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New Product Snapshot from 2012 AIA Expo
For the past several years, Snap magazine has organized a “Say it in a Snap” session at the AIA Expo, offering building product manufacturers a chance to talk about their newest product innovations. Products showcased this year demonstrated a broad array of form and function:
- CertainTeed introduced AirRenew® Extreme Impact Gypsum Board — the industry’s first and only wallboard with VOC-scavenging technology and robust impact resistance.
- Sherwin Williams announced the expansion of their environmentally conscious paint products — Emerald TM zero-VOC interior paint.
- BluWorld of Water shared a new white paper that dispels some of the microbial concerns around water features in health care settings.
- Construction Specialties launched two new louver products that offered very distinct design aesthetics.
New Product Snapshot from 2012 AIA Expo
For the past several years, Snap magazine has organized a “Say it in a Snap” session at the AIA Expo, offering building product manufacturers a chance to talk about their newest product innovations. Products showcased this year demonstrated a broad array of form and function:
- CertainTeed introduced AirRenew® Extreme Impact Gypsum Board — the industry’s first and only wallboard with VOC-scavenging technology and robust impact resistance.
- Sherwin Williams announced the expansion of their environmentally conscious paint products — Emerald TM zero-VOC interior paint.
- BluWorld of Water shared a new white paper that dispels some of the microbial concerns around water features in health care settings.
- Construction Specialties launched two new louver products that offered very distinct design aesthetics.
Election News and Endorsements
Early voting has begun for the 2012 Primaries. Vote today or on election day - May 29, 2012 (the day after Memorial Day).
Please remember these endorsed* candidates when you head to the polls. Only candidates with opponents in the primary are listed below:
Federal Races:
US Senate - David Dewhurst
US Representative, District 2 - Ted Poe
US Representative, District 7 - John Culberson
US Representative, District 8 - Kevin Brady
US Representative, District 9 - Al Green
US Representative, District 10 - Michael McCaul
US Representative, District 22 - Pete Olson
Statewide Races:
Railroad Commission: Comm. Barry Smitherman
Texas Supreme Court, Seat 2: Justice Don WillettTexas Supreme Court, Seat 4: Justice David Medina
Texas Supreme Court, Seat 6: Justice Nathan Hecht
Texas Senate:
District 4 - Sen. Tommy Williams
District 11 - Larry Taylor
Texas House:
District 3 - Cecil Bell, Jr.
District 15 - Rob Eissler
District 18 - John Otto
District 29 - Ed Thompson
District 85 - Lee Duggan (former HAA member)
District 127 - Dan Huberty
District 129 - John Davis
District 131 - Alma Allen
District 132 - Bill Callegari
District 133 - Jim Murphy (HAA member)
District 138 - Dwayne Bohac
District 147 - Garnet Coleman
District 150 - Debbie Riddle
Texas District Court 165:
Harris County Races:
County Court at Law, Place 1 - Debra Ibarra Mayfield
County Court at Law, Place 2 - Theresa Chang
Sheriff - Adrian Garcia
Tax Assessor-Collector - Mike Sullivan
Commissioner, Precinct 4 - Jack Cagle
Harris County Justices of the Peace (includes all races, contested or not):
Precinct 1, Place 1 - Dale Gorczynski
Precinct 2, Place 1 - Jo Ann Delgado
Precinct 3, Place 1 - Mike Parrott
Precinct 4, Place 1 - J. Kent Adams
Precinct 5, Place 1 - Russ Ridgway
Precinct 6, Place 1 - Richard Vara
Precinct 7, Place 1 - Holly Williamson
Precinct 8, Place 1 - Tommy Ginn
Harris County Constables:
Precinct 3 - Ken Jones
Precinct 4 - Ron Hickman
Precinct 5 - Phil Camus
Precinct 6 - Victor Trevino
Precinct 7 - May Walker
Precinct 8 - Phil Sandlin
Click on the county name below to find out where and when you can early vote!
Austin County (click on May 29, 2012 Polling Locations)
Matagorda County (click for Democratic and Republican Party locations)
If you have any questions about HAA's government affairs activities, please contact the Public Affairs Department.
*The Houston Apartment Association Better Government Fund endorses candidates for local and state races. The Texas Apartment Association Political Action Committee and National Apartment Association PAC make endorsements in state and federal races. The list above represents a compilation of endorsements from across the PACs. HAA membership dues never are used to fund campaign contributions. Only contributions to the HAABGF or PACs are used for contributions to candidates.
Architectural Record Makes Photo-sharing Easy
Whether it’s Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter, photo-sharing is most definitely in vogue. While all of these networks create a sense of community and connectedness in their own special way, Architectural Record magazine has launched a photo-sharing mobile app designed specifically for architects and designers. At the 2012 AIA Convention and Design Exposition, the Architectural Record editorial team touted the new tool, which is available, free-of-charge via iTunes.
