Marlon Blackwell Architects, Kirksey Architects, and DES Architects + Engineers explore the expanded potential of parking structure design. 22
This year 80+ products pushed the boundaries of what is possible in form, function, and sustainability. 36 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2025 // VOL 23 NO 6
Product Innovation Awards
Capture the warmth and beauty of real wood with stunning finishes in wood-look visuals. Lyra® PB wood-look panels offer whisper-quiet acoustics with up to 0.95 NRC and sustainability attributes that contribute to LEED® credits. Learn more and order samples at armstrongceilings.com/inspiredbynature
ACHIEVE SEAMLESS, COORDINATED DESIGNS ACROSS MULTIPLE SURFACES WITH XL PREMIUM PORCELAIN SLABS
Shown in Travertino Lumina
Page 36
Described by PIA judges as, “A meaningful contribution to design and constructability,” BŌK Modern’s Cor-Ten façade system is a noteworthy innovation in exterior weatheringsteel facades.
Photography: Courtesy BŌK Modern
AW ARD S
Trends // The Next Era of the Parking Structure
Tour three parking garages—designed by Marlon Blackwell Architects, Kirksey Architects, and DES Architects + Engineers—that redefine these projects as welcoming, multifunctional architectural gateways that are a pleasure to visit. by Jana Madsen
Architectural Products Magazine, Volume 23, Number 06
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It’s time to reveal the winners of the 15th annual Product Innovation Awards. Find the new forms, advanced finishes, and next-level functionality now available
Craft a Unique Guest Room Moment with Art at the Four Seasons New Orleans
Use Daylight & Color to Create an Inviting + Playful Community Center
Best practices emerge for leading a healthcare design practice with a focus on empathy, understanding, and support by Barbara Horwitz-Bennett
Innovation in Products, Processes & Parking Structures
Innovation is a critical part of the advancement of architecture—from innovative products that perform better or make buildings more beautiful, to new tools improving the architectural process, and new approaches to even the most basic project types. This issue has it all.
It is time to reveal the results of Architectural Products’ 15th annual Product Innovation Awards (PIAs). These 80+ award-winning products represent real advancements in form, functionality, and sustainable design. From the folded steel façade system that develops a beautiful rust coat with age to high-performance ceiling systems, balanced luminaires, and the many sustainable alternatives to wood and fiber cement, this issue serves as a veritable product catalog of the new and noteworthy. We are incredibly grateful to our panel of judges, without whom the annual PIAs would not exist. This year, 14 industry professionals took the time to evaluate submissions and share their insights about what makes these products particularly unique and innovative. Find out which products won PIAs and why, coverage of the Product Innovation Awards begins on page 36.
“OPTIM-R E delivers extremely high thermal performance in ultra-thin retrofit profiles—something few materials can achieve. Its retrofit-centric innovation addresses one of the largest barriers in deep energy upgrades— space, making it a high-impact envelope technology.”
—PIA Judge
Beyond innovative products, this issue also contains details on innovative new processes. The Acelab Material Hub is upending the fragmented and chaotic design process with a comprehensive materials management and specification platform. AP contributing editor Barbara Horwitz-Bennett interviewed Vardhan Mehta, aia, csi, co-founder & CEO, Acelab. He shared that the idea for Acelab came from “realizing that architects were making billiondollar decisions with consumer-grade research tools.” Mehta set out to make it easier for architects to connect with more of the products that were available to them and to more easily find the product best suited to a project’s needs. Start learning about The Power of Acelab on page 14.
Innovation is even happening in design strategies for types of space that used to be considered an afterthought. The typical gray box parking garage is being replaced by thoughtfully designed parking structures that complement the design of the larger campus and act as a good neighbor to the surrounding community. A far cry from their predecessors, these new projects feel safe and do more than just hold cars. Dive into the Next Era of the Parking Structure on page 24.
Whether you’re interested in innovative products, processes, or projects, this issue has something you’ll want to explore.
Happy reading.
—Jeanie Fitzgerald Pitts, Editor in Chief
EDITORIAL , DESIGN + PRODUCTION
Jeanette Fitzgerald Pitts Editor in Chief jfitzgerald@endeavorb2b.com
Robert Nieminen Chief Content Director rnieminen@endeavorb2b.com
Contri b uting Ed itor s
Barbara Horwitz-Bennett
Jana Madsen
Janelle Penny
Lauren Lenkowski Art Director llenkowski@endeavorb2b.com
Greg Araujo Senior Production Operations Manager garaujo@endeavorb2b.com
Jennifer George Ad Service Manager jgeorge@endeavorb2b.com
CIRCULATION MANAGEMENT
Emily Martin Senior Audience Development Manager
ADVERTISING SALES
Mike Hellmann VP/Market LeaderBuildings & Construction Group mhellmann@endeavorb2b.com
Joe Agron Director of Sales jagron@endeavorb2b.com
Mark Rosenbaum 312-802-7002 mrosenbaum@endeavorb2b.com
Campus Parking, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art 22
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events resources
AWARDS
JANUARY 2026
World of Concrete
Education: January 19-22
Exhibits: January 20-22
Las Vegas Convention Center worldofconcrete.com
IRE Expo (International Roofing) Expo & Conference: January 20-22
Promote Your Project with ELEV8 Design Awards Do you have a project that you wish more building owners knew about? There’s a new competition honoring architectural and interior design excellence. The ELEV8 Design Awards recognize outstanding achievements across eight categories, from commercial and healthcare to mixed-use and civic/public spaces and more. Winning projects will be published in the Second Quarter 2026 issue of BUILDINGS, reaching over 70,000 building owners and facility managers. It’s a unique chance to present your work to a broad audience of potential future customers and earn industry-wide recognition. Don’t miss the chance to showcase your design acumen!
Visit elev8awards.com to learn more about this prestigious opportunity.
Submission deadline: January 30, 2026.
CONTINUING EDUCATION PLATFORM
FEBRUARY 2026
Las Vegas Convention Center theroofingexpo.com
Surfaces
Education: January 26-29
Exhibit Hall: January 27-29
Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas intlsurfaceevent.com
AHR Expo
February 2-4, 2026
Las Vegas Convention Center ahrexpo.com
International Builder’s Show (IBS)
February 17-19
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL buildersshow.com
Cevisama
International trade event for ceramic, bathroom equipment, and natural stone Feb. 23-27
Feria Valencia Convention Center, Valencia, Spain cevisama.feriavalencia.com
APRIL 2026
LEDUcation
Virtual Sessions: April 9-10
In Person: April 14-15
The Architecture + Design Master Continuing Education Platform offers a wide range of AIAapproved courses covering the topics that professionals care about most. Here is a small sample of the courses currently available.
Decarbonization 101 (1 LU/HSW)
Exploring Design Trends for K-12 Applications (1 LU/HSW)
Flexible Offices: Key to Retaining Talent and Optimizing Space for a New Work Era (1 LU) Lessons in Renovation and Adaptive Reuse (1 LU/HSW)
Telehealth to Metaverse: The Bold Future of Healthcare Design (1 LU/HSW) archdesignmaster.com
MAY 2026
New York Hilton Midtown, New York City leducation.org Coverings
April 29-May 2 Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida coverings.com
Lightfair May 4-8
Las Vegas Convention Center lightfair.com
HD Expo + Conference May 6-8 Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas hdexpo.hospitalitydesign.com
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A one-stop shop for Carlisle roof assemblies, VSHFLDOW\URRĠQJ objects, and membrane installation details that can easily be incorporated directly into your projects.
The Power of Acelab
This comprehensive materials management and specification platform empowers specifiers to make better decisions.
By Barbara Horwitz-Bennett, contributing writer
While technologies like BIM modeling and virtual reality have significantly advanced design capabilities and documentation efficiencies, the industry has historically lagged behind in the realm of material selection and specifications. “It’s total chaos. Scattered PDFs across manufacturer websites, bookmarked links that go dead, Excel spreadsheets passed around the office and piecemeal tools that don't integrate. The result? 70% of the time firms recycle specs by default because starting fresh takes too long,” observes Vardhan Mehta, aia, csi, co-founder & CEO, Acelab.
Besides this enormous expenditure of time, Mehta identifies this as a major missed opportunity as architects influence 78% of what is actually procured and built, as reported in the AIA’s “Architect’s Journey to Specification” study. This amounts to billions of dollars in purchasing decisions.
Through the process of developing the gamechanging Acelab, aimed at taking the heavy lifting out of the specification process, Mehta connected with former Revit CEO Dave Lemont. After realizing that architects were making billion-dollar decisions with consumer-grade research tools, Lemont joined the team and his connections began opening doors to continue developing the platform which launched this spring and currently lists 15,000 products, including solutions for enclosures, interiors and finishes.
While there have been attempts to streamline this process, the industry still lacked a comprehensive solution. For example, material libraries provide product browsing and downloadable PDFs, but typically only list subscribed, paying manufacturers. Further, the product information can’t be used to collate a firm library, compare options side-by-side, and push specifications into BIM.
