Tag Archives: Architects

MCA Member Companies to Exhibit at AIA National Convention

Metal Construction, metal roofing, metal walls, News, , , , , , , , , ,

Building Leaders 2013

By: John Ryan, Metal Construction Association

If you’re in Denver this week to attend the 2013 AIA National Convention, be sure to stop by MCA’s booth (#1303) in the Metal Pavilion. Many of MCA’s member companies will also be exhibiting at the show, and will be displaying the many innovative metal roof and wall products and services that they have to offer. Here is a list of MCA member companies that will be at the convention in Denver this week:

Exhibitor Name          Booth Number
3A Composites USA, Inc. 1733
Akzo Nobel Coatings, Inc 1330
Alcoa Architectural Products 1523
Alpolic-Mitsubishi Plastics Composites America 3354
Alucoil North America 519
ATAS International, Inc 1306
BASF 338
Bayer Material Science 3946
CENTRIA 3303
Copper Development Association 3930
Englert 3647
Firestone Building Products 3966
ITW Buildex 3958
Kingspan Insulated Panels 610
MBCI 716
Metal Construction Association 1303
Metanna 1403
Metl-Span 3038
Metal Sales Manufacturing 323
Petersen Aluminum Corp 803
PPG Industries Inc. 1736
RHEINZINK America Inc. 2730
Sheffield Metals 706
Solvay Specialty Polymers 4042
Steelscape 419
Umicore Building Products 2509
Valspar 3333

Metal Construction in Denver: Denver Police Crime Lab

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Denver Police Crime Lab

By: John Ryan, Metal Construction Association

We’re heading to Denver tomorrow for the 2013 AIA National Convention, and we are excited to see all of the beautiful architecture that Denver has to offer, metal or otherwise. We’re sure we’ll be spending a lot of time the Denver International Airport and the recently expanded Colorado Convention Center, and we’ll be walking the city to take in sites like Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium and the Denver Art Museum.

Denver Police Crime Lab Building Uses Aluminum PanlesOne place we also want to see–though we hope that it is on our own timeframe and not for an extended visit–is the Denver Police Crime Lab. This 60,000 sq. ft. facility opened in 2012, and houses nine crime forensic units. While we are fans of the numerous iterations of the CSI: Crime Scene Investigators TV series, we’ll be checking it out to admire the 30,000 sq. feet of Reynobond® aluminum composite panels in six different colors.

We hope you’ll stop by to visit us at the 2013 AIA National Convention; MCA will be in booth 1303. If you aren’t able to participate in Scott Kriner’s seminar this week: “Metal Roofing: The Perfect Platform for Solar Technologies,” Scott and  MCA staff will be in the booth over the course of the show and will be happy to answer any metal construction questions. And of course you can take the course (and others) via MCA’s monthly webinar series.

Metal Construction in Denver: Denver Art Museum

Design, Metal Construction, New Construction, News, , , , , , , ,

Denver Art Museum - Night

By: John Ryan, Metal Construction Association

As we ramp up for the AIA National Convention in Denver next week, any discussion of Denver architecture would be remiss to not include the striking Frederic C. Hamilton Building at the Denver Art Museum. Designed by Daniel Libeskind, the metal building addition opened in 2006 and has been a lightning rod for both praise and criticism.

Denver Art MuseumClad in titanium panels, the Frederic C. Hamilton Building reflects not just the Colorado sun, but also the shapes and angles found in the most prominent part of the Denver landscape–the Rocky Mountains. The metal building is sure to evoke strong feelings from even the most casual critic, but we simply appreciate the use of metal construction in new and engaging ways.

We’re excited to be in Denver next week, and will be sure to take in many of the many beautiful and varied examples of architecture. Stop by booth 1303 at the AIA National Convention in the Colorado Convention Center to say hello, and learn more about the beauty of metal walls and roofs.

Metal Construction in Denver: Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium

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Sports Authority FieldBy: John Ryan, Metal Construction Association

We promised to share some of our favorite examples of metal construction in Denver as we get closer to the AIA National Convention from June 20-22 at the Colorado Convention Center. Here’s our first:

Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium

Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium opened in September, 2001, and features insulated metal panels (IMP) from Centria, as well as Reynobond aluminum metal composite material panels (MCM) from Alcoa.

Best known as the home of the NFL’s Denver Broncos, Mile High Stadium has been home to the likes of Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow. The metal stadium also was the venue for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, as well as concerts from bands including U2 and the Eagles.

