Category Archives: Culture & Play

Living Future 2012: On the Cutting Edge of Green

Follow the Xtreme Green Team’s Living Future 2012 experience in this two-part series. 

The entire North America Xtreme Green Team descended on Portland, Oregon this week to attend the Living Future conference: Melissa Vernon, Lindsay James, Nadine Gudz and Mikhail Davis. We are not here to exhibit, but simply to learn and share as part of this community of deep green thought leaders. One of our roles at Interface is being a two-way conduit for sustainability insight. So in addition to sharing the stories and the latest innovations from our own sustainability journey, we are out in the world gathering new ideas and bringing them back to Interface to inform our strategy and messaging.

The Xtreme Green Team at Living Future 2012 (L to R: Marj Barlow, Melissa Vernon, Lindsay James, Mikhail Davis and Nadine Gudz)

As a proud member of this growing community, Interface is committed to the conference’s vision of a living future that is “Culturally Rich, Socially Just, and Ecologically Restorative.” We feel we are uniquely positioned through Ray Anderson’s vision and competitive spirit to lead the way for manufacturers toward this positive future. In the Interface context, we understand the Living Building Challenge to be much like Mission Zero applied to a building: eliminating negative impact while aspiring to be restorative.

After the rousing opening keynote by Vandana Shiva (who is truly one of the “Women Reshaping the World” – this year’s theme), we are excited for two more days on the cutting edge of green. Two members of our team are speaking on panels: Nadine Gudz and our longtime consultant Marj Barlow are speaking Friday morning on Women’s Leadership. Marj is the recent author of “The Possible Woman Steps Up” (be sure to follow us on Twitter where we’ll give away a signed copy of her book today and tomorrow) and will share her 80+ years of wisdom on learning to bring your highest and best self forward. Lindsay James is also speaking on Friday morning on Living Economies for a Living Future.

We look forward to sharing the conference with you on our blog and Twitter these next few days. Send us your comments, questions, and bright ideas, and be sure to say “hello” if you see us at the show!

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In with the Old — and the New

We’re going back to our roots. As of today, our company and brand are simply Interface®. It not only honors the legacy of our late founder, Ray Anderson, but it also celebrates the vision and innovation that got us where we are today. The vision and innovation that will take us where we want to go.

We’ll mark the change with events and activities throughout the coming year beginning with the unveiling of a progressive new look at La Triennale di Milano during Milan Design Week. We’re still the same company, but we have some exciting things in store that we want to share with all of you.

So please visit About Interface on our website where you’ll find a commemorative e-book and a short video on our heritage and aspirations. As always, we look forward to hearing from you.

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LEEDing the Way for the Green Future of Alaska Schools

The Fred and Sara Machetanz Elementary School in Wasilla has some serious green cred: It’s the first school in Alaska to receive the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Certification, earning silver. Backed by that honor, the school, located in a former gravel pit and named after a prominent Alaskan painter and his wife, has emerged as a pioneer for sustainability in the Mat-Su Borough.

Brought in by Anchorage based architectural firm McCool Carlson Green, Interior Designer Cathy Kerr made sure InterfaceFLOR was a component in the journey. High recycled content products contributed to the more than 30% total recycled content needed for the building to achieve its LEED certification. Plus, InterfaceFLOR products help maintain an increased indoor air quality in the school since tiles install with no glue and meet the highest standards for indoor air quality.

And then there’s the aesthetics. Kerr carefully selected bold color combinations to contrast against Alaska’s monochromatic winter landscape while creating a stimulating learning environment. In addition, the dramatic multi-story design takes advantage of all available sunlight, which InterfaceFLOR tiles are designed to stand up to. Tiles feature 100% solution dyed nylon that keeps its color and doesn’t fade, even in bright sunlight.

According to Kerr, there’s some science behind the color scheme at this award winning elementary school. “I designed the interior of the school so that we used colors from all the segments of the color wheel,” she says. “We know that people respond better in a full color spectrum environment. Students learn more with color in their environment as opposed to white everywhere. So with that in mind I went searching for the perfect carpet tile to do that, and I found InterfaceFLOR.”

The result was an all around win, says Mat-Su Borough facilities manager Don Carney. “We liked the design so much that we’re going to build two more using that as a prototype.”

McCool Carlson Green Principal John Weir adds, “There are many different teaching styles and learning modalities. So we try to create spaces that encourage teachers to take advantage of those differences. The buildings incorporate and accommodate that flexibility in teaching and learning.”

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Legacy Projects 2012

This year InterfaceFLOR took to the city of Atlanta for the first time in our 7th year of Legacy Projects. Community service was the aim as 250 excited volunteers gave their time, energy, elbow grease, and creative talents to assist eight organizations with projects ranging from cleaning and organizing materials at the Atlanta Community ToolBank to playing a rousing game of tug of war with students at the Fuqua Boys and Girls Club. At the end of the day, hundreds of meals were made, dozens of rooms cleaned and faces painted, and many new friendships formed. Watch as the story of a successful day of service unfolds:

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Inspired Design: Spring into Color

Spring is definitely visible, and not only in the blooming flowers and warming temperatures. The vibrant colors and patterns of the season are a common thread running through the fabric of design from the fashion runways to interior spaces.

“Consumers look to spring for renewed energy, optimism and the promise of a brighter day,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “They have learned how color can help them alter a mood and provide the vitality and enthusiasm that enables them to experiment with new looks and color combinations.”

fashion-collage

Photo credits: Loehmanns, WMagazine, Instyle.com, Harpersbazaar.com

The presence of color couldn’t be more ubiquitous this season, as all around us vibrant hues are taking center stage in new and exciting ways. Playful tones are being applied to colored camos, and pops of pigment are paired with animal prints and black accents to create dynamic designs that sway to their own rhythm.

At InterfaceFLOR, we’re definitely embracing the shades of the season with a runway-inspired palette that embodies this season’s hottest trends.

Blog_Palette_with_ID_letters
Product palette:
A. Perennial / Sun Flower 2459
B. 1st Avenue / Fuchsia, 609163
C. Memphis to Milan and Back Pattern Library, M0660, Black and White, 9868
D. Equilibrium / Solidity 4278
E. FLOR / Cambium, Poppy
F. Post / Print 2629
G. Doodle / Neon Lime 102081
H. Monochrome / Very Berry 101826
I. Super Flor / Primrose, 609163
J. Viva Colores / Azul Marino 101141     
K. Viva Colores / Naranja 101164
L. Surreal Pattern Library M0559 / Masquerade   101045
M. 3rd Avenue / Grand 8180
N. FLOR / Lasting Grateness, White
O. Groupie / Safari 2818

 

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