New Pod + Mix of News

The latest From the Fabricator podcast is now out and it’s a good mix of people and subject matter.  Leading it off is Jeff Dalaba and Ben Beeler from NACC & AGMT.  As many know I am a huge supporter of the certification processes that these guys are heading up so having them on to talk about it along with other industry insights was a blast.  Next up was Asta Fivgas of Reflection Window and Wall.  She’s an architect working within our world and making a difference on a few different levels.  Sharp and interesting, I think we’re going to see and hear a lot more from Asta in the future.  Last I caught up with Austin Casey of Service Station.  His platform is a fascinating one and it’s a big help for companies that need assistance in the CSR realm.  Good background and the product makes sense.  So please check it out- very diverse subjects and people overall!  Thank you for watching and listening (the listening stats are mind blowing- thank you!!) 

VIDEO

AUDIO – and as always available wherever you listen to podcasts like Apple, Spotify, Google etc.

 

Elsewhere…

 

--  Mark your calendars- this week registration opens for Glass Conference: Tacoma and this is a crucial event in our industry.  Urmilla Sowell and team are putting together a really robust docket of education and dialogue and if you haven’t attended one of these conferences, I suggest giving this one a try.  More info as it comes out but try and make it happen and be in Tacoma July 25-27. 

 

--  Congrats to Vitro on the news of their connection with First Solar.  That is exciting stuff and good for them and again puts our space in a positive light.   A few people asked me if that deal would be a drag on supply and the way I understand it, this situation will not affect the typical capacity into the architectural glass space.  So that really makes it a positive overall.  

 

--  The recent focus by several states to get into school glazing is a great movement. Especially with many looking to go into ballistic glass in certain points of the building.  I hate that our world overall is in this mode, but it now is what it is.  As I have noted many times here before we have tons of options in this segment and it continues to be on all of us to push what we can do to the decisionmakers at the schools and communities.  Don’t be bashful- we have the options that make a difference!

 

--  Later this week Garibaldi Glass Day will be held in Canada and looks to be an awesome event.  Quite a bit of learning on tap delivered by some of the best of the best in our industry including the OG Glass Nerd Andrew Haring.  Kawneer, Technoform, FHC, Dow, and others will be on hand so I am sure the experience will be a good one.  Heck any time you get Andrew on campus, the fun meter just goes off the charts!

 

--  Last this week…  I am beyond excited that “Blackberry” movie is coming out in a few weeks.  This movie is based on one of the best books I have ever read called “Losing the Signal” and it was a detailed story on the rise and fall of the Blackberry phone.  There are few moments in the book that are PERFECT for the movie, so I am very curious to see if Hollywood plays it straight or gets wonky with it.  Obviously those who know me will expect me to report back here on the flick and I will surely do so later in May!

 

LINKS of the WEEK

Wow- who knew scarecrows don’t work

 

This is a great example- we need to use existing structures more before building brand new!

 

This weeks worry… internet protocol issues.  (last week was cars being stolen in a new way)

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

To the great state of Texas- this was a project done by TEPCOGLASS and it’s a beauty for sure.  From what I can tell partners on this were the folks from Tristar Glass and Arcadia and the picture I grabbed really doesn’t do it justice.  Just a sharp looking project all the way around.  Congrats to all involved in this one! 

Good News / Bad News

A very interesting Architectural Billings Index was released this week.  On one hand the news was good, but on the other, not so much.  In my last post I predicted a bad overall score.  The worries on interest rates and the banking mess (still on going, though the world moves on to other issues) would weigh it down was my thought.  Well thankfully on the overall score I was wrong.  In fact the Architectural Billings Index posted a positive score of 50.4, putting us in the plus territory for the first time in 5 months.  However, a deeper look brought out my concerns and, in a way, justified my prediction.  The numbers for new inquiries and new contracts both went down- the contract one dropping to an under water 48.9 which reverses what was a positive trend the last few months.  Plus 3 of the 4 regions were negative with only the mighty Midwest in the plus side.  In addition, the firewall of the south- that in this study includes Texas- continues to stutter with its 4^thstraight negative month.  So good news that overall things are hanging in, but future facing has some additional worries to it and we all knew this road ahead was never going to be easy (it never is) but we surely have to keep plugging away. 

 

Elsewhere…

 

--  The next episode of the From the Fabricator podcast premieres next week and I’m pretty stoked.  I have 2 of the 3 interviews in the can and it features some good stuff from very different parts of our industry.  Looking forward to dropping that edition and sharing!

 

--  Good work from Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope on a primer about embodied carbon in buildings.  They worked with Architectural Record on a free e-book and it was a great way to explain and lay out the entire realm of this issue.  Well worth the study to get up to speed on a very important issue and kudos to OBE for stepping up and sharing.

 

--  Also a good share this week from NFRC’s Tom Herron.  The article features the top 10 recommendations for the construction sector to reach a net-zero future.  Good find and share by Tom who is a very good guy in our space.

 

--  Maryland is the latest into the bird-friendly push with a bill proposing bird-friendly glass on all state-owned buildings.  This is trend that is not going away, and our industry has really stepped up with many options and avenues to get things done. Good to see!

 

--  Architectural Digest did a list of the 14 best designed gas stations in the world and it is worth the click.  Some wild looks and layouts here but two quibbles… Buc-ee’s has to be on there- if only because no other gas station leaves you with memories like Buc-ee’s.  And the other comment is the Winston-Salem one listed is very fashionable which makes me think that Dapper Dan Reinhart of Salem Fabrication Technologies must get his gas there to be always in tune and in style.  

