Maybe Closer to Stable?

The most recent Architectural Billings Index was released, and as expected, the main number remains underwater —though slightly better than last month.  The big key again was inquiries were positive- making that a nice trend, and even the AIA analyst is seeing some hope:

“While business conditions remained soft at architecture firms nationally, there are signs that the downturn may be bottoming out,” he said. “Inquiries for new projects have increased four straight months, and billings both at firms with a multifamily or commercial/industrial specialization are beginning to stabilize.”

“Stabilize” is such a huge word here.  The fact that there continues to be so much unknown is what really roils the marketplace. The next few months should bring some clarity to the significant items concerning the money crowd, and hopefully, that will get more work off the sidelines and back in the pipeline.  As always, trying to stay positive here….

 Elsewhere…

-- ICYMI- the latest episode of “From the Fabricator” is out, and I have found that with this one, it has something for almost everyone.  Kevin Hardman delivered a great rundown of our space, and the duo of Heidi Trudell and Alex Sobolev had an insightful dive into the bird-friendly realm. Enjoy pod there.  A new episode is coming next week, featuring two people who are monsters in their segments. It’ll be a good listen/watch for sure.  Thank you for checking these all out- traffic has been overwhelming!

VIDEO

AUDIO Or search "From the Fabricator" at your favorite podcast platform

Thank you to the episode sponsor- FHC Frameless Hardware Company.  I am grateful for the continued support.

-- Guardian Glass recently announced the launch of CLARIA, an AI support tool on its website. I’ve experimented with some, and it has some very promising potential.  A few kinks right now, but that is common in any launch, and especially with AI.  Good to see the next steps happening, and it just continues to enthuse me that we’re evolving. This, along with what my pal Ted Baumgardner is doing with Guthrie AI, are all significant efficiency steps.

-- Great news to see Bowie Neumayer named President at Cardinal Glass.  Bowie is an awesome person and talent, and I am thrilled he’s now made it to the top. Succeeding an absolute legend in Roger O’Shaughnessy won’t be easy, but I am confident that Bowie can do it! Congrats to him and the folks at Cardinal on this new transition.  Also, Bowie is the biggest Texas Tech fan around, so the fact that his team there is off to a great start has to make him happy, too.

-- Congrats to Nick Davy of Andluca for the honor of being selected as one of the early-career engineers picked for the US Frontiers of Engineering Symposium by the National Academy of Engineering. The Frontiers of Engineering program brings together engineers from diverse fields and sectors to exchange ideas and share new approaches that strengthen U.S. innovation. I’ve gotten to know Nick a bit over the past year (he was a previous guest on the Podcast, too); he’s a sharp guy, and I love his absolute commitment to innovating the next generation of glass and window products. Additionally, a massive pub like this for an industry professional is extremely exciting. 

-- Last this week… check this out… massive smash and grab jewelry store robbery.  So, the beginning is crushing the display cases, but the end is where I was thrown.  They shot the door and busted through, and I was floored by what the result looked like.  So. Much. Wrong. Here.  View at:  https://youtu.be/-q9UigoTG9w

LINKS of the WEEK

-- A massive magnet - built for good things, but as my friend who sent this to me said, “would hate to see this fall into the wrong hands” https://www.sustainability-times.com/energy/france-built-a-star-in-a-bottle-scientists-create-magnet-280000-times-stronger-than-earth-that-changes-everything-forever/

-- A bear doing damage in Connecticut.  In like a suburban neighborhood.  Yeah. I’d move. https://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/ct-black-bear-simsbury-home-lemis-21062745.php

-- The football team vs. the band.  Never ends well. https://www.eastidahonews.com/2025/09/fans-angry-at-football-team-entering-field-during-band-performance/

PROJECT of the WEEK

Back to the great state of Texas and another very good man and company.  This is from Hou-Tex glass and Rick Newnom. This is the new Calfee Middle School for the Willis Independent School District. Solid job- but the design with the amount of metal is something else. Nothing was noted on who did the glass or aluminum, but whoever it was- I’m sure they enjoyed that order.  Great work, Rick and team!!!

