TOTO has opened its newest corporate gallery in Boston. Like the others located in the design districts of New York, NY; West Hollywood, CA; Chicago, IL; and Fort Lauderdale, FL, it is a viewing gallery intended to serve as an educational resource for the architecture and design communities, providing information and inspiration to both professionals and homeowners. TOTO does not sell from these spaces, but directs customers to its local partners, wholesalers and kitchen & bath dealers. Bergmeyer Associates architects partnered with TOTO on a sustainable design strategy for the gallery in Boston’s North End.

ELKAY acquired Spokane Stainless Products (SSP, Inc.), a fabricator and importer of stainless steel commercial kitchen products primarily for the foodservice industry. SSP’s business model complements ELKAY’s existing Commercial Business Unit and opens doors for ELKAY commercial cabinetry, case work, commercial faucets and natural stone countertops, according to Jack Krecek, vice president of the ELKAY Plumbing Products Division, Commercial Business Unit.
ELKAY plans to integrate SSP into its Commercial Business Unit and SSP will be officially known as ELKAY SSP, LLC. Lovon Fausett, former owner of SSP, is now vice president of business development and operations for ELKAY SSP, LLC.

Gerber Plumbing Fixtures LLC said its toilets, including the Viper and Avalanche, and its Maxwell faucets were selected by the Marriott Residence Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Comfort Inn & Suites, all of which plan to open hotels in Florence, AL, in early 2010.
"We are very excited to have three separate hotel installations in one city,” said Kevin McJoynt, director of marketing for Gerber.

DriTac Flooring Products LLC has moved to a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for its line of environmentally friendly adhesives, concrete sealers and repair systems for hardwood flooring installations. The Clifton, NJ, facility will also serve as the company’s corporate headquarters. The new plant will enable DriTac to expand its manufacturing capabilities, improve production and distribution, and offer sales and technical training and support. The company said it has experienced significant growth in recent years, requiring a larger facility.

BrassCraft encourages employees to become involved in community activities, especially those that relate to building, through a volunteer program it calls “BC Build.”  In September, 20 BrassCraft employees
volunteered to help build a Habitat for Humanity home in Pontiac, MI, as part of the program. The BrassCraft Build team performed so well they were recruited to assist at a second Habitat for Humanity
home under construction a short distance away. Pictured here, surrounded by BrassCraft employees who volunteered for this project, are Brad Irwin (center, arms folded), director of partnerships, Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County, and (to his left) David Tisch, product designer for BrassCraft and coordinator of the BrassCraft Build program.

The National Kitchen & Bath Association has approved the training course “Designing and Specifying Steamist Steam Showers” as part of its Continuing Education program. Steam shower manufacturer Steamist developed the course for all NKBA members interested in furthering their knowledge of steam showers and fine-tuning their specifying skills. Read more.