By the way if you’ve never visited a Buc-ee’s don’t hesitate the next time you see one while out on the road.  It truly is an experience. 

 

--  Last this week- the passing of John Kalakos who many will know from his time in leadership at TRACO.  John was a massive part of the success that TRACO experienced- for those who may not know or remember, TRACO was an absolute monster in the market for many years.  My brother Steve and John worked closely together, and the growth of our company came in combo with TRACO’s advance.  John’s faith in my brother and our team allowed that- so we’ll always be thankful for those opportunities.  John was a great leader and person and will be missed tremendously.  Thoughts and prayers to John’s family, friends, and co-workers. 

 

LINKS of the WEEK

 

Controversy over a pink door. I think it looked better pink than it does now.

 

Wild story of bear drinking 69 cans of soda. But he passed on the diet ones I believe. (If it was Diet Dr. Pepper he wouldn’t have!) 

 

Public official goes on buying spree with town credit card… and bought some interesting things!

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

In my web searches from a few weeks ago this job from the great team at Double Play Glass appeared and made me immediately save for use as a project of the week.  I have no insight on it- maybe Evan Afenir of Double Play Glass can provide- but it’s a great structure and the glass looks fantastic!

Under the Radar Sites and More

So late in 2021 I went in search of some of the best “under the radar” websites in our industry and came up with a bunch led by a great one from the team at Minneapolis Glass.  This year I once again went on the deep dive through the web to recognize more deserving folks in our space.  My simple parameters were websites that looked different than the norm, were exciting and interesting, still easy to navigate AND from companies that aren’t usually in the news in our industry.  So here we go…

#5 Lockheed Architectural Solutions – From the opening video to the additional layout throughout the site this one delivered!

#4 Galaxy Glass & Stone-  These guys may not be very under the radar, but I do love and have always loved this website.  Very bold and impressive at every turn loaded with imagery. 

#3 Momentum Glass- The logo animation placed against a stunning blue building with a perfect blue sky was great and then everything flowed from there.  Also liked seeing the pictures of team on the front page!

#2 Bruce Wall-  From a tech standpoint this site is unlike anything else out there.  Use of color and design are something else- disruptive and interesting.  I am sure some may not like, but this one stands out to me.

#1 Black Line Glazing-  From the cool “loading” screen to the video that pops the moment the home page hits, this is a winner.  Love the layout and colors and site flows well.  It’s a bold and impressive site without being overdone.

Again I am sure I missed many- that’s why I’ll keep doing this yearly to call more attention those who deserve it.  As for the 5 above- congrats to you all for work well done and representing what you do and what our industry does so well!

 

Elsewhere…

--  The latest Glass Magazine review… it’s the awesome annual Top Fabricator issue and it’s loaded with so much data and insight.  Just a must read from start to finish.  Aside from the Top Fab info, strong pieces from Spencer Raymond, Amy Roberts, and Joe Erb were excellent reads.  I really just enjoyed the cross section of topics throughout and this issue got me up to date and thinking next steps- love it.  

 

--  The ad of the month- never ever easy to award any more, but I must make the tough calls and this month this award goes to Dow for their “railing” ad.  The picture is a page stopper and then the layout even with more text than I normally prefer really worked and had me engaged. So congrats to whomever the marketing mind at Dow is for this one- since I don’t know that person/group- I’ll just give kudos to Jon Kimberlain and Stanley Yee for a job well done!

I will say the MyGlassClass ad is awesome and deserves props too!  Love that design!

 

--  Mixed bag of econ news this week.  The Dodge Momentum Index was down and there really is a negative flow and tone to the report- so that wasn’t very good.  On the flipside, crane count in Q1 was at an all-time high!  So there is work out there but that darker cloud is in linger mode.  The next Architectural Billings Index is due this Wednesday and given the bank turmoil and interest rates I am expecting it to be low- possibly scary low.  But as always let’s hope I am wrong.

 

--  Hurricane Season predictions are out and thankfully the call is for a lighter season.  Let’s hope so.  We need a clean and easy season to get things back on track in so many areas.  The weather disruptions as a whole from the horrendous snow out west, the deadly tornadoes throughout the center of the country and the flood like rains in south Florida have been enough trouble, so let’s maybe go easy on the hurricane activity.

 

--  Last this week… it is National Volunteer Week and a sincere THANK YOU to everyone who donates their time, knowledge, and care to our industry. YOU make us a great industry and it’s the best to be around all of you at various meetings and events.  Thank you for the support and betterment of our world!   

 

LINKS of the WEEK

- Even one of the richest guys in the world has problems- including getting plans approved for his house and property. 

 

- Bizarre story on bank accounts being closed with little warning- I feel like something is missing from the explanations… on both sides.

 

- Yikes.  Yet another thing to worry about and this one is a doozy- a new way to steal cars.

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

From one of the best in the business- Tony Kasprzak of Seawall Architectural.  This great project that Tony and team repped with product from Goldray Glass.  Horace Mann Hall at Rhode Island College is the project and it’s covered nicely in THIS article.  But there was a line in there I have to call out- 

“Dingus-Eason says the window glass is her favorite feature in the building.”

Oh yeah!  Love when someone points to the glass as being the best!! (because it always is!) So congrats Tony and Goldray and everyone else on this beauty!

