Seriously, this thing is real...

So I have been banging on the “glass capacity” issue for a while now and this week I chatted with several people who are dealing with this growing problem.  First, there’s still folks unaware that glass, especially ¼” clear, is getting harder and harder to get.  That is on everyone in the chain.  Suppliers, Fabricators, Glaziers, and the media… Communicating about what is happening in the industry is a must.  And while this issue has not affected the entire industry yet, the way it is heading I am pretty sure it will… so as I have said before- be proactive.  On that note, I did hear from a few people who are struggling with the best ways to be proactive.  Some fabricators are developing programs to reserve glass but some of those programs carry risk side (penalties if you don’t take the glass when scheduled is one), and with the volatile schedules of the general contractor, the glaziers are wary about commitments.  Last the fear is by struggling to get glass, we as an industry could be setting ourselves up for losing that part of the building to other materials.  Now while I don’t see “glass-less” buildings, designers could choose to go with less glass area… which is scary and ironic since we fought so hard to deflect efforts to limit glass usage in the codes.  So again its communication through the chain, as this is a legitimate issue and one that is not going to go away quickly.  Making sure everyone knows what the obstacles are, being truthful with lead-times, pushing for guaranteed sizes etc.  In the end, all of these things, as well as other proactive measures will help and also make everyone more efficient to boot.   And if you have not been touched with this tightening of materials, congrats, but be prepared as I have good feeling you will.

Elsewhere…

--  I know I say it over and over, but sometimes when something is so good, it deserves the constant repeating. Katy Devlin’s blogs on Glass Magazine are not to be missed.  Last week’s recap of a facades conference was incredible.  So good that I think I may need to take a few months off to recharge because my stuff is not even in the same stratosphere. 

  

--  On my last post I noted one of the buildings that was chosen as “the coolest” in 2014 and wondered who fabricated the glass… well sure enough it did not take long for the always-excellent Bill Coady of Guardian to pipe up with the info.  The glass used was Guardian SunGuard Neutral 40 on #2 and Neutral 78/65 on #5. (Triple Pane) The glass was fabricated by Garibaldi Glass-Burnaby.  Congrats to all and thank you Mr. Coady for reading the blog and replying!

 --  Great news this week about a good friend of mine, Steve Cohen.  PPG announced that Steve has joined them as National Architectural Manager-Northeast.  Quite a coup for PPG since I believe Steve is one of the most talented guys in our industry.  And while I am biased since I like Steve personally, I can tell you from a professional side in dealing with him, the guy is fantastic.  Great move for both sides here.

Last this week… two more sets of lists since I love those things…

--  The top 25 Architectural “fails” and the top 5 commercial construction trends.  The “fail” piece is just mindless fun… but the trends piece is pretty interesting and does relate to our world some.

LINKS of the WEEK

--  Why do I have a feeling when the Apple Watch comes out, the FitBit is done?  Stuff like this won’t help them stay alive that’s for sure.

--  Another app for parents to track their kids in school…

--  Great story on when people are looking out for their fellow man… or child.

VIDEO of the WEEK

Cool video of a ping pong trick shot…. 

Don't Count Out the Birds

In one of my predictions for 2015, I noted that the “Bird Safe” glass revolution would grow.  One key area of growth is to get a stronger voice in the code process and that seemingly is happening.  I think I underestimated the bird safe lobby and their desire to get safe glass specified and installed- probably because this has been an issue on the radar for several years.  I remember being at meeting where the always on top of things, Julie Schimmelpenningh (then of Solutia, now of Eastman) bringing it up as an issue to be aware of and approach.  And basically companies did, but the drumbeat for it to take off never took place.  But now with easily available glass products for it and a possible push on the code side, we’re about to see the revolution grow.

Elsewhere…

--  Those of you who know me, know I have not been a fan of the USGBC green rating system LEED for a while now.  Well it looks like I am getting more company on that stance.  First, a Turner Construction survey shows that interest in alternative green rating systems is up 250% in the last 2 years.  And then we have the states of Alabama, Georgia, Maine, and Mississippi who have now essentially “banned” the use of LEED for state funded projects due to one of the credit items in the old 2009 criteria.  Now I think green and sustainable building is a must (I prefer Net Zero) and having a solid, reliable, and logical green rating system is crucial.  So I am surely not against the concept, but against at least the set up of the biggest guy on the block.  What will be interesting now is to see if any of these alternative systems can truly step up and be a significant competitor to LEED.

