On the seventh floor of the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, we took a nostalgic trip back to where it all began. Twenty-seven years later Urban Evolutions is proud to feature our latest “evolutions” in reclaimed and decorative wood products at NeoCon, the premier event for the commercial design industry. This time around, we’ve infused our offerings with a decidedly modern twist. Dimant Medallion Wood Wall Panel Wins 2024 MetLikes Award Urban Evolutions is thrilled to receive its first MetLikes Award. Presented by Metropolis Magazine, this award recognizes products that demonstrate excellence in innovation, functionality, and sustainability. The Dimant Medallion wall panel takes the tradition of wood wall paneling, which is typically designed by a millworker, and creates a modular system that is easily customizable. The grid wall panel system features framed trim work and beautiful book-matched veneer panels. Each intersection showcases a dimensional, concave diamond-shaped medallion. In terms of sustainability, this product is made in the USA, Declare Label Red List Approved and manufactured with solid wood and MDF that exceeds the Eco-Certified Composites Standard. It is also part of Urban’s manufacturing takeback program.

Measuring the Environmental and Economic Impact of the JI Case Tractor Factory Deconstruction Project By salvaging what ended up being over 2 million board feet of lumber, 5,000 tons of CO₂ was prevented from being released into the atmosphere. That’s the equivalent of keeping over 1,000 cars off the road for a year! The deconstruction of the factory further led to the creation of 28 jobs for up to nine months.

Our engineered slat & veneer wood wall panels are designed with sustainability and circularity in mind at every stage.

A new and essential direction in environmentally responsible design © Jason O’Rear

Checking The Boxes The use of the live sawn milling technique provides a less edited, whole grain look that is a natural choice for maximizing biophilic design principles into your office project. Biophilic Office Design and Wood’s Critical Role According to the International Living Future Institute, biophilic design within architecture seeks to connect building occupants more closely with nature in three broad areas: Providing a direct experience and well-recognized connection to nature Incorporating natural patterns and attributes such as shapes, images, sounds and smells that our senses recognize and respond to. Connecting people, place and culture; in other words, biophilia “integrates the history, geography, and ecology of an area”.