Schools and National Overwatch

The school shooting issue is still top of mind for me and when the possibility of interviewing a person who is out there trying to help schools do the right thing came up, I jumped at it.  So I did a special one off podcast with Victor “Sal” Salazar of National Overwatch.  Sal’s group is a non-profit dedicated to improving the security at schools and doing it with an experienced intel mindset.  It’s a really needed approach that I hope more schools take advantage of.  It was great to get to know Sal and hear his approach and his passion for this area just comes through in waves.  So a special edition of the From the Fabricator podcast, focused on schools with National Overwatch is now live for you to check out and hopefully gain something from.

Check it out on VIDEO and AUDIO (and search for it on Apple, Spotify, Google etc. with From the Fabricator as the search term).

 

And before I leave this subject, I just wanted to share a note from an old co-worker of mine Jeff Kirby.  Great passionate take here on the school situation and I appreciate Jeff allowing me to share.  

 

I, as many, get disheartened and angry every time there is a school shooting for the exact reason you stated. We have products to keep kids safe and refuse to use them. It started with convenience stores and some office buildings. I leave Government buildings out of this because they will always find a way to keep themselves safe. Over the years I have looked at and quoted more than I care to count and at the end of the day a human life is worth about $5,000.00 regardless of what is said.

I have also installed some schools that have “secured entries” as a deterrent but when ¼” over ¼” laminated insulated glass is what is used there is a false since of security and the only thing they really deter is break ins.

To a point we as an industry have failed with educating architects and spec writers because they quit listening when they hear laminated glass and when a set of plans come out, all the time spent with face to face, and continuing education luncheons is lost. Manufacturers should take those plans back and say this is wrong and force an addendum to be issued with what is really going to keep our kids safe.

Cost is also an issue, remember $5,000.00 per life. I believe new and existing schools can be drawn and renovated with focus on entries and the project truly being secure and windows that are in a “shooters path” be bullet resistant and those that are not can be regular annealed and tempered glass. We still get maximum light and keep our kids safe with a reduced cost. Parents and voters also need to be educated. They are asked to vote on a school bond to secure the buildings their kids are in and then something like Nashville happens and they don’t really know that the school wasn’t secure to begin with. They are less likely to vote for the next bond because they were not educated.

Sorry for the rant but I believe this is not a cost issue and CM’s, GC’s, school boards, superintendents, architects, engineers, and spec writers need to do a better job of educating voters and parents as well as themselves on how to keep the next shooting from taking lives!!

 

Elsewhere…

 

--  Sad news as well in our space with the passing of Joe Gudenburr, CEO of Syracuse Glass.  Joe had really taken to our industry in a short two years at the helm and in the times I communicated with him, he was a person that “got it” when it came to our world, approach and cultures.  He really was breath of fresh air.  My condolences to his family, friends, and the team at Syracuse Glass. 

 

--  Ok on to some lighter news.  Two takes on Vitro Architectural Glass.  First off, its CEO Ricardo Maiz (past great podcast guest) blew me away recently when he went on a huge listening tour visiting facilities in 8 locations over 5 days.  Ricardo is tireless.  Love that he has continued to get out there and see people and he never stops for a second.  Then the news that Vitro launched the “Vitro X” program which identifies and then supports next generational materials and services.  That is huge- and a vital next step and no surprise to me to see Martin Bracamonte leading the charge there.  Martin is always on the leading edge, and this is surely one.  Nice work Vitro to push things forward both culturally and in the product space.

 

--  Congrats to the National Glass Association on it being named to the “2023 Best Nonprofits to Work For” list by The Nonprofit Times (NPT), a leading national business publication for nonprofit managers.  I have been honored to be associated with the NGA for many years and I can vouch for the fact it is a great organization with tremendous people.  Kudos to Nicole Harris and the team there for building a wonderful place to work and for always being at the front of every industry need.

 

--  Last this week- Baseball is back and I need to get my predictions in… and by the way I love the new rule changes with the pitch clock speeding the game up dramatically.  It has made a difference in watching that is for sure.  So, my call for the World Series this year is San Diego and Cleveland with the Padres (sorry Ron Crowl) taking the title. 

 

LINKS of the WEEK

Oh my!  A real life snake on a plane!

 

Prank video gone wrong- I am surprised this doesn’t happen more often

 

This is some serious deep-sea fish watching!

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

Synergy Glass and Gareth Reardon get the spotlight this week for this awesome reglaze of a courthouse building in Louisiana.  Saw this one on LinkedIn and it was a must-share for me.  No word on the post on what was used material wise, but looks wise it is sharp and impressive.  Congrats Gareth and Synergy on a job well done!!

Schools and What We Offer

By now I assume everyone reading this has heard that the school shooting in Nashville began when the shooter shot through the glass and walked right in.  The doors looked like they had typical tempered in it, making it a very easy pass.  Obviously this is gutting on so many levels, but from an industry standpoint it’s made worse because we have the solutions, and they are everywhere.  I know schools all over have been beefing up and don’t know why this one did not, but it’s obviously time (sadly) that every school should be using the materials we have to secure their setting more thoroughly.  I saw some back and forth on LinkedIn where some took offense to manufacturers noting that materials exist to help repel some of these scenarios. (A school superintendent no less)  The posts I saw did not have promotional or offending language- they pointed out the weak points and what is available to address.  But really at this point, maybe some toes have to be stepped on so people start to do what needs to be done?  The plea is this- if you are working on a school job, or you do maintenance for a district- it’s time to note that through many excellent manufacturers we have options for them.  

