Innovative Products + Services
New Product of the Year Awards 2015
All of us at School Planning & Management would like to thank the companies that submitted their products for our New Product of the Year awards. We received an outstanding group of entries. On these pages, we are featuring those products that were judged as enhancing the learning environment in categories including Building Controls, Carpet & Flooring, Plumbing, Roofing, Classroom Furniture and more.
Wi-Fi Network Clocks
American Time and Signal Co.
WiFi network clocks keep precise time throughout a building or campus, which is critical for optimizing the flow of students and staff, accurately tracking learning times and class changes. The clocks are factoryconfigured to receive the precise time signal from a facility’s 802.11n network time server on a regular basis, allowing clocks to all display the same, accurate time.
Judges’ Comments: Pre-configured. WiFi networked. No maintenance for five years. Logo clock dial for branding.
Category: Communication: Clocks, Bells, Intercoms - GOLD
www.american-time.com
EnergyCenter 3.0
Autani, LLC
Autani is transforming the way commercial and industrial buildings optimize energy management with EnergyCenter — the emerging leader in distributed, wirelessly managed controls for HVAC, lighting, plug loads, and more. Using schedules and occupancy, EnergyCenter reduces energy use while delivering efficient work areas, all with a user-friendly and cost-effective system. EnergyCenter from Autani: Automating Green.
Judges’ Comments: Customizable. Easy to use. Real-time reporting.
Category: Building Controls - GOLD
www.autani.com
Haiku with SenseME
Big Ass Solutions
Haiku with SenseME is designed with smaller spaces in mind, making it a popular choice in schools. A standout in energy efficiency, Haiku is 80 percent more efficient than conventional ceiling fans. As the world’s first smart ceiling fan, Haiku with SenseME technology helps schools automatically save up to 30 percent on air conditioning in the summer, as well as uses its Winter Mode to cut heating costs by up to 25 percent.
Judges’ Comments: Great for small spaces. Features a smart mode with environmental sensors.
Category: HVAC - PLATINUM
www.BigAssSolutions.com
Express ELX-Series Lavatory Systems
Bradley Corporation
Bradley’s Express ELX-Series Lavatory features a sleek and modern single bowl with a unique multi-user contoured design. Easy to specify, install, clean and maintain, the Express ELX-Series has the look and feel of an individual lavatory, yet accommodates up to three people at one time.
Judges’ Comments: Multi-user. Look and feel of an individual lav. Ease of maintenance.
Category: Plumbing: Restroom/Locker Room - GOLD
www.bradleycorp.com/elx-series-express-sinks
PA419-02
Califone
Ideal for multiple presenters, the PA419-02 has two wireless mic receivers and supports a third presenter (with a wired mic). It is the first PA made for use in schools to feature Bluetooth & NFC (Near Field Communication) for quick and easy wireless audio streaming from a Bluetooth-enabled device.
Judges’ Comments: Portable. Bluetooth & NFC (Near Field). Multiuser and multi-media.
Category: A/V Equipment - PLATINUM
www.califone.com
OptiMax
The Garland Company, Inc.
Garland’s revolutionary new OptiMax polyurethane-modified asphalt-based roof membrane is the world’s first and only of its kind, developed with an innovative, patented technology designed to transform the roofing industry. The groundbreaking process combines asphalt with polyurethane to create the most durable and longest-lasting modified membrane on the market.
Judges’ Comments: Innovative technology. Durability for extended life.
Category: Roofing - PLATINUM
www.garlandco.com
Harmonize and Ground Waves
Interface
Hitting high notes of color, contrast and texture, Interface’s Harmonize and Ground Waves carpet tiles are a duo perfect for interiors of all types. Ideal for innovative high-performing spaces that are designed to transform and inspire, with all with the valued Interface benefits of simple, glue-free installation and selective replacement.
Judges’ Comments: Waste reduction. Glue-free installation. Ease of replacement.
Category: Carpet & Flooring - HONORABLE MENTION
www.interface.com
Umbra/Umbra Stripe
J+J Flooring Group
Umbra blends colors to create a sleek and alluring complexity that provides the perfect multicolored balance for a variety of learning-centered spaces. Umbra and Umbra Stripe are available in 13 colorways and an 18-inch-by-36-inch size and encompass the unmatched performance and sustainable attributes that are inherent in all Kinetex textile composite flooring products.
Judges’ Comments: Interesting, complex flooring design. Offers durability with low-environmental impact.
Category: Carpet & Flooring - GOLD
www.jj-kinetex.com
Modern M•Dura Bath Suite
Moen Commercial
The new faucets and showerheads within the M•Dura line from Moen offer the highest-grade of durability and performance needed within high-use environments, in a modern, fresh, contemporary style. Two options are available: single- and two-handle widespread lavatory faucets. Both are built to withstand the toughest environments and include ceramic disc cartridges.
Judges’ Comments: Durable. Vandal-resistant aerator and handles.
