Mohawk Group Set to Achieve WELL Health-Safety Rating

Mohawk Group, a producer and distributor of commercial flooring, announced in a press release that all of its design studios and commercial showrooms are set to receive a WELL Health-Safety Rating, as determined by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). Mohawk is among the first flooring manufacturers to meet this standard.

The rating is meant to indicate a facility’s impact on community health. IWBI developed the WELL standard to focus on health and wellness inside buildings, considering factors like interior water and air quality, health-service resources, sanitizing and cleaning procedures, innovation, operational and maintenance policies, emergency plans, and stakeholder engagement.

“The rating is a third-party stamp of approval saying that our showrooms and spaces are clean and safe,” said Mohawk’s vice president of marketing and product development, Jackie Dettmar. “A WELL seal outside means people can feel safer inside.”

IWBI developed and modified the WELL Health-Safety Rating over a few years, most notably during the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. In line with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), global disease control and prevention centers, and academic and research institutions, the rating is evidence-based and third-party verified. The institute announced this month that its projects have hit the 1.5 billion SF mark in more than 80 countries, up from 500 million SF in less than 60 countries less than a year ago.

According to Mohawk senior manager of sustainability Ramie Vagal, “The WELL seal instills confidence and trust throughout the community as it ensures integrity, consistency and results. We believe our ranking communicates our commitment to the health and well-being of anyone who visits or works within our spaces.”

Mohawk Group will get access to a wider variety of health and safety maintenance strategies, as well as more specific methods to lessen the chance of disease transmission. Its WELL rating suggests an above-and-beyond level of commitment to public health and wellness, particularly against the background of the coronavirus pandemic.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • California High School Starts Construction on STEAM, Music Buildings

    Tamalpais High School, part of the Tamalpais Union High School District, recently broke ground on two new major facilities for its campus in Mill Valley, Calif., according to a news release. The district is partnering with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and Lathrop Construction Associates for the Science Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) and Music Buildings, both replacing their outdated counterparts.

  • How One School Reimagined Learning Spaces—and What Others Can Learn

    When Collegedale Academy, a PreK–8 school outside Chattanooga, Tenn., needed a new elementary building, we faced the choice that many school leaders eventually confront: repair an aging facility or reimagine what learning spaces could be. Our historic elementary school held decades of memories for families, including some who had once walked its halls as children themselves. But years of wear and the need for costly repairs made it clear that investing in the old building would only patch the problems rather than solve them.

  • Extron, CENTEGIX Partner for Comprehensive School Security Solution

    Professional audiovisual solutions provider Extron recently announced a partnership with CENTEGIX, which provides rapid incident response technology, to integrate two of their top products in the name of school safety.

  • Missouri State University Debuts Construction Education Center

    Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo., recently opened a new 10,000-square-foot addition and renovation to support the School of Construction, Design, and Project Management, according to university news. The Construction Education Success Center, built onto the existing Kemper Hall, provides academic space for the school’s construction managers and cost $9.6 million.

Digital Edition