A Wide Range of Insights

I’ve got a new episode of the “From the Fabricator” podcast loaded up for you, and as I mentioned last week, it’s a real dandy.  This time out, I begin with Kevin Hardman of Hardman Glazing Management.  You may know him from several different avenues, including his legendary Tools Tuesday pieces, but he goes much deeper than all of that.  Really cool guy with some excellent stories, and his family's past is similar to mine, going back to the 1800s.  Fun one all the way around.  Then I jump deep into the bird-friendly glazing world with two very respected experts from Guardian Glass.  Heidi Trudell and Alex Sobolev joined me and really dug into the nooks and crannies of that industry segment.  If you want a comprehensive understanding of bird-friendly in a very conversational way, this is it.  Heidi, whom I had met years ago, and Alex, whom I just met, were really impressive people too.  So please go ahead and check it all out.  Thank you!

VIDEO

AUDIO Or search "From the Fabricator" at your favorite podcast platform

Thank you to the episode sponsor- FHC Frameless Hardware Company.  I am grateful for the continued support.

Elsewhere…

-- Additionally, it's pretty neat to be on the list of the 10 Best Glass Industry Podcasts by the Million Podcasts site.  See the list HERE.  I appreciate the mention and will say the list is missing a few, though, that are very good… Happy to be on there!

-- From the economy side this week- the long-awaited first rate cut happened on Wednesday, with cuts “possible” two more times before year's end.  That should help shake some things loose.  Still a bunch of other nagging issues that are hamstringing us, but this was a big one.  I did call it “possible” as I know many of you probably saw it as a done deal- and it probably is- but on the Fed- they are not unanimous.  Only 9 of the members are seeing 2 more cuts, while 7 see no more, 2 see just one cut, and one actually sees 2 cuts but larger than expected.  So, things can change there.

-- The latest Dodge Momentum Index was good again for last month, but it was interesting that they specifically noted that the improving conditions were set for late 2026, early 2027. Past readings led people to think that prime time is more current than it actually is.  Regardless, good news is good news, and we know we have to keep rolling.   Next up is the next Architectural Billings Index this week, and I am super curious about where the number lands.  My prediction is it stays flat from last month… and as long as the inquiries remain positive, we’ll be good there.

-- Big news from the New England market.  A brand-new fabricator will be opening at the start of the new year, and they’re opening in a plant that will feature a ton of next-level technology. Streamline Glass is the name, and they note that most of the glass they will produce is not touched by human hands until after it is delivered, reducing the chances of damage to the product and injury to those handling it. Huge. There are 4 people behind this, and they are Troy Johnson, Carol Kelley, Brian Shaw, and Edrick Wittes.  Brian and I have worked together in the past, and he is an awesome guy and an excellent operator.  So, I have a ton of confidence here, and I just love that they’re leaning into the technology side. Congrats and good luck, folks! 

-- Training.  I can’t stress it enough.  So, when I saw the news about FHC expanding into having a training department, I was pretty pleased.  Good step.  They join folks like Thompson IG (with their Thompson U setup) and Country Glass (New training center built) as organizations taking the next steps.  There are surely many others that I am missing, so I apologize for that. Kudos to all who are doing this.

-- Last this week…  I have possibly hit on this before… but my frustration with LinkedIn continues to grow.  Love the platform.  Love keeping up with everyone and everything out there.  BUT… for whatever reason, my timeline, no matter what I try, continues to show posts from 2, 3, and even 4 weeks previous.  I’ll see a post, especially for something time sensitive, and then see the dreaded “3W” next to it—first world problem, but annoying to say the least.

LINKS of the WEEK

-- I am the ultimate sucker for heartwarming animal stories… https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/pets-animals/teen-tubing-down-river-reaches-hand-into-water-and-a-week-old-baby-grabs-on/ar-AA1LYLfJ

-- Thank goodness for the Boy Scouts here.  78-year-old goes hiking…alone. https://people.com/boy-scout-troop-rescues-78-year-old-man-in-mountains-1180487

-- Clutch dog and police officer! https://nypost.com/2025/09/18/us-news/quick-thinking-dog-named-oakley-guides-illinois-cop-to-his-leash-during-rescue-from-burning-home-bodycam-video/

PROJECT of the WEEK

Denison Glass and Mark Gamper get the spotlight this week. This is Wiers Plaza in Dallas, Texas, and it really pops.  Everything really flows, and kudos to the design team at Good Fulton and Farrel on a stunner here.  On Mark’s post, he noted some serious collaborators, including: Tristar Glass, Kawneer, dormakaba, CRL, Hopes Windows, M3 Glass, Solar Innovations, and Pella Windows. Congrats, Mark, and to all who had a hand in this beauty!

