Higgins Flooring
Berlin, CT
Category: 2021 Corporate
Bronze Winner Corporate
Designer: 5 Hills Design
Starnet Member:
M. Frank Higgins & Co., Inc.
Starnet Preferred Vendors:
Amtico, ARDEX, C/F Data Systems, LLC, Daltile, Foaming Floors LLC, J+J Flooring, Jon-Don, Inc., MAPEI, Milliken Commercial, NeverStrip Floor Coatings, Roppe, XL North Chemical Co.
Project Strategy
The stage is set: A 31,000 SF building is purchased in early 2020 with 8,000 SF of office space to be completely gutted and renovated. The challenge: Create a world class office showroom in less than 3 months and effectively communicate the company brand. The design team worked closely with the owners in every facet of the project. It took a team of contractors and quick creative decisions by the entire group to make all this happen. At times it felt like speed designing! It was important for the spaces to work together but feel like a showroom throughout. The five existing bathrooms were each designed to be unique while working in unison to reflect different combinations and textures of tile, showcasing the craftsmanship of the installers. Nature and comfortable lighting were also key components. The office features a “grow wall” with live plants, which was installed to physically bring the outside in. Not only does the green wall feed the soul, but it provides cleansing oxygen for the air and a sense of calm to the environment. The office demountable walls enabled the project to move at a quick space all the while helping to contribute to an edgy, contemporary space. Artistic carpet tile was installed to supply color, enhance branding, and add art and light in the office area alongside gleaming polished concrete. The heart of this renovation is the training room/library area. It was an opportunity to create a more cohesive space for the working office, a resource that could be used for presentations of new products, provide a large gathering space for training, and offer the architectural communities a place to dream. Creatively installed LVT patterns flank the bookshelves, and a couple of wow features include large, geode-like glass panels and decorative garage doors opening up to reveal the well-organized warehouse. These eye-catching features provide the backdrop for a special space to collaborate with colleagues, designers and clients alike.