Lunch, Learn, & Tour with the Fashion Institute of Technology

Lunch, Learn, & Tour with the Fashion Institute of Technology

September 2, 2025

We were thrilled to host Robin Reigi of Robin Reigi, Inc. and a group of her talented design students from the “Materials in a Sustainably Built Environment” course at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), a renowned institution for design and business education in New York City, at our flagship showroom.

Fashion Institute of Technology student group at professional development tour

FIT’s “Materials in a Sustainably Built Environment” course focuses on selecting materials and finishes with environmental and social responsibility in mind through research, sourcing, and real-world applications. Robin reached out to PID Floors to explore her course’s theme of sustainable building materials, with a focus on environmental and social responsibility, specifically through the lens of sustainable luxury hardwood flooring. This collaborative design education day underscored our passionate commitment to sharing our extensive hardwood flooring knowledge with the next generation of the design industry and to encouraging their interest in using only the most natural and sustainable resources.

FIT students learning about flooring industry through lunch, learn, and tour program

Professional facility tour and educational session for Fashion Institute of Technology

Over a wonderful lunch we were delighted to teach our NWFA Course, WOOD FLOORING 101. One of our wonderful senior sales team members, Patrick Venson, led the course and discussion regarding a broad range of hardwood flooring industry topics including: why hardwood flooring is used in residential and retail applications, the differences between solid wood and engineered flooring, wood species, the different cuts of American and European white oaks, and special treatments such as smoking, fuming and reaction staining.

Educational event and facility tour for Fashion Institute of Technology students

Robin Reigi, an Innovative Materials Consultant and educator, joined the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York to teach "Materials in a Sustainably Built Environment," as part of FIT’s Interior Design AAS Degree Program. This course introduces students to the real-world process of researching, sourcing, and evaluating finishes and furnishings through the lens of environmental responsibility, health, safety, and social impact.

We then led Robin and her bright, enthusiastic, and inquisitive students on a tour of our flagship showroom to explore our extensive luxury wood flooring portfolio. Later in the afternoon, they crossed paths with a designer for a luxury jewelry brand, who was visiting the PID Floors’ flagship. An engaged conversation about luxury retail design ensued, whereupon the students got to learn why hardwood flooring was the material chosen for one of the world’s most prestigious and respected jewelers.

At PID Floors, we believe in the power of education and inspiration. It was an incredibly gratifying day of sharing our expertise about hardwood flooring and we look forward to seeing these talented FIT students contribute to the future of sustainable design.

Fashion Institute of Technology students attending educational lunch, learn, and tour

Our new flagship showroom in New York City embodies both the spirit and history of PID Floors. A true labor of love, 37 years in the making, weaving together three generations of our family. It is a celebration of all the things we know and love about our industry and created to be a design hub of inspiration for all generations.

This wonderful Lunch, Learn, & Tour event is part of PID Discover, which focuses on learning and community at PID Floors.

Explore our PID Discover page.