Specification tools that work with documentation but lack material intelligence are other types of possible, yet still problematic, solutions. “You still have to manually research products, evaluate performance criteria, and input everything yourself,” explains Mehta. “These tools miss the critical insights architects actually evaluate when making decisions such as cost per square foot installed, local availability, embodied carbon, aesthetic comparisons to alternatives, and qualification for green building credits.”
The platform presents and evaluates an extensive list of data points including performance, sizes, sustainability, cost, compliance, availability, installation, aesthetics, finishes and more.
FRAMING THE VIEW TO THE OUTDOORS
Lending the appearance of a picture frame on the wall, non-operable custom wood windows from Duratherm are fixed frame hardwood windows. The frames are typically specified as 144 ft. × 96 ft. or 96 ft. × 144 ft., though larger sizes are available with specialized glazing. Frames can be painted with a variety of finish options and come in domestic woods and many tropical species like sapele and mahogany.
Duratherm Custom Wood Windows duratherm.com
Acelab’s opening page directs architects to past projects and searches, the opportunity to connect with an expert, previous comments, available webinars, and more.
Images courtesy of Acelab
Behind the Scenes
QHow does Acelab research, compile and organize such an extensive database of materials?
AThe process starts with identifying all manufacturers in a given category. Then Acelab’s research team of licensed architects and specification consultants defines the taxonomy, i.e., the 100 to 200 data points that an architect, owner, or contractor needs when selecting a product in this category
Enter Acelab
Addressing this major pain point in researching and integrating product specs into Revit models and workflows, Acelab has created a robust, threepronged data ecosystem.
1) Abandoning the traditional pay-to-play model, Acelab lists the most available manufacturers in every category including regional fabricators, emerging sustainable brands, and specialty systems. The platform is also free for architects.
Take an acoustic ceiling, for example. The following qualities will be researched.
Commercial—lead time, regional availability, warranty terms, cost per square foot
“Our AI then scours the web for this data manufacturer spec sheets, technical bulletins, environmental product declarations, test reports,” says Acelab Co-founder & CEO Vardhan Mehta, aia, csi “But here is the critical piece: we’ve invested in a team of 50 architects who ensure data hygiene, accuracy, and completeness. They verify fire ratings against ICC-ES reports. They cross-reference embodied carbon claims with third-party EPDs. They confirm regional availability by talking to manufacturer reps and they update pricing quarterly based on RSMeans data and distributor feeds.”
“Every data point is traceable to a source document and every product is verified current,” he adds
BE HURRICANE-READY
Part of EFCO X-FORCE line of hurricane impactresistant systems, the 5600PG is a versatile curtain wall system with an STC rating of 30 or greater. Manufactured with aluminum framing, the highperformance system offers a range of frame depths, hardware options, thermal barriers and finishes. Available as single- or multi-span, the system can be integrated with sunshades, vents, and doors.
EFCO, X-FORCE efcocorp.com
This AI-powered search for impactrated windows with a U-factor of 0.3 in Miami yields a list of fenestration options.
This Material Hub firm library categorizes vetted cladding materials, highlighting preferred materials and listing previous comments and notes.
2) The Material Hub presents deep, structured product-level data including technical specs, test reports, sustainability certifications, installation requirements, lead times, regional availability and more.
3) Third-party data sets include cost data range, EPDs, code compliance, and ICC-ES reports.
The typical fragmented design process involves spec editing tools, BIM for design documentation, a product research library, an EPD library, Excel for tracking submittals, and email for vendor coordination. “That's seven different systems, none of which communicate. Data gets duplicated, version control breaks down, and things fall through cracks,” says Mehta.
Streamlining this inefficient workflow, Acelab presents an integrated system for material decisions with research, product comparisons, firm library management, specification generation, and Revit synchronization all in one. This means that once an architect picks a product, it’s updated in the firm’s Revit families and spec language is generated simultaneously.
Stand-Out Features
Complementing the comprehensive, easy-tosearch-and-compare database of building materials and products, the Material Hub offers a couple unique features for architects including free product guidance from non-partial architects and up-todate contact information for the local sales rep.
While designers might not require this assistance with more straightforward product research, the truth is that most projects have their own unique constraints and require judgement. Mehta shares the following example:
A firm in Seattle is designing a 12-story mass timber office building. They need a curtain wall system that works with their CLT structure, meets Seattle energy code, achieves their embodied carbon targets, stays within their $85/sf facade budget, and delivers aesthetically because the client wants warmth, not clinical. Oh, and they need to start construction in 11 months, so lead time matters.
That's not a simple database query. It requires someone who understands wood-frame detailing, thermal bridging at structural connections, local code interpretation, sustainable product sourcing, value engineering strategies, and Pacific Northwest supplier networks. Our architect advisors provide that expertise.
An architect can send a message through the Material Hub platform with all these details and within a few hours, the advisor responds with a few curtain wall recommendations explaining the benefits, tradeoffs, and potential issues. The advisor will also connect the architect with local reps who can provide pricing and samples.
“That concierge element is hugely valuable. The response has been remarkable,” observes Mehta. “Time is money in architecture. If an advisor saves a project team four hours of research and procurement coordination on every material decision, and there are 200 to 300 specified items per project—that's real efficiency gain.”
The value of instant connections with reps is also significant. The fact is that designers waste a lot of time Googling manufacturer information, filling out “contact us” forms, waiting and getting bounced around until they may or may not find the right person in their region and market sector.
“In Material Hub, every product page shows the local rep contact for your region—direct email and phone. Firms can reach out to multiple manufacturers simultaneously for pricing, lead times, samples, or project consultations. What used to take weeks of phone tag and email threads now happens in days, with all communication tracked in one place instead of scattered across inboxes,” he explains.
The platform also acts as a personalized repository for every firm in building their own preapproved, vetted vendor list that can easily be accessed for future projects in one centralized space. Again, a significant savings of time and energy.
What’s Next
For the more than 115,000 architects and designers from 20,000+ firms currently registered on the Material Hub, Acelab is expanding its product categories to include control systems, and mechanical, electrical and structural engineering systems by Q1 of 2026. The team also plans to launch an Archicad plug-in within the same time frame to complement its current compatibility with Revit.
SLEEK DESIGN & FAST INSTALL
Made from non-combustible NFPA 285-compliant solid plate aluminum, the AMI RS100 pressure equalized rainscreen from American Metalcraft is a single-skinned, concealed fastened, interlocking, dry-joint system. The joint design enables air pressure to equalize between the outside surface and in the inside cavity. Compatible with fluoropolymer finishes, the panels are manufactured and painted in the same facility, ensuring quality and consistency.
American Metalcraft americanmetalcraft.com
“Abandoning the traditional pay-to-play model, Acelab lists the most available manufacturers in every category including regional fabricators, emerging sustainable brands, and specialty systems.”
NewTechWood’s Bell series is a line of durable and attractive wood composite decking. Fully capped on all four sides, this enhances the panels’ resistance to moisture, UV rays and weather. Available in Argentinian silver gray, Indian ebony, Roman antique, Brazilian ipe, Peruvian teak and Spanish walnut, the material features a heritage wood grain aesthetic.
NewTechWood, Bell newtechwood.com
Materials Management Platform
EASY ACCESS FLASHINGS
Unlike typical flashing attachment at wall openings where fenestration assemblies prohibit access to the mechanical fasteners and the flashing mounting surface once everything has been installed, the AirSill provides easy access, enabling damaged flashing to be removed and replaced without interfering with the fenestration assembly. This alternative installation method provides flexibility in construction sequencing and quicker dry-in of the enclosure.
York Flashings, AirSill yorkflashings.com
CODE-COMPLIANT COUNTER SHUTTER
Designed to accommodate almost any opening variation up to 28 ft. in width and 12 ft. in height, the Auto-Set CFS smoke and fire counter shutter is ideal for schools, hospitals, museums, and casinos. With up to a 3-hour fire rating, the shutter can be used for any area and/or occupancy separation required by code. Unlike conventional products, the counter shutters can easily be tested by on-site building personnel.
It’s More Than a Changing Table, It’s a Welcome Sign.
Bradley’s Universal Changing Tables provide safe, hygienic access to public restrooms for individuals who may not be able to use standard restrooms. Caregivers for older children with disabilities or elderly people often struggle to find facilities that meet their personal care needs. Installing a Universal Changing Table imp roves their ability to participate in daily activities.
Universal Changing Tables promote comfort and accessibility, making public facilities more inclusive and welcoming for everyone. Commercial Washrooms. Brought to Life.
Scan to learn more!
Meet COVE: A Low-Acuity, Prefabricated Patient Module
With U.S. emergency room visits increasing between 2.5% and 5% annually, wait times are rising and more patient care is occurring in open waiting rooms and hallways. This, coupled with a large percentage of low-acuity cases, has created a bottleneck in emergency room operations.
