National Geographic Channel Headquarters Unveils New Living Green Wall Lobby


Washington, DC (PRWEB) November 22, 2012

GSky Plant Systems, Inc., a leading provider of vertical green walls partnered with a team of young designers from Emerson\White Design to complete the installation of the first double sided, 180-degree curve, freestanding Versa Wall at the National Geographic Channels headquarters in Washington, DC.

National Geographic is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world, and strives to be an international leader of global conservation and environmental sustainability. To reflect this green dedication, Emerson\White designers Kelly Emerson and Stephen White were inspired to design a lobby area that employed eco-friendly systems including flooring, lighting, and materials. The green wall serves as the focal point of the space and is a bold, environmentally conscious statement and testament to the National Geographic Channels core values.

The President of National Geographic Channel at the time approached the creative team with the goal of executing design elements that incorporated the ideals of the organization, while creating a healthy work environment for employees. National Geographic is not simply interested in educating the public about the natural environment and progression of technology, but also in the preservation of the worlds resources. GSky’s green wall system is forward thinking, self-sustaining, and brings living plant life into a space; it unites all of National Geographics ideals as a company in a single feature. The intent of the Versa Wall is to aesthetically convey these ideals as living art, embracing everything nature has to offer and meshing perfectly with the surrounding sustainable and recycled materials.

At Emerson\White, we knew we wanted a major focal point for the lobby – a central design element that made both a “WOW!” impact upon initial interaction with the lobby, as well as an organic sculptural element that provided color, texture, and visual interest to allow exploration and sensorial discovery of space. Stephen White, Designer, Emerson\White Design.

The entrance has become a pivotal point where everyone is gathered to celebrate various events. The architecture of the lobby creates a nice flow that welcomes people into the building, while establishing a branded separate society that people will immediately recognize.

The green wall is not only a conversational piece, but a focal point for our gatherings and celebrations within the channel. Many of the natural attributes of this lobby such as wood, stone, and the green wall, tie back to mother earth and are a reflection of National Geographics core values. Since the introduction of the green wall, employees have taken interest in the plants as they observe their life cycles. Carla Daeninckx, Design Director Marketing & Creative, National Geographic Channels.

Versa Wall has a recirculating irrigation system that is 100% water efficient and self-contained making the system suitable for any interior wall without the worry of spillage. It is naturally beautiful, eco-friendly, customizable, durable and economical offering flexible installation options and a variety of plant selections.

For photos of this Versa Wall installation, please visit gsky.com

About GSky Plant Systems, Inc:

Founded in 2004, GSky Plant Systems, Inc. remains a leading provider of vertical green walls in North America. The business was founded based on the explosive growth of green technology, including green wall and roof systems in Asia. GSky currently offers three green wall systems, the Pro Wall, Versa Wall and the Basic Wall. Each system is unique in terms of design flexibility, installation location versatility, plant selection variety, desired size, cost, coverage time-line, and system components. GSky also offers a suite of services including maintenance, remote monitoring, and consulting as full-service contracts or

Green Wall Provides Living Focal Point for new Kal Tire Office


Vernon, B.C. (PRWEB) November 13, 2012

GSky Plant Systems, Inc., a leading provider of vertical green walls completed the installation of a Versa Wall for Kal Tires new Vernon Office located in Vernon, B.C. Kal Tire employs more than 5,000 team members, is Canadas largest independent tire dealer with over 240 stores servicing commercial and retail customers, operates on over 150 mines sites in 20 countries, and is entirely Canadian owned. The installation of 254 square feet of green wall composed of ficus and lipstick plants has enhanced Kal Tires new atrium entrance into a welcoming focal point for visitors and team members alike.

David Penner, project manager, design and construction for Kal Tire states, One of the highlights of the new Kal Tire Vernon Office building is the large skylight situated over the atrium which allows for natural sunlight to enter the building. The green wall accents the atrium and together with the light brings a unique energy into the building for our team members.

The new office space has many green features including pine beetle wood interior finishing, large natural windows and skylights, and now an impressive GSky Versa Wall. The Versa Wall uses interior tropical plants that have been selected specifically for their adaptation and ability to thrive, adding a softer side to the space by drawing contrast from the weight of the concrete building structure.

We wanted to keep it soft and personal, thats when the green wall concept was introduced, said Tara Lingle, designer from BOX Interior Design.

GSkys Versa Wall has a recirculating irrigation system that is 100% water efficient and self-contained making the system suitable for any interior wall without the worry of spillage. The Versa Wall is naturally beautiful, eco-friendly, customizable, durable and economical offering flexible installation options and a variety of plant selections.

