2025 Starnet grand prize winning project

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: Murrieta Hot Springs entry with reclining wooden slat chairs and brown floor tile
Murrieta Hot Springs Resort
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, Murrieta Hot Springs Resort
Murrieta Hot Springs Resort shower room
Shower Room at Murrieta Hot Springs
the outer realm 01

Universal Metro’s Unique Installation of Carpet Tile Creates Fully Immersive 360 Experience at The Outer Realm Art Exhibit

Posted by Alexis Triepke on

How do you push the boundaries on a gallery space? For artist Michael Reeder, creating a fully immersive 360 experience with carpet tile was just the answer. In collaboration with Milliken’s national designers, their Los Angeles-based sales team, and our team of project managers and installation mechanics, Milliken’s DDI process was engaged to create a custom, patterned carpet tile that would extend the canvas beyond the showpiece to the floors and walls that surround it. To do so, the custom carpet tile needed to be as bold and as the artwork itself, and the installation had to be as precise and meticulous as the artist’s showcased work.

Continue reading “Universal Metro’s Unique Installation of Carpet Tile Creates Fully Immersive 360 Experience at The Outer Realm Art Exhibit” →

commercial flooring design - PLH Cath Lab

Universal Metro Wins Silver at Starnet Commercial Flooring Design Awards for Unique Installation Challenge

Posted by Alexis Triepke on

This weekend, Universal Metro, Inc. earned the Silver Award in the Unique Installation Challenge category at the Starnet Commercial Flooring Design Awards. The recognition highlights our expertise in healthcare flooring installation and our ability to deliver complex projects under demanding conditions.

The award-winning project was distinguished by strict OSHPD (Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development) requirements, intricate flooring designs, ongoing moisture concerns, and a phased construction schedule that allowed an acute care facility to remain fully operational during nearly two years of construction.

We’re proud to be recognized for this achievement, and we extend gratitude to our skilled installation team, vendor partnerships, and design collaborators at c|a Architects in Long Beach, CA.

Project Overview:

New Cath Lab Suite at Placentia-Linda Hospital

The project focused on the construction of a new Cardiac Catheterization (Cath) Lab Suite at Placentia-Linda Hospital, part of an ongoing investment to enhance patient care.

  • Design by c|a Architects: The existing admin area was transformed into a spacious, family-friendly waiting area, an efficient Cath Lab, and new staff support spaces.

  • Patient-Centered Design: The suite features a warm finish palette that aligns with the hospital’s standards. The waiting area incorporates nature-inspired textures, soothing patterns, and a nourishment bar to enhance comfort for families.

  • Collaborative Planning: The design team worked closely with the hospital and GE Healthcare to ensure efficient layout and functionality. Adjustable peg boards and versatile perimeter storage create an optimized, high-performance clinical environment.

    or more examples of how we create patient-centered design environments, see our recent projects.

Tackling the Unique Installation Challenge

Working in occupied hospitals is always challenging, but in California, OSHPD regulations add an extra layer of complexity. Universal Metro’s team managed a phased, two-year construction schedule that demanded consistency in dye-lots across six separate phases while ensuring minimal disruption to patient care.

Moisture Control Solutions

One of the largest obstacles was addressing inherent slab moisture issues. Our team partnered with ARDEX Technical Service Division to engineer a custom flooring solution capable of handling:

  • High RH levels

  • Seismic cracks

  • Wide cold joints

  • Long-term warranty requirements

The solution included shot blasting, dual applications of ARDEX MC Rapid with sand broadcasts, and self-leveling with ARDEX K10. As an ARDEX LevelMaster Elite Installer, we were able to extend the warranty an additional five years beyond the standard coverage.

Infection Control & Phased Scheduling

With patient safety as the top priority:

  • Negative air containment with HEPA filters was used to maintain infection control while work continued in adjacent occupied spaces.

  • Crews operated in extremely tight conditions, often working just feet from active medical procedures.

  • Flooring designs were executed in phases, ensuring seamless transitions as containment zones shifted.

Overcoming Unexpected Challenges

During construction, three slab leaks required sections of the flooring system to be reinstalled. Through careful product management and use of attic stock, our team avoided unsightly patching and maintained design continuity.

This ability to adapt under pressure showcased not only technical expertise but also commitment to quality, safety, and patient-centered construction.

Why This Project Stands Out

This award-winning installation represents the very best of what Universal Metro, Inc. delivers:

  • Advanced solutions for healthcare flooring challenges

  • Expertise in OSHPD-regulated construction

  • Proven ability to manage multi-phase projects in occupied facilities

  • Long-term partnerships with leading product manufacturers like ARDEX

Conclusion

Receiving the Starnet Silver Award at the commercial flooring design awards is more than just an industry honor for Universal Metro—it’s a reflection of the passion, dedication, and care our entire team brings to every project. This recognition celebrates not only our commitment to commercial flooring excellence, but also the spirit of collaboration with our trusted vendor partners and the thoughtful vision of c|a Architects. Together, we turned challenges into opportunities, creating a space that serves patients, families, and staff with comfort and dignity. We are truly humbled and grateful to be recognized for work that makes a meaningful difference.

