Arktura SPARKS Newsletter - Volume 6 February 2025
Hello, Team!
As I celebrate two major milestones—90 days without a lost-time accident and my 60-day anniversary as Plant Manager—I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my experience so far.
First and foremost, I am both impressed and humbled by the people at Arktura. The team’s passion for our designs and products, coupled with their eagerness to embrace best practices and new technologies, is truly inspiring. Everyone I’ve met has welcomed me with open arms, generously taking the time to mentor and teach me about Arktura. I cannot emphasize enough how a culture like this serves as both a competitive advantage and a springboard for what lies ahead.
Speaking of what’s ahead, in previous episodes, Patricia and Amy highlighted marketing innovation and the launch of new products. To support these exciting developments, the operations team is committed to leveraging best practices and applying our training in Lean, Design for Manufacturing, and Continuous Improvement. Our focus will be on significantly improving On-Time Delivery to customer contract dates while enhancing our forecasting and communication processes. Additionally, we’ll work closely with the product development teams to industrialize several new products and add some exciting manufacturing capabilities to our portfolio.
I am excited to see what we can accomplish together in 2025! Be safe!
Scott Kaempfe - Plant Manager | Arktura
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
XRANM BREAST HEALTH & IMAGING CENTER
The XRANM Breast Health & Imaging Center TI in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a testament to the power of design in healthcare. This 34,057 square-foot facility, envisioned by Design Plus and brought to life with the collaborative efforts of Avalon Collection and New Mexico Acoustics & Specialties, is more than just a medical center – it is a carefully crafted environment designed to foster wellness and tranquility for its patients. A critical component of this vision was the innovative use of Atmosphera® Adaptive Analog 3D acoustic ceiling baffle systems, which played a key focal and functional role in shaping the center’s acoustical experience.
In a healthcare setting, particularly one dedicated to breast health and imaging, creating a calming and reassuring atmosphere is paramount. Patients often arrive with heightened anxiety and stress, making it crucial to provide an environment that actively works to mitigate these emotions. Arktura’s undulating Atmosphera® Analog 3D acoustic ceiling baffle system provides functional acoustic support, while its design lures in viewers’ and soothes them with its calming form factor.
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Systems: Atmosphera® Adaptive Analog 3D
Project Scope/Scale (SqFt): 34,057 sq ft total
Architect: Design Plus
Rep: Avalon Collection
Installer: New Mexico Acoustics & Specialities
The lobby of this space features a soaring atrium with a second-floor ceiling above the entryway. This could have led to a wave of excess noise, discomforting patients in the lobby as well as those being treated in the exam rooms above. Thankfully the Atmosphera® baffles flow throughout this ceiling space, blanketing the area below in acoustic attenuation. The baffles are spaced enough apart to allow suspended third-party lighting pendants to provide additional illumination below.
These baffles are finished in a pair of neutral, earthy brown Soft Sound® tones, which not only absorb and dampen sound but also contribute to the visual serenity of the space. The Atmosphera® Analog 3D system’s effectiveness lies in reducing reverberation and noise pollution, creating a quiet and peaceful atmosphere conducive to healing.
By strategically installing the acoustic baffles, the design team has ensured that these spaces remain tranquil, allowing patients to relax and focus on their well-being. The project serves as a model for a wellness-centered future for healthcare facilities, demonstrating that innovative materials and design strategies can create beautiful and beneficial spaces for the people who use them.
ARKTURA LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT
Q&A with Amy Hahne – President
What about Arktura has stood out to you the most in your first few months?
The depth of talent here. This probably is not news to people that work here but I have noticed a unique intersection of creative talent and technical expertise. I expected the creative, but I was pleasantly surprised that you have these individuals who excel in both areas. Also, the openness to new ideas, I really think we’ve got such a collaborative team, and I think that that creates a culture where people feel comfortable experimenting and are rewarded for that.
How would you describe your leadership style?
I’m very collaborative. I love to involve people in the conversation and have everyone at the table. Everyone has a voice regardless of what role you have. I like to be really transparent, so everyone understands how the company is performing, what our goals are, and vision. So, we’re all kind of rowing in the same direction. Part of my leadership style is, I try to be decisive and move quickly. I want to be thoughtful but also decisive so we can be nimble and quick.
What is your vision for the company over the next few years, and how do you see us evolving as an organization?