 

I also appreciate this strong take from the great Tim Widner of Lippert Components. 

 

Elsewhere…

 

--  This school security subject among many others came up during the National Glass Association’s amazing Glass and Glazing Advocacy Days run through Washington DC this past week.  The NGA and some incredible volunteers from member companies met with serious big hitters on the hill and educated them a great deal on what we do, how we do it, and the good we can bring.  THIS is another area where NGA blows me away- they have stepped up into another space to represent us and push harder for our industry.  Kudos to everyone involved.  Efforts like this will pay off for our world for years to come.

 

--  In case you missed it, my latest podcast dropped last week, and I think all 3 of my guests had messages that really resonated with the listeners/watchers so far.  Susan Stone of Ubiquitous Energy has a transformational product and her and her team have really gone deep into our space.  Trent Thiry of Global Security Glazing/Isoclima has products that obviously this week proved are needed more than ever, and Brandon Nicastro of GCS Glass delivered in the light of “anything is possible” when you grind and work.  That includes running 37 miles through the desert… for fun.  Anyway, if you haven’t checked it out yet- please give it a whirl. Thank you!

VIDEO

AUDIO (And available on Apple, Spotify, Google etc.)

 

-- The latest AIA Awards recognized 16 projects for their excellence.  Personally, I think my project of the week spotlight is a bigger honor, but this isn’t bad either.  Here they are- some had great use of glazing while there were others that were ghastly to me.  Check it out and if you were among the folks who worked or supplied on any of these congrats!!

 

--  Guardian Glass added a few new folks to the ranks recently and I like the mix.  Katherine Kidd, Sam Ilewski, and Geoff Shellard are the additions, and I am already a fan of Geoff seeing how active he is on LinkedIn. (including some funny comments on a recent Visa project) Love when people are active in a positive way online and pushing what we do and how we do it!

 

--  Last this week… I’m watching the show “The Night Agent” on Netflix. This is a perfect “treadmill” show because its pretty much nonstop action.  Been a good watch and plot so far too… but our products did play a big role in episode 2.  While being chased our hero had to bust out of tempered IG window.  That was good to see.  But that led him walking on to a canopy that was just heavy tempered and somehow blew up under him.  (Great time for nickel sulfide issue I guess right)  Anyway I’ll wait til the great Dr. Kayla Natividad of Pilkington catches this and does her post mortem on LinkedIn to breakdown everything that happened.  Regardless always fun when the glass plays a role (even when wrong) in a show.

 

LINKS of the WEEK

Another update on Ralphie the dog that keeps getting adopted and returned. Hopefully this one sticks!

 

Good on the Dodgers for this- would love to see more expansion of this sort of help too!

 

Glad I wasn’t on this flight!  Amazing how quickly this evidently went down

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

The great and almighty GlassNerd Andrew Haring delivered this one to me this week from a post recently on LinkedIn.  This is an epic project in San Diego.   Sempra Energy corporate HQ is the project and the glass was manufactured by Viracon.  Obviously this one stands out because it’s just loaded with beautiful glass and glazing.  So big time kudos to all who had a hand in this one!  

Pod, Forecast, Advocacy and More

The latest edition of the From the Fabricator podcast is up and it’s got three dynamic and strong players on it.  This month I kick it off with Susan Stone from Ubiquitous Energy.  Susan was supposed to be on the opening session at BEC but had to cancel because of the insane weather her region was receiving at the time.  So it was a good chance to visit with her since so many were looking forward to hearing from her at the show.  Then on to Trent Thiry of Global Security Glazing/Isoclima- he’s somewhat new to our space but making inroads and I love his outlook and approach and his favorite food choice too… last this month Brandon Nicastro of GCS Glass.  Talent and success from the ground up and he does not stop grinding or running for  that matter.  With all three, great energy and insights so it was a super time overall.  Thank you for checking it out!!

VIDEO

AUDIO (And available on Apple, Spotify, Google etc.)

 

Elsewhere….

 

--  The latest Architectural Billings Index was released, and we went back down- so the possibility of it making a quick return to the positive was dashed and now with the current banking unrest I can’t see next month getting into plus territory either.  New inquiries did stay positive though and so that continues to provide hope that this will be a short-lived cycle.  Meanwhile there was good news from Dodge in that non-residential building starts were up last month.  However, areas we expect to be strong- institutional and healthcare struggled.  We knew this was going to be bumpy and it is playing out as such.

 

-- This week features Glass & Glazing Advocacy Days in Washington DC.  Kudos to my friends at the NGA and all of the member companies that sent representatives to this event to push and promote the important issues that we as an industry can positively disrupt. These days mean more than normal precisely because of the slowing markets- we need to be getting our materials in every possible scenario and if there’s an angle where legislation can assist- we need to be there.

 

--  From my pal Frank D’Aprile of KENPAT the news that Jim Jackson, Founder of Architectural Glass Services is retiring after an incredible 50-year career in contract glazing.  Jim built an amazing legacy and has put our industry in a great light thanks to his care and focus.  His efforts will surely be missed but obviously getting to go out on top and retire is huge- enjoy that next phase Jim and thank you Frank for the heads up!

 

--  Last week my lead story on Viracon’s new IGU identification program had a ton of reaction – all positive.  But as I noted this effort had been worked on previously and evidently both Interpane and View both offer it as well.  So no matter what this is a good thing for the installer base- one less thing to chase down!

