MENOMONEE FALLS, WI (February 27, 2001) - One of the newest exhibits at Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History- its washroom - has achieved one of the highest honors from the architectural community.

The Field Museum challenged Vernon Williams Architects, P.C., to renovate existing washrooms into aesthetically pleasing functional environments, requiring minimal maintenance. As a result of its innovative design work featuring exclusive plumbing fixtures and washroom accessories from Bradley Corp., Vernon Williams has won the coveted 2000 Design Excellence Award for Interior Architecture from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) -Chicago. AIA Chicago is the largest professional association of licensed architects, architectural interns, and allied professionals in Illinois and the second largest AIA chapter in the country.

"We wanted to create a washroom that did not look like a traditional washroom," says Claus Dyrlund, senior designer and project architect for the Field project. Yet, Dyrlund's challenge was not as simple as creating an attractive washroom - he also needed to echo an industry trend ensuring the washrooms would meet the 80-year-old museum's objectives.

Vernon Williams addressed the notion of displaying artifacts and exhibits into the washrooms so that the learning experience continues and is consistent with the mission of the museum.

Dyrlund and his team of associates worked with plumbing representative Bob Weaver of Riddile and Associates, and ultimately selected Express® from Bradley Corp. as the washroom lavatory system.

Dyrlund says his team sought fixtures that didn't accumulate dirt, and were easy to clean and repair. The Express possesses the economies of a group handwashing fixture, requiring one-third as many connections as a conventional lav and offering easy maintenance. The bowl, sprayhead and pedestal end caps are constructed of Terreon®, Bradley's exclusive solid surface material, which resists chemicals, stains and vandalism.

"We also wanted to use colors that are bright and cheerful, something children would relate to," says Dyrlund. Incorporated into the innovative design is a sky dome that serves as one of the main focal points for users upon entering the washroom. "The celestial motifs with indirect light strikes a nice mood as you enter the washrooms," says Dyrlund.

"I think that if something has a good aesthetic quality, it helps alleviate peoples' tension - designing friendly, bright and cheerful spaces can prevent some of the vandalism that occurs."

"Being part of a design like this validates our Terreon product line efforts, to work closely with architects and engineers in designing lavatories that are not only functional, but have a strong design element," says Jason Renner, senior product manager for Bradley. "We're extremely proud to be part of the trend toward innovative washroom design."