The Mart Gets Smart

Big enough to have its own zip code, Chicago's Merchandise Mart now offers tons of earth-friendly products—designers share their favorite finds

Karen D. Singh and Jen DeRose -- Interior Design, 10/1/2007 12:00:00 AM

VOA Associates

DESIGN Nick Luzietti.

PROJECT The remodeling of the Chicago firm's own office.

"The EcoWeave collection of solar screen fabric by Hartmann & Forbes improves daylighting, which helps us save energy and provide a humanistic work environment. Plus, the recyclable polyester is free of silicone, halogen, and PVC, there's no off-gassing, and 1 percent of sales is donated to the Project Green Foundation."

Jordan Mozer and Associates

DESIGN Jordan Mozer, Tom J. Rossiter, and Jeff Carloss.

PROJECT The Fremont hotel in Chicago for Salita Development.

"As a recycle/rework strategy, we're identifying green materials that are aesthetically consistent with the architectural elements we're preserving—like using parts of the original knitting mills for furniture."

Brininstool + Lynch

DESIGN Dena Wangberg, Dominic Passeri, and Brad Lynch.

PROJECT A proposed housing and day-care complex in New Orleans.

"Meeting the goals of a sustainable project means considering everything thoughtfully, from specifying a manufactured product to designing an integrated building system."

Gruzen Samton

DESIGN Elizabeth Weeks.

PROJECT The renovation of Gateway Plaza, a New York high-rise apartment complex.

PROJECT Hudson Exchange, a high-rise mixed-use complex in Jersey City.

PROJECT The Woodlands at Ardsley, a senior-housing facility in suburban New York.

PROJECT An emergency-operations facility for New York's Rockland County Highway Department. "Really successful green products are those that integrate sustainability from conception. As a resource director, I'm increasingly finding more choice and less compromise."

Landon Bone Baker Architects

DESIGN Catherine Baker.

PROJECT The entry to the firm's office in a single-story Chicago brick building.

"These products are manufactured in an environmentally friendly way or are recyclable. They're also budget-conscious. There's no excuse not to go green."

Gary Lee Partners

DESIGN Gary Lee.

PROJECT A master bedroom for a loft apartment.

"We're working to introduce the concept of luxe through materials that are elegant in addition to being green."

HOK

DESIGN Erika Gaies and John F. Hopkins.

PROJECT A conference room for a typical corporate client.

"Going forward, there will no longer need to be a distinction between commercial materials and finishes that are green and those that are not. These look as vibrant as their synthetic competitors."

Manufacturers in Spec

Carnegie, 110 North Centre Avenue, Rockville Centre, NY 11570; 800-727-6770; carnegiefabrics.com.

Crystal Cabinet Works, 1100 Crystal Drive, Princeton, MN 55371; 800-347-5045; ccworks.com.

Davis Furniture, 2401 South College Drive, High Point, NC 27261; 336-889-2009; davis-furniture.com.

Designtex, 200 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014; 800-221-1540; designtex.com.

Environmental Language, 425 Park Barrington Drive, Barrington, IL 60010; 847-382-9285; el-furniture.com.

Farrow & Ball, 1054 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M8Z 5T6, Canada; 888-511-1121; farrow-ball.com.

Hartmann & Forbes, 10655 SW Avery Street, Tualatin, OR 97062; 888-582-8780; hfshades.com.

Haworth, 1 Haworth Center, Holland, MI 49423; 616-393-3000; haworth.com.

HBF, 900 12th Street Drive NW, Hickory, NC 28603; 828-328-2064; hbf.com.

Hokanson, 5120 Woodway Drive, Suite 190, Houston, TX 77056; 800-255-5720; hokansoncarpet.com.

Hon, 200 Oak Street, Muscatine, IA 52761; 800-833-3964; hon.com.

Innovations in Wallcoverings, 150 Varick Street, New York, NY 10013; 800-227-8053; innovationsusa.com.

Interfaceflor, 1503 Orchard Hill Road, LaGrange, GA 30240; 800-336-0225; interfaceflor.com.

Kohler Co., 444 Highland Drive, Kohler, WI 53044; 800-456-4537; kohler.com.

Lees Carpets, 500 Townpark Lane, Suite 400, Kennesaw, GA 30144; 800-523-5647; leescarpets.com.

Luna Textiles, 2415 Third Street, San Francisco, CA 94107; 415-252-7125; lunatextiles.com.

MDC Wallcoverings, 1200 Arthur Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007; 800-621-4006; mdcwall.com.

Herman Miller, 855 East Main Avenue, Zeeland, MI 49464; 616-654-3000; hermanmiller.com.

Novawall Systems, 885B South Pickett Street, Alexandria, VA 22304; 800-695-6682; novawall.com.

Phillip Jeffries, 311 Route 46, Fairfield, NJ 07004; 800-576-5455; phillipjeffries.com.

Terra Green Ceramics, 1650 Progress Drive, Richmond, IN 47374; 765-935-4760; terragreenceramics.com.

3form, 2300 South 2300 West, Suite B, Salt Lake City, UT 84119; 800-726-0126; 3-form.com.

Wolf-Gordon, 979 Third Avenue, Suite 413, New York, NY 10022; 800-347-0550; wolf-gordon.com.

Designers in Spec

Brininstool + Lynch, 230 West Superior Street, 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60610; 312-640-0505; brininstool-lynch.com.

Gruzen Samton, 320 West 13th Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10014; 212-477-0900; gruzensamton.com.

HOK, 30 West Monroe Street, Suite 1500, Chicago, IL 60603; 312-782-1000; hok.com.

Landon Bone Baker Architects, 734 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622; 312-988-9100; landonbonebaker.com.

Gary Lee Partners, 360 West Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60610; 312-640-8300; garyleepartners.com.

Jordan Mozer and Associates, 320 West Ohio Street, 7th Floor, Chicago, IL 60610; 312-397-1133; mozer.com.

VOA Associates, 224 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60604; 312-554-1400; voa.com.

Photographers in Spec

Paul Godwin Photography, 56 West 22nd Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010; 212-691-8308; paulgodwin.com.

Michelle Litvin, 1827 South Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60608; 312-933-9113; michellelitvin.com.