CHOC Hospital

Universal Metro Wins Gold for Healthcare Flooring Design at Starnet People’s Choice Awards 2018

Posted by Alexis Triepke on

When it comes to creating healing environments, flooring plays a vital role in shaping both aesthetics and function. Universal Metro is proud to announce that our work on the revitalized Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) NICU Wing earned the Gold Award in the People’s Choice category at the prestigious Starnet Design Awards.

The recognition highlights our commitment to innovation in healthcare flooring design, delivering spaces that are imaginative, resilient, and centered around patient care.

A Standout Project in Healthcare Flooring Design

The CHOC NICU Wing project was a bold reimagining of what pediatric healthcare spaces could look like. Working with architect FKP (CannonDesign) in association with Haynes + Oakley, Architects, our team helped bring a vision to life that combined playful creativity with clinical performance.

From the intricate lizards and leaves pattern in the elevator lobby to the warm, residential-inspired luxury vinyl tile in patient rooms, the flooring design captures both whimsy and comfort. Judge Paul Lewandowski described the project as “a real standout,” praising how the vivid colors and thoughtful details contributed to an uplifting environment for young patients and their families.

Collaboration that Drives Innovation

The success of this project reflects the power of partnerships. Universal Metro worked closely with Starnet Preferred Vendors, including ARDEX Americas, Armstrong Flooring, Daltile, Tarkett, Mannington Commercial, and Tandus Centiva, to ensure the right materials and solutions were specified for long-term performance.

The 20th Annual Starnet Design Awards ceremony, held in Orlando, Florida, celebrated the industry’s most outstanding achievements. As Jeanne Matson, president and CEO of Starnet Worldwide, emphasized, “The true value of Starnet is not only the finished work, but new and strengthened relationships that are driving our industry forward.”

This project is a perfect example: collaboration among architects, vendors, and installers produced a result that blends creativity with durability — the hallmarks of effective healthcare flooring design.

Recognition from Industry Peers

What makes the People’s Choice Award so meaningful is its source. Unlike other categories judged by a select panel, this award is voted on by the entire Starnet Commercial Flooring Partnership — a network of the best flooring contractors in the industry.

For Universal Metro, this is the second Gold Award in the People’s Choice category, following our 2014 win. President Grant Petruzzelli reflected, “While it’s humbling to win a design award in any category, it takes on a special meaning when your team’s commitment to excellence is validated by the vote of your peers.”

In addition to the Gold People’s Choice Award, the CHOC NICU Wing was also recognized with a Silver Award in the Healthcare market segment, reinforcing its impact as a benchmark for innovative hospital design.

Why Healthcare Flooring Design Matters

Hospitals and healthcare facilities are some of the most complex environments for flooring contractors. Materials must meet strict safety and infection control standards while also supporting comfort and emotional well-being.

The CHOC NICU Wing project demonstrates how thoughtful healthcare flooring design can transform a space:

  • Enhanced healing environments: Color and pattern create a calming, uplifting atmosphere for patients and families.

  • Performance under pressure: Durable finishes withstand the heavy traffic of staff, equipment, and visitors.

  • Seamless integration: Every design element works within hospital safety and compliance requirements.

Universal Metro continues to lead in this space, combining technical expertise with design-forward thinking to help healthcare clients achieve environments that are as functional as they are inspiring.

Conclusion

Winning the Gold Award in the People’s Choice category at the Starnet Design Awards is an honor we share with our partners, architects, and vendors. More importantly, it underscores our commitment to pushing the boundaries of healthcare flooring design to deliver environments that support healing, safety, and comfort.

👉 View more of our award winning work here: Projects

healthcare flooring design - CHOC
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Four Crew Leads Achieve Armstrong’s Level III Certification

Posted by Alexis Triepke on

“Building Leaders” and “Strategic Partnerships” are both core values at Universal Metro. These four crew leads exemplified both, as they all earned a Level III Certification with Armstrong Commercial Floors today: Armstrong’s highest level of distinction for craftsmanship and skill.

Continue reading “Four Crew Leads Achieve Armstrong’s Level III Certification” →

8 Starnet Members Honored as Floor Focus Future Leaders

Posted by Alexis Triepke on

Grant Petruzzelli“Once a year, Floor Focus Magazine recognizes the best of the up-and-coming talent through its Future Focus awards. Those eligible for the awards must be under 40 years old and employed in the floorcovering dealer segment, including retailers, distributors and commercial contractors. Congratulations to the eight Starnet Members for achieving this distinguished honor.”

We at Universal Metro are especially proud of our very own Director of Sales and Marketing, Grant Petruzzelli, who was among the eight Starnet members honored with this notable award. Continue reading “8 Starnet Members Honored as Floor Focus Future Leaders” →