Responding to this major need in patient care, DIRTT created COVE, a prefabricated low-acuity patient care module. Approximately half the size of a typical patient room, the module delivers a compact, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing space, equipped with the infrastructure for standard clinical components including storage, nurse call system and medical gas outlets.
“COVE directly addresses many pain points experienced by health facilities while having the patient at the center of its thoughtful and elevated design,” states DIRTT Director of Product Strategy Paul Garner.
In recognizing this growing market need for adaptable, cost-effective solutions that help emergency room departments expand low-acuity service without major renovations, DIRTT’s product development team collaborated with healthcare
designers, clinicians and construction partners to develop a design solution.
“Weidentifiedopportunities tooptimizespace utilization and patient flow using prefabricated modular construction,” relates DIRTT CEO Benjamin Urban. “The team refined COVE’s sizes, finishes and functional features through iterative testing and real-world feedback from clinical environments, ensuring it met infection-control standards and supported patient comfort.”
What emerged was a compact, 57 sq.-ft. room measuring 6-ft.-wide and 7 ft., 6 in.-deep, with 1 ft., 4 .5 in. of built-in storage. The room contains a comfortable reclining patient chair and padded seating for a care partner. Resembling a first-class airline cabin, COVE offers customizable materials, finishes, and measurements.
The factory-built module arrives fully finished and ready for installation with minimized downtime and disruption, enabling ED’s to quickly and efficiently boost low-acuity care capacity.
a reclining chair, adjustable controls, additional seating, built-in storage, a nurse call system and medical gas outlets.
The Low-Acuity Module Concept
The idea of a low-acuity treatment station in EDs was first developed by the Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) in 2018.
“Research and field experience have shown that when these types of spaces are incorporated into the emergency department, the average length of stay for the entire emergency department population—not just the low-acuity patient—is greatly reduced, patient satisfaction is increased and facilities are more appropriately sized for the patient population,” as stated the FGI report
Through the development of COVE, DIRTT made sure that the design aligned with the FGI guidelines for design and construction.
The product solution appears to be hitting the mark, picking up a “Most Innovative” and “Architect’s Choice” awards at the 2024 Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo. “COVE’s recognition with awards underscores its impact as a modular innovation that combines precision manufacturing, evidence-based design, and long-term adaptability to improve the delivery of care,” said DIRTT.
COVE is equipped with
Photos courtesy of DIRTT
The compact COVE from DIRTT is a pre-fabricated emergency patient care module.
COVE enables emergency rooms to more efficiently process low-acuity patients in a comfortable space.
Creating healing environments requires the consideration of the patient, the clinician, the supporting caregivers, and visitors from the moment they enter the facility until the moment they leave. Every product is important. Every surface comes into contact with the sick or the life-saving.
Here are a few award-winning products that can help improve building efficiency, safety, and beauty. From thermally broken entrances to durable, stain-resistant flooring, and wall desks and pods designed to improve the efficiency of the healthcare space, these new solutions offer design teams more ways to make spaces that help people get well.
THERMALLY BROKEN ENTRANCE
With a reinforced polyamide strip fixed between the inside and outside aluminum profiles, the Transcend Series offers thermally broken entrance doors that can meet the increasingly more stringent energy codes. An insulated barrier within the frame reduces heat conduction through the door’s metal framing. Tested at a rate of .19 cfm/ ft², the commercial entrance system is far below the industry standard rate of 1cfm/ft2, boasting a cutting-edge thermal efficiency. Guarded from air infiltration, deterioration caused by condensation is prevented as well.
Offering solutions for beautiful yet resilient healthcare spaces, Tarkett has introduced yet another line to its Acczent heterogeneous vinyl sheet collection. As the third and final 2025 update to the collection, Acczent Twill joins the portfolio alongside Woods & Stones and Chambray, solidifying the collection as a leading choice for designers who want a durable flooring solution without compromising on aesthetics.
Acczent Twill features three distinctive, linen-inspired patterns, each available in eight muted hues: Poplin, Fibre and Lin.
The SafeBin is the new standard in waste management. SafeBin is the ultimate solution for maintaining cleanliness and security. It’s tamper-resistant chute keeps bag liners out of reach, while the integrated lock (compatible with the master key systems) adds an extra layer of security. This patentpending product is made in the USA.
Cortech, SafeBin cortechusa.com
LVT COLLECTION WITH GRASSCLOTH TEXTURE
Colorlink LVT is a modern, abstract, linear design with a subtle nod to grasscloth textiles. The plank format lends well to playing with the brights in fun installations or mixing the versatile neutrals together. ExoGuard+ advanced topical finish technology delivers the highest performance scratch resistance and resists UV light degradation, hand sanitizers, disinfectants, and common stains. 5mm LVT can be installed next to most carpet tiles without the need for transition strips. 2.5mm LVT pairs well with StrataWorx carpet tile with no transitions.
Evoking sophisticated terrazzo, this homogeneous resilient tile creates a timeless floor.
The visual offers striking realism with chips of glass-like translucence and subtle metallics.
The 36-in. × 36-in. tiles are available in 30 chic colorways, and waterjet cutting enables elaborate designs. Orange Oasis shown here.
Mohawk Group, Creative Terrain II Homogeneous Resilient Tile mohawkgroup.com
MURALS ON GLASS
Murals enacted on architectural glass is not an easy production feat. In Skyline’s studio, each glass panel is fabricated with extremely tight registration, enabling the mural to continuously stretch across multiple panels. Designers can also play with the level of translucency—from transparent uses such as partitions, to obscured for meeting rooms, to full opaque for wall cladding for uses such as elevator bays. Murals on Glass is available made to order in glass panels up to 72 in. × 144 in.
Known for bespoke dimensional wallcovering and unique textiles, New York designer Jill Malek’s designs are intended to soften the built environment with the sensitivity of nature. This and her new glass collection reflects research linking nature-based visuals to improved mood, attention, and emotional regulation, making Murals on Glass especially suited for human-centered spaces that prioritize neuroinclusive design. “Jill’s work has a rhythm to it—it moves, it breathes,” said Darcie Tashey, Design Director for Skyline. “In glass, that rhythm interacts with light and space in new ways, adding another layer to how her designs can shape the built environment.”
Skyline, Murals on Glass by Jill Malek skyline.glass
ACOUSTIC BOOTH
HushFree.Access.M is an ADA-compliant acoustic booth with a low threshold and wider door, designed to be more easily accessible for people with disabilities than the hushFree.M booth. With room for 1-4 people and a customizable interior, the hushFree.Access.M pod is a flexible solution to create acoustic privacy in the office. HushFree booths give people spaces within open floorplans to focus on solo tasks or host private meetings and video calls. The hushFree.Access.M pod is the medium-sized option in the product line.
A wall space becomes workspace. Your get-stuff-done board—featuring a pop-up desk, charging station, and a near-zero footprint. Sitting desks for working. Standing desks for collaboration. Or vice versa. Whatever fits your flow.
Clarus, Atmus Wall Desk clarus.com
The products in healthcare environments impact the sick and life-saving.
LIBERTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH/HIGH ABUSE MOMENTARY SWITCHES
These high-abuse momentary switch assemblies are available in single, dual, and triple-gang models and compliment Visa Lighting behavioral health/high abuse lighting products. The face plate is machined from solid aluminum. Liberty can be used where switches are vulnerable to damage in high abuse and behavioral health applications. These low voltage switches pair perfectly with our LVPC-DIM controller but also function properly with any other control system with momentary-contact inputs.
Visa Lighting, Liberty Behavioral Health/ High Abuse Momentary Switches visalighting.com
Scan here for smarter protection.
Maxxon® Commercial HydroCoat
A two-part, water-based epoxy with excellent adhesion to both old and green concrete. Reduces dusting, resists chemicals, improves cleaning ease.
Maxxon® Commercial HydroSeal
A two-part, water-based, polyurethane coating. It creates a hard, wear-resistant, semi-gloss finish that defies stains, scuff marks, and UV damage.
PROTECT & SEAL CONCRETE, EASILY & ECONOMICALLY
Now, there’s an easy, economical way to protect and seal concrete. Maxxon’s water-based coatings deliver excellent wear resistance. Use separately or apply a HydroCoat + HydroSeal system for enhanced chemical resistance and UV stability.
The leaders. The innovators. The name you can trust. maxxon.com
The New Era of the Parking Structure
Tour three parking garages—designed by Marlon Blackwell Architects, Kirksey Architects, and DES Architects + Engineers— that redefine these projects as welcoming, multifunctional architectural gateways that are a pleasure to visit.
By Jana Madsen, contributing writer
Project: Campus Parking, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Scott Family Amazeum, Bentonville, AR
Architect: Marlon Blackwell Architects
Photography: Timothy Hursley
For much of the 20th century, parking garages were designed with one goal in mind—function over form—resulting in purely practical structures that were confusing to navigate, visually uninviting, and often felt unsafe. “Garages were utilitarian grey structures, just basic beams and columns,” says Dona Shah, Senior Associate, DES Architects + Engineers, Redwood City, CA. “They’re not simple boxes anymore.” Architects have begun unlocking the long-overlooked potential of parking structures and the results are truly extraordinary.