Hoping the Trend Grows

From time to time, I do hit on “adaptive reuse” as I genuinely believe that is a must as we move forward.  Old inventory with good bones and no one using it should be reset into housing.  It was nice to see this article running down a great success story in San Antonio.  This shows it can be done.  This may not benefit our industry a ton (though usually windows need to be changed, and they can always use shower doors), but it’s critical for our world, and that takes priority here.

Elsewhere…

-- North of the border had two significant anniversaries recently.  Goldray Glass celebrated its 40th anniversary in business—very cool stuff for excellent people. And my guy Art Huard, the sales GOAT, reached his 50th year in business.  Half a century, folks, and Art still looks like he’s 35.  Love it.  Congrats to all on the milestones, and keep it going.

-- Three website launches recently, and kudos to all who worked on them.  Great stuff.  First off, Apogee Architectural Metals debuted a clean and easy site. The super informative https://apogeearchmetals.com – Well done there. Thanks to the PR Gold Standard- Heather West for the heads up on it.  Next, my pals at the IUPAT pushed out the new https://iupatglaziers.com site, and it has great elements and quite a few areas to grab the latest info.  And if I know the duo of Travis Nevins and Matt Fox, I am sure they’ll be a lot more added as they go.  Finally, Thompson IG went live with a fabulous site.  This one is beautiful and loaded with info and insight.  Impressive from start to finish.  Thompson may not have won a Glass Magazine Award this year, but if they have a best site category next year, this one https://www.thompsonig.com/ has a chance.  Well done by everyone, and these all make our space stand out!

-- I did see the news that Donald Haley passed away.  I never met him, but his influence in our space was obviously quite extensive.  Best known for Haley-Greer, which he grew into a top glazier in North America.  He was a force in Texas and beyond, and his legacy will live on forever—my prayers and condolences to the Haley family and friends.

-- I’ll have a new podcast next week, and it is a dandy.  The pod is really working nicely these days, and I am so lucky to keep getting fun and fascinating guests.  Remember, the entire archive is up, so if you want to catch any of the 71 previous episodes or any of the 190+ guests, search for “From the Fabricator” on your favorite podcast site or YouTube.

-- Check this out… a car commercial and look at what was showing on the Marquee at the movies… “Tempered Glass”  - I had to rewind a few times. Quite wild here and really wondering how that snuck into a car commercial.  So whoever did that… very cool

Last this week… with all I had going on recently (thank you for all the support- both families I know are grateful too) I did not get my Super Bowl and College football picks in.  So better late than never, right… So Pro Football… I am still going to ride the Ravens to win it. They’ll top the Packers in the Super Bowl.  In college?  Ohio State is the pick until they give up the crown.  They may not be able to beat Michigan (Though I think this year they will, and it’ll be ugly), but they know now how to win in a playoff. So, we’ll see how these go… enjoy the seasons and may your favorite teams- real and of course fantasy- do great!

LINKS of the WEEK

Stealing fishing spots… via a dating app? https://brobible.com/sports/article/oregon-man-catfishing-guys-for-fishing-spots-through-dating-apps/

I talked above about adaptive reuse- this kinda counts right?https://www.cnn.com/style/wind-turbine-blade-made-tiny-home-hnk-spc

Getting mad at scenes in a movie- seems like a waste of energy…https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/the-roses-slammed-by-viewers-who-are-missing-the-point/ar-AA1LHvqp

 PROJECT of the WEEK

YKK’s Trevor Elliot is a cool guy and an excellent follow on LinkedIn- and recently, he shared this project in New Orleans. This was glazed by DeGeorge Glass Co, and it’s one of those smart and sharp projects that are the bread and butter of our existence.   Nice work, YKK and DeGeorge (and whomever the glass folks were…), and keep it up!

