DIRTT, a Calgary-based sustainable wall manufacturer, is pleased to announce that they have partnered with DuPont™ Corian® as a new option for their modular wall solutions.

DuPont was kind enough to host us in Chicago to offer a closer look at the new products on-site at their Green Learning Center overlooking the Chicago River and the Loop on the occasion of NeoCon 2011.

While architects and designers have adapted Corian® solid surface for a variety of purposes beyond the run-of-the-mill countertop for years, the partnership with DIRTT marks the first time that "Corian® surfaces are available as the standard part of an interior wall system offering."

When integrated into DIRTT Walls, DuPont™ Corian® solid surface delivers a completely customizable, durable, easy-to-clean, and versatile surface, making it an ideal solution for demanding interior environments. While DIRTT Walls with DuPont™ Corian® solid surface are tough and low-maintenance, they also offer architects and designers the ability to create smooth, aesthetically pleasing interior wall surfaces in a large variety of trend-setting colors. Additionally, Corian® solid surface is nonporous, and with proper cleaning does not promote the growth of mold, mildew or bacteria, which is a critical need in healthcare environments.

According to DIRTT CEO Mogens Smed, the majority of their projects consist of retrofitting existing interiors, especially in renovation projects, i.e. buildouts of gutted spaces. Inexpensive though it may be, drywall is far from sustainable and the initial investment in a modular wall solution outweighs the long-term costs of the current construction standards. In fact, DIRTT stands for "Doing It Right This Time," a jab at the unsustainable sheetrock-clad walls that dominate interiors today.

Given its antibacterial properties and sheer versatility, the Corian-clad wall system is particularly suited for hospitals, though it could be used in any interior, large or small, public or private. To this end, DIRTT has developed ICE, a bespoke software platform that goes beyond real-time interactive 3D environmental modeling to fully integrated specifications, pricing and scheduling... not to mention AutoCAD support.

DIRTT extrusions can support everything from cabinets to chairs with cantilevered fixtures