Sunday, November 28, 2021

Confidence Builder into 2022

And down the stretch we come… one month left in 2021 and it feels in many ways like its flown by but in others not so much.  Heck I feel like GlassBuild was a lifetime ago!  Anyway, time to keep plugging along and finish this year strong!  Speaking of strong, despite the challenges we are all facing on the business settings, the economic indexes continue to do very well.  The last Architectural Billings Index was released while this blog was on holiday and it is still thriving in positive territory.  This month the main score clocked in at 54.3 which is still well above break-even but down from last month’s stunning 56.6.  The regional story was interesting with the Midwest flying in with a score in the 60’s (61.9) while the northeast did hit a speedbump and came in with a 48.6.  What does this mean?  Things are still flowing at that design level and this gives us some confidence into 2023.  One interesting takeaway from this month’s report was that Architects are expecting some M&A action in their world.  I think this is absolutely going to happen and will be watching on who ends up matching together. 

 

Elsewhere….

 

--  Also coming in December, my annual Industry Most Valuable Person award.  Tremendous candidates again this year and looking forward to hashing all of that out here.  Stay tuned!

 

--  The latest supply chain update from Gilbane had a change in it as it relates to our industry.  For the first time since I have been tracking it, in the category of “Deliveries” we are listed as “Delayed.”  In previous reports we were one of the few trades that did not have that designation, but here we are now.  We know what we are up against and we all continue to battle, and obviously our adventures are now even known outside of our world.   Keep proactively communicating folks- that is the best way to stay on top of it all.

 

--  Normally I’d put a story like this in my “links of the week” but this one really deserves more focus.  A young lady stepping up to the construction world plate and goes above and beyond any obstacle she has!  Love it! A hat tip to the great Melanie Dettmer for pointing this story to me!

 

--  If you watch the show “Succession” it is surely an interesting ride in the world of the family business and riches.  A few weeks ago though they shot on location at a house that sold for 52 million that had some awesome glass work in it.  Check it out here- but if you’re not caught up on the show this season, it may contain a spoiler or two.  By the way I’ll say the house was worth 52 mil because of the glass!

 

--  Last this week- during the holiday I ended up down the rabbit hole of checking out some industry websites.  So I decided to rank my 5 favorite “under the radar” websites in our industry.  These are companies that aren’t always in the news or active on social but they put together some quality looks and represent our world well. NOTE- I rated on looks and layout only, not technical content (thought it may be fine)  So here goes…

#5- Aurora Glazing- At first this site didn’t catch me but then I scrolled and it brought me into it big time. It surely didn’t hurt having some super high-end names on those projects too.


#4 Heuring Glass- Maybe it helps that I love San Diego?  But this site just rocked me, great pictures and so much happening in a good way.


#3 Christopher Glass- Another one using good color schemes and this one brought the neat hook of celebrating its 40thyear in business.  Good hook and nice work.


#2 Glass Flooring Systems- This site had a pretty traditional format but I think the photography is what hooked me in- love seeing glass used these ways and also color scheme worked.


#1- Minneapolis Glass- The site layout was different than I have seen typically, and it really hooked me.  Color scheme worked too.  And the use of 3 word headlines (not sure if that was intended or not) was pretty brilliant.  

 

Congrats to all of the folks who worked on these sites above- your efforts paid off in something special! Obviously, we have tons and tons of sites, so I’m always on the lookout on who’s doing well- feel free to ping me with your favorites!  

 

LINKS of the WEEK

I love dogs, I love stories with a good news twist on a dog and this one has it!

 

Inside the world of Obituaries.  Knew many were pre-written but stunned on how many

 

Longer read but pure banana land sort of stuff here.  Hacking a homecoming contest

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

From the always fabulous Mike Rubner and his LinkedIn feed.  Accura Systems Inc with this awesome UTSW project in Dallas.  Unitized Curtain Wall and looking great.  Plus I love the partners involved here.  Tristar Glass, Oak Cliff Mirror & Glass (Shout out to the great Sam Hill!) Bonnell Aluminum, and EYP with the design.  Beautiful stuff and congrats to all involved in an awesome project!

 


 

 

 

 

Sunday, November 14, 2021

New Company, New Battles, and Lots of Kudos

So I take a week off of blogging and tons of news happens… so let’s get to it!  The biggest was the acquisition of Global Security Glazing and Dlubak Specialty Glass by Isoclima.  This is massive news because it brings one of the best glass players in the world in Isoclima into the United States.  Having their expertise matched with the talented and hungry folks at Global and Dlubak really works well for our space and I am excited for all involved.  It is refreshing to see a global player who has not yet made a major mark in North America jump in with both feet and I think it just strengthens our industry as whole.  Congrats to all involved and I look forward to seeing how this plays out!