 

--  Have you read this story on the failed company Katerra and chasing back the bonus that they gave their ex CFO?  The whole thing boggles my mind.  The pay, the bonus, and then the termination timing.  Very “Succession” like.  (Which in a side note- the latest season of Succession is back!)  

 

--  This is a good one to see- Women have gained more jobs than men for four straight months, including in January's hiring surge, pushing them to hold more than 49.8% of all nonfarm jobs. No idea how this relates to the glass world- but I am hopeful that trend does hit us too.  

--  Was THRILLED to see Brian Leizerowicz promoted to Vice President of Sales at Western Window Systems.  Brian is one of the good guys in our world.  Love seeing this move and Brian’s energy and drive will be good for Western and our industry as whole.  CONGRATS!

 

--  Last this week… kudos to friend Keith Daubmann of MyShowerDoor and D3 Glass for living out a dream that I think a  few of sports fans may have.  Throwing out the first pitch at his favorite major league baseball teams game.  Keith threw a beauty before the Boston Red Sox took on the Minnesota Twins and the whole thing was awesome to see.  Happy for and jealous of Keith!  BUT- no way could I throw one nicely like Keith… I’d throw it into the 10^throw.  Several year's ago at BEC, we had Jim Abbott- the great ex Yankee pitcher as our keynote.  He called me on stage to “have a catch” – I was a wreck and my throwing motion was an ugly mess and I barely got the ball there.  And that was only 5 feet away.  At 60 feet?  Yikes.  Anyway pumped for Keith and good to see him in the spotlight- he’s usually so shy, this could get him to break out of his shell.  Ha ha ha. See it here via FaceBook. 

 

LINKS of the WEEK

Owl vs Parrot

 

Wild story of art and family

This tech is promising (fight through the top half of the article to get to the point) but can it make it?  Can it go from lab to real???

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

Took me a while to get to this one but in the spotlight this week is Rhyno Glass in Florida.  They took an old CrossFit gym and transformed it into a very functional fabrication facility and office.

They used the SLIMPACT XL glazing system and SLIMPACT doors, among other materials and this unique project showcases all of Rhyno’s structural glazing fabrication and installation abilities. Great stuff.  Congrats to the Rhyno team on a job well done!!

 

 

A Needed Innovation

The big news for this blog dropped late in the week and I think it was hinted upon during my podcast with Garret Henson of Viracon.  The announcement that Viracon would be adding a code to each IGU that will identify the exact make-up of the unit is big big news in my opinion.  This is something that has been bandied about for years and some have tried on much smaller scales but to have something formal like this truly is a huge accomplishment.  Matching or replacing existing is already an adventure but even worse when you don’t exactly know what the product is- this move by Viracon – at least for their units- takes that guessing game out.  Excellent work to get that moving and now we’ll see how fast others will move to match.  Again it’s been a process that some have tried/done in small bursts, but now it’s a national play… congrats to the team at Viracon for pushing this out there and I’ll count this is as a mini scoop because on my podcast Garret noted something big was coming and I gotta assume this was it!

 

Elsewhere…

 

--  BEC may be over but that buzz continues and I love it.  One item that I want to share for those that did not attend was the “Top 10” list that I opened the show with.  I found this list that was presented 20 years ago at BEC and brought it back to show how much has changed and improved since 2003.  So here goes the Top 10 Industry Challenges for the Glazing Contractor in 2003. 

10 Lack of commitment and dealing with poor project coordination by general contractors;

9 Architects—lack of product knowledge;

8 Ramifications from the design/build process;

7 Inadequate architectural drawings and/or details;

6 Construction scheduling;

5 Project management;

4 Risk transfer or evaluation;

3 Bad documents and killer contracts;

2 Getting paid; 

and

1 Building a quality workforce.

And as I noted from the stage- isn’t great that we figured all of this out and fixed it?  

Truly is something to see it all in print that 20 years later this list is pretty much what it would be if we created it today.  Some things are being worked on more diligently than others but the challenge remains.  The big question is at the 2043 BEC when probably one of the Habers (from the latest generation who just attended their first BEC) is hosting it- will they bring this up again and will it be the same?

 

--  One more note on BEC- if you were not convinced Bird Friendly glazing was a real thing- you should be now.  The commitment is there.  The products options are there.  And the codes and standards will just keep coming.

 

--  The Architectural Billings Index gets released this week and will be a curious one to watch because last month almost was in the positive territory.  The analysts have felt that the softening in 2024 would be on the shorter side- so if that is true, we’ll either be close to positive or over.  Now obviously the same analysts did not expect a bizarre banking crisis either- though I am sure that is not factored in to this month’s index but could roil the next few.  And no doubt this banking issue may wreak serious havoc on our space and bears watching.

 

--  Before the banks went haywire, there was some optimism on the backlog side. The ABC Backlog indicator reversed past losses and had a good last report.  Historic high backlog is the headline and I know some reading this do NOT agree at all- but interesting to see and a good read here on the latest.

 

--  Last this week… the documentary series on Netflix “Pepsi, Where’s My Jet” is not only a fun and light watch but also the main guy in it worked in the glass industry in Seattle back in the day.  Briefly talking about cutting and installing glass but then more into being a window washer.  So at least it was a fun quick mention.  Aside from that, the story itself was interesting and also somewhat bizarre in that a pretty solid cash settlement was offered but the guy wanted a military jet.  You’ll have to watch it to get that whole thing- not a bad time passer for sure.

 

LINKS of the WEEK

On one end college education being less popular is a bad thing- but on another- especially and possibly in our world it could be a good thing. Some interesting takes in this one.