Southline Parking Structure D, San Francisco, CA
Parking garages aren’t an afterthought or an add-on any longer; they are designed to be integrated with the campus, neighborhood, and city. This was a priority for DES’ design of Southline, a 27-acre mixed-use development in South San Francisco. Parking Structure D (a six-level, 64,000-sq.-ft. parking garage) was part of the project’s first phase. “We wanted the parking garage to be part of the campus, to have the same articulation and same aesthetics as the rest of the buildings. We wanted to make sure it blended in with the rest of the campus,” Shah explains. Without continuity of design, the appearance of the garage would have diminished the entire campus aesthetic.
While parking garages have historically been tucked back away from the street, new structures are getting more visibility. “Parking garages are now more forward-facing,” says Shah. “On Southline’s south façade, which is facing a residential neighborhood, we have perforated metal art panels that allow for ventilation and, at the same time, soften the look of the parking garage. Our focus on that facade was being good neighbors.
The four-story art panels are both striking and community-friendly and the mixture of materials, with special attention paid to the lower level, helps bring the whole building down to a more human scale.
Southline parking garage project also integrated social spaces including an adjacent strip park, which blurs the boundaries between campus and community. “With this park, we have kids play areas, ping pong tables, seating, and interpretive signage which talks about the history of the site. It’s a space for people from the campus and neighborhood to mingle,” notes Shah.
LIVING WALL
The Tournesol Greenscreen Trellis System transforms walls and structures into living, green spaces. Its modular 3-in.-deep welded wire panels are lightweight yet remarkably strong, with powder-coated finishes built to endure. Designed to hold panels away from building surfaces, it protects façades while encouraging healthy vine growth and biodiversity, reduces the heat island effect, and adds natural shade, privacy, and visual texture to any large-scale installation.
Tournesol Siteworks, Greenscreen Trellis System tournesol.com
PROJECT SPECS
Project: SouthlineLocation South San Francisco
Size: Six-level, 64,000-sq.-ft. parking garage
Architect: DES
ARCHITECT
Dona Shah, Senior Associate, DES Architects + Engineers, Redwood City, CA.
FITTING IN
DES carefully designed Southline Parking Structure D to complement the architecture of new office and R&D buildings and integrate with the nearby residential neighborhood. At street level, an inviting public landscaped green space runs along the base of the building, creating a welcoming strip park that invites the community to engage with the campus.
Southline Parking Structure
D’s south façade features custom graphics applied to 60 perforated panels and vertical supports. Spanning 2,115 sq. ft., the panels is a green and white floral motif—artwork created by Santa Clara-based LUX Create—add depth, beauty, and a calming presence to the residential-facing exterior.
FAÇADE GRAPHICS
Façades by Design transforms ordinary flat surfaces into vibrant visual statements. This customizable system applies highresolution imagery to perforated sheet, linear sun controls, louvers, and custom profiles, enabling architects to integrate photography, graphics, patterns, or color for branding, signage, or wayfinding. Durable powder-coated finishes deliver scratchand fade-resistant performance. It’s backed by a 10-year warranty and full AAMA 2604 compliance.
Construction Specialties, Façades by Design c-sgroup.com
GLAZING (NOT PICTURED)
Solarban R100 glass is a neutral reflective low-e glass that achieves exceptional solar control, offering a crisp exterior appearance with 32% reflectance for privacy, while the interior provides a pleasant, cool blue-gray view with only 14% reflectance. With a Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of 43%, a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of 0.23, and a Light to Solar Gain (LSG) ratio of 1.83, Solarban R100 glass delivers outstanding performance.
Sam Houston State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine Parking Garage, Conroe, TX
Visibility necessitates design and provides ample opportunity for messaging. When Sam Houston State University wanted to convey a stronger presence on the satellite campus in Conroe, TX, they used the new College of Osteopathic Medicine parking garage as a billboard. “With this new structure, what became apparent was that it could have the potential of saying ‘Sam Houston State is here,’” says Michelle Old, Partner and Design Director, Kirksey Architecture, Houston. Located between a university building and Interstate 45, the five-level garage provides 329,000 square feet of branding. “We wanted to do something that reflected the university and what the campus was about, which is health, medicine, and wellness. What we came up with was a panel system that looks random, but is actually based off of DNA sequencing,” says Old. The exterior features fabric panels in Sam Houston State University’s colors and, on the north and east facades, large light boxes showcase the SHSU logo.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Transform buildings from dull to dazzling with Color Kinetics Accent Compact. It displays large-scale video and graphics and can be controlled in increments down to 19 mm (0.75 in) or up to 1220 mm (4 ft). Its compact form factor and low voltage design keeps the luminaire light and enables run lengths of up to 14 meters (48 ft.) per power supply, using 12 4-ft. luminaires. The IP66-rated luminaire is designed to meet the taxing requirements of outdoor applications.
Michelle Old, Partner and Design Director, Kirksey Architecture
PROJECT SPECS
Project: Sam Houston State University, Conroe, TX
Size: Five-level garage, 328,000 sq. ft
Architect: Kirksey Architecture
Sam Houston State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine’s new 328,000-sq.-ft. parking garage provides more than 900 parking spaces. Its dramatic 5-story façade is comprised of backlit fabric panels that represent DNA sequencing. Programmable luminaries give the University the opportunity to change the lighting for holidays, school events, and special occasions.
The FlexFacades Stretch Panel Screens are a cost-effective solution for rectangular panels. These panel screens are secured horizontally (top and bottom only). This design allows for vertical gaps between screens to aid in additional ventilation and does not require added vertical structure when spanning vertically.
“We want buildings to have a soul and a life to them. When they’re stripped to their bare minimum, they really don’t.”
WAYFINDING
Painted supergraphics, uniform illumination, and a parking guidance system at the Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine parking garage provide an efficient experience for drivers and make wayfinding easy and safe for pedestrians.
GARAGE LIGHTING
The HELOS HPG parking garage luminaire combines sleek architectural design with exceptional performance. Weighing just seven lbs., the HPG installs quickly. It also delivers long-lasting, lowglare illumination to help drivers identify oncoming pedestrians, provides safe car entry, and enhances the visibility of columns and other objects within the structure. More than 1,100 40W and 70W fixtures were installed at the Conroe, TX, Sam Houston State University parking garage, providing uniform lighting and virtually maintenance-free operation.
—Michelle Old, Partner and Design Director, Kirksey Architecture, Houston
“Architecture can happen anywhere. It can be at any scale, at any budget, and it should be available to everyone.”
Crystal Bridges Campus Parking, Bentonville, AR
As parking garages are reimagined, there’s a growing focus on making them multi-functional spaces. “It isn’t enough for a parking garage to just be a shelter for cars. The question is what more can a parking garage be,” says Marlon Blackwell, Principal, Marlon Blackwell Architects, Fayetteville, AR. When Walmart heiress Alice Walton approached the firm about a much-needed parking structure on the Bentonville, AR, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art campus, the architects embraced the chance to give the garage greater purpose.
The Campus Parking would be situated adjacent to forest trails and Convergence Playscape and Plaza, with direct access to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Scott Family Amazeum. “We just kept thinking, we’ve got to do more,” says Marlon. “The way it was presented to Alice’s team was, ‘What if we had a proscenium for art and music performance as a kind of a giant porch, 150-ft. wide and four-stories tall?’ The suggestion resonated with Alice. She liked it so much, she thought maybe we could add a small café/bar.” Now completed, the Crystal Bridges Campus Parking provides a social and event space, as well as light retail with a shop for merchandise and café/bar for refreshments.
Meryati ‘Ati’ Blackwell, Principal and Director of Interiors, Marlon Blackwell Architects, Fayetteville, AR, emphasizes the necessity of treating the garage with the same level of design as surrounding architecture. “You can’t just cut the budget of a highly visible parking structure to the bare minimum without jeopardizing the impact of massive investments in the rest of the campus,” she says
The 800-space parking garage at Crystal Bridges is wrapped in two different rainscreen wall panel systems in varying profiles. Fins on the North elevation provide passive solar shading. Programmable LED lighting transforms the garage at night, amplifying its distinctive form with an added layer of visual impact.
