Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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America's Best Restroom 2022: contest finalists revealed
From one of the busiest airports in the country to a restaurant within an old manufacturing building, the top 10 finalists for the 2022 America's Best Restroom contest have been revealed.
The 21st annual contest celebrates businesses that develop and maintain innovative washroom facilities. You have until the end of 31st August 2022 to have your say in who will be crowned winner.
"This year's top 10 finalists include small and large businesses from diverse categories competing for the title of America's Best Restroom," says Julia Messinger, marketing manager at competition organiser, Cintas. "The public holds higher standards for the cleanliness and technology used in public restrooms which is why we're proud to recognise these businesses that maintain clean and exceptional facilities."
The 2022 America's Best Restroom top 10 finalists include (alphabetical order):
* Delaware Botanic Gardens - Dagsboro, DE:
Just a few miles from the southern Delaware beaches, an oasis of tranquility and beauty has been steadily cultivated at the Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek. Designed by the local firm of SEA Studio Architects, the new washroom is situated gently at the threshold between the Meadow Garden and the Woodlands. The building combines contemporary forms and a thoughtful material palette in a structure that both enhances the landscape and serves its function as a fully accessible restroom. Natural cedar cladding makes the building feel at home, while floor-to-ceiling south windows provide natural light and transparency into what are typically stuffy, private spaces. Several didactic features on the exterior demonstrate simple stormwater management practices, including a rainwater collection cistern and rain chains that feed a 'living' wall, dry riverbed and rain garden. Lastly, the interiors boast a clean and contemporary look with modern tile finishes and floating, stainless-steel vanities. Without a doubt, the washrooms at the DBG are truly part of the unique garden experience.
* Eberly - Austin, TX:
The restaurant's entire design is centred around its cedar tavern bar, brought in from New York City, and the washroom is also a nod to the bygone era when those bars were in vogue. Each cubicle has an illuminated old-school New York tavern vacancy light outside the door that turns off when you lock it. The washroom loincludes images from Grammy-winning music photographer Alan Messer. It is also awash in Fine Paints of Europe's Hollandlac Brilliant Paint in Dark Cobalt Blue.
* Headlands Lodge and Spa - Pacific City, OR:
Headlands Lodge was designed to highlight its special spot on the Oregon coast, and the same is true for its washroom. It features a dark, wave-like concrete sink with touchless faucets. Dark shiplap lines the walls along with modern wall sconces to match the restroom's spa-like feel. Meanwhile, patterned floor tiles create a rustic, masculine tone.
* La Patisserie - Charleston, SC:
Located inside the Hotel Bennett, the washrooms in this French themed patisserie are the closest to France you'll get without hopping on an airplane. The chic gold-accented wallpaper and elegant wall sconces are as appealing to the eye as the bakery's sweet and savoury pastries. Above, decadent chandeliers light the way to fully enclosed, private cubicles.
* Newark Liberty International Airport Terminal B All-Gender Restroom - Newark, NJ (pictured):
This project provides a new washroom facility in a 1970's-era terminal departure lounge area that was required due to inadequate capacity at the existing washrooms. The design provides an exceptional experience for all passengers by eliminating the traditional amalgamation of washroom facilities through gender-based separation in favour of public environments that allow privacy for all users. An added benefit of this all-gender solution was the ability to accommodate a larger number of users than a traditional washroom configuration, with 'potty parity' for all. Areas for traveling companion waiting and passenger reorganisation are provided to compliment the private areas. Local imagery, integrated into the architectural treatment of glass and tile, establishes a sense of place to remind the users where they might have visited or what they might want to experience during a return trip. Sound and scent compliment the visual experience to create a calming environment.
* No. 5 Bistro & Bar - Sedalia, MO:
Housed in a restored 55,000sq.ft building from the 1800s, No. 5 Bistro & Bar is a lively environment coloured by attentive and friendly service. The restaurant's vibe pays homage to the history that is unique to the Original Plat area of Sedalia and can only truly be found where the city began. The building's deep history is highlighted in the washroom which is outfitted with the original sinks, exposed brick, and penny floor tiles. Dramatic green subway tile and wall sconces provide a modern touch paired with vintage mirrors. The washroom is a beautiful combination of the building's historic past blended with the experiential living of the modern twenty-first century.
* North Hollywood Recreation Centre - North Hollywood, CA:
The self-cleaning washrooms at North Hollywood Recreation Centre are holding to its promise in a community with a large homeless population. They cut maintenance cleaning times considerably. The interior is sanitised automatically after a set number of flushes. Touchless features include toilet tissue dispenser, soap dispenser, faucet and hand dryer. Exiting the washroom is also touchless. Graffiti is easily removed from the stainless steel and porcelain interior. An alarm will sound off if someone attempts to stay inside for too long and the door will open.
* Stone Mountain Public House - Stone Mountain, GA:
Located in the charming historic Village of Stone Mountain, this washroom follows a fun, prohibition theme. The sink is made from an old whiskey barrel and features a beer tap handle to dispense water. The vinyl wood walls are adorned with prohibition pictures. There's even a butler toilet paper dispenser.
* Tampa International Airport - Tampa, FL:
Tampa International Airport's Airside C showcases new high-design, spacious washrooms, coupled with quality craftsmanship and an inviting, yet durable, material palette. The entrance welcomes travellers to their uniquely-Florida experience. Boasting large graphics and a natural, deep blue stone, the undulating veining is reminiscent of waves crashing along the shore. Once inside, large format tiles skin the floors and seamlessly fold up the walls, bolstering the well-lit environment and furthering a 'freshly cleaned' aesthetic. A wood-look wall tile adds warmth and softness for a balanced, resort-like feel. The luxury feel is bolstered by high-res images of quintessential Florida flora, back printed on floor-to-ceiling sheets of impact-resistant glass ensuring its beauty for years to come. The clean, contemporary aesthetic is completed by light-coloured solid surface vanities, which incorporate TPA's signature 'cockpit' concept. This 'cockpit' provides guests with their own sensor-activating sink and soap, personal paper towel dispensers and trash receptacle, all within an arm's reach!
* Tori Tori - Orlando, FL:
Modelled after the famous green washroom from 'The Aviator', the Tori Tori washroom will have other facilities feeling green with envy. The space is gorgeous with dark green hues and light touches of marbling. The rotating floral display behind the doors make this the go-to place for taking mirror selfies and photos. Gold accented mirrors and faucets complement the green decor.
The top 10 finalists were selected based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements. The winner will be honoured with a place in the America's Best Restroom Hall of Fame and receive a Cintas UltraClean washroom cleaning service and $2,500 in facility services or restroom cleaning from Cintas.
Last year, Two Cities Pizza in Mason, Ohio took home the title of America's Best Restroom for its washrooms designed to capture the atmosphere of New York and Chicago. The washrooms are fully outfitted with a subway platform, train car, station stops playing over the speaker, authentic subway handles above the sinks, and even graffiti on the walls.
Vote for your favourite washroom at:
4th August 2022