 

Worth clicking for the headline alone.  Yeesh.

 

I don’t think Google Glasses are meant to be

  

PROJECT of the WEEK

The spotlight is on East Coast Metal Systems for the Howard County Circuit Courthouse.  Nice project that has a little of everything on it and it obviously turned out nicely!  According to their post on LinkedIn East Coast Metal Systems partnered with heavyweights Clark Construction, HOK, and Alliance Exterior Construction in completing this project- no mention on the glass (which looks great too) but obviously a winner for all.  CONGRATS! 

The BIG BEC Recap

Another BEC is in the books and what an event it was!  Once again so great to see so many wonderful leaders in our space and continue to learn and advance.  As is tradition, this will be a very long post recapping BEC but mostly noting the who’s who of the show for me.  Before I get into the people aspect, let’s talk about the event.  The education was epic.  A few things stood out.  The courage and class from Coleman Jones of Pioneer, Dave Ferret of Bagatelos and Matt Kamper of Woodbridge to share insights into the challenges on jobs.  Attendees were buzzing about this and particularly Matt’s project that I heard more than a few say “yeah that’s one monster I never want to see!”   The Jeff Dalaba (NACC/AGMT) led panel was a hit thanks to having an extremely conversational tone digging deep into the quality aspect, and the close of the show with Jeff Haber of W&W, Taylor Anderson of Anderson Aluminum and Joey Aragon of Aragon Construction was tremendous with so many shared details that many immediately were discussing on how to implement.  That’s only a few, there were great nuggets of inspiration throughout the event, and I think probably one of the best educational offerings from top to bottom in our 25 years of doing BEC.  Thank you to all!!

--  The vibe overall was positive but guarded.  The concern of interest rates surging was a big one, as was jobs on the books going poof.  2023 looks good still- 2024 is more murky and quite frustrating.  The folks worried about 2024 were using the time at this show to explore diversifying their offerings and strengthening relationships- very smart by them.  I’ll be hitting on this more in coming weeks.

--  Ok now on to the people.  For those of you new to this blog, after events like this I rundown a bunch of folks I run into at the event and what they may be up to.  I look at it like a “Seen and Heard” at the show sort of thing and have been doing this since I started this blog way back in 2005. 

--  BEC is for catching up with old friends, and past podcast guests!  Was great to see the most popular guy in our space Tom O’Malley of Clover Architectural Products- he was only able to come for a short time, but I am thrilled he did though I would’ve liked more than 10 seconds to visit with him.  Loved seeing the Quaker Window guys Chris Dickneite and Dusty Fick and of the one and only Joseph Holmes.  Great guys to visit with always.  Dan and Jodi Martinez were there and full credit to Dan for braving some serious bad weather to reach Vegas.  I only saw Will Pounds of TSI Corporations for a moment as he was running to a meeting, so I didn’t get to ask if his favorite food is still gas station sushi (podcast reference when he was a guest!)

 

--  Old friends always are fun for me.  The great Jeff Ziesche of JAZ Sales surprised me with an epic old glazing manual from the 1940’s- that alone was so cool to look at.  Rick Alexander of Tom Brown was dominating the weight room when I saw him first and just thrilled he attends every year.  My guy Ian Patlin of Phoenix Architectural Glass was there taking in as much knowledge as he can, but I seriously think he knows it all already. Seeing legends like Jim Stathopoulos of Ajay Glass, Omar Maalouf of Momentum, and Derek Losee of Steel Encounters was a blast for me.  So cool and talented.  Thanks also to them because I think my time with them and Derek bringing back food from the reception buffet was the only time I ate. And it’s not BEC for me without visiting with PJ Hilboldt of NGG.  Just an awesome guy.

 

--  New faces at BEC make me happy.  The contingent from Ubiquitous Energy were awesome and it’s a thrill that they could attend and participate.  I got to meet Evan Afenir of Double Play Glass in person, and he was as impressive as the work he does out in California. Steve Sletten of Larson Engineering stopped me to say hi and that was a day maker.  Fun seeing and watching Trent Thiry and Art Droste of Global Security Glazing/Isoclima being at their first ever BEC and trying to meet and greet as many people as they could. Tom Irvin of OldcastleBuilding Envelope may have attended in the past but was nice to see him at this one and the OBE case study was a really nice addition to the schedule. 

 

--  Obviously, I always love any chance to visit with Michael and Carolyn Spellman.  They treat me great, and I am fan.  Between VIG and the massive need for automation out there, those two along with Manny Borda of IGE were quite busy. Still thrilled that Cameron Scripture of Viracon always makes time for me.  Such a good person.  I enjoyed catching up with Art Huard and Dr Charlie Boyer and not only hearing about the Vacu-Gasket growth but all else on their minds. Leigh Anne Mays is back on our side of the industry at Naverra and she was absolutely everywhere at this meeting spreading the gospel on her new company. And I got a nice amount of time to talk with Troy Johnson of Harmon and he is a hopeful target for me to have on the podcast- classy and sharp- that’s a guy who gets it.  

 

--  Shout out to the great state of Texas!  Loved seeing Rick Newnom of Hou-Tex Glass as well as Kyle Lamb of Universal Glass.  The Country Glass duo of Brian Risinger and Joe Lambertson were everywhere (in that awesome gear of course) and they always are open to network- which is appreciated.  Kyle Sharp of Sharp Glass was great to catch up with as well- and I look forward to seeing all these folks and more at TEXpo in May.

