2022 came to a close as another monumental year at Arktura, capped off with celebration and joy! Between our most expansive single product launch to date and a trio of product awards, it was a busy and festive end to the year for us at Arktura. Below is a quick recap of our highlights from last year, including product launches, company updates, product awards, and more.
Product Launches:
Arktura’s flagship product launch of 2022 was SoftShapes™, an innovative collection of geometric acoustic cloud systems. Our most extensive launch to date, SoftShapes™, arrives in three distinct shapes, Tri, Quad, and Hex, for multi-sided acoustic attenuation.
One of our most popular lines of linear acoustic baffles received a new set of corner accessories in Inner and Outer L Corner Pieces. This new direct mount or cable-hung corner piece allows designers to reach new levels of design.
Our SoftGrid® collection received a colorful new aesthetic update in the form of new Duo Tone finish options. Designers and architects can now specify a second finish to modules to incorporate brand colors or simply add another layer to their acoustic designs.
Award Recognitions:
CISCA Construction Excellence Awards
Arktura took home double distinctions at last year’s CISCA Construction Excellence Awards for two ambitious projects. Medical company IntelliCentrics’ new Texas office won top honors for “Manufacturer – Healthcare (Below 50,000 SF) West” for a series of illuminated perforated panels and a suspended acoustic system. This award-winning project featured: Atmosphera® Swell, Vapor® Cluster, and Vapor® Graphic Perf Solutions.
Telecommunications tech company Neustar’s new Washington DC headquarters won “Manufacturer – Office (Above 50,000 SF) East” for a massive 90,000 sf. project that spanned multiple floors filled with Arktura products throughout. This project featured: SoundEdge®, TriSoft®, and Vapor® Pixel.
Architizer Awards
Capping off the year, Arktura received three Architizer A+ Product Awards representing the variety of capabilities offered through Arktura, from acoustics to lighting and even custom design via Solutions Studio®. Our newest collection, SoftShapes™, won People’s Choice in the Flexible Design Category, and SoftSpan® + SoundBar’s® new interconnectivity netted an award for People’s Choice in the Recessed & Mounted Lighting Category. Finally, our custom Graphic Perf® Solutions Exterior was awarded People’s Choice in last year’s Commercial Design Category.
Notable Projects:
Phoenix’s Sky Harbor, “America’s Friendliest Airports,” as well as one of its busiest, recently opened a new Terminal 4 concourse. Arktura’s Solutions Studio® team of designers, in partnership with Corgan Arizona, crafted a stunning, mass-scale suspended acoustic ceiling installation. Inspired by nearby sand dunes, these massive undulating acoustic fins were custom-made of Arktura’s Soft Sound® acoustic material and constructed up to 8-9ft deep in a natural and neutral tone finish that mimicked the surrounding desert.
An ambitious project from Arktura’s Solutions Studio, the Brick and the Machine is a mixed-development building in the greater LA area. Bridging the decorative with the functional, this project features a series of fully custom-made rolling metal panels spanning both the facade of the building and the open-air balconies. Featuring sliding frames with perforated elements, with some of the panels built rigidly into place while others are mechanized, allowing range of motion. These stunning panels provide a beautiful dappled light effect through design, quality, and durability throughout the space.
New Leadership at Arktura:
In July 2022, a new leadership team was announced to continue bringing Arktura to the forefront of innovative design and manufacturing. Original leadership Rob Kilian, Chris Kabatsi, and Kevin Kane who started Arktura in 2008, transitioned into founder roles. Dan Luzi, Patricia Hoffman, and Eric Blumberg were promoted to new leadership positions. The future of Arktura looks bright with these three leading the way!
Arktura Activities
Arktura took the time this year to celebrate our excellent staff at our LA-based headquarters and our ArkStudio office in Argentina. Through events like our annual Pinewood Derby and Fall Fest, the Arktura family became closer than ever. We also gave back to our local community with our annual Share the Love Charity Drive, which distributed care kits to those in need and donated to the Long Beach Gives Foundation and the Downtown Women’s Center.
Later in the year, Arktura delivered two additional donations in the form of grants sponsored by our parent company Armstrong World Industries. AWI’s annual company-wide giving policy provides much needed funding to local charities, A Place Called Home and The Sidewalk Project.
Arktura Featured in GB&D Pro
Green Building & Design magazine featured Arktura multiple times in 2022, with insightful thought leadership pieces about our products, capabilities, and topics covering the built environment. Click below to read these articles penned by our own Arktura staff and leadership.
Final Notes from the Desk of Patricia Hoffman
I want to say thank you to the entire marketing team for all their efforts and contributions this year on making all these publications possible.
“The details are not the details; the details make the product.” – Charles and Ray Eames
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