Formerly known as Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium, Sports Authority signed a 25-year agreement for the naming rights in 2011. That should be a safe investment because the metal wall panels on that stadium will be looking great and performing well for many years to come.

What’s in a Tagline?

Metal Construction, metal roofing, metal walls, News, , , , , , , , ,

By: John Ryan, Metal Construction Association

Nike says “Just do it.”

Timex states “Takes a licking and keeps on ticking.”

DeBeers claims “A diamond is forever.”

These are some of the most recognizable taglines, and they all have a few things in common. Each supports the essence of its’ respective brand. Each appeals to the emotions of its audience. And each differentiates its brand from its competitors.

Earlier this year, the Metal Construction Association underwent an exercise to develop its own tagline. In addition to considering the qualities listed above, we considered a few additional key criteria: the tagline had to be short, memorable, and actionable.

After a rigorous brainstorming exercise in which member volunteers and staff reflected on the core values of the association and its members, MCA is pleased with where we landed.

MCA - Build Legacies Metal

MCA member companies make a host of amazing metal products that are used on many beautiful, high-performing buildings. These products are some the best performing, most technically superior, and most aesthetically pleasing metal buildings available.

Most of all, however, MCA recognizes that what we do is about more than just the metal construction and outcomes that our member companies make and the services they provide. These metal buildings become part of our culture and landscape. Because of the many performance and aesthetic characteristics inherent in metal roofs and preformed walls, they create a legacy that can last for generations.

And MCA, as a trade association, has been working for the past 30 years with its member companies to build a legacy of excellence, collaboration and innovation.

Stay tuned for more news about the evolution of the MCA brand over the coming months.

Metal Construction Blogs Provide Valuable Perspective

Design, Education, Metal Construction, metal roofing, News, Retrofit, Sustainability, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By Cathy Szmurlo, Metal Construction Association

Several members of the Metal Construction Association, which consists of manufacturers and suppliers of metal roof and wall components, have jumped on the blogging band wagon. By adding their input on products, projects, industry issues and current events to the blogosphere, these companies are providing a valuable resource to architects and building owners. We hope you’ll check out these members’ blogs for additional insights, and add them to your reading list:

  • Alpolic Mitsubishi Plastics Composites America – Descriptions of company case studies, news and projects as well as views on compelling metal architecture, design and sustainability projects.
  • American Iron and Steel Institute – Institute news and viewpoints on national and international issues affecting the steel industry.
  • Classic Metal Roofing Systems – Issues and benefits regarding metal roofing for residential building projects.
  • Copper Development Association – News and views regarding the use of copper in specific industry categories, including building construction.
  • Drexel Metals — Photos and videos along with viewpoints on company metal roofing products and projects.
  • Englert  – Metal roof and wall panel project commentary and insight on industry issues.
  • Kingspan – News and winning entries for Generation Kingspan™ Student Architectural Competition – a competition for students of architecture.
  • MBCI – Insights on metal roofing and wall issues such as the green movement, LEED, solar roofing and PV.
  • Metal Construction News – Industry news and views from publication staff.
  • Metalforming USA – Company and industry news from architectural machinery manufacturer.
  • Metalmag – Metal construction industry viewpoints from online magazine.
  • Miller Clapperton – Company, project and business opinion from this MCM fabricator.
  • Petersen Aluminum – Descriptive project articles and photos on a variety of company metal roofing projects.
  • Rigid Global Buildings – Company news and events from this metal building, roof and wall panel manufacturer.

Billings for Design Projects Rise

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Improvements to the metal construction industry2013 is looking promising for architects. A recent Wall Street Journal article, Demand for Architects Builds Momentum, reports that billings of design projects at architecture firms rose 4 consecutive months after having been depressed for 4 years in a languishing housing and real-estate market. The American Institute for Architects’—Architecture Billings Index—rose to 53.2 in November, up two points from the previous year and the highest reading since November 2007. A reading above 50 indicates that billings are increasing.

According to the article, if the trend continues, architecture firms will need to hire new design teams—welcome news for working architects, whose numbers declined to 153,000 in 2011 from 214,000 in 2007. “Rising billings also are viewed as a gauge of future construction activity because real-estate developers tend to break ground on new projects 9–12 months after they hire design firms,” it reads. And with that, 2013 is looking promising for metal construction as well.