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.

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