Armstrong World Industries, Inc., an Americas leader in the design and manufacture of innovative interior and exterior architectural applications, announced the Swinerton Inland Northwest office in Spokane, Washington, has leveraged federal tax credits through the installation of Templok® Energy Saving Ceilings. This installation marks a significant milestone in sustainable construction, demonstrating that phase change material (PCM) technology used in the Templok ceiling tiles can not only reduce operational energy use and carbon emissions but also provide a compelling financial benefit through the § 48E Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit.
Located within the Scott Morris Center for Energy Innovation on Spokane’s South Landing Campus, owned by McKinstry-affiliate Emerald Initiative, LLC, the 9,000-square-foot Swinerton office features Armstrong® Ultima® Templok Energy Saving Ceilings. A 2025 study prepared by Ryan LLC, a global tax services firm, supports the view that Templok ceiling tiles may be a qualifying “thermal energy storage property” for purposes of the § 48E Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit. The study evaluated Templok ceiling tiles and the associated suspension system, trim and labor, along with documents showing Templok ceiling tiles meet domestic content and Foreign Entity of Concern (“FEOC”) requirements. Factors specific to this project brought the § 48E tax credit for the Swinerton renovation to more than $25 per square foot, resulting in savings of approximately 37% of the final project costs.
Image Courtesy of: Armstrong World Ind
“Phase change materials are listed as a qualifying thermal energy storage technology in the § 48E tax credit regulations,” said Scott Stogsdill, Director of Federal Income Tax Consulting, Green Energy Incentives, Ryan LLC. “We were excited to see a taxpayer realize a dollar-for-dollar reduction in its tax liability after installing Templok ceiling tiles, in addition to the ROI from the efficiency benefits of this project.”
A Blueprint for Financial and Environmental Sustainability
The installation was made possible through a strategic partnership between Armstrong and Overcast Innovations, a McKinstry-owned subsidiary. Swinerton piloted the Modular Grid Platform assemblies from Overcast, which integrated the Templok ceiling tiles with mechanical and electrical systems to streamline installation and preserve the architectural integrity of the space. By using Templok ceiling tiles, which passively cool and warm spaces using PCM technology, Swinerton has reduced the load on mechanical HVAC systems while prioritizing occupant comfort and wellbeing.
“We selected Armstrong Templok ceiling tiles for Swinerton before having awareness of potential tax savings,” said Robb Andrade, Managing Director at Overcast Innovations. “The tax credits coming into play gives us even more impetus to present this solution as a standard for all types of projects.”
Innovation in High-Performance Building Design
The project was designed to align with the vision of Spokane’s South Landing Campus—a collaborative hub for advancing high-performance building design. As building owners face increasing pressure to decarbonize while maintaining profitability, the Swinerton project provides a proven concept for the industry.
Andrade noted, “We are looking at new and interesting ways to incorporate Armstrong Templok ceiling tiles wherever we can – it is simply the right thing to do. It’s right for the environment, the occupants, and the bottom line. Whether you’re a for-profit corporation or a nonprofit organization, I can’t imagine why a project owner wouldn’t consider Templok ceiling tiles.”
To learn more about the Swinerton Builders’ Northwest Office project, read the case study on the Armstrong website. For more information about Templok Energy Saving Ceilings from Armstrong, visit www.armstrong.com/templok.
This general information is not legal, tax, investment, financial, or other professional advice. You should consult your own qualified legal or tax advisor before acting on this information.
About Armstrong World Industries
Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (AWI) is an Americas leader in the design and manufacture of innovative interior and exterior architectural applications including ceilings, specialty walls and metal solutions. For more than 165 years, Armstrong has delivered products and capabilities that enable architects, designers and contractors to transform building design and construction with elevated aesthetics, acoustics and sustainable attributes. With $1.6 billion in revenue in 2025, AWI has approximately 4,000 employees and a manufacturing network of 24 facilities, plus seven facilities dedicated to its WAVE joint venture. In 2025 and 2026, the sustainability efforts of Armstrong earned it the designation as one of America’s Greenest Companies by Newsweek.