Category: Plumbing: Restroom/Locker Room - PLATINUM
www.moencommercial.com
Essay Seating
National Office Furniture
Student-inspired and student-designed, Essay is a unique solution to today’s evolving population of learners. Essay came about through a partnership between National Office Furniture and Purdue University. Essay is available in eight signature colors and in a student chair, task chair and stool. With smart design, intuitive functionality and a broad product mix, Essay is the easy answer!
Judges’ Comments: Collaborative. Functional. Student-led design.
Category: Classroom Furniture & Equipment - PLATINUM
www.NationalOfficeFurniture.com
noraplan nTx
nora systems, Inc.
noraplan nTx floor covering is resistant to moisture and has no pH limits, which eliminates the need for traditional concrete moisture mitigation and subfloor preparation systems and cuts installation time by as much as 50 percent. This revolutionary sheet flooring features a pre-applied, solvent-free self-adhesive that eliminates the need for a separate, messy, time-consuming wet adhesive system.
Judges’ Comments: Improves installation. Saves on prep time and costs.
Category: Carpet & Flooring - PLATINUM
www.nora.com/us
Mid Century Pop
PatCraft
Inspired by the Dutch modernist movement, De Stijl, the Mid Century Pop collection plays with solid and textured blocks of color with bold, linear accents. This collection, featuring a play on geometrics and outlines, was designed to coordinate with the Mid Century Mad collection, is available in two dynamic styles that blend together to support the shift towards more collaborative environments taking place in schools and colleges today.
Judges’ Comments: Cradle to grave, retro design.
Category: Carpet & Flooring - HONORABLE MENTION
www.patcraft.com
Mixed Materials
Patcraft
Mixed Materials brings breakthrough innovation to the collaborative environment, allowing designers to use hard and soft flooring surfaces side- by-side, alone or in multiple combinations to create spaces that support the way we work, learn and interact. As schools shift to provide more collaborative spaces, Mixed Materials enables them to do so without transition strips, and eliminates complicated installations.
Judges’ Comments: Hard and soft flooring combinations with no transition. Supports varying needs in learning environments.
Category: Carpet & Flooring - PLATINUM
www.patcraft.com
Typography
Patcraft
Inspired by the layouts and fonts of newsprint, Patcraft’s Typography collection layers subtle pattern, artistic type treatments and line-art mapping to create styles and patterns with universal appeal. Typography offers common, baseline features that unite the collection while allowing each pattern to stand on its own or be mixed and matched with others in the collection.
Judges’ Comments: Durable. Contemporary design creates colorful, engaging spaces.
Category: Carpet & Flooring - HONORABLE MENTION
www.patcraft.com
CrisisManager
SchoolDude
SchoolDude CrisisManager is a mobile safety platform that helps K-12 school districts and higher education institutions mobilize their emergency response plans. SchoolDude launched CrisisManager to help guarantee emergency plans and safety procedures are immediately and readily available to K-12 and higher education constituents including administrators, faculty/teachers, staff, parents and students via mobile devices at all times.
Judges’ Comments: Comprehensive. Easy to use. Customizable.
Category: Emergency Communications - PLATINUM
www.SchoolDude.com
Cut & Compose
Shaw Contract Group
All students should have the opportunity to attend a green school, and with the help of Shaw Contract Group’s Cut & Compose collection, we can help make this a reality. This collection brings bold, typographic design to interiors, while supporting the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council. 1.5 percent of all sales from this collection will go to the Green Apple Initiative.
Judges’ Comments: Bold design. 1.5 percent of all sales goes to support healthy schools. Environmental Guarantee.
Category: Carpet & Flooring - GOLD
www.shawcontractgroup.com
Low Frequency Sounders, Sounder Strobes and Sounder Bases
System Sensor
System Sensor’s low-frequency product line utilizes a custom 2-inch speaker optimized for the low-frequency code requirements, which require notification appliances produce their alarm tone at 520Hz square wave format. According to studies, low-frequency tones are six to 10 times more effective at waking sleeping individuals and are the most ideal to awaken those with mild to severe hearing loss.
Judges’ Comments: Low frequency sound. Versatile. Takes into account disabled and impaired students.
Category: Emergency Evacuation - PLATINUM
www.SystemSensor.com
Maelstrom
Tandus Centiva
Maelstrom, a design by Jhane Barnes, is informed by the look and action of motion picture filmstrips. Multiple coloured yarn threads intertwine horizontally and vertically to form a complex modern take on the plaid. Maelstrom’s 14 colour positions are thread-up across a sixfoot width platform in such away as to make seaming effortless.
Judges’ Comments: Durable, six-foot wide platform. Sustainable.
Category: Carpet & Flooring - HONORABLE MENTION
www.tandus-centiva.com
Sintesis Air-Cooled Chillers
Trane
Trane Sintesis air-cooled chillers are a new addition to the Trane chiller portfolio, delivering energy efficiency, reliability and quiet operation to meet customer performance requirements. Sintesis chillers are the first air-cooled chillers to offer the choice of either R-134a or R- 513A, a next generation, low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant.
Judges’ Comments: Open protocol design. Different acoustical options. Environmental impact.
Category: HVAC - PLATINUM
www.trane.com
Find information about the New Product of the Year awards.
This article originally appeared in the issue of .