Proximity Hotel & Green Design

   On Tuesday, March 8th, the Intro to Interior Design class went to Proximity Hotel in Greensboro. During our time there we ate a delicious lunch in Print Works Bistro and went on a tour of the hotel with our tour guide, Stephen Doyle. He was very informative and I learned so much about this beautiful establishment.
   They do not sacrifice luxury while being sustainable... they still wish to maintain satisfaction from guests. (Carrie Underwood and Usher have stayed there!) It was interesting to me that Proximity uses furniture that has been purchased from the High Point Furniture Market. One way they can be "green" is by purchasing locally and by not having to ship furniture from other parts of the world. Another thing I learned is that not all aspects of the hotel are considered eco-friendly, yet they remain the greenest hotel in America. An example of this is the limestone in the lobby. Although this is not a typical sustainable material, it is one that will last for many years to come and will not have to be replaced.
   We also learned about the unique elevators that do not operate on typical cables and run solely on 
North America's first Regenerative Drive model of the Otis' Gen2 elevator. It reduces net energy usage by capturing the system’s energy and feeds it back into the building’s internal electrical grid.
   The windows throughout the hotel contain no window tinting which creates a direct line of sight to the outdoors.The building uses 41% less energy than a conventional hotel/restaurant by using ultra efficient materials and the latest construction technology. The sun’s energy heats hot water with 100 solar panels covering the rooftop.
   The bistro bar is constructed from salvaged, solid walnut trees that came down through sickness or storm.  The hotel consists of  recycled building materials such 100% recycled drywall, and concrete containing 4% fly ash which is the the mineral residue left over after the combustion of coal that is diverted from landfills.Local artists work fills the hotel and creates a beautiful harmony between each different room. Drapery is also an element of the design that unifies the hotel. Bicycles are also available for guests to ride on the nearby five-mile greenway.
   The tour was fantastic and a great day was had by all!