Google SketchUp Brings Design Inspirations to Life
Architects are known for having boundless imaginations when conceptualizing their designs. Traditionally, they have put pen to paper to bring their ideas to life. However, a growing trend is to use Google SketchUp — as evidenced by the bustling flow of traffic in their booth at the 2012 AIA Convention and Design Exhibition. An inituitive, easy-to-use tool, Google SketchUp is used to create quick 3-D imagery for conceptual stages of design. It also includes a repository of 3-D building objects — the Google 3D Warehouse — that expedites the design process. Building product manufacturers, including CertainTeed, are making brand-specific building objects available through the warehouse to more closely align concepts with real-world applications. Is Google SketchUp the wave of the future? We’re interested in hearing your thoughts.
Google SketchUp Brings Design Inspirations to Life
Architects are known for having boundless imaginations when conceptualizing their designs. Traditionally, they have put pen to paper to bring their ideas to life. However, a growing trend is to use Google SketchUp — as evidenced by the bustling flow of traffic in their booth at the 2012 AIA Convention and Design Exhibition. An inituitive, easy-to-use tool, Google SketchUp is used to create quick 3-D imagery for conceptual stages of design. It also includes a repository of 3-D building objects — the Google 3D Warehouse — that expedites the design process. Building product manufacturers, including CertainTeed, are making brand-specific building objects available through the warehouse to more closely align concepts with real-world applications. Is Google SketchUp the wave of the future? We’re interested in hearing your thoughts.
Design Inspiration at 2012 AIA Expo
Spend only a few minutes at 2012 AIA Expo and you’re sure to be inspired. Revolutionary product innovations such as the Dyson air multiplier or SAGE electrochromic glass are capturing the attention of many at the show. At the AIA/DC exhibit, Claire Conroy of Residential Architect magazine hosted a panel of seven Washington D.C.-based architects and their impressive breadth of recent work. Philip Esocoff shared his strategy on leveraging height restrictions through pre-cast concrete ornamentation. Travis Price highlighted excerpts from his most recent book, “The Mythic Modern.” And, Mark McInturff spoke of the trials and tribulations of designing a roof top pool that weighs the equivalent of four Prius cars. All in all, it was an awe-inspiring day. Looking forward further exploration tomorrow…
AIA 2012 Off to a Busy Start
Thus far, the AIA 2012 Convention and Design Expo seems to have an exceptionally high level of traffic and energy on the exhibit floor. Is it the convenient Washington D.C. location? Renewed optimism of a rebounding economy? An expansive display of innovative new building products? Most likely, all of the above.
At the Saint-Gobain booth (#3339) there’s a wide array of technical experts on hand to talk about solar, building science, glass technology, and more. If you are unable to join us at the show, feel free to post your unsolvable problem on our trade show page.
Stay tuned for more updates from the show…
Saint-Gobain’s Expert “Throw Down” at the AIA 2012 Convention and Design Expo
Eric Nilsson
Eric Nilsson is Vice President, Corporate Marketing for CertainTeed Corporation
The excitement for this year’s American Institute of Architects (AIA) Convention and Design Expo is growing for Saint-Gobain and its family of businesses! We will be heading down to the nation’s capital from May 17 – 19 to help architects and designers solve problems they are having on specific projects and introduce them to the expertise within Saint-Gobain.
You might ask yourself—who is Saint-Gobain and what do they have to do with CertainTeed? Well, Saint-Gobain is CertainTeed’s parent company and also the largest building materials company in the world.
You already know Saint-Gobain, it may not be that obvious though—our roots start in France where 350 years ago, we made the glass that adorns the Hall of Mirrors in Versalles. Today, we make beer bottles for Budweiser, manufactured the new roof on the Dallas Cowboys stadium and through CertainTeed, manufactured the ceiling tiles in the Denver airport and made the roof that adorns Henry Ford’s home. This is a mere, and I mean mere glimpse into this massive company, but, also a glimpse into the possibilities.
That’s why Saint-Gobain is bringing all of its businesses to the AIA show this week, and not just to show off products. Saint-Gobain features the largest and smartest collection of building scientists and technical experts in North America from its trusted North American companies: CertainTeed, ADFORS, Grenite, Norton, SAGE, Saint-Gobain Glass, Saint-Gobain Solar, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics and SolarGard to help architects “solve the unsolvable problem.” We urge design professionals to bring your unsolvable problems to our booth and try to stump out experts!
This year, we’re talking moisture, indoor environmental quality, aesthetics, thermal efficiency and solar and our experts are ready to talk. If you can’t make the show, check us out virtually Trade Show page that will share show updates through Twitter so that non-attendees can feel part of the action. Through this page you can also ask questions or present unsolvable problems that our experts can tackle. If you submit an unsolvable problem you will be entered into a prize drawing.
During AIA 2012, we will be blogging here about show events and observations from guest bloggers. Should be fun and entertaining!
Please join the conversation at AIA from your desk by bookmarking the Trade Show page. We want to help you feel part of the AIA Convention and to help solve your design challenges.