GLASS INDUSTRY INNOVATION AND EDUCATION STAND OUT AT AIA’22

Blueprint for Collaboration panel: Alan Kinder, regional architectural manager, East Coast, Guardian Industries; Keith Boswell, director at Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP; Tara Brummet, chief of staff, Vitrum Glass Group; Peter Koukos, director of strategic process for Harmon; Paul Daniels of Frameless Hardware Company LLC; and Andrew Haring, vice president of business development.  The American Institute of Architect’s AIA Conference on Architecture returned last week after a two-year hiatus with AIA’22, held June 22-25 in Chicago. The glass and glazing industry made its mark on the event with opportunities for learning and displays of new product solutions.  BLUEPRINT FOR COLLABORATION During the conference, the National Glass Association brought the glass industry to the forefront with the Blueprint for Collaboration panel discussion and networking event at the SkyDeck of the Willis Tower. The panel included speakers from all segments of the industry discussing glass and glazing products as solutions to building challenges, while emphasizing the importance of team collaboration to ensure project and performance goals are met.  "The AIA Conference on architecture is a great event, historically," says Andrew Haring, vice president of business development at NGA. "The Expo itself is a great opportunity for manufacturing solution providers to engage directly with those that design and specify.  "This year we took it a step further and hosted a private, intimate event to showcase glass as a building product of choice, championing the inherent value-add capabilities and versatility of it in the built environment. The exceptional panel of stakeholders that NGA curated was top-notch, giving attendees an exclusive peek behind the curtain and access to the top minds of the entire supply chain in our industry. The interactions that took place on that stage was something I’ve never witnessed firsthand, and I believe the audience walked away with new perspectives that they haven’t previously been privy to."  The event drew 160 registrants, including architects and students from throughout North America. Panelists included Keith Boswell, director at Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP; Tara Brummet, chief of staff, Vitrum Glass Group; Paul Daniels of Frameless Hardware Company LLC; Alan Kinder, regional architectural manager, East Coast, Guardian Industries; and Peter Koukos, director of strategic process for Harmon. Andrew Haring, vice president of business development for the NGA, served as moderator.  GLASS COMPANIES AT THE AIA’22 EXPO The two-day expo portion of AIA’22 took over Chicago’s McCormick Place with a 166,000 square foot hall featuring exhibits from about 500 building product manufacturers. About 25 glass industry exhibitors displayed during the event.  “We’re absolutely thrilled to return to the AIA Conference, coming together to celebrate the dynamic architectural industry and our bright future together,” said Barbara Haaksma, senior vice president of marketing for C.R. Laurence Co. Among the products on display at the CRL booth was the new Blumcraft PA100 Panic Device designed for 12-foot-high glass doors.  Meanwhile, YKK AP America, in recognition of the 2022 International Year of Glass, debuted the parody video “No Frame No Glory” during the show. The video follows the story of a fictional band The Facades and its lead singer, Glass, who is seeking out his opportunity to go solo. “But without the support of his band, which includes the Jambs, Sill and Mullion, will he succeed?” describes the company.  Other industry exhibitors included Frameless Hardware Company, or FHC, which displayed its all-glass door; Assa Abloy, which highlighted its range of its hardware security products; United States Bullet Proofing/Quikserv Inc., which displayed its transaction and security solutions; and AGMT Glazing Certification, which promoted its glazing certification program.