Tough Losses

Well.  This is probably one of the toughest blogs I’ve had to write in a while.  This past week, our industry lost two incredible men, both of whom were close friends of mine.  First, it was Tim Moore who passed away.  Tim was a technical powerhouse and a great and loyal person.  He had an intense thirst for knowledge to the point that he’d read technical manuals for fun.  He was always there for you, no matter the request. Anyway,  I’ll never forget when my brother Steve made the life changing call to hire Tim back in the 90’s.  Tim was different, in a good way, from anyone else we ever had on the team.  His knowledge, his demeanor, and his sense of humor all worked in concert to provide anyone in contact with him a wonderful experience.  People who worked with Tim can attest.  He was a quality man.  His work at the NGA level won him the extremely prestigious Carney Award in 2023.  I now look back to Urmilla Sowell, who spearheaded that honor for Tim, and I am grateful she bestowed it on him then.  He made a difference in many ways, both technically and operationally, in our space.  He will be dearly missed, and my condolences to his wife & daughters, friends, and coworkers.

Then I got the news that Jeff Wareham passed away.  Jeff did not have the same national profile that Tim had, but if you knew Jeff, you liked him.  He was pure energy mixed with a dash of worry, and always ran through walls for everyone he worked with.  He was a person who could locate equipment or manufacturing items that no one else seemed to be able to find.  He was always looking to introduce items to the industry that would help fabricators be more efficient.  He did not look at any sale as a transaction, because everyone he dealt with was either a friend or became one quickly. Jeff battled too.  His wife died young in 2019, and he became a single Dad to two young boys.  That was tough on him, but he came through.  He always came through.  Like Tim, Jeff will be greatly missed by all of us who were honored to be a part of his world.

Needless to say, I am gutted right now, and it’s hard to write- but I know that Tim and Jeff would be very mad at me if I didn’t plow forward.  They both did… no matter what.

Rest in Peace, guys.

Elsewhere…

-- So, on we go.  In case you missed the latest From the Fabricator podcast, it can be found at the links below.  Mark Seeton of Vitro and Danielle Whatley of Texstar were fabulous. And I can tell you that both of you had people admiring your accomplishments.  That was very cool.

VIDEO

AUDIO (also search “From the Fabricator” wherever you get your podcasts- Apple, Spotify etc.)

FHC Frameless Hardware Company sponsored this episode.  Thank you again to the team there for their continued support.

-- Every year, Gloria and Brian Hale and Hale Glass do their Annual Blood drive- this would be year 16.  It’s done in memory of those lost during 9/11, and it obviously serves a significant need now, yearly.  If you are in Southern California on Friday, September 12th, Get to Hale Glass to donate. Schedule an appointment now- https://giftoflife.lstream.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/120851  Thank you, Gloria and Brian- class acts through and through.

-- One of the best manufacturer rep firms- T.Fin, led by Tim Finley, celebrated some very big news recently with the addition of YKK to his group of lines.  I always get excited when I see great reps connect with solid organizations.  Plus, I am big into “betting on yourself,” and Tim did that a few years ago when he started T.Fin.  He could’ve had his choice of gigs, but he went all in, and he’s crushing it.  Good to see.

-- Last this week- yet another retirement- this time, Tom Sulock is off to a new phase in life.  I met Tom in 1999 and was highly impressed with his knowledge and approach.  I kept in touch with him over the years, and he really carved out a great career in the industry.  Another good one leaving our ranks- Congrats, Tom!  As I’ve noted before, I am super happy for all who are moving on.  And especially when you had the week we just had, you can see that life can really be very short.

LINKS of the WEEK

Skipping this section for the week- will be back next week!

PROJECT of the WEEK

To the great Midwest and Indiana for this one from Architectural Glass & Metal.  This is the McCormick and Third building.  Looking good!  The post I saw mentioned Kawneer window walls and storefronts.  No mention on the glass, though.  These guys also did the interior work, which turned out fabulous.  Nice work folks- keep it going!!