The elevator lobby has flooring made of cork, a natural, renewable and sustainably harvested material from the bark of the cork oak tree, found in Spain and Portugal. When taken in small, infrequent extractions, the cork tree can continue to produce replacement bark. When used in flooring, the natural resilience and acoustical performance of cork creates an attractive, long-lasting and comfortable surface.

The flooring in the reception area is made of bamboo. Grown in Southeast Asia, bamboo is a fast growing grass that requires no pesticides or fertilizers. It generates without replanting, so is a low-energy, naturally renewable material. Bamboo is also strong, dimensionally stable, and highly versatile as a building material.

Kitchen and workroom floors are covered with linoleum from Forbo Industries. An environmentally friendly alternative to vinyl, linoleum is made from wood flour, cork flour, natural rosins, linseed oil, and limestone, with a backing of biodegradable jute fiber. Available in a wide variety of colors, this product has a life expectancy of 40 to 60 years.

Environmental products and services: Sources and contributors

An asterisk indicates suppliers who contributed products or services.

Forbo Industries

Cork-linoleum tackable panels and linoleum flooring

P.O. Box 667, Haxleton, PA 18201 (800/342-0604)

Mintec Corp.

Bamboo flooring

100 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Towson, MD 21286 (888/964-6832)

Natural Cork Ltd., Co.

Cork flooring

1750 Peachtree Street, Suite 305, Atlanta, GA 30309 (800/404-2675)