2023 Spark Awards: Winning designs showcase Fuse members’ creative solutions amid challenging conditions – April 2024

Drawing from a network made up of skilled and talented flooring professionals, Fuse Commercial Flooring Alliance’s annual Spark Awards represent some of the most innovative flooring projects by member contractors. This year’s awards were announced at Fuse’s annual conference, held in Phoenix, Arizona last month. Judging the entrants were Kelly Ennis of The Verve Partnership, Sean Kendig of Main Architecture, Tom Marquardt of Marquardt+, Mark Oliver of Material Bank and Robyn Taylor of Westgroup Designs.

BEST IN SHOW Vectra Bank HQ Denver, Colorado Contractor: Advanced Flooring Solutions Design by: Open Studio Architecture LLC Suppliers: Milliken, Tarkett Project overview: A playful approach and attention to detail combine to make the new Vectra Bank headquarters Advanced Flooring Solutions’ most dramatic project of 2023. In the common training area, they took a risk and used one of Milliken’s most playful patterns, turning a normally boring conferencing area into a visual playland. The design team even built the lighting plan off the carpet detail in the executive wing. Meanwhile, the natural stone floor lobby and dramatic wood staircase ensure the space’s professional atmosphere.

MOST CREATIVE FLOORING DESIGN Tomball ISD Early Excellence Adcademy Tomball, Texas Contractor: Intex Flooring Design by: DLR Group Suppliers: Mapei, Roppe, Tarkett Project overview: The Tomball ISD’s new Early Excellence Academy was a new-construction project located in Harris County, Texas. The intricate design and detail embodied in these schools provide the young children with an elaborate collaboration space to expand their creativity and learning skills. The craftmanship featured throughout the school is a testament to Intex Flooring’s skilled installers and their technical expertise.

MOST MAXIMIZED BUDGET East House Canal Commons Rochester, New York Contractor: GP Flooring Solutions Design by: Plan Architectural Studio Suppliers: Kährs, Mapei, Roppe Project overview: To comply with both the budget and historical preservation guidelines during the conversion of a 130-year-old manufacturing building to apartments took meticulous planning and strategic budget allocation. Through innovative sourcing and efficient project management, GP Flooring Solutions achieved remarkable cost efficiency without compromising historical integrity or quality craftsmanship. This included employing Kährs engineered hardwood and Roppe sheet vinyl over gypcrete.

BEST FLOORING SOLUTION Erlanger Pediatric Procedure Suite Chattanooga, Tennessee Contractor: Certified Finishes Inc. Design by: HOK Suppliers: Mapei, Shaw Contract, Tarkett Project overview: Seamlessly blending functionality and aesthetics, the flooring design and installation were instrumental in achieving a harmonious environment that caters to both the practical and visual needs of Erlanger's Pediatric Procedure Suite. The team also had to contend with subfloor and expansion joint challenges discovered during the project. With Shaw Quickfill selected as the optimal solution, the Shaw technical team proved to be highly cooperative, offering ease of communication, and provided a written warranty for the product, ensuring the reliability of the chosen solution.

MOST AGGRESSIVE TIMELINE/SCHEDULE The Mart 2.0 Chicago, Illinois Contractor: Flooring Resources Corporation Design by: Gensler Suppliers: Mapei, Tarkett, XL Brands Project overview: Despite regular heavy traffic and a flood during the installation, Flooring Resources Corporation completed its work in about two weeks. The installation included over 1,200 square yards of Interface carpet tile in the second-floor conference and tenant lounge. The fitness area required more than 12,000 square feet of Plae fitness flooring, which is a four-layer system with underlayment. It took 15+ full truckload deliveries due to the size and weight of the material and more than 1,600 linear feet of Johnsonite base.

TOUGHEST SITE CONDITIONS Viejas Casino and Resort’s Renovation Phase BI Alpine, California Contractor: Christian Brothers Flooring & Interiors (CBFI) Design by: WATG/IGroup Design Suppliers: Daltile, Tarkett, Mapei, Uzin Utz Project overview: Comprising both interior and exterior work, Viejas Casino and Resort’s Renovation Phase B1 had to be completed in less than 60 days, and Christian Brothers Flooring & Interiors (CBFI) met the tight deadline. The interior work, spanning 20,000 square feet, required extensive subfloor remediation, in addition to intricate flooring installations. Concurrently, CBFI installed stone on the building’s exterior, and since the surface could not be allowed to drop below 40 degrees, the 60’ high enclosed scaffold area had to be heated with large space heaters and monitored by CBFI personnel.