 

--  It was nice to see Eric Mayka of Millet- that’s a busy guy.  Also very busy was the duo of Juan Gallego and Daniella Fernandez of Trust Seal.  I met Juan for the first time at the 2020 BEC and he still wanted to see me this time!  LOL.  Good folks and both excited with Trust Seal now having a place in South Florida.  Always nice to see Andy Russo of Glass & Metalcraft, and I am pumped he’ll be going to DC to represent the interests of Michiganders at Glass and Glazing Advocacy Days.  He’ll be great at that.  Dan Sutton of Vitro Architectural has no idea how to take me, but I love the guy- smart and so well spoken on the hottest products out there. And speaking of Vitro, seeing old pal Jemssy Alvarez was simply splendid.  It’s not really a BEC if I don’t see Jerry Moser of RA Kennedy or Joe Clabbers of National Glass and Metal.  I did- and that was clutch- great guys always supporting the cause. 

 

--  I mentioned Joey Aragon above and it was very epic to see more of that crew including dad Joe, brother Matt and of course the one and only Drew Forester.  Having the legacy folks back was something else.  Pat Rome continues to be an icon even though he’s moved on from our space.  Andy Gum being back was incredible and I hope he’ll be a regular again.  Kevin Roth of Privacy Glass is not only a regular but is like one of the most popular guys at the event.  I could say I knew him when he was leery of attending!  Now I don’t think he’ll miss another. Dapper Dan Reinhart of Salem was there and he now wears the crown of best dressed in our space.   The gang from Glass 3 in Canada never miss, and this show had Josh Aknin and Seth Maretz.  Great and energetic guys who not only know their stuff but will be important pieces in our world for years to come.  Did I say energy and Canada in the same sentence?  Then it’s time to mention Goldray Glass.  Loved catching up with Laura Little, Mike Saroka, and Kevin McMahon. Hanging with them makes me feel like the “cool kid” in class. 

 

--  I was impressed with Guardian Glass showing- their sample viewing station was cool and Jake Kasbrick is a really impressive player.  Also has great hair.  I’m jealous.  I’m also jealous that Alan Kinder from Guardian can speak flawlessly for 5 minutes straight about bird friendly glass.  It’s a subject that many are into and can be a challenge to explain and he nailed it.  Though Mark Jacobsen from Kuraray bringing out a “live demo” of how bird friendly works will be a memory for a while!  Nice work.  And I’d be really missing it if I did not mention two incredible stars in our space that I love seeing each BEC- the best PR player in the biz Heather West and one of the best to ever do the sales game- Shelly Farmer of Sightline Commercial Solutions.

 

Obviously, I can go on and on… but before I end just kudos to the team at NGA who worked tirelessly to pull this off.  Trust me, it was not easy.  Lots of moving parts and pieces but the team led by Sara Neiswanger (who had a VERY memorable BEC) and Katy Devlin absolutely rocked it.  I’ll have more over the next few weeks but for now that’s your rundown.  BEC next year is back in Nashville and combined with GPAD.  THAT will be an absolute must attend.  Can’t wait!

 

No LINKS or PROJECT of the week due to how long this was- both will be back next week!

BEC Begins

It’s here!  BEC week is upon us, and I am onsite in Las Vegas with hundreds of industry leaders.  Next week I’ll have my usual “who’s who” recap of this event but the overall vibe once again is one of positivity and hope.  I think we all have the concern over the economy and metrics.  We’ve all either seen or experienced (or experiencing) some softness.  But the one consistent aspect is that it is not holding people back.  Innovation is happening, expansions are taking place, and a thirst to get diverse (both in products and workforce) is sincere.  Loving it all.  BEC will always have a special place in my heart as the event that I got my first opportunity at so many years ago and I look forward to always being here and amongst the best of the best!  

 

Elsewhere…

 

--  In case you missed it, my latest podcast is up, and it does have a very heavy BEC flavor to it. Everyone on it this month (Garret Henson Viracon, Nicole Mann, Glass Vegas, Michael Spellman, Art Huard, and Dr. Charlie Boyer, Vacu-Gask) are all expected to be in Vegas for BEC (haven’t seen everyone yet) so that will be fun. Initial feedback has been awesome.  Garret’s history and path into the industry has had people scrambling down memory lane unaware of his connection to a past giant in our space.  Nicole’s energy was infectious, and the invention by Michael/Art/Charlie delivered a lot of “wow VIG is FOR REAL” comments.  Cool stuff.  Thank you for checking it out and supporting!

VIDEO

AUDIO – and anywhere you get your podcasts, Apple, Spotify, Google etc.

 

--  Congrats to Tom Donovan and the team at the newly branded Thompson Innovative Glass.  Tremendous initial launch of the new brand and message and with more to come including a new website, great things are surely ahead.  These guys are always making inroads and I like the push into more sophisticated options.  Nice work Tom and team!

 

--  Very important piece here on high performance glazing, benefits from the government and your chance to have a voice in Washington DC.  Glass & Glazing Advocacy Days are coming, it is worth it to you to get involved and get involved in a big and important way!

 

--  As some of you in the specific school safety space are aware, there is a new standard (thankfully) available.  However, it doesn’t come without its issues.  Evidently the cost to test to this new standard is considered to be quite exorbitant leading some to possibly not go down that path.  That aspect is not a good one.  We need good standards (this by all indications is and it’s MUCH better than the standard before) but if they become an issue in testing to meet it, then that is a problem.  Will bear watching and also will affect the costs out there too- which means we as an industry will lose product to other materials. 