Project: Campus Parking, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Scott Family Amazeum, Bentonville, AR Size: Six-story building, 338,000 sq. ft. Architect: Marlon Blackwell Architects ARCHITECT
The Americana and Harvest furniture, created in collaboration with partner brand Loll Designs, elevate moments of toogetherness outdoors. The Americana is modernized seating that takes inspiration from the Adirondack chair. Combined with the rectangular H Harvest table and benches, the furniture is ideal for the plaza at Crysstal Bridges Campus Parking, helping to facilitate both communal opportunities and intimate social moments. High--density polyethylene (HDPE) tabletops and seats have a s softness akin to exterior woods while being vibrant, UV-ressistant, and virtually maintenance-free
Landscape Forms, Americana and Harvest landscapeforms.com
GLAZING (NOT PICTURED)
Trifab VersaGlaze is built on the proven and successful Trifab platform—with all the versatility its name implies. There are enough framing system choices, fabrication methods, design options and performance levels to please the most discerning building owner, architect and installer. The 4.5-in. deep Trifab VersaGlaze Framing System family is available with nonthermal, thermal and ultra-thermal performance levels.
Kawneer, Trifab VersaGlaze kawneer.us
“There’s a desire for every building to be a full-scale participant in the civic dignity of a place. That applies to parking garages too.”
The Morin Pulse Series is a concealed fastener rainscreen wall panel system. It features triangular ribs that emulate the electrical peaks generated by a heartbeat. The panels can be installed horizontally and/or vertically for different visual effects. At the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Campus parking structure, a custom color, the integration of different profiles, and the use of miterseam corners add to the finished look.
license plate recognition, the experience is fluid with no stopping. No more need for somebody to man the gate or payment at a booth. Having that ease of exit and entry eliminates car stacking inside and outside of the garage.”
A CLIMB TO REMEMBER
At SHSU’s Conroe, TX, garage, a dramatic open staircase wraps around a long shear wall clad in custom graphics created by the Kirksey Architecture’s branding team. Featuring evolving imagery inspired by osteopathic medicine—such as bones and DNA—the artwork reveals new details with every turn, encouraging movement while celebrating the institution’s identity.
WAYFINDING SUPERGRAPHICS AT SHSU’S CONROE, TX,
3M Scotchcal Graphic Film for Textured Surfaces
IJ8624, when heated and applied with 3M's application tools and techniques, conforms to moderately textured surfaces, both flat and curved, including concrete block, brick, industrial stucco, and tile-like surfaces commonly found in arenas, stadiums, restaurants, and retail stores.
3M 3m.com
All About the Experience
Once just a place to leave your car, the parking garage is now part of the experience itself. This thinking was central to Marlon Blackwell Architects’ design of the new campus parking garage at Crystal Bridges. “The museum experience now actually starts at the parking deck. It’s becoming, in its own strange way, a grand threshold, both vertical and horizontal, into the campus,” says Marlon. The structure’s exterior consists of louvered fins coated in a metal flake finish in the same aqua color as the Pontiac Tempest owned by Marlon’s grandmother. Here, parking feels like part of the exhibit.
Convenience and efficiency abound in today’s parking garages. Instead of cars queuing on the street to get in or at the exit pay station, drivers move in and out with ease thanks to technology like license plate recognition systems and smart payment apps. With the addition of parking guidance systems like the one at SHSU’s Conroe garage, drivers can easily identify occupied or available spaces (indicated by sensor-activated lights). Signage at the entry displays when the garage or a specific level is full. “Technology is helping evolve the experience,” says Old. In some garages, steeper speed ramps allow drivers to quickly bypass full levels, turning the slow crawl of searching for parking into a thing of the past.
Additionally, thoughtful placement of elevators and stairs, as well as better wayfinding, means individuals spend less time wandering around frustrated after they park. “On big central walls of the garage, there are huge murals depicting the way to get to the elevator with an arrow. You can’t miss it,” explains Old about the wayfinding supergraphics painted on each level of SHSU’s parking structure.
Good design minimizes walking distance to vertical circulation and gives users a feeling of safety and security. “One of the things we do,” says Shah, “is make the stairs open on the exterior of the skin, as compared to somewhere in the interior. We don’t put it inside a box, but we expose it to the outside so as you are walking up and down stairs, you can see if somebody is lurking. Similarly, we plan the elevators with windows on the outside so as you’re going up and down, there’s a feeling of security.”
Better lighting is becoming the norm. “Bright, uniform illumination helps with visibility and security. Because first impressions are important, the right lighting also helps patrons form a favorable opinion of the space even before they enter it,” adds Anthony Sarti, Midwest Regional Sales Manager, Kenosha, WI-based Kenall Manufacturing (whose helos hpg luminaire was installed at the shsuproject).
GRAPHIC FILM
Tucked into the ground floor of Crystal Bridges Campus Parking, the Plaza Café is one of the spaces that make the garage a truly multi-functional destination. This unique venue offers a convenient spot to grab a snack, enjoy lunch with friends, or unwind after a day exploring the nearby trails.
—Michelle Old, Partner and Design Director, Kirksey Architecture, Houston
GARAGE
CAFE AT CRYSTAL BRIDGES CAMPUS PARKING
Less Impact on the Environment
Parking garages are evolving into greener spaces that can even generate clean energy. “Some projects use photovoltaics as shade covering on top floors of parking garages,” says Old. A handful of states even offer incentives for installing solar panels on parking structures.
The rise in electric vehicles has necessitated EV charging. “In some parking garages, we are providing as much as 50% of parking for EVs, whether EV-ready or EV-capable,” notes Shah. “Working with PG&E early on plays a big role because we want to make sure we have enough power.” Spatial and infrastructure requirements must also be carefully considered. And it’s not just electric vehicles reshaping how garages are designed—bicycles are, too. As more commuters swap cars for bikes, providing secure, convenient bike parking is necessary. “We plan the bike rooms very carefully, not tucked away somewhere in a dark corner of the garage, but in front so there’s easy access,” adds Shah.
Lastly, discussions about how to make the concrete structure itself more sustainable are ongoing. “One of the biggest changes has been the use of lowcarbon concrete, which has a high fly ash content. That is a very sustainable way of using concrete,” explains Shah, who also shares that using cable rail instead of concrete for crash walls can lower the amount of concrete in a project.
“The garage can be converted to a different use if the infrastructure is planned.”
—Dona Shah, Senior Associate, DES, Redwood City, CA
Built for the Future
With a rise in flexible work arrangements, rideshare programs, and user-friendly public transportation, it’s likely the need for parking spaces (and even garages) in the future will decline. The question of what these structures can become is already being considered. Marlon Blackwell Architects has explored the possibilities. “We looked at our first [parking garage project] and what would happen if there’s less and less need for cars in the future. Could you convert it into housing? We found that exercise to be really hard to do with the type of budgets we were working with,” Marlon explains.
With a bigger investment and taller floor-to-floor heights, it’s possible.
“Usually garages tend to be 10 to 11 ft. or so floor to floor, but now sometimes they’re as much as 16 ft. floor to floor so they can be adapted to habitable space later,” says Shah, who also notes that greater ceiling height makes the use of car stackers possible. Need proof that these garages can have a life after cars? Google the Winfield Garage (built in 1920).
Located at 210 East 8th Street in Fort Worth, TX, it was successfully renovated into office space in 2016.
No longer the bland grey boxes of the past, parking garages are becoming essential contributors to the architectural signature of our cities. As needs evolve, these structures prove that even the most overlooked spaces can play a vital role in shaping smarter, more connected communities. The modern parking garage is built for the needs of today, but ready to evolve for the future.
in Focus: Lighting the Modern Workplace at 1300 Conn
ARCHITECT:
COMPANY: Coronet LED
PROJECT: Washington, D.C.
DESIGN TEAM:
S Construction Corporation
PRODUCT SPECS:
» » Sharp Modules
» » PHOTOGRAPHY:
At the corner of Connecticut Avenue and N Street NW in Washington, D.C.’s Dupont Circle, a recently renovated
encouraging tenants to gather, recharge, and linger.
Richter needed a solution that could delineate space and and echoing the interior’s curvilinear design language.
Open ceilings posed technical challenges. “We had to Richter notes.
The Winners of the 15th Annual Product Innovation Awards
Improving the way buildings look, function, and contribute to the ever-heightening sustainability goals design teams face, we reveal the latest and greatest architectural products launching into market and onto a project near you.
Demonstrating innovation across a wide array of product categories, these 80+ PIA winners represent advancements in a variety of ways.
These award-winning products offer design teams options that perform better than what was previously possible.
As you dive into the award-winning products, you’ll see comments from the judges that explain the innovation in each entry.
Some are aesthetic. There are new finishes, materials, and forms that expand how interiors and exteriors look on day one and over time. While this year continued to boast several look-like solutions, surfaces that look like wood or stone but offer the durability of steel or another material, there are also interesting surfaces designed to weather in a way that is very appealing.
Improved functionality is found throughout— from ceiling systems that offer better acoustic performance, to new insulation and glazing solutions that redefine thermal performance.
Finding products that make real contributions to sustainable, healthy designs continues to be an area of interest for our judges and our readers. Net zero manufacturing, heightened efficiency, material transparency—many of these products offer designers a solution that is better for the project, the people, and the environment.
