Integrating Technology

The icy roads from last Tuesday and Wednesday's sleet didn't deter Audio Unlimiteds' David Goldenberg from coming up to Connecticut to present a Lunch & Learn on Integrating Technology Into Design. Technology has certainly changed in the past century. How many of you remember the reel to reel and the opaque projectors?
Now technology is part of all aspects of our lives: home, work, entertainment, retail, healthcare ... you name it. When designing there needs to be integration in every built environment to make use of current technology. Conference rooms should allow for video conferencing and presentations. Malls, stores and lobbies should provide for digital signage and touch screen information. Soon we'll be ordering from a touch screen menu in a restaurant and selecting new shoes from a screen.
It was also exciting to see that new technology doesn't require both CAT 6 and Coaxial wires to be pulled. It allows for greater compatability and less wire management!

Flooring

Robert McGill and Sheri Gorman, RD Weiss Company reps, gave us a history of the company and the services they now provide. Randy Weiss began as a carpet cleaner and later expanded his business. They are a vendor that provides flooring maintenance, products, installation and recycling.

Flooring Maintenance increases longevity

• Carpet and textile: deep cleaning
• Grout restoration: clean and seal
• Clearcoat floor finish

Products consultancy on all flooring issues

• Carpet: broadloom and tile "There is no excuse for ugly carpeting." Better quality of carpeting is available at reduced costs as a result of the recession.
• Rubber Flooring: rolled and tile
• Engineered Wood Flooring
• Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)
• FreeAxez: steel access floor provides wire management
• Photoluminescent emergency egress system

Product Installation Project management on flooring selection, installation and/or replacement

• Modular approach allows new carpet to be laid in occupied work settings
• Reclamation and re-use of carpet to minimize landfill

Recycling and Green Products

• Environmentally safe flooring solutions
• Re-use of carpet

Overall message- take care of your flooring!

Deck Railing

Industry experts agree that what percentage of railing systems designed nationwide will not meet code? (see answer below)

GAF presented a Lunch and Learn on deck railing installations. Territory Manager Bill Phillips, stressed that failures occur because installers did not STOP and read manufacturers' specifications and instructions.

Builders/ installers can avoid failures by knowing their local building codes for railing and by following manufacturers' installation instructions for:

• Proper Post and Rail attachment
• Proper '"Sweep" and Baluster attachment
• Use of fasteners like stainless steel that won't rust
• Maintain railing- check and clean annually

GAFs universal railing had several unique attributes.

• It offers three kinds of top and bottom rail brackets: a level bracket, a hinged stair bracket and a swivel bracket which ranges from 2.5 - 46 degrees
• It offers lighting installed within the railing system: recessed LED lighting
• It offers balusters in a variety of colors and styles
• It offers the uniball installation joint which works with traditional and metal balusters acting as a ball joint for any angle installation
• It offers an easy pre-drilled system spacing of the balusters

Answer to question above: 90% of railings designed nation wide do not meet code.

BHS Track and Field Project

Last year, the Bethel High School boy's track coach, Yvonne Grimes, saw a vision for improving the track and providing a track and field storage pavilion. She looked to Architects' Guild for ideas; she and her husband Kevin then donated the funds to the Town of Bethel, earmarked for this project.

Last week the new eight (8) lane track was used for the first time. The field house is under construction and should be completed sometime this month.

More Lunch and Learns

Our lunch and learns have been plentiful over the last few weeks. Not only have we gotten new information but often AIA credits. About 12 credits are needed yearly to maintain your architectural licensing (each state has slightly diffferent requirements).

Last weeks Lunch and Learn was on roof and wall sheathing. Michael Machernis with Huber Engineering Woods presented the need for minimizing water penetration, air leakage and water vapor while presenting their Advantech flooring and Zip System. The Zip System offers built-in moisture barriers and offers a pressure-sensitive tape designed for temperature extremes to reduce air leakages.

This weeks Lunch and Learn on flooring was presented by David Cameron of B.K.M. Total Office and Carrie Bartucca of Michael Halebian & Co. They stressed the often over-looked importance of the:
Sub-floor preparation work,
Asbestos abatement and
Moisture testing to insure the manufacturer's installation and manufacturers warranty requirements are met.

Window Factory & Training Center

Recently, Peter and I traveled to the Marvin Window factory in Warroad, Minnesota. This was Peter's fifth time out there and my first.

Through demonstrations, lectures, and tours, the window and door company educates professionals such as architects, dealers and installers, about its many products. For some members of our tour group, seeing windows that they had designed or specified, in various stages of construction, was one of the highlights. Using everything from basic hand tools to the latest in computer-controlled machinery, hundreds of people work to make finished windows out of raw materials.

Any designer who attends takes away not only his or her required continuing-education credits, but also a greater appreciation and understanding of the many things that must occur to make drawings and ideas into important building components.

Lunch and Learn

LED 101 was the focus of yesterday's Lunch & Learn.
An overview of LED lighting was presented by Philips' sales rep, Cliff Gilbert to firms Architects' Guild and 72 Architects. Lightolier, now a Philips group brand, introduced track lighting in the 1960s. It was also the time when they began research and innovation in downlighting reflectors. Their patented remote phosphor technology converts blue light to white light increasing light performance and color consistency.

Did you know, most people say they prefer daylighting but when shown day light and white light - they really prefer white light.

With all LEDs thermal management is most critical.