When you think about flooring, what do you imagine? The sound of heels clicking on a surface? Tile, wood, carpet, and vinyl? Yes, flooring is the material beneath your feet, but it is also the footpath through your everyday life. It maps out our global cities and suburbs purposefully and effectively, and we evolve upon its surface, first learning to crawl, then walk and run upon it. Shaw Contract is an innovative flooring company that is transforming the way we walk through the world with its emphasis on functionality and design. In this episode of the Gensler Design Exchange podcast, Gensler Design Director Meena Krenek speaks with John Stephens, Vice President of Marketing for Shaw Contract.
In 2018, Shaw opened its cutting-edge Shaw Create Centre, a new workplace that combines thoughtful ideation with physical creation to put the power of production into designers’ hands. Located in rural Cartersville, Ga., the three-story, 67,000-square-foot structure is a modern anomaly and community space that houses the commercial division’s marketing, design, and innovation associates. Gensler partnered with Shaw to bring this space to life.
With most of its production facilities already situated in Cartersville, the company thought it ideal to bring its new Create Centre to the area, nourishing the conversation on design in the local community while allowing its designers to take a more hands-on approach to the work they perform. If a designer has a unique idea for a new textile, they are empowered to create it. If a local wants to immerse themselves in a creative environment, Shaw’s doors are open.