 

Elsewhere…

 

--  The “battle for the wall” is really playing out in real time with the proposed design of a dorm at the University of California at Santa Barbara.  If you have not followed it, the story is wild- a major dorm with basically no windows.  The story background is HERE.  The great Andrew Haring went to work on it HERE, the always brilliant Dr. Kayla Natividad had excellent comments HERE and an interesting interview with the man behind the design HERE.  Obviously, I think there’s a TON wrong with the design and there needs to be some serious intervention and education happening here.  


 

Some congrats to go around… 

 

--  To Quaker Window on a great new commercial website.  You can find that HERE and once again Josh Wignall just showing his brilliance on the big stage.

 

--  To Ubiquitous Energy on the launching of their new blog HERE.  Well done by Allison Moghaddasi and the team there- I like the start and look forward to more!

 

--  And they can shoot for being as good as Rick Alexander at Tom Brown Inc.  Rick never ever disappoints and this latest one on Silicone Alternatives is huge because being in a supply chain crisis, the more you know about options the better. 

 

--  To my old pal Kirk Johnson on his new position as Chief Operating Officer at Pulp Studios.  Kirk doesn’t read this blog, but I don’t hold it against him.  Could be the reason why he’s so successful.  LOL.  Anyway I love seeing my former co-workers do awesome work and Kirk has always been one of the best.  

 

--  Last on the congrats to Viracon for getting a huge honor in the 2021 President’s “E” Award for Exports from the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.  The President’s “E” Award is the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports. Absolutely awesome and I think it’s all because Cameron Scripture speaks like 5 languages so he’s obviously the one selling all over right?   

 

CONGRATS to all!

 

--  On my last blog I teased an upcoming podcast- it did not come together but do not fret I do still have things lined up for a few special editions to end the year and I have already lined up some amazing guests for the new year. So many amazing people in our industry and I want to shine the light on as many as I can. HOWEVER I was honored to be a guest on a podcast!  The great Jim Evans of Bid Clips had me on his outstanding “Today in Trades” podcast and it was a great experience and Jim brought out some really strong talking points.  Check it out!

Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts

Watch on YouTube

 

--  Time for another list… you know how much I love them.  Where are the worlds most “tranquil” cities?  How many have you been to?  My thoughts below.

 

1.     Bergen, Norway

2.     Perth, Australia

3.     Reykjavik, Iceland

4.     Helsinki, Finland

5.     Wellington, New Zealand

6.     Zurich, Switzerland

7.     Brisbane, Australia

8.     Melbourne, Australia

9.     Stockholm, Sweden

10.  Auckland, New Zealand

11.  Oslo, Norway

12.  Sydney, Australia

13.  Copenhagen, Denmark

14.  Tel Aviv, Israel

15.  Christchurch, New Zealand

16.  Toronto, Canada

17.  San Jose, Costa Rica

18.  Dallas, USA

19.  Houston, USA

20.  Washington, D.C., USA

 

OK someone tell me how DC is tranquil?  Also, shouldn’t the traffic is Toronto alone disqualify that area- and I LOVE Toronto and Canada in general.  Same thing for Houston and Dallas- the traffic and roads are killers.  I guess I have a different feel for tranquil than the author here.  

 

--  Last this week… Thanksgiving in the US is approaching, and this will be the last blog post before that hits… yes I know odd to take off yet another week- but that’s the way the schedule bounced.  Those of you who know me know this is my all time favorite holiday… so I am beyond excited.  And I want to wish everyone out there a hearty and wonderful holiday and my sincere THANKS for your support.  It means a ton!  See you again after Turkey Day!

 

LINKS of the WEEK

--  Gator on the course!  I’d let him take the golf ball every time…

 

--  Love the brilliance that kids can bring

 

--  Unreal on this one- wasn’t it just like last year that safety trumped school?

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

So this one I saw on LinkedIn and loved it but way short on info… MG McGrath posted it and all they said was “Installing floor to ceiling glass on a medical project in Virginia” – so if anyone at MG McGrath is reading this OR you supplied material on it- would you mind adding some color in the comments (On the LinkedIn post of this blog would be great)  Regardless it’s a project that’s looking good and showing off the greatness of glass!!