CHICAGO — It’s always tough to pick a single Grand Prize winner in American Drycleaner’s Plant Design Awards, and the 47th edition was no different. With so many quality entries in every shape, size and style, we often had to compare apples to oranges to name the Best Plant Design of 2007.
This year, the winner is Meurice Garment Care’s plant in New York, N.Y. It was a dark horse in the race, to be sure — after all, a production-only plant in a “transitional” city neighborhood typically doesn’t have a lot of what real estate agents call “curb appeal.” But the scope of the project and the results made Meurice the clear winner.
Operator Wayne Edelman endured years of frustration in order to pursue his vision — a clean, comfortable place for himself and his employees to work. He managed much of the project from a windowless basement office; now, his office overlooks a spacious, bright and efficient production floor.
Other notable plants include three new builds that wrap up efficiency, convenience and comfort in attractive packages: Bear’s Naturally Clean in Gillette, Wyo., Dry Clean X-Press in Houma, La., and Rave Fabricare in Scottsdale, Ariz. Congratulations to these plants and this year’s 10 other distinguished projects — each took a vision and made it into a reality.
For more details on the winners, watch the mail for American Drycleaner’s January issue and check our website frequently.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Dave Davis at [email protected].