I would say defend and grow. We need to defend the places and markets where we have been successful and then look for new markets and new customers. A big part of the vision is creating a great place to work. There’s a famous quote “culture eats strategy for breakfast” and it’s true. It’s like we can have a great strategy, but if we don’t have a great culture, we’ll never succeed. The three founders did a great job of creating this business and growing it to where it is and now, I really feel responsible to steward the company to its next phase.
What excites you most about the future of our company?
When you have a strong brand like Arktura has, the market gives you permission to do so many things and so I think what excites me is that we can explore areas that that have never been explored before. We can introduce cutting edge technology to allow us to explore, kind of shapes and forms. It’s an exciting future to look forward to here within the company.
Q&A with Scott Kaempfe – Plant Manager
What about Arktura has stood out to you the most compared to your previous workplaces?
I attended a college with a strong artist community, married an artist, and have daughters who are all artists. I deeply admire their ability to transform concepts into reality. While my strengths lie elsewhere, I’ve found my niche in helping artists and engineers industrialize their ideas, creating robust, reliable, and scalable processes. Arktura’s strong reputation for design and the challenge of producing custom products resonates strongly with my background and approach.
What are the key values you believe are essential in managing a successful plant?
What excites you most about joining our company and leading this factory’s operations?
Helping teams achieve what they once thought impossible and reflecting together years later on the remarkable transformation we accomplished as a team.
EVENTS
Facades Plus
Los Angeles, CA - Steven, Patricia & Chad
New York, NY - Bridgette & Brock Monroe
Dallas, TX - Bridgette & Jesse Hart
YEAR IN REVIEW: 2024
From welcoming dynamic new leadership to launching innovative products like GeoSound™ Diamond and LumAngle™, 2024 was a pivotal year for us.
We’ve expanded our product offerings, embraced sustainability, and celebrated our talented teams. Join us as we look back on our milestones in our 2024 Year in Review Blog.
ID Q&A ARTICLE
In an exclusive interview with Interior Design Magazine, our very own Patricia Kisereu and Steven Ranta discuss how our Solutions Studio® seamlessly blends creativity and technology to bring bespoke designs to life. This Q&A gives an inside look at what separates our custom division from the competition.
Read to learn how Arktura’s unique approach helps clients achieve their creative vision and push the boundaries of architectural possibility
INDUSTRY NEWS
In addition to the commercial design trends we expect to see in 2025 and beyond, there are some overarching themes and trends we see across multiple industries. From home design to architecture, to the newly crowned “Colors of the Year” explore what this year has to offer the design world.
TOP TRENDS IN COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE FOR 2025 – VARISCO DESIGN BUILDING GROUP
THE BIGGEST COLOR TRENDS OF 2025 – ELLE DECOR
DESIGN FORECAST 2025 – GENSLER
2025 HOME DESIGN TRENDS – GLEN-GERY
READ
2025 COMMERCIAL DESIGN TRENDS
This year looks to bring a freshly designed take on commercial spaces. From bold, rich colors to wellness-centric office design, we broke down the upcoming design trends for this year. Click below to read our predictions on what to expect from this year in commercial office decor.
PRODUCT LAUNCHES - RECAP
We announced an inventive collaboration with modular ceilings manufacturer Overcast Innovations in early December. This partnership brings three original Silhouette designs to their Cloud system of modular ceiling systems for commercial buildings.
Dappled
Radia
• GeoSound™ Diamond
Our newest acoustic system, released in late November, brings a modern acoustic design as stunning as it is versatile; GeoSound™ Diamond delivers streamlined geometric modularity. Its beveled, diamondshaped form can be used in flat minimalist fields or clustered together to produce dazzling dimensional displays. These modules come together to create impressive arrays using magnets, read more about that on the next page.
Spotlight on Magnets
Interview with David Friedman Product Design Engineer / Production Engineer
- Can you explain what makes the magnets used in GeoSound™ Diamond so special?
GeoSound™ Diamond features cylindrical magnets with Diametric Magnetization for self-alignment. This atypical magnetization lends GeoSound™ it’s capacity to be “Self-Aligning.” Their rotation when pressed together allows them to connect North to South, which is key to our patented connection system.
- Why were magnets chosen over other attachment methods?
For GeoSound™ Diamond’s design we focused on having no visible hardware, no seams between diamonds, and being able to remove panels without disturbing others, which eliminated many traditional installation methods. After exploring various techniques, the team decided to experiment with magnets. Though initial prototypes weren’t manufacturable, they met the key requirements by hiding magnets on the panel’s backside, allowing for easy, tool-less separation. The next step was refinement.