 

--  Last this week… Rolling Stone did a rundown of Top TV Themes of all time and once again I think they are way off.  But it is great for fun arguments…. I’ll say “The Jeffersons” at #1 works because “Moving on up” is a classic.  But Friends at 8 is too low, as is the Sopranos at 19.  Miami Vice at 32 is a crime and my wife and daughter will kill me if I don’t note that having the Gilmore Girls at #45 is simply insane. (Very catchy tune that I have only heard a million times because that show plays constantly in my home)  Interesting list though and brings back a ton of memories.  Check it out!

 

LINKS of the WEEK

Brave little toddler here and interesting story.

 

Not sure this a real story but the headline did make me laugh

 

If it’s a dog adoption story – I am there. 

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

This one may be a bit older but it’s a beauty and was glazed by some of the best people in our space- DM Products.  This is the Tower Two Sixty at the Gardens in Pittsburgh and it’s got everything going for it.  Beautiful glass and system and LEED certified too.  Congrats to Dick and Mike Macurak at DM on this awesome effort and kudos to United Architctural on the metal system and Viracon on the glass.  Nice work!

 

 

Pod, People, and More!

The latest From the Fabricator podcast is now online and live and the mix of guests this month is very exciting.  I kick it off with the one and only Garret Henson of Viracon and we covered a ton of ground both in historical and also products and important issues going forward.  Next up I had the wonderful Nicole Mann of Glass Vegas.  Great story from her and her passion going forward is something to behold.  Can’t wait to meet her in person next week at BEC.  Then I wrap it up with 3 great guys who have invented a product that will be crucial for so many in the future.  Michael Spellman, Art Huard, and Dr. Charlie Boyer join me to talk about the Vacu-Gask product that will be a must for the oncoming rush of VIG installations.  Really neat insights shared by all, so please check it out and if you are on your way to BEC, perfect time to listen since all of these folks will be in attendance! 

VIDEO

AUDIO – and anywhere you get your podcasts, Apple, Spotify, Google etc.

 

--  So as noted above BEC is coming and we are now just one week out.  Sunday March 5^th the best of the best of the glazing sector will gather in Vegas and take part in this incredibly meaningful event.  The last few weeks I have been noting some of the sessions and another one I cannot wait to take in is the kick off keynote on Monday.  It will be Susan Stone of Ubiquitous Energy, Trent Thiry of Isoclima/Global Security Glazing and Sophie Pennetier of Enclos.  They’ll be talking about what’s on the horizon in our industry and how we can all get up to speed and grow.  I am so excited as these are three wonderful and engaging people- so that alone makes it a must-see but add in the subject matter and I expect a lot of buzz after it.  Can’t wait.  Looking forward to seeing everyone soon… 

 

--  Interesting release of the Architectural Billings Index this week.  The index was below the break even number but it was better than we expected and actually not bad at 49.3.  Plus as I mentioned last week, the one item to watch was new project inquiries and that number went up nicely to over 55 giving us the best report there since August.  So far everything is tracking as predicted.  While things continue to soften, the feeling is that this stretch will be on the shorter side.  Regardless of any index, we all just keep plugging away and that is all that matters.  I’ll be curious to see how folks at BEC feel on all of this and will obviously report back here…

 

--  Some good industry news to run down.  Jan Hulin of Q-Railing has now been promoted to President of the company.  Nice to see.  Jan is a good man who’s really helped mold Q into a massive player in that rail space.  Meanwhile awesome news out of IGE Glass Technologies with an excellent addition in Heinz Wiedmayer.  Lots of experience and knowledge being added to a group loaded with it already.  And kudos to the folks at Aldora on the announcement of their latest operation in Virginia.  This is relevant because of what I noted last week on the Weathertech commercial and manufacturing in North America.  See folks- new plants are opening- not everything is made off shore.  

 

--  Last… Big couple of weeks for friend of the blog and industry groundbreaker Bill Daubmann of MyShowerDoor and D3 Glass.  The team from the Fox morning show did their remote reporting newscast all morning there and was a great way to show our world works.  They also did a report (HERE) with Bill that took a great look at all Bill and family have accomplished.  Very cool!  Then Bill picked up some awards (I can’t keep track but I do believe they were only glass company awarded) and became tight with not one but TWO major league baseball teams.  Not sure when Bill or any of the team there has time to breathe but they are absolutely rocking.  

 

LINKS of the WEEK

A “glass” balloon for space travel?  So many questions

 

Pretty cool idea here getting people reunited with their momentos

 

This is something- possibly the oldest bar ever?

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

So for this week with BEC so close I found a project that had all of the players attending the event in Vegas.  This was posted by Russell Williams the awesome Manufacturers Rep from So Cal.   This was an older building that was re-done and updated and it is now spectacular.  101 S. Marengo in Paadena.  According to Russell, YKK AP with the unitized curtain wall, Vitrum wth the fabricated glass (manufactured by Guardian Glass) and factory glazed and installed by the legends at Aragon Construction.  This is a power packed collab for sure- almost like the Avengers (Note- we know Joey Aragon is a super Hero- rumor is he’s jumping the fountains at Caesars this week…) Love everything on this and thank you Russell for posting and sharing the love amongst all of these great organizations.  

 

Russell also mentioned RIOS Architecture and Atlas Capital Group as well, so want to make sure I include them in the props.  CONGRATS TO ALL – Tremendous project!