Pearlescence Does Justice to Law School Library

When the architects and designers of the international architecture firm Shepley Bulfinch took on the renovation of the J. Michael Goodson Library at the Law School of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, they faced several unique challenges. Chief among them: choosing a laminate color for tabletops and casework that would be compatible with the millwork in order to create a monolithic, professional presence suitable of its use for high level learning. Originally, the designers proposed warm shades of bronze, but school officials requested a more neutral gray color scheme. Since gray tends to be flat, the design team was concerned that it wouldn't convey the sense of richness and quality they wanted given the abundance of natural light in their design. Fortunately, Lamin-Art's Pearlescence Solid Colors play well with light. The design team selected 2300-Platinum, a rich neutral hue . "Pearlescence 2300-Platinum has a velvety texture to it," says Joseph Rondinelli, a senior associate of Shepley Bulfinch. "Other products simply didn't have this creamy quality. Pearlescence hit the spot, solving the problem very well."

For added functionality, the design team opted to add Oyster Shield High-Wear Protection to the Textured finish laminate. This added wear protection allows Pearlescence Solid Colors to be specified for horizontal surfaces such as desktops and workstations without fear of scratches. Upon completion of the project, Duke University President Richard Brodhead noted the renovated library was certainly befitting of the school's ranking among the top ten law schools in the U.S: "When you reach the point where a great law school has a great building, you realize it wasn't just an ornament, it really is an enabler of things."

To learn more about the J. Michael Goodson Library project and other interesting designs using Lamin-Art's Pearlescence Solid Colors, visit www.pearlescence.com.

Customer Service Hours Change

Our Customer Service hours have changed. Our friendly Customer Service Representatives are now available from 7am to 5pm Central Time (8am-6pm ET/5am-3pm PT) at 800-323-7624 to assist with sample and material orders, technical information, or price and availability inquiries. For assistance after-hours, visit www.laminart.com : your 24/7 resource for information about our premium high-pressure decorative laminates and Veneer-Art high-performance wood veneers.

Lamin-Art Direct Available in Eastern Canada

The Lamin-Art Road Show will be heading north of the border next month. We'll be exhibiting at IIDEX/NeoCon Canada in Toronto September 24 and 25. We invite you to stop by our booth #1517 to view our most recent Pearlescence colors and finishes, as well as get a glimpse at our upcoming Fall product introduction.

As a reminder, Lamin-Art's signature service is available to Canadian customers in Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic Provinces; purchasing our exclusive products is as easy as calling us directly! Our high-pressure decorative laminates ship from our manufacturing facility in Montreal, Quebec, providing for quick turnaround, even on made-to-order items.

Ontario customers requiring product presentations or sample updates are invited to contact Prolific Marketing Inc. - "Delivering Design" , our exclusive A/D representatives group. Prolific Marketing is well known within the Ontario A/D community for their excellent product knowledge and service with regards to placement and maintenance of specification tools, as well as their quick sample shipping service. You can contact Prolific Marketing locally at 905-636-0750 or request samples online at www.laminart.com.

Customers in western Canada are serviced by our authorized distributor PJ White Hardwoods with branches in Vancouver, Victoria, Edmonton and Calgary.

Canadian customers:  To learn more about ordering Lamin-Art products, click here.

Eco-Enable: Green Tip #10

Summer vacations are winding down, the dog days of August are almost behind us, and the kids are heading back to school. Here are some eco-friendly tips for the new school year:

1. Before spending a small fortune on new school supplies, look around the house for items that could be recycled or re-used from last year. For example, tear out used pages of old notebooks and use them again. Cut out magazine photos to cover up the old labels or class names, and add a customized touch.

2. Ditch the paper lunch sack and purchase a washable, re-useable insulated container. There are several affordable and stylish ones now on the market, including neoprene lunch bags.

3. Check out re-sale shops for great bargains on back-to-school clothes. You'll often find comfortable, trendy options for a fraction of what you would pay at retail.

4. If you live in a safe area that's close to your child's school, encourage them to walk or ride a bike rather than taking a bus. Better yet, if you can, accompany them on the journey-it'll save gas and it's good exercise.