- Where else do you see us using this type of attachment method in the future?
I’m optimistic this connection system can expand into various solutions. Discussions have considered custom shapes, and I envision it being used for corner closures on baffles or seam alignment on fins. The system can be fully encapsulated within SoftSound®, making it a valuable tool for the common request for “no visible hardware.”
NEW + UPCOMING
• Vapor® Expansion
Last year’s collaborative launch of perforated Silhouette designs for Overcast Innovations was just the beginning. We are bringing these three new designs, Radia, Horizon, and Dappled to our flagship Vapor® collection. This trio of artistic patterns is now available for standalone wall and ceiling applications.
ACCESORIES
• Emergency Battery Kit
To go along with our ever-growing collection of lighting and lighting accessories we have announced a new Emergency Battery Kit. This tool can be used in conjunction with our lighting systems to provide 90 minutes of emergency power to our illuminated panels in case of a power outage.
ASK ARKTURA
We asked YOU, the Arktura team for what you are watching, reading, listening to, and getting inspired by, this is what you had to say. Find your next binge below to see what your teammates are doing in their free time.
Arktura Book Club
What have you been reading lately that you would recommend to the team?
Magaly Zacarias - Arch Spec Project Coordinator:
“I have been reading “The Courage to Be Disliked” - the book teaches that true freedom and happiness come from embracing personal responsibility, letting go of the need for external validation, and having the courage to live authentically, even if it means being disliked by others.”
Watch Party
What were your favorite shows to binge in 2024?
German Capisano - Product Engineer:
“I’m watching The Wire on MAX. I know is an old TV show, but I heard is one of the best. I’m currently on season 4 and it’s pretty good.”
Ark Movie Club
What was the last great movie you saw and why did you enjoy it so much?
Tanner Whitney - Senior Job Captain:
“I finally watched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind recently & I loved the way it blurred memory and reality. How the plot unraveled was very well done & I found the topic fascinating.”
Daily Inspo
What is something that inspires you every day?
Nayeli Gutierrez - Office Coordinator:
“Being human is what inspires me every day. Feeling every experience and emotion, expanding the mind, developing different lenses of the world making, and connections are some things that make us who we are. Doing everyday things with a purpose, or even no purpose, is how I enjoy life!”
ROB & AMY VISIT THE ARK STUDIO TEAM IN ARGENTINA
Following the announcement of Ark Studio CEO, Mike Mangiagli’s departure at the end of the year, our team in Argentina had the pleasure of welcoming new Arktura President, Amy Hahne and AWI Vice President of Brand Companies Rob Perri.
For a week our team in Córdoba shared meetings, conversations, enjoyed meals with the new leadership team as they got to know each other better. The team can’t wait to have them back!
HQ UPDATES
Factory Floor Updates
We have added a series of storage racks to our factory floor to handle all of our raw materials for acoustic and metal projects. This organizational tool will help us in continuing to manufacture elevated commercial designs.
To streamline our factory processes we have constructed new offices out in the factory floor for appropriate teams to be centrally located to our factory workforce. New Offices
UV Printer Magazine Library
We now have an ever-growing collection of design magazines available to all Arktura employees in the office. These periodicals are available to all team members to read, browse, and gain inspiration from the latest stories in our industry. Magazines can be found both downstairs and upstairs in the office.
Holiday Parties
Both our Arktura and Ark Studio offices celebrated the holiday season with festive office parties this past December. Ark Studio’s party featured karaoke and plenty of laughs. While our HQ office party had plenty of dancing, silly photo booth shots, and raffle prizes! It was wonderful getting to celebrate our wonderful team on another great year at Arktura and Ark Studio!
ARKTURA IN THE WILD
Arktura Employees Spot Our Products in the Wild!
Last year, the marketing team created a guide highlighting Arktura projects local to the Southern California region, encouraging you all to visit these sites, capture yourself there, and send them to us to be featured in what we call “Arktura in the Wild!”
Our incredible team members have been busy exploring the built environment and spotting Arktura products making a real-world impact.
Ricardo Ortiz - AS Marketing Communication Specialist Solutions Studio® @ Intuit Dome - Inglewood, CA
Eric Lopez & Alicia Martin - Content & Technical Manager / Engineering Team Manager Vapor® Cluster Dense @ AC Hotel - Los Angeles, CA
