Montréal, Québec (September 2017)
 
Usually when an Arborite representative visits a design firm, it is to leave samples of the latest high-pressure laminate designs. But Sept. 20-22, 2017 Arborite’s team, in conjunction with co-sponsor Wilsonart, will call on design firms to take samples away. And not just HPL, they’ll take unused brochures, fabrics and finish cards, too.  
 
It’s a part of Save A Sample!, a non-profit recycling drive that makes it easy for designers to donate materials and samples to local design schools. Suzanne Swift, president of SpecSimple.com, founded the Save A Sample! program to provide design students with professional resources to work with- and simultaneously keep tons of materials out of the landfills.
 
“Save A Sample! offers our students access to the newest architectural materials and finish products available,” says Linda Oshea, design chair at Kean University in New York. “I have seen a great improvement in terms of creativity, innovation and imagination on student material and finish boards since being involved in this wonderful program. It is like Christmas morning in the design studios when Save A Sample! boxes arrive at our school.”
 
Last year, Arborite helped Save A Sample! Canada redistribute over 200 boxes of materials collected in partnership with design firms in Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver. This year the program expands to two new cities, Ottawa and Winnipeg.
 
Jacki Chapel from KPMB Architects notes, “As a large architectural firm, we receive finish samples on a daily basis. Save A Sample! is an amazing way to give these samples new life and help out future designers. Having easy access to a great selection of samples is a design student’s dream come true.”
 
To learn more about Save A Sample!, visit www.saveasample.ca. For more information or to bring Save A Sample! to your city, contact Donna Heany at 212-352-2002 ext. 42, or email at SaveASample@specsimple.com.
 
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About Arborite
With nearly 70 years of experience in decorative high-pressure laminate manufacturing, Montreal-based Arborite delivers inspired contemporary surfacing solutions. The company excels in supplying designers, architects, and specifiers with the perfect laminate for any space, allowing them to choose from a range of premium textures and over 200 designs. As a part of the Wilsonart Engineered Surfaces global organization, Arborite is driven by a mission to create surfaces people love, with service you can count on, delivered by people who care. All Arborite laminates are GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified, and over 80% of their product offering is certified by the FSC. For more information, visit www.arborite.com or connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.