HPL CASE STUDY 2

Photo courtesy of Wilsonart; Veronica Bean on behalf of TPG Architecture

Project: FINRA Corporate Office
Location: Jersey City, New Jersey
Architect: TPG Architecture

The Project: When the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) wanted to reimagine their corporate offices in Jersey City, New Jersey, they sought out the experts at TPG Architecture to create a design and bring it to life. They envisioned a welcoming space that embraced elements of nature with a modern sensibility.

The Challenge: As a high-traffic hub, FINRA’s corporate office needed to accommodate communal functions, as well as private office nooks and work zones. Given the volume of people using the space, material selection was critical to ensure ease of maintenance and cleanability without sacrificing style.

The Solution: TPG Architecture sought out durable, sleek HPL products that would help them achieve a finished office as stunning as its New York City skyline view. “For FINRA’s Jersey City corporate offices, TPG set about creating a welcoming space that has a neutral warmth that recalls our natural environment,” said a representative of TPG Architecture. “We selected HPL laminates with enhanced durability technology for the cabinetry and worktops in contrasting tones and subtle patterns to create a modern workplace that felt organic and inspiring.”

Design Attributes: A neutral palette grounded the space with a soft gold and subtle wood grain effect juxtaposed with the vertical grain bamboo design in charcoal and black tones. The combination of the two materials created a sense of coziness against a backdrop of the expansive city views.

Performance Attributes: The selected HPL with enhanced durability is dramatically more resilient than other laminates with similar finishes. Its scratch, scuff, and mar resistance ensure that even the glossy surfaces and darker tones of cabinets and worktops at FINRA’s office will remain beautiful for years to come

The Results: The final design is an inspired blend of warmth and sleek sophistication that functions as the perfect place for the FINRA corporate team to gather and focus on their critical mission of ensuring the integrity of America’s financial system.

HPL CASE STUDY 3

Photo courtesy of Wilsonart; Veronica Bean on behalf of TPG Architecture

Project: Saint Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute
Location: Overland Park, Kansas
Architect: ACI Boland
Interior Design: Benson Method
Construction: JE Dunn Construction

The Project: Before Saint Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute in Overland Park, Kansas, was built, patients and family members would have to travel hours away to either Denver or Chicago for advanced injuries requiring specialized treatment. For many patients with long recovery times, they were forced to be away from home for months. By bringing a space with cutting-edge technology and comprehensive rehabilitative care to the Kansas City metro area, Saint Luke’s Health System has been able to provide accessible, high-quality care right in its own backyard – helping more than 1,000 patients return to their optimal level of function each year.

The Design: The new 100,000-square-foot, 60-bed rehabilitation hospital includes additional inpatient rehab beds, state-of-the-art therapy spaces, flexibility to accommodate advanced robotic technology, and large windows that provide an abundance of natural light to aid patients' road to recovery. Biophilic design was a critical element of design, as it offers substantial healing benefits for patients – proven to reduce stress and help mitigate pain psychologically.

Surface Materials: Material selections were made which complemented this project, with priority criteria placed on durability and cleanability. There was also a conscious decision to use wellness-focused surfaces that enable staff to provide exceptional care and help patients feel at ease throughout their recovery. With all of that in mind, it was essential to the design team to select a classic wood-looking material and natural color that could reach across several campuses and be liked across all generations, lasting well into the new decade. The design team knew right away that high-pressure laminate in a walnut wood look was a great option to help make the transitions, ensuring it blended with current trends for new construction areas and still worked with renovations at existing campuses. “The HPL wood looks are very realistic, which allows a hospital to have a high-end look without sacrificing durability, wear and tear, and overall aesthetics,” shares Ashlee Deck, AIA, NCARB, lead architect on the project. The walnut-wood-appearing HPL was used on the interior millwork and doors throughout the facility as a critical design feature in the main lobby, ground floor, patient rooms, rehab dining facility, and state-of-the-art rehab gym.

The Results: “Easy to clean and disinfect, the wood-appearing HPL with enhanced scratch- and scuff-resistant performance provides the hospital with long-lasting reliability and beauty,” declares Ms. Deck. The overall natural look of the wood provides a warm and appropriate indoor design scheme to aid in healing and patient wellness.