Hardwood Floors February/March 2017

Wood

Contractor Corner

END-GRAIN FLOORS Piano manufacturer Steinway & Sons unveiled the company’s new global flagship, Steinway Hall, at 1133 Avenue of the Americas in April 2016. Nestled in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, the stunning two-level retail and performance space was designed to bring together Steinway’s remarkable heritage with exciting new musical and technological innovations in a contemporary setting. Totaling 19,000 square feet, the flagship not only serves as a retail space, but also houses a 74-seat recital hall with a state-of-the-art custom Steinway Lyngdorf sound system; live-streaming capabilities that allow musicians and audiences from around the world to connect; rehearsal studios for artists and students; a recording studio where performances for the Steinway Spirio are captured; and the fabled Steinway & Sons Concert & Artist Piano Bank. Designed by Selldorf Architects, Steinway Hall includes multiple details that reference the materials, craftsmanship, and instruments that the company is lauded for, from 13,000 square feet of end-grain white oak flooring that recalls former iterations of Steinway Hall to recital hall seats covered in an Imperial Yellow fabric that is the same color found inside the action of a Steinway & Sons piano. Other features include a STRIKE A CHORD By Stacy Brown

• Jorge (Tito) Boror, owner of Providence, Rhode Island-based Rende Hardwood Flooring, started a weekly “Floor Talk” segment where industry professionals can talk shop through his weekly #Floortalk post on Instagram (@callmetito). In each post, Tito suggests a few topics and lets the conversation with others flow from there. • A recent article written by Brett Miller, NWFA VP of Education and Certification, highlights the importance of recognizing the federal law that requires wood floors in homes built before 1978 to be tested for lead prior to refinishing. Test kits are available to determine the presence of lead in floor finishes and other architectural coatings. Failure to abide by local, state and federal guidelines for handling and disposal of lead-based products can results in significant fines. Visit epa.gov/lead for more details. • OSHA has issued final regulations to provide employers with more flexibility when it comes to protecting their workers. The goal in revising the previous rules is to reduce fatalities and injuries on the job site. Visit OSHA.gov for more details. employees and the positive return your investment in your employees can have on your business. The article suggests training employees who are vital assets to the success of your business is key to helping them stay current with the latest information in our ever-evolving business world. Visit spencerstuart.com for more details. • The Department of Labor’s new overtime rules, which were set to go into effect on Dec. 1, have been delayed per a decision granted by the federal district court. Visit dol.gov for more details. • An article published by Spencer Stuart stresses the importance of training

custom, bentwood decorative ceiling, and acoustic paneling in the concert hall that evokes the exquisite woods used to make each Steinway. “This is only the third Steinway Hall to be built in New York over the past 163 years, and it was important that we created an experience that illustrates our company’s rich history while incorporating modern technology,” says Bill Rigos, facility manager, Steinway & Sons.

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FLOOR FOCUS “The end-grain block we chose for the space replicates the flooring from the original hall location and has a clean, contemporary feel,” says Rigos.

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