Of course, the PIAs would not be possible without our panel of judges, who provide their time and expertise to help identify the features and qualities that make these products particularly noteworthy.
This is a fascinating solution for delivering efficient cladding that creates truly evocative aesthetics.
This product delivers extremely high thermal performance in ultra-thin retrofit profiles— something few materials can achieve.
JUDGES
Zachary Christeson, asla, pla, leed ap, HOK
Colin Drake, faia, leed ap, Principal, JRA Architects
Kenneth Drucker, faia, leed ap bd+c, Design Principal for Northeast Practice, HOK
John Fox, President, Fox and Fox Design LLC
Chris Hellstern, aia, lfa, leedapbd+c, cdt, Living Building Challenge Services Director| Senior Architect & Associate, The Miller Hull Partnership, Seattle
Eugene Lee, Senior Associate and Technical Director, Gensler, San Francisco
Andrew E. Thompson, aia, nomac leed ap bd+c, 2025 President, AIA New Jersey
Michael Tyre, President-Elect and Design Director, Amenta Emma Architects
Andrea Vendramin, Senior Designer, FM Architecture
Brian Wolf, ccs, csi, leed ap bd+c Principal, Director of Specifications, Grimm + Parker Architects
WELCOME WEATHERING
This manufacturer-applied finish was developed to evoke the look of naturally aged wood while eliminating the need for ongoing maintenance. Drawing inspiration from the muted, silvery tones of coastal architecture, the finish is designed to weather in place— gradually fading from a pigmented silver to a soft, sun-bleached gray over time.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Beautiful product! A very elegant and subtle take on weathered siding that blends Japanese tradition and coastal aging.
A LEGITIMATE KNOCKOUT
It is now possible to integrate LED lighting into nearly any extrusion, including standard airfoils, tubes, and a new demi-fin. The impact of Lighted Blades is fourfold. It increases energy efficiency within the building through sun shading. It decreases energy usage with LEDs. It provides greater safety through better lighting after dark, and it creates a dynamic facade.
Construction Specialties, Lighted Blades c-sgroup.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This product advancement elevates the product to an extended purpose that can create a knockout effect on the building. While the base system is not new, the addition of engineered, LED-illuminated aluminum blades does offer a meaningful design enhancement by combining shading, nighttime visibility, and architectural expression in a single manufactured assembly. This is a subtle but legitimate innovation.
MAKING WOOD-LOOK MORE REALISTIC
This is the first digitally printed steel sheet product produced entirely in North America. It features images of real natural materials, such as wood and stone, printed onto a steel substrate at a resolution of up to 400 DPI. Images don’t repeat for up to 32 ft., allowing the inclusion of details such as knots and cracks, which would create an uncanny effect when printed with traditional processes that typically have a 3-ft. repeat.
Steel Dynamics, Tru-Steel HD steeldynamics.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: The rich material detail and extended pattern runs that minimize repeated details deliver a more realistic finished product.
A GENUINELY SUSTAINABLE STORY
Originally created to reduce cutting down trees, this innovative wood-alternative combines the natural warmth and workability of wood with the durability and low maintenance benefits of composite materials. This siding is made from upcycled rice hulls, a waste byproduct that’s often discarded and sent to landfills.
Modern Mill, ACRE Nickel Gap Siding modern-mill.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Made via zero-waste manufacturing, this product offers a wood look without deforestation, added formaldehyde, or the brittleness of cementitious materials. Its sustainability story is genuine.
A RUST-COATED CONTRIBUTION TO FACADE CONSTRUCTABILITY
This weathering steel facade offers the integration of structural folds into the panels, reducing the need for secondary steel supports and allowing for long-span applications. The material develops a protective rust coating that enhances its aesthetic appeal while preventing further corrosion. Easily fabricated, curved, and laser-cut, specifiers can create intricate patterns or shapes unique to site conditions and design intent. Mounting methods are integrated directly into the panels, often eliminating the need for additional support structures.
BŌK Modern, BŌK Modern Cor-Ten Facade Solutions bokmodern.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This system differentiates itself through advanced single-piece folded panels that reduce sub-framing, speed installation, and deliver crisp, modern detailing uncommon in weathering-steel façades. It is a meaningful contribution to design and constructability.
NEXT-GEN IN CORRUGATED METAL DESIGN
Formed from Ultra High-Performance Aluminum, in 0.8mm or 1mm thickness, this product has a deep, stepped profile creating striking dimension and rhythmic shadow play across architectural surfaces. The 16-in.-wide panel features a concealed interlocking fastener system for simplified installation.
Pure + Freeform, Terrain Corrugated Panel purefreeform.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This is a fascinating solution for delivering efficient cladding that creates truly evocative aesthetics. Pairing abstract patterns with traditional corrugations mask the utilitarian panel form.
BRING ON THE WIND
The Strong-Link moment connection (SLMC) for structural steel applications is specifically designed for wind-governed areas, including seismic design categories A, B, and C. The high-strength SLMC streamlines the design process for specifiers and steel contractors. A fully bolted solution, it eliminates the need for field welding, reducing labor and inspection costs while speeding up installation. The SLMC is field-adjustable, ensuring optimal alignment at the connection interface between the beam and column.
Simpson Strong-Tie, Stong-Link Moment Connection strongtie.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This is a genuinely new, open, fully bolted steel moment connection that simplifies design and construction for wind-governed buildings. It stands out by eliminating field welding.
SELF-SEALED CI
This thermally efficient structural exterior rainscreen wall cladding attachment system is intended to minimize penetrations through the insulation and AWRB layers. It features the self-sealing GripDeck TubeSeal fastening system from TRUFAST Walls that helps seal the blind fastener penetration at the AWRB behind the layer of continuous insulation. Thermal-bridging is also reduced by the TubeSeal which prevents contact between the screw and the channel, creating a thermal-break.
TRUFAST, ProChannel Ci Wall System trufastwalls.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This is a true innovation that addresses long-standing weaknesses in Ci assemblies: thermal bridging and leakage at fastener penetrations. By pairing a ventilated 7/8-in. rainscreen channel with TubeSeal fasteners that compress and self-seal through WRBs, the system elevates both air/water performance and constructability. This is a notable building-envelope advancement.
A MORE BEAUTIFUL BRICK SUBSTITUTE
A new category of brick substitute, at a fraction of the weight of traditional brick, TandoStone ProBrick offers the realistic look of individual bricks, installed in panels, without masons, mortar, or scaffolding. Available in two colors: Madeira, a rich, classic red and Racinette, a deep, earthy brown, both enhanced with Tando Composites’ state-of-theart KAPGUARD with Kynar coating technology to ensure color longevity.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: The tactile beauty of brick without the weight, installation time, or cost make this a practical solution for cladding projects seeking traditional aesthetic quality at streamlined value.
ADA-COMPLIANT INDOOR/OUTDOOR ACCESS
This aluminum-framed operable glass wall system features multidirectional panel movement. Panels can slide and stack in either direction which allows the opening to be placed on either the left or right side. Two sill options are available: Low Profile Saddle and Flush. The low profile maintains ADA compliance while the flush sill offers a barefoot-friendly design that integrates seamlessly into level floor installations. The slim 2 ¹∕8-in. (55 mm) panel profiles are consistent with the NanaWall Generation 4 aluminum product line. NanaWall Systems, NW MultiSlide 630 nanawall.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This is a beautiful, flexible product that makes it easier to design indoor/outdoor transitions that are ADA accessible.
PROVEN TO RESIST FORCED ENTRY
This is the first classroom door system tested and certified to the groundbreaking ASTM F3561 standard— the most advanced method for evaluating a door system’s resistance to forced entry in an active shooter attack. ASTM F3561 simulates real-world conditions by first weakening the system with ballistic assault before subjecting it to rigorous impact testing. The certification applies only to fully integrated assemblies that include the door, frame, hardware, and glazing.
Forte Opening Solutions, Aspiro Series Defendr Door System forteopenings.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This is a really nice integration of improved security with a variety of compelling finish options. The need for heightened intrusion resistance demands solutions like this.
THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF STOREFRONTS
The Series 6000 XT storefront offers two levels of thermal performance to meet today’s evolving energy codes. Its dual pour and debridge thermal break maximizes energy efficiency and enhances condensation resistance, ensuring long-term durability and occupant comfort. The system supports 1-in. insulating glass for enhanced efficiency or 1” thin triple insulating glass unit for nextgeneration thermal performance, achieving industryleading energy savings while maintaining its familiar 2-in. × 6-in. depth.
Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope, Series 6000 XT obe.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT:
This solution combines advanced thermal breaks, thin-triple compatibility, and an optional Red List–free formulation meaningfully pushing the aluminum storefront toward higher performance and better material health.
HURRICANE-READY IN MULTIPLE STYLES
Engineered to perform under the most demanding coastal conditions, these doors meet the stringent requirements for HVHZ zones like Miami-Dade. The doors are available in a variety of styles from classic Craftsman to modern Estate and Shaker options with flush-glazed and impact-rated door glass available in dozens of decorative patterns, 35 different door glass styles, ready to stain or paint.
