Architectural Record's annual contest spotlights the top new walls, ceilings, coatings, and flooring products. [Back to Record Products 2017]
Words from our Judges:
Carrie Moore
Record Products 2017: Best Architectural Finishes
Archoterra
This new material, composed of recycled paper and eco-friendly bonding agents, was developed by Eric Rosen, architect of this issue’s House of the Month. Archoterra is a surface solution that can be applied like veneer or laminate to walls, ceilings, and furniture. This lightweight and affordable product comes in 4' x 8' sheets with a thickness of 1⁄16 to ½". It is available in 38 colors, 12 dimensional patterns, and a smooth or textured surface.
Rust
Speaking to the current popularity of industrial weathering steel, Rust employs an innovative proprietary process that transfers pattern, texture, and actual rust from metal sheets pressed against resin interlayers that are then encapsulated in glass or 3form’s Varia. It comes in two versions: Forge, which spotlights the weathering of metal via dark streaks and marbling, and Oxide, showcasing a mottled reddish-brown pattern with a smoother appearance.
Glowing Metals
Chemetal has expanded its existing portfolio with new layered textures, colors, and finishes ranging from Brushed Bronze and Rose Gold to tartan-like grids and painterly dots that evoke Seurat paintings. Meanwhile, new embossed patterns have a geometric bent and a reflective surface composed of thin metal foil bonded with high-pressure laminate—with 75% recycled content—making them greener and more affordable than other decorative sheet metals for interior walls and ceilings.
Traceless Laminate
Fingerprints can mar matte surfaces, but Wilsonart has developed a solution by infusing fingerprint-resistant technology into a new super-matte laminate. Silky to the touch, Traceless Laminate comes in five neutral colors and 0.039"-thick sheets of 4' x 8' or 4' x 10'.
Ultra Spec Scuff-X
Typically, a high-performance, scuff-resistant coating requires builders to premix two components, but this product requires no second ingredient. The single component is applied as a washable, low-VOC interior latex paint, ideal for high-traffic areas such as corridors, stairwells, and public restrooms where scuff marks are common. Scuff X also boasts antimicrobial properties and comes in more than 3,500 Benjamin Moore colors.
SoundStar
Defined by hexagonal coffers, this ceiling system consists of 12"- or 24"-deep modules made of a proprietary acoustical felt composite (100% PET plastic with up to 60% recycled content). Specifiers can mix and combine more than 30 colors, ranging from neutrals to vibrant hues, to achieve desired performance and aesthetics. SoundStar has an NRC rating of up to 0.90 and Class A or C fire rating.
HeartFelt
Collaborating with architects Schmidt Hammer Lassen, Hunter Douglas has developed a lightweight linear wall and ceiling panel system that helps control noise. The rigid felt bars are thermoformed polyester and attach to brackets for mounting or suspension. Spacing between them provides NRC ratings of 0.50 to 0.70. HeartFelt is Class A fire rated and available in a choice of 12 colors that can be mixed and matched.
Mio
This series of hexagonal porcelain tiles is a new take on traditional parquet. The exotic, safari-inspired asymmetrical striations combine patterns found in nature, earth tones, and ebony wood. The approximately 16"- diameter tiles come in three colorways—Acero, Noce, and Palissandro—and are suitable for wall and floor applications in residential or hospitality settings.
Fractal
As the latest addition to Smith & Fong’s wall-panel range, Fractal plays on geometry and the isosceles triangle, while offering complete customization. Architects can design and preview an entire wall using an online tool: select a carved pattern for each 24" x 24" x 34" triangular panel, a color, and then configure the layout. The panels contribute to LEED and have Class C fire rating, but can also be specified in Class B or A in FSC 100% certified bamboo.
Carrie Moore
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