Reception area at Murietta Hot Springs: brown tile floor wood slatted ceiling -woman standing behind respetion desk

Universal Metro Takes Home Grand Prize at 2025 Starnet Design Awards

Posted by Jacqueline Dumbrille on

April 25, 2025 — Santa Fe Springs, CA

We’re thrilled to share that Universal Metro, Inc. was awarded the Grand Prize at the 2025 Starnet Design Awards for our work on the Murrieta Hot Springs Resort project. This incredible honor was announced at the Starnet Annual Meeting in Carlsbad, CA, where top flooring contractors from across the country came together to celebrate the year’s best in commercial flooring design and installation.

Winning the top award is a proud moment for our team—but more than anything, it’s a reflection of the strong collaboration, thoughtful design, and attention to detail that went into bringing this beautiful resort project to life.

“We’re humbled and grateful to receive the Grand Prize this year,” said Dave Triepke, CEO of Universal Metro. “This recognition speaks volumes about the teamwork behind the scenes—from our installation crews to our project partners. We’re honored to contribute to such a meaningful transformation at Murrieta Hot Springs.”

 The Murrieta Hot Springs Resort grand prize winning project was a unique opportunity to blend historical preservation with modern wellness-focused design. Our flooring installation played a key role in achieving that balance, helping create a welcoming, tranquil environment that honors the site’s storied past while supporting its future as a top-tier destination.

Now in its 27th year, the Starnet Design Awards celebrate excellence in commercial flooring across a variety of industries. Projects are judged on creativity, technical skill, and overall impact—and competition is always strong.

We’re honored to have our work recognized among such inspiring projects, and we want to thank the entire team who helped bring this vision to life. From our client and design partners to our hardworking staff on the ground, this grand prize award belongs to all of you.

2025 Starnet Grand Prize project: Murietta Hot Springs entry with reclining wooden slat chairs and brown floor tile
Murietta Hot Springs
Starnet 2025 Grand Prize winning project: Cafe Azuli order counter, decorated with beige and pink modern Spanish tile on the floor, counter front and walls. beverage centers on and behind the counter
Cafe Azuli, Murietta Hot Springs
Murietta Hotsprings Shower Room 1
Shower Room at Murietta Hot Springs

UMI voted one of the ‘Best Places to Work’

Posted by Alexis Triepke on

We are proud to announce that Universal Metro, Inc. has been voted by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the Best Places to Work in Los Angeles 2022! We won this award in the Best Small Business category. 

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When you consider that there are more than 250,000 businesses operating in Greater LA, this is a tremendous honor and a testament to the “Ideal Team Players” who make Universal Metro a special place to work. 

The nomination process was rigorous, and included an anonymous profile of the business. Our employees were surveyed about the team atmosphere and their own personal experience working at Universal Metro. 

The overall rankings and winners of various ‘Best Places to Work’ categories were unveiled at an August ceremony and appeared in the August 15, 2022 edition of the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Best Places to Work 2022: The Best Small Companies to Work for in Los Angeles
Floor Focus Evolution of Commercial Contractor 6 19

UMI President contributes to “Evolution of the Flooring Contractor” Panel Discussion

Posted by Alexis Triepke on

In a June 2019 Floor Focus Magazine article, Universal Metro’s President participated in a panel discussion with three other Starnet Commercial Flooring Contractors regarding new opportunities and challenges facing the modern-day flooring contractor.

Continue reading “UMI President contributes to “Evolution of the Flooring Contractor” Panel Discussion” →

Ardex Demo MRF 01 Small

Training Day – Ardex Demo and Silica Sand

Posted by Alexis Triepke on

As we grow, our team is continuously making strides to better itself. On Friday, that commitment was on full display, as staff and crew members took part in #ARDEX product demos and Silica Sand Compliance Training. This knowledge contributed to our #LevelMasterElite Installers’ expertise with direct, hands-on demonstrations using Ardex’s newest product innovations. Immediately following the product demos, our team was engaged in an extensive seminar focused on Silica Sand Best Practices, including Q & A time and a round table discussion with their fellow teammates.

Continue reading “Training Day – Ardex Demo and Silica Sand” →

Floor Trends UMI January 2017

Universal Metro: Growth and Success by Meeting Clients’ Needs

Posted by Alexis Triepke on
January 6, 2017 Written by David Triepke on behalf of Floor Trends Magazine It’s never an easy decision to begin scaling your business for growth. When balancing the risks of new opportunities with the uncertainty of a stagnant national economy, the decision for any business owner to invest in growth is rooted in one key question: is this sustainable? By understanding our journey and our purpose, we at Universal Metro believe we can do so effectively, without compromising our service and value, by answering the call of our clients to serve as trusted advisors for all of their flooring covering needs.
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