ODL, ODL’s High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) Approved Fiberglass Entry Doors odl.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Hurricane-level performance with a number of available styles allows this product to offer project-friendly function and form.
NEARLY INVISIBLE ACOUSTIC PERFORATIONS
Combine the beauty of natural wood with “barely there” perforations for enhanced acoustic performance. The tiny perforations, which are almost invisible when the panels are installed at standard heights, enable strong acoustic performance—up to 0.70 NRC—when paired with acoustic fleece that is factory-applied to the back of the panels, and up to 0.85 NRC with infill panels. The panels are made from 100% USDA Biobased Content.
Armstrong World Industries, WoodWorks MicroPerforated Ceiling Panels armstrongceilings.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: An impressive balance of acoustic performance, natural beauty, and design flexibility offers a compelling standard solution that previously existed only in custom form. The nearly invisible micro-perforations paired with factoryapplied acoustic fleece provide strong noise control while preserving the warm, uninterrupted visual of real wood—an increasingly important priority for designers seeking to merge biophilic aesthetics with performance-driven interiors.
MEET THE MIXED-MATERIAL ENTRYWAY
This new mixed-material entryway system blends Therma-Tru’s industry-first fiberglass panels and the beauty of Veris glass. Therma-Tru Classic Craft Walnut-grain fiberglass panels feature revolutionary AccuGrain technology for a look and feel that is virtually indistinguishable from real wood. The doors are available in a curated selection of six PrismaGuard stain options (Tumbleweed, Acorn, Barley, Pinecone, Quarry Ridge, and Raven), providing rich tones that add dimension.
Therma-Tru Doors, Veris Modern Grain Entryways thermatru.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT : Beautiful doors. These are adding an aesthetic improvement while using materials that are less likely to require regular maintenance.
The first metal ceiling baffles with optional stone wool infill for acoustic performance delivers a ceiling solution with powerful acoustic benefits, stunning aesthetics, and flexible customization. This solution is available in a mix of heights, lengths, and widths to suit a variety of dimensions and cavity space for acoustic infiltration. A 15/16-in. swivel clip will allow for unique layouts, such as radial and diagonal.
Rockfon, Rockfon Sequence rockfon.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This is a standout addition to the acoustic ceiling market, combining the expressive potential of metal with the high-performance absorption of stone wool. With broad design flexibility, carefully engineered installation systems, and strong sustainability credentials, Sequence provides a compelling solution for modern commercial interiors seeking both visual impact and acoustic comfort. With deeper acoustic metrics and expanded planning tools, this already-innovative system could quickly become a top choice for architects and contractors across North America.
CEILING MARKET
CLEAN LINES AND REFINED FLAIR
A MULTITASKING ACOUSTIC LUMINAIRE
The Acoustic Dial is innovative because it seamlessly integrates two essential functions—lighting and sound control—into a single, design-forward fixture. What sets Dial apart is its material story and sustainability. The fixture is crafted from recycled PET felt, contributing to sound absorption while supporting circular design practices. It also carries a Declare label, ensuring transparency and alignment with green building standards like LEED and the Living Building Challenge.
LightArt, Acoustic Dial lightart.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Love the materials disclosure and Red List Free compliance!
Clean lines and hidden hardware contribute to a seamless, refined aesthetic. In 15 in., 24 in., or 35 in. diameters, Cirra is offered as a cable mount pendant or surface mount. The smaller 15-in. version may also be selected with a pendant stem mount. Cirra’s outer form is synthetic felt composed of 50% (by weight) recycled polyethylene (PET) felt, which helps to reduce ambient sound and comes in 24 different color options. A thermoformed acrylic diffuser reduces glare, creating soft, direct illumination.
Eureka Lighting, Cirra eurekalighting.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Nice looking with a refined flair.
MAKE A STATEMENT WITH SOFT CORNERS
This innovative acoustic luminaire was designed to combine high-performance architectural lighting with superior sound mitigation. Leveraging a patentpending TriCore acoustic technology, Polina delivers outstanding sound absorption across a wide range of frequencies while outperforming traditional PET felt solutions. The luminaire’s soft-cornered hexagonal form not only creates a striking visual statement but also seamlessly integrates into a variety of interior designs, making it ideal for modern offices, hospitality venues, and educational spaces.
Focal Point, Polina focalpointlights.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: I love this light fixture. I’m always looking for unique fixtures that are timeless and this is both. I like that it has soft edges and doesn't have rigid angles. Overall, it’s very well done.
ULTRA-THIN PROFILE DELIVERS EXCEPTIONAL R-VALUE
OPTIM-R E is the industry’s only encapsulated vacuum insulation panel, engineered to deliver exceptional thermal performance in space-constrained applications. With a rigid fumed silica core encased in a thin, gas-tight envelope, it achieves a centerof-panel R-value of 34.2 per inch, among the highest in the market. Each panel is encapsulated in a proprietary coating that increases durability and reduces the risk of panel punctures and edge damage during handling, transport and installation.
Kingspan Insulation North America, OPTIM-R E kingspan.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Optim-R E delivers extremely high thermal performance in ultra-thin retrofit profiles—something few materials can achieve. Its retrofit-centric innovation addresses one of the largest barriers in deep energy upgrades: space, making it a high-impact envelope technology.
anel, pplications. With ieves a centert. reduces the risk d installation. s
PERMEABLE MEMBRANE FOR ALL ROOFING
VaporDry SA is one of the industry’s first selfadhered, vapor-permeable roofing membranes. It prevents moisture build-up under the roof by allowing moisture to migrate,, reducing the likelihood of long-term issues that lead to rot at the ridge line and premature roof failure. This permeable membrane is suitable for use with all roofing types, including wood, metal, composite, and asphalt, with a pitch of 3:12 or greater.
Benjamin Obdyke, VaporDry SA benjaminobdyke.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Excellent product. Eliminates the need for staples and eliminates the need for the additional step of an Ice/Water shield.
NOW SEE THE NAIL AND SCREW FIN PATTERNS
The first and only flashing on the market that allows the pattern on the window nailing fins to be completely visible upon installation, this solution was developed in response to emerging building codes requiring better visibility of the nail and screw fin patterns during window installations and inspections. While traditional opaque flashings can obscure these patterns, this crystal-clear acrylic adhesive enables code officials to verify nailing patterns without halting workflow or requiring material removal.
TYPAR, TYPAR Clear Acrylic Flashing typar.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: What a fantastic idea! Not only to assist code inspections, but also to assist when conducting leakage testing. Love this!
IT’S A WELL-ENGINEERED WRAP
This self-adhered housewrap was specially designed for projects with popular open-joint cladding. It offers enhanced UV protection to accommodate increased exposure, and its black, non-printed facer ensures an ideal aesthetic and shadows between the gaps. And because it has a UV exposure allowance of 12 months, it’s also well-suited to light commercial projects with conventional cladding, where longer lead times may mean increased building wrap exposure time.
Benjamin Obdyke, InvisiWrap SA benjaminobdyke.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This is a wellengineered, self-adhered housewrap solution.
ENHANCED COMFORT FOR PATIENTS & CLINICIANS
This curved, surface mount, multifunction patient room overbed luminaire offers ambient, exam, night observation modes, and an optional reading light. The curved design situates the light source in the patient’s periphery as opposed to directly overhead. This reduces glare and envelopes the patient in comfortable illumination. Meeting exam level requirements as recommended by IES RP-29. Designed for healthcare and wellness applications—ambulatory care, dentists offices, exam rooms, long term care, NICU, patient rooms, pediatric rooms, recovery rooms, and spas.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This is a thoughtful and innovative reimagining of overbed lighting—one that breaks from long-standing conventions and prioritizes patient comfort, caregiver functionality, and architectural flexibility. By introducing a curved, surface-mount luminaire that places illumination in the patient’s periphery rather than directly overhead, Embrace meaningfully reduces glare and transforms a standard clinical fixture into a soothing, human-centered lighting experience.
BRING A LITTLE SUNSHINE TO EVERY PATIENT
This product uses an innovative, patent pending, optical treatment to create a realistic sky mode. Unlike traditional sky fixtures, where images obscure the light source, soothing ambient and high output exam modes are uncompromised, and meet RP-29 requirements. This is the only luminaire that combines white light (for ambient and exam modes) and a sky scene within a single luminaire.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This light fixture elevates the traditional “sky” plastic lens panel intended to provide a sense of comfort for healthcare. By providing innovation in the operation and lighting levels, this product sets a new trend in using technology to bring comfort in a healthcare environment.
