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Formica is a company Hertel says she’s used throughout her career and it proved to be a natural fit for the stadium project. “We wanted it to feel high-end for people to go watch tennis,” she says. “Yet when there are people in there rocking out to concerts, drinking beer — we needed everything to be super durable as well, so Formica was a really good solution for us to get a higher look but with all the durability.”

“We actually used the anti-fingerprint finish in the suites that are going to be getting a lot of people so that they would continue to look good and it would work like almost like a high end matte paint finish. But it wasn't; it was a laminate,” says Hertel. “And

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‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 the wood-look laminates look so realistic, we did some real-wood veneers up high, where you couldn’t touch it or brush up against it or equipment wouldn't be scraping up against it, but in the more high-impact spaces with heavy traffic spaces, we used the Formica.”

In fact, Formica laminate is used throughout the venue — Greige Softwood on the main casework in all amenity spaces, including the private suites and players lounge and Black Recycled Kraft on casework in support spaces. Graphite laminate has also been used on base cabinets in the private suite kitchenettes and islands, and Hertel says it is hard to distinguish the natural elements from the manufactured ones.

“We have a little subtle grain texture to the wood, too, so it looks very real,” she says. “Just how far these materials have come in their believability and then using the matching edgebanding with the cabinetry so you don’t see this outline like you used to… I don't think many people would realize that it's not wood. Most people would be fooled. Probably only an interior designer would know — and then, only if they looked really closely.”

Formica’s Light Rolled Steel DecoMetal metal laminate was used on the feature wall surrounding the multi-screen media center in the club. The subtle metallic striation provides a gorgeous contrast to the natural elements of moss and white oak. “It turned out really well,” says Hertel. “The metal laminate looks so good, is durable and it fit our budget, giving us this cool, metallic, almost industrial look.”

And while there are still some holdouts who prefer natural materials, Hertel maintains that the advantages to using manufactured materials outweigh the bias. “You know the materials are not real, but you also don’t have to worry so much about damaging those materials and having to replace them in a few years.”

“Just being able to utilize these various finishes that are durable, and knowing they will look good for a long time without a lot of upkeep,” she says. “It’s just kind of like the perfect blend of what is needed for those commercial spaces.” s p