Making a Case for Adaptive Reuse

The city of Chicago, Illinois would like to be known as the "greenest city in the U.S."  It was one of the first cities in the country to require that all new public buildings achieve LEED certification.  The architects at Booth Hansen in Chicago took that mandate one step further, developing a new Cook County Circuit Courthouse within the structure of an abandoned 19^th century building that had once been used as a printing shop.  In this unique LEED Silver certified project, the building's orientation was turned around.  The original rear façade was re-purposed to form the interior wall of a soaring new entry atrium.  Abundant natural light from the south-facing windows reflects onto our light-colored Honey Annigre (Veneer-Art 913) cladding the interior of the atrium wall.  The result is a dynamic and welcoming interior that allows sufficient space for circulation in the busy county building. 

Lamin-Art's high-performance Veneer-Art product was selected for this application and for all public spaces within the courthouse for its ability to provide a natural wood-look and feel while offering superior resistance to scratches and vandalism. Veneer-Art is manufactured with select, natural, not reconstituted, wood veneers that are impregnated with a protective melamine resin and laminated onto phenolic resin-impregnated kraft sheets for a maintenance-free, scratch resistant surface that maintains the look and texture of real wood. 

Lamin-Art is proud to have been associated with this outstanding example of sustainable design.  For more information on Lamin-Art's commitment to sustainability, click here.  To see more exceptional projects featuring Lamin-Art products, visit our portfolio.
 

Photography Credits: Copyright 2007 Ballogg Photography, Chicago

CARB: What You Need to Know

New emissions regulations for composite wood panels took effect January 1^st in California.  CARB (California Air Resources Board) regulation 93120.12 aims to reduce formaldehyde emissions from plywood, particleboard, and medium density fiberboard (MDF) used in millwork, countertops, furniture, doors, and much more.  As a result of the new regulation, fabricators face stringent recordkeeping and labeling requirements for all products sold, offered for sale, supplied, used or manufactured in the state of California.

The regulation requires fabricators to take "reasonable prudent precautions" to ensure that the composite wood panels they are purchasing comply with the new CARB regulation, and that their own products are labeled appropriately.  The label will need to include the fabricator's name, date the finished goods were produced, and a statement of compliance such as:

"Contains (particleboard, MDF, hardwood plywood) that complies with CARB (phase1, phase 2) formaldehyde emission standards in CCR 93120.12."

While the new regulations went into effect on January 1, retailers in California will have until June 30, 2010 to clear out any goods containing composite panels that do not comply with the new standards.  After that date, fines can be levied for up to $10,000 per day, per violation for carrying non-compliant product.

As a decorative surfacing material that is used in conjunction with composite wood panels, you can rest assured that our high-pressure decorative laminates are GREENGUARD Certified low-emitting products. This means they can safely be used in conjunction with CARB-compliant composite wood panels and GREENGUARD Certified adhesives to ensure healthy indoor air quality.  For more information on how the new CARB regulations could affect your shop, download Lamin-Art's CARB presentation in Adobe Flash or PDF format.

2009 Trade Show Calendar

With 2008 in our rearview mirror, the Lamin-Art road crew is gearing up for this year's event schedule.  If you plan on attending any of these terrific shows, make plans to stop by the Lamin-Art booth to see samples of our 15 new Abstract prints and get a sneak peak of exciting new things to come in the summer of 2009.

Global Shop 2009
March 23-25, 2009
Sands Expo Convention Center
Las Vegas, NV
Booth #2646

Hospitality Design Expo
May 14-16, 2009
Sands Expo Convention Center
Las Vegas, NV
Booth #1454

AWFS Fair
July 15-19, 2009
Las Vegas Convention Center
Las Vegas, NV
Booth #1519

Healthcare Design 2009
October 31-November 3, 2009
Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel and Convention Center
Orlando, FL
Booth #TBD

Enabling Green: Tip #4

If you think saving money by "going green" requires a large investment upfront (i.e. a new furnace or hybrid vehicle), think again.  There are a lot of little things you can do right now that are not only good for the environment, but will save you some extra pocket change right now:

Skip the dry cleaning: Most dry cleaners use PERC, a volatile organic compound (VOC) that is said to cause headaches, dizziness, and even cancer in large doses.  Most of the clothes that go to the dry cleaner are wrinkled rather than dirty.  Hand steaming your clothes at home can give you that "just-dry-cleaned" look for a fraction of the cost. 

Drive smart: Your car works more efficiently when you maintain a consistent speed and avoid rapid acceleration and quick stops.  Properly inflated tires and regular tune-ups can also help you conserve your gas and save money at the pump.

Skip the bottled water: Bottled waters are pricey, and a lot of fuel is used to make, transport and store all of those bottles.  Drink from the tap.  Most local guidelines require your tap water to be purer than some of the stuff you can buy in a bottle anyway.