--  Not sure where these stack up energy or “green” wise but a very neat piece on the “5 coolest buildings” completed in 2014.  None in the US, but one is in British Columbia and I am curious which of the awesome glass fabricators in the Pacific Northwest supplied the glass on it…

--  I’m still in shock over the Super Bowl… that ending.  Wow.  Anyway… the best part for me is the commercials, so a quick rundown… obviously the one that made the most news was the bizarre Nationwide “kid” commercial.  If there was ever a PR and marketing combined fail it was that one.  Killing off a kid in front of 114 million viewers in efforts to sell insurance is simply wrong.  To defend it by saying you were trying “educate” is a joke as well.  Best commercials for me were the Budweiser dog returning home one… (we have 4 dogs… I’d be a mess if one left) along with the comical Bryant Gumbel/Katie Couric BMW flashback to 1994.  I laughed even more as that was the year I got my AOL e-mail address that I still have and use today.  Last, the Doritos middle seat commercial was great; all of us have been in that position in one form or another.  Great twist. 

--  Last this week… I have noted here many times that following the Glass Magazine twitter feed can be just as good as being there.  And this past week that was true again during a Facades Conference in Los Angeles.  The stream of tweets were quick and insightful.  And once again while I wish I could’ve attended, I was able to get some of the flavor needed thanks to the feed.  That is where social media really pays off, the ability to real time an interesting event.  Or being able to review the feed at the end of the day and see it all at once.  Nice work!

LINKS of the WEEK

--  “Clean” eating is going be a big issue some day… the body needs some negative items to fight off…

--  This is a classic… very very bad ad placement!

--  This is surely the “Shake My Head” article of the week.  Wow.

VIDEO of the WEEK

Back in the day I was a fan and viewer of “Saved by the Bell” – it was a classic for sure.  This past week Jimmy Fallon shocked many when he had a very cool flashback and reunion.

Much Needed Education Everywhere

As an industry we know there’s quite a few areas that are troublesome.  If asked most people will mention the need for qualified employees such as manufacturing help, maintenance and on the glazing side, project managers.  But the next need mentioned is usually education and it’s nice to see the efforts one company is putting towards that effort.  The PPG Glass Education Center is an incredible resource.  I visited it again this week after the release of their newest video on Weather Resistant Design and I was once again blown away.  There is simply a ton of info on there from the basic to the very advanced.  It can be a training center for new employees and a great resource for seasoned veterans.  In the end, it’s a very impressive vehicle for our industry to use.  Major kudos to Paul DiCesare and the tech team at PPG on the content, as well as Paul Bush on that regard and of course, I must give props to the marketing guru Rob Struble for his efforts on making this fly.  Well done folks!

Elsewhere…

More props for companies doing good things…

--  How about Viracon?  The folks there raised more than $111,000 for the United Way of Steele County.  That is simply an amazing and awesome total.  Congrats to Carla Kern who chaired this effort for Viracon and every employee there for giving of themselves.

--  And another one while I am at it… Garibaldi Glass announced their intent to have their annual “Glass Day” program on May 1^st.  This is going to be the 5^th edition of an event that provides tremendous education and insight into our industry.  I have heard so much about this event over the years and my goal this year is to finally be there in person.  And yes while an event like this has a great benefit to Garibaldi, it also does wonders in educating the region (glaziers, architects, owners etc.) on the world of glass and glazing. 

--  Education will also be at the forefront at Glass Processing Automation Days in San Antonio in March.  Info on this event was just released and it has the potential to offer some great insight for the fabricator.  I’ll surely have more on this as it gets closer.  

--  OK time to move from compliments and congratulations to snarky with and oldie but a goodie.  My old favorite group, the NFRC is possibly getting some competition.  Unfortunately its not in our actual industry or the areas where I have always pushed for, but this could lead to openings elsewhere.  The Window Covering Manufacturers Association with support from the DOE is starting the Attachments Energy Ratings Council (AERC).  So now the NFRC which has always been the one and only group with the ability to rate window film and attachments could be getting some competition if this takes off.  And its competition with the backing of the DOE.  That is huge.  So this will be one to watch.  If this effort actually works, it will open the door to much needed competition to NFRC on the glass and glazing side.  That would be fantastic.  But in the end, I go with the word “if” because the NFRC has staved off every challenge known to man, so I would not be surprised if this latest move does not take hold.

--  Next week I will have my Super Bowl commercial likes/dislikes since that is now my favorite part of the game.  I'm also still trying to figure out why the Seahawks passed instead of ran at the end. Amazing failure there. Wow. 

LINKS of the WEEK

--  Glass floors continuing to show up everywhere.

--  Man bulldozes his home… while his wife is away… why?  Who knows?

--  Comical weather forecast with technical issues, great job by forecaster to roll with it.

VIDEO of the WEEK

The news that Eddie Murphy will return to Saturday Night Live in a few weeks will actually get me to watch the show.  I loved Eddie back in the day… can’t wait to see what he does.  In the meantime here’s a quick look at some of his best stuff…

Positive Indicators Continue

We are very early into the new year but the economic indicators and predictions are all quite bullish.  The Architectural Billings Index and Dodge Momentum Index both have been plugging along in the positive.  In addition, cash flow predictions are finally improving and pointing to a healthy bump in non-residential construction starts.  So while we have legitimate concerns on supply and transport, at least for the near future the business climate is still looking to be very ripe. 

