Haworth Showroom Striving for LEED Gold

The design conceals high-tech elements such as motion sensors and lighting that dims according to need.

Mairi Beautyman -- Interior Design, 11/27/2007

Office furniture manufacturer Haworth is on track to land LEED Gold from the Canada Green Building Council for its newly-renovated Calgary, Alberta showroom. Designed by Perkins + Will | Eva Maddox Branded Environments, the revamped space features design elements such as sustainable wood and three new learning "laboratories."

The showroom, which originally opened in 1998, is conceived for maximum flexibility. The design team based their concept on "a building within a building." Standard and custom products are displayed in both open plan and executive office settings. Haworth's architectural products--access flooring, moveable walls and furniture solutions--are employed throughout. The space is also fully-wired with motion sensors, and lighting that dims according to need, as well as elements for audio, video, lighting, temperature, and Bluetooth.

The showroom wraps around the Learning Center, which serves as a platform for architects, designers, contractors and real estate professionals, offering information on adaptable workspace, modular interior construction, and sustainable wood.

"The focus of the Calgary learning center experience is to design and build sustainable interiors for our clients using practical and measurable methods," said Paul Smith, Haworth vice president of business groups--global architectural interiors and wood solutions. "Clients will emerge with new ideas of how to better build interiors that are flexible, adaptable and sustainable."

Image courtesy of Haworth