerous other green-wise components put the spotlight on designer Phil Kean of Winter Park, FL. A LEED Silver certified “dream home” in Edwards, CO, made the cut thanks to a collaboration with Stone Concepts, which led the builder and designer to use a variety of natural quarried stones, plus a vast mix of tile products created from recycled materials. A highly energy efficient 15-unit project in Tempe, AZ made extensive use of Italian porcelain tile surfacing. The project was submitted by Baldinger Architectural Studio, Inc.

In the Residential/Remodel category Susan Wagner Designs gave a Monterey County, CA home a front entry makeover that she described as Shogun-inspired and which employed tile, glass art and river rock from within 50 miles of the project site. Additionally, Wagner developed a green formula for producing 100% concrete tiles that was a major factor for inclusion in the “PROJECT: Green” lineup. The other honoree in this category was for a home in British Columbia, Canada, where Sandra Kalil Interior Design achieved her green goals relying on the sustainable attributes of Italian ceramic tiles plus Canadian glass tiles with recycled content.

Designer Phil Kean took a second honor for the Winter Park, FL home he designed. The additional acknowledgement was in the Bath category and for the water and energy efficient bathroom where he used tiles and other materials with a high recycled content. The other project cited in this category was for a girl’s bath in Demarest, NJ, where Floor & Décor resourced Jelly Bean Glass Flooring from Fireclay, a product using recycled bottles to create a pebble-like effect, and Mixed-Up Mosaics, which uses local glass and glass containing recycled content.

Lastly, in the Kitchen category, Harris Welker Architects, was named for a remodel in a Rollingwood, TX home from the late 70s which not only received an aesthetic transformation but also a sustainable one, through the use of Marazzi 13”-x-13” glazed floor tiles plus back-painted glass at cooking area backsplash and recycled glass “pool” tile at wet area backsplash.

Coverings 2011 is set for March 14-17 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, Las Vegas—an earlier date than in previous years and a first-time show in that popular west coast destination. For more information on attending or exhibiting, contact NTP, Coverings Show Management, 703.683.8500.

About Coverings
Coverings is the premier international trade fair and expo dedicated exclusively to showcasing the newest in ceramic tile and natural stone. It has grown to be the largest and most important show of its kind in the U.S. featuring exhibitors from more than 50 countries and attracting thousands of distributors, retailers, fabricators, contractors and specifiers, architectural and design professionals, builders and real estate developers, plus the press and journalists who cover this vital and dynamic industry. Coverings is the stage for introducing some of the most innovative tile and stone products in the world. The exposition also serves as a valuable resource for continuing education for all categories of attendees, with informative, accredited seminars and live demonstration sessions conducted throughout the four days and all free of charge.