REVOLUTIONIZE HEADWALL LIGHTING
It meets all IES RP-29 recommended light levels for the patient room in ambient, exam, night observation and reading modes with indirect and direct outputs. This ADA-compliant surface-mount luminaire is designed for spaces that have a busy ceiling and lots going on behind the headwall. Respond has four lighting modes, optional wooden glow faces, a standard range of antimicrobial finishes and custom options.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This light accomplishes what many other headwall lights have not been able to do which is to provide proper light levels for the patient during recovery and rest. It also provides the light levels often overlooked by designers which is to balance proper lighting from overhead fixtures and the headwall fixture. Great solution, great product!
PATIENT WELLNESS MEETS CAREGIVER NEEDS
This multi-function healthcare luminaire is designed to improve patient wellness and comfort, and clinician performance in patient rooms. The gently curved, recessed 1-ft. × 4-ft. tandem luminaire delivers four functions: ambient, exam, reading, and amber night light. Using indirect and direct light sources, the scenes visually transition from bright, cool morning light to warm, soft evening glow to a 600nm amber night light, thus supporting sleep/ wake cycles.
Focal Point, Saros Duo focalpointlights.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This is an exceptionally well-executed multifunction healthcare luminaire that blends human-centric lighting science with practical clinical functionality. Its elegant curved form, circadian lighting capabilities, and thoughtful integration of multiple lighting modes demonstrate a deep understanding of both patient wellness and caregiver needs.
LIGHTING CONTROL FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPACES
These patient-safe lighting control solutions are designed specifically for behavioral health environments and other high-abuse applications. Available in both 0-10V and DMX versions, these wall-mounted controls offer safe, intuitive ways to adjust lighting without compromising the safety of patients or the durability of the system.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: These are an excellent example of how the behavioral health environment needs to be approached in a careful and thoughtful manner. The product is clean and simple and with so many products out there with tactile functions, this product leads the way into looking at all the details.
BRING RGB LIGHT TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ENVIRONMENTS
Compliant with requirements of the New York State Office of Mental Health (NYSOMH) for ligature-resistant, tamper-resistant lighting, this family of slim, 2" deep luminaires offers optional synchronous or dual light engines, allowing control of inner and outer light rings. Use these lights for wayfinding and branding, mood creation and circadian support—while complementing spaces' designs. A unique feature is the motion sensor option which shifts lighting colors in response to occupancy.
Kenall Manufacturing, MedMaster Saturn Kenall.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT : This fixture is robustly built for demanding exterior and behavioral heath environments, yet offers architectural character that makes it appealing to any application. The dual lighting control and RGB options provide tremendous flexibility and feature/accent character simultaneously.
ECO-FRIENDLY & GOOD FOR BIRDS
BirdSmart Bird Safe Glass is designed to reduce bird collisions while prioritizing sustainability and performance. Its first-surface laser-etched patterns break up reflections and alert birds to the presence of glass, minimizing collisions. The glass is manufactured using a clean, noncaustic laser etching process, avoiding harsh chemicals and ensuring an eco-friendly solution. It also integrates with Solarban solar control low-e glass by Vitro, maintaining energy efficiency with optimal visible light transmittance (VLT) and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC).
JUDGE’S COMMENT: An elegant and highly effective response to one of the most significant environmental challenges in architecture.
BIRDS
CAN SEE, PEOPLE CAN SEE THROUGH
Bird Guard Glass is an innovative, bird-friendly glass designed to reduce bird collisions while maintaining architectural clarity, daylighting, and performance.
Bird Guard Glass ensures long-lasting visibility to birds without sacrificing transparency or aesthetics. Bird Guard Glass provides a scientifically tested, American Bird Conservancy (ABC) listed solution, utilizing first surface laser-enamel printing—a durable, maintenance-free technology that ensures birds can see the glass while preserving unobstructed views for building occupants.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Nice to have a readily-available product to specify to reduce bird strikes—an increasing demand of many new construction projects.
CLEAR MATERIAL INNOVATION
Sungate ThermL glass by Vitro is an innovative low-emissivity (low-e) coating designed for the interior surface of a standard 1-inch insulating glass unit (IGU). This advanced coating significantly reduces heat transfer and dramatically improves U-values when paired with Solarban solar control low-e glass by Vitro on the second surface. The new technology aims to address the growing demand for high-performance glazing solutions that deliver superior energy efficiency without sacrificing aesthetic appeal.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Sungate ThermL represents one of the clearest material innovations in the glazing sector this year. By adding a neutral fourth-surface low-e coating to standard IGUs, the system increases U-value performance by over 20% without sacrificing clarity or requiring triple glazing. It’s an elegant, cost-efficient move toward higher thermal performance and lower operational carbon—precisely the type of incrementalbut-impactful innovation the market needs.
VERIFIED BIRD-FRIENDLY
This American Bird Conservancy (ABC)-recommended window film effectively reduces bird window collisions. The ABC’s “Material Threat Factor” score system provides a relative measure of how well materials prevent collisions in a standard, controlled test environment. The organization defines “bird-friendly” materials as having a threat factor ≤ 30. The lower the score, the more effective the tested material. SkyWay Bird Film earned a Threat Factor score of 15.
Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions, SkyWay Bird Film graphics.averydennison.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Skyway Bird Film is a costeffective way to keep our feathered friends safe that can be applied on existing building glass on the exterior. A Threat Factor of 15 is an excellent measurement to prevent bird collisions.
GLASS WITH WALL-LIKE R-VALUES
The latest generation of VacuMax Vacuum Insulating Glass (VIG) offers even better thermal performance and enhanced aesthetics. It is exclusively manufactured with Solarban 70 solar-control, low-e glass by Vitro, an innovation that enables an impressive 79% improvement in U-values. Glass now achieves wall-like R-values of up to R20, setting a new benchmark in thermal insulation. The product also features significant visual enhancements, with vacuum ports eliminated and “getters” concealed for a cleaner aesthetic.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This is a truly gamechanging product, delivering exceptional energy performance to the most notoriously underperforming building envelope component.
EXPAND WHAT’S POSSIBLE WITH ADVANCED LIGHTING CONTROL
This commercial control system integrates lighting, controls, shades, and cloud-connected software into one intuitive platform. The 2025 updates build on Athena’s versatility and performance, offering smaller architectural downlights, new wireless keypad styles, and a more powerful dashboard interface that gives facility managers a single-pane-of-glass view to manage lighting, shading, and building analytics from a user-friendly digital platform. The coin-sized Athena wireless node enhances fixture-level control and system flexibility.
Lutron Electronics, Athena Lighting Control System lutron.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: The new additions to this system expand the offering of Lutron luminaires and keypads that can be used to design these advanced lighting sy stems and the ease with which they can be managed and maintained.
LIGHTING CONTROLS
Take the worry out of compromising your inspired building design to fire-safety requirements with reliable Aluflam vision doors, windows and glazed walls, fired-rated for up to 120 minutes. This pioneering system is fabricated from true extruded aluminum and is indistinguishable from non-fire-rated doors and windows.
VINTAGE LOOK & FEEL, CUTTING-EDGE PERFORMANCE
Introducing toggle switches and dimmers with a machined linear-knurl pattern, inspired by the proportions of vintage hi-fi equipment and the technical mastery of fine Swiss horology. Each piece is engineered in solid metal to match the Linear Hardware and Door offering and is designed to be easily swapped with other Buster + Punch detail kits. This allows users to update the aesthetic of their switches, dimmers, outlets, and USB modules without touching the electrical base units.
Buster + Punch, Linear Electricity Collection | busterandpunch.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: I love how unique this design is and having switches that match the design of a space is so important. Having a mixed metal and a variety of metal finish options is always great. Overall, I love it.
A GREAT SOLUTION GETS BETTER
The patented AirJet Shower Drying System now offers the Airjet Linear vent in addition to the round Nozzles, offering more ways to bring forced air into the shower to remove moisture from surfaces, minimize the risk of slippery floors and prevent the growth of mold. This slim style of vent is beautifully incorporated into the horizontal lines of the shower and delivers powerful airflow into the space.
AIRMADA Drying Solutions, AirJet Linear airmadadry.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Absolutely love this product. The linear jet option is truly a game changer. I’ve used the traditional system in a few projects and the addition of the linear key makes a great system even better.
SOAK IN A SCULPTURAL SILHOUETTE
Drawing inspiration from the sweeping butterfly rooflines of mid-century homes in California’s Coachella Valley, this tub’s sculptural silhouette features a soft V-shaped profile that evokes movement and openness. With a 26-degree backrest slope and integrated lumbar support, the Coachella is designed for deep relaxation and fullbody comfort. The tub is available in a wide range of standard and premium colors— including bold options like Carmine Red and Sapphire Blue.
Hydro Systems, Coachella Freestanding Tub hydrosystem.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This looks very clean and simple. It's a very usable design style. I also love the variety of color options. Very nice, I don't have anything I would change.
INDUSTRIAL-ERA, HAND-CAST HARDWARE
This sculptural hardware collection transforms everyday fixtures into bold design statements. Inspired by industrial-era architecture and custom motorcycles, CAST merges raw materiality with refined craftsmