Photo courtesy of Clean the World.
As recently as five years ago while working in Florida, it often felt like a struggle just to recycle white paper. So, I was pleasantly surprised to discover at the third annual Green Lodging & Hospitality Conference in Orlando a few weeks ago, that hotels from all over the region are now pushing to be as green as possible.
Julie Larson 
Maybe it's because I'm from the Pacific Northwest and often get homesick for the region’s amazing air, water and trees, but out in the world, anything that resembles trees always seems to catch my eye – even if it’s not wood at all.
Gensler recently had the opportunity to help George Washington University (GWU) renovate and re-design the Charles E. Smith Center. Located at the heart of GWU’s Washington, D.C., campus, the 32-year-old building plays an integral part in the student experience. It is where students start their college career at orientation, celebrate its conclusion at graduation, and cheer on the university’s Division I sports team in between. It is also a place where faculty and administrators entertain potential donors and host special events that reflect GW’s standing as a top-tier academic institution.
In the recent past, it seemed like every retailer tossed a few recycled materials into their store, posted a corporate responsibility statement on their website, or hung a community board in the back of their store and claimed to be green and sustainable. While these efforts were recognized and commended, it quickly became clear that they didn't reveal a company’s true core values. So customers started lifting the green veil from retailers’ faces to try and find the color of their DNA.
Jeff Henry 
Unlike traditional malls where consumers typically go with shopping as their primary purpose, people are usually at an airport because they are traveling or because they work at the airport and shopping is secondary. But, retail at the airport is increasingly important. Since 9/11, we are limited in what we can carry in our luggage and we end up having to buy last minute amenities. More extensive security policies mean we have to arrive at the airport much earlier than in the past, too, so we have more time to spend in the terminal – eating, shopping, connecting, or simply taking a moment to relax. And reduced food and beverage options on the planes themselves mean we want more options in the terminal, packed neatly for carry-on.
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