Mohawk Commercial Officially Opens the Light Lab

Dalton, GA, November 14, 2016—On November 10, Mohawk Group cut the ribbon on its commercial design center, located in the original World Carpet round headquarters building.

The project is notable both for its renovation and sustainability aspects, and also because it brings together Mohawk Group’s design team together in one place.

Known as Light Lab Design Center, the facility received Petal Certification from the International Living Future Institute (IFLI) Living Building Challenge. “Mohawk’s Petal Certification further demonstrates the company’s progressive attitude and unwavering commitment to sustainability and IFLI’s transformational programs,” said Amanda Sturgeon, IFLI’s CEO.

The vision for the 33,000 square-foot space started three years ago, according to Jackie Dettmar, VP commercial design and product development for Mohawk Group. She said it was driven by the desire to have the design team in one location.

The building was most recently home to Mohawk’s residential showroom until that group relocated to the company’s Calhoun, Georgia facilities.

The mid-century modern building was built in the early 1960s, and features a 360-degree view of the mountains around Dalton. The design team wanted to capitalize on nature, while celebrating the open office plan the building’s structure made possible. Students from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) provided conceptual design for the space, including its name. Mohawk’s in-house design team also collaborated with a local fifth-grade class on some of the building’s light fixtures. The renovations used reclaimed wood from the company’s Dublin, Georgia facility, and sourced tile and marble from within a 500-mile radius.

The IFLI’s Living Building Challenge is one of the most stringent measures of sustainabily, according to Mohawk Group. The challenge is made up of a series of Petals: place, water, health and happiness, materials, equity and beauty. Projects that satisfy requirements in three categories, with at least one being energy, materials, energy or water, can earn Petal Recognition. Light Lab earned petals for site, health, materials, equity and beauty.