GSky hopes to extend its reach in the region to support the installation and maintenance of the beautiful green walls, while promoting a greener working space in an urban environment.

For photos of the green wall installation, please visit gsky.com/projects/kaltire/

About GSky Plant Systems, Inc:

Founded in 2004, GSky Plant Systems, Inc. remains the leading provider of vertical green walls in North America. The business was founded based on the explosive growth of green technology, including green wall and roof systems in Asia. GSky currently offers three products, the Pro Wall System, Versa Wall System and the Basic Wall System. Each product is unique in terms of design flexibility, installation location versatility, plant selection variety, desired size, cost, coverage time-line, and system components. GSky also offers a suite of services including maintenance, remote monitoring, and consulting as full-service contracts or

Breakthrough in Green Alternative Building Methods, Treehouses and Eco Modular Homes in Costa Rica, Built from Teak, Bamboo, Car Axles, Tires and Recyclable Materials

Puerto Jimenez, Peninsula de Osa, Costa Rica, Central America (PRWEB) July 25, 2012

Lapa’s Nest Treehouse uses only recycled car axles and wood pins for support. 58′ up in the air, no bolts or steel and engineered to ride it out in the canopy during the big 7.5 quake. 6 story tree house does not touch or harm the tree in any way. Prefabricated with Teak, bamboo, natural felled trees and recyclables. Lapa’s Nest is surrounded by nature, exotic birds and monkeys, 100% environmentally friendly sleeping 8 guests in 4 bedrooms, 2 baths and try the famous glass bottom shower.

HGTV, Bloomberg, Survivor VIP and Lloyd Kahn featured our Swiss Family Robinson style treehouse. Made completely from Asian Teak and from the fastest growing plant in the world, Bamboo, Asian and Columbian varieties are stronger than steel, great for posts, floor supports, roof trusses, walls, beams, furniture and cabinetry. Bug resistant and termite free, bamboo is self-sustaining and doesn’t require pesticides to grow. Bamboo sequesters 3 times more carbon than trees creating more oxygen and is the World’s most viable construction material. Sustainably architecture in tropical Central America is critical to conservation and preservation.

Eco friendly house plans consider watersheds, rivers and mangrove estuaries first before breaking ground. Political leaders in Central America should consider Teak, bamboo and precast concrete as a primary source for constructing public and private developments. Teak and bamboo contributes to affordable and sustainable green building. Build carbon neutral, build with a small footprint and build now. Keep the chainsaws out of the rainforest,and help preserve biodiversity. Offering sustainable architectural consultation in Central America since 2001.







More Architecture Planning Press Releases

DRS and Associates proud to announce Five Top Clients’ Building-Product Brands Win Prestigious GREEN GOOD DESIGN Award 2012: Museum of Architecture and Design


Sherman Oaks, CA (PRWEB) June 25, 2012

The Chicago Athenaeums Museum of Architecture and Design today announced the winners of their 2011-2012 GREEN GOOD Design Award, which recognizes the worlds leading sustainable design in products, technology and research. DRS and Associates is proud to be the agency of record for five winners: Caroma, Creative Systems Lighting (CSL), LAUFEN, Watermark Designs and Zephyr, and we are sending out this joint release on their behalf.

Presented by The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Center for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, the GREEN GOOD DESIGN Awards are an extension of the GOOD DESIGN Awards. GOOD DESIGN is the worlds oldest and most coveted international design award, bestowed only to the most important and influential industrial and graphic designers. Current and previous winners of GREEN GOOD DESIGN are world-class brands such as BMW, Electrolux, Bosch, Hansgrohe, Herman Miller, Cuisinart and Mercedes Benz. To stand with such recognizable brands is an honor that these manufacturers do not take for granted. “Having multiple clients once again be recipients of a world recognized award such as the Green GOOD DESIGN is quite an honor for my DRS team and me. It reinforces that our clients innovations tied together with our strategic brand building efforts are yielding wonderful returns,” stated David Schlocker, president of DRS and Associates. Each of these five brands stands on their own merits for their contribution to green design and we encourage you to take a look at them individually and as a whole.

Here are the winning brands and their respective products:

Caroma

Curry Subaru-Hyundai Celebrates Opening of Areas First Green Automobile Dealership


Westchester County, N.Y. (PRWEB) June 18, 2012

More than 150 guests including family, friends and dignitaries were in attendance at the Curry Subaru-Hyundai in Cortlandt Manor for the recent grand opening of its state-of-the-art, 30,000 sq. ft. LEED