The 21st Annual Starnet® Design Awards were recently held in beautiful Scottsdale, Arizona. The ceremony, which plays a major part in the organization’s spring meeting, celebrates the dynamic partnerships between Starnet Members, vendor partners and the A&D community.
Each year, the diverse portfolio of winning projects becomes more and more impressive. 2019 is no exception. These incredible installations vary in complexity, design and scale, yet they all highlight the true value of Starnet – the power of collaboration and partnership in the floorcovering industry.
From dynamic corporate offices to playful museums, immense convention centers to inspirational healthcare facilities, this year’s winners represent the very best in flooring design and installation execution.
Grand Prize Winner | Gold in Corporate
The most prestigious award, the 2019 Grand Prize was presented to Starnet Member Architectural Flooring Resource, Inc. for its work on Interpublic Group’s UM Global Headquarters in New York, NY.
In order to reduce the scale of the 95,000 square-foot space and provide self-sufficient areas for collaboration, distinct neighborhoods were created using flooring and other architectural selections to highlight color and depth. Designers made a point to focus on functionality – ensuring that the space was both easy to work in and great to look at.
“The variety of flooring in this project is just tremendous,” said Design Awards Judge Andrea Mayhew Hanson. “The flooring plays a critical role in reinforcing the overall design, and every single design decision was well-informed and purposeful,” she added.
Fellow Design Awards Judge Jim O’Neill agreed, stating, “The design team did a masterful job of specifying flooring materials that were bold yet cohesive, contemporary yet timeless. Not only that, the overarching interior design concept and execution is very strong. Everything just works.”
Project Details:
• Starnet Member: Architectural Flooring Resource, Inc.
• Architect/Designer: Ted Moudis Associates
• Starnet Preferred Vendors: Burke Flooring, CMP Specialty Products, Bostik, J+J Flooring Group, Mannington, Roppe, Tarkett
Gold in Hospitality
The Gold in Hospitality was awarded to Starnet Member Duffy & Lee for the company’s work on the reimagined Miami Beach Convention Center. Originally constructed in 1958, the sprawling facility was recently expanded and overhauled.
“Well-scaled and impressive, the Miami Beach Convention Center immediately stood out as a category leader,” added Design Awards Judge David Mackler. “It is clean and sophisticated, and effectively ties the center into its surroundings,” he explained.
“The carpet design creates a wonderful sense of place,” said Mayhew Hanson. “Even in these huge spaces typically found in convention centers, the flooring provides delicate visual interest.”
Project Details:
• Starnet Member: Duffy & Lee
• Architect/Designer: Fentress Architects
• Starnet Preferred Vendors: ARDEX, Chapco, H.B. Fuller, Mannington, MAPEI, Milliken, Tarkett
Gold in Mixed-Use
History meets innovation with the winner of the Mixed-Use Category. Located in the heart of the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter in downtown Winston-Salem, the newly renovated Bailey Power Plant was completed by Starnet Member DCO Commercial Floors.
“Clean lines, a controlled design aesthetic and the smart use of flooring materials make this project a winner,” said O’Neill. “Nothing clashes with the brick walls and steel structure, and the juxtaposition of the existing structure and new materials is impressive.”
Project Details:
• Starnet Member: DCO Commercial Floors
• Architect: Walter Robbs Callahan & Pierce Architects
• Designer: CJMW Architecture
• Starnet Preferred Vendors: Daltile, MAPEI, Milliken, Tarkett
Gold in Education
The Gold winner in Education not only tells a strong design story, it does so with the masterful use of VCT. The EBR Career and Technical Education Center was completed by Starnet Member Cornerstone Commercial Flooring.
Designers took the center’s technology theme and ran with it. Working with Cornerstone Commercial Flooring, they designed a “circuit board” that runs throughout the lobby, cafeteria and main corridors. It also extends into classrooms throughout the building.
“To conceptualize, design and install a project like this using only VCT is pretty remarkable,” said Andrea Hanson. “The overall design and level of installation craftsmanship is impressive,” added David Mackler. “It’s one of my favorite projects in the education category.”
Project Details:
• Starnet Member: Cornerstone Commercial Flooring
• Architect/Designer: Domain Architecture
• Starnet Preferred Vendors: Armstrong Flooring, MAPEI, Tarkett
Gold in Healthcare
The Gold winner in Healthcare was awarded to Starnet Member Wholesale Floors LLC for its work on the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Emergency Department Expansion. The new emergency department is designed to accommodate 100,000 patient per year, four times the capacity of the existing facility.
“This was a challenging installation,” explained Mackler. “The curves and circles were all done by hand and the installation team did a nice job keeping lines as smooth and uniform as possible.”
Project Details:
• Starnet Member: Wholesale Floors LLC
• Architect/Designer: Hobbs & Black Architects
• Starnet Preferred Vendors: Armstrong Flooring, MAPEI
Gold in Unique Installation
The Gold winner in Unique Installation came from a familiar name within the floorcovering industry. The Armstrong Flooring 2018 NeoCon Trade Show Booth was completed by Starnet Member Johnson Floor Company, Inc. and featured a complex installation comprised of 22 different sheet vinyl materials.
“This is an extremely well-executed and technically difficult project that perfectly encapsulates the Unique Installation Challenge category,” said Mackler. “The project is extremely clever and showcases the manufacturer’s products in a unique way,” added Mayhew Hanson.
“The water-cut pieces are impressive and the overall design is technically superior,” concluded O’Neill. “Out of hundreds of manufacturer booths, I distinctly remember this installation from NeoCon.”
Project Details:
• Starnet Member: Johnson Floor Company, Inc.
• Architect/Designer: Armstrong Flooring
• Starnet Preferred Vendors: Armstrong Flooring
Gold in People’s Choice
By utilizing fish, turtles and other marine animals as the centerpiece of its design story, the 2019 People’s Choice Gold winner captured the hearts of visitors and the floorcovering industry alike. The reimagined Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center was completed by Starnet Member W.C. Carpenter and opened to great fanfare in 2018.
“Flooring takes center stage in this whimsical project,” said Mayhew Hanson
Project Details:
• Starnet Member: W.C. Carpenter
• Starnet Preferred Vendors: MAPEI, Tarkett
Judging Panel
An elite panel of architects and designers lent their talent and expertise to this year’s panel:
• Andrea Mayhew Hanson, AIA, WELL AP – Senior Principal-in-Charge of Interior Architecture for Dekker/Perich/Sabatini
• David Mackler, AIA – President, Mackler Echt + Associates, Inc.
• James O’Neill – Founding Principal, Inventure Design
Additionally, Robert Varden served as honorary judge for the Unique Installation Challenge Award. He is the Vice President of Certified Flooring Installers.
For more information about the 2019 Starnet Design Awards and to view all the entrants and winners, click here.
