by Brianna Crandall — November 16, 2015—America voted and decided that the Town of Minturn has the best public restroom in all the land (out of this year’s finalists). The restroom that resembles a passageway into a Rocky Mountain mine defeated a strong field of finalists in Cintas’s 14th annual contest.
#1: Celebrating Minturn, Colorado’s rich mining history, the unique digitally fabricated shape of the men’s and women’s public restrooms resemble an adit (horizontal passage way) into a Rocky Mountain mine and are the result of extensive teamwork.
Workplace product and service provider Cintas Corporation launched the America’s Best Restroom Contest in 2002 to honor businesses across the country that consider hygiene and style top priorities. According to Cintas Assistant Marketing Manager Jillian Bauer, “This project is a lot of fun and also conveys a critical message that restroom hygiene matters for good health and good business.”
As to this year’s winner, officials in the Town of Minturn wanted to create functional art, and it took a committed team to make the project a reality: the local planning commission, town council, carpenters, public works department, concrete workers, steel artists and plumbers. The result is an impressive “potty” for the town to celebrate.
As the 2015 winner, the Town of Minturn also receives a $2,500 credit to spend on Cintas services like restroom cleaning and supplies, Signature Series restroom dispensers, cleaning chemicals or wet mops for their restroom floors. The top three finalists win a complimentary Deep Clean of their restroom (valued up to $500).
#2: The team at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, which dates back to the 1870s, says the restrooms are like a trip into a magical childhood fairytale, drawing on the mysticism of Gaudi and the classic touches of the Tiffany style.
In the contest, which attracted thousands of online votes, America chose The Music Hall in Portsmouth, New Hampshire as the No. 2 place “to go.” Charleston Distilling in Charleston, South Carolina finished No. 3.
The 2015 contest attracted nominations from a wide range of businesses, including a wine bar, art museum, underground salt mine and a nursing suite inside a baseball stadium. Cintas selected the ten finalists based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements.
#3: At Charleston Distilling in South Carolina, which makes small batch handcrafted spirits, two restrooms are designed as giant wooden whiskey barrels, and have become a popular attraction for patrons.
2015 America’s Best Restroom Contest Finalists
- (#3) Charleston Distilling – Charleston, SC
- Cibo Wine Bar – Miami, FL
- The Fitton Center for the Arts – Hamilton, OH
- Great American Ball Park – Cincinnati, OH
- (#2) The Music Hall – Portsmouth, NH
- OB Warehouse – Ocean Beach, CA
- Perry Lakes Park – Marion, AL
- The Salty Pig – Boston, MA
- Strataca – Hutchinson, KS
- (#1) Town of Minturn Public Restrooms – Minturn, CO
Minturn has now secured its place in the Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom Hall of Fame. To view photos and descriptions of this year’s winners and finalists as well as those of previous years, visit the Hall of Fame on the America’s Best Restroom contest Web site. Visitors to the site can also nominate a restroom for next year’s contest.
