The Making of the AAMA 75th Anniversary Sculpture

In order to commemorate AAMA’s 75 years of dedication to the fenestration industry, an LED-lit glass and aluminum sculpture was created by PGT Industries and showcased during the 2012 Annual Conference in February. Now the sculpture is permanently displayed in the lobby of AAMA headquarters in Schaumburg, IL. However, coordinating the development of a piece that would honor AAMA’s diamond anniversary was no easy task.

Creating the sculpture was a “team effort,” Rod Hershberger (
Hershberger facilitated in the development of the AAMA anniversary piece, along with a team comprised of a glass engraver, aluminum artist/welder and a LED lighting expert. The 18 inch tall glass, which was later engraved with the AAMA and 75^th anniversary logo, was donated by
PGT used a local customer who specializes in glass engraving to complete the logo etching. But, due to the weight of the glass, it became evident that the glass could not stand on its own. Fortunately, Hershberger was able to utilize a welder who specialized in aluminum art to create a base that would not only support the weight of the glass but feature the AAMA logo as well.

“I was chatting with Dave McWilliams, our welder who has made a few brushed aluminum art pieces (e.g., fish and turtles), and we came up with the AAMA box idea. He drew the logo, cut it out freehand and welded it together,” Hershberger said. In addition to the aluminum AAMA logo, the base includes laminated glass that is backlit with colored LED lights, which was the idea of Blake Foltz, Area Leader for PGT Customer Service.

All of AAMA thanks Rod Hershberger and PGT Industries for their work on the unique AAMA 75^th Anniversary sculpture, as well as PPG Industries for the donation of the glass.