Elsewhere…

--  Excited to say there’s a new blog out there for everyone to check out.  One of the industries true influencers… John Wheaton of Wheaton-Sprague has joined the blogosphere.  Check out his initial efforts HERE.  With the incredible insight that John is always sharing, usually on twitter, his blog now will easily become a must read. 

--  Speaking of must-reads, major kudos to Katy Devlin of Glass Magazine for the coverage she provided from the BAU event last week in Munich.  Katy went solo to the show and cranked out incredible, timely coverage via Twitter and on GlassMagazine.com  She made the show come to life and allowed all of us unable (and unlucky) to attend at least have the ability to follow along in real time.  Great job Katy!

--  I mentioned this a year ago but was at this airport again this week… Dulles Airport is absolutely a masterpiece for a glass geek to take in.  Simply awesome applications everywhere.

--  It was on that trip this week to DC where for the first time ever I had a cab ride where the cabbie did not have a GPS.  So I’m running the directions from the GPS on my phone.  I am still scratching my head on that one.  How can you be in that position without that tool?  Another reason I try and do Uber instead- those guys HAVE to have GPS.

--  I was doing research this week and I ran into an old Glass Magazine article penned by Greg Carney.  Man I miss that guy.  With the annual GANA events coming up in the next several weeks, I have a feeling I’ll be thinking about Greg a ton.

--  Those GANA events I speak of, the Annual Conference and BEC are scheduled for early March in Las Vegas.  BEC, thanks to the incredible leadership from Jon Kimberlain of Dow Corning, is really primed to be another excellent edition.  The agenda this year is very strong with some great speakers including Joseph Puishys, the CEO from Apogee.  A few people in the know have told me that Mr. Puishys is an incredible public speaker.  So I am looking forward to that for sure.  In the coming weeks, I’ll surely highlight more of the agenda as well…

--  Last this week… so I have to ask… outside of the New England fans (including the great Dan Pompeo of Architectural Glazing Solutions who is off the charts with his support of Boston area teams) is anyone rooting for the Patriots next week?  I am on record already with my Seahawk support and prediction, so that’s not changing.  But I just wonder if there’s anyone who’s not a normal fan of either team rooting for New England.  Regardless I will be watching the game for the commercials as much as the game itself…

LINKS of the WEEK

 

--  An awesome story of when people come together… raising money for inner city kids to go to Harvard.  Now over 500K! 

--  Being someone who loves pizza and respects the people who make and deliver it… count me on the side of the driver… and the internet agrees with me… wild story.

--  Good food for thought one here… how TV inaccurately shows what real professions do.  It’s that creative license thing at its peak.

VIDEO of the WEEK

Well Kobe Bryant may be out for the season now but before that happened one amazingly creative person built this parody video called “Let it Tank” using the theme from Frozen’s Let it Go… just beautiful stuff here if you are basketball fan who happens to know Disney or that incredibly popular song.

THE Book for PR insight

Different than normal post this week…  Just talking one subject- books….

Over the holidays I read one of the best books ever.  The book was an extreme look inside the world of public relations at the highest level, where the media spotlight seems to be on 24/7.  The title of this amazing read is “What Did Jesus Drive: Crisis PR in Cars, Computers, and Christianity” by Jason Vines.  The majority of this book is how Vines, the PR lead for Ford and Chrysler (among others) handled major public relations issues with his companies, the strategies and thoughts behind the decisions.  Plus there's some great background on the most successful marketing plays ever pulled off in the auto industry as well.  The best part of this book was the style of writing, it was written like you were having dinner with the author and he’s just telling your stories about his days in the trenches, and leaving it all in there, no “political correctness” scrubbing- the whole story in a conversational manner.  So what does this have to do with the glass business?  Basically the immediate thought is we are pretty fortunate as an industry that for the most part our PR crises do not go mainstream and if they do they surely peter out quickly.  In addition it gave me perspective on how to handle events if they came up. Overall it’s just a great business read on the inner workings of the car, computer, and bible industry.  Yes a portion of the book is dedicated to a company with the task of reprinting the bible and that was pretty fascinating to me.  I never expected that industry to have any issues that is for sure!  Those of you who know me and have been reading this blog since 2005, know that my favorite all time business book was “The Disney War” by James B. Stewart.  I have to say that this one may knock that one from the top.

Next up on the list is “Marissa Mayer and the Fight to Save Yahoo!” by Nicholas Carlson.  Should be interesting to read especially right after the Vines book. 

That’s it for this post, I apologize for no links or video of the week.  We’ll be back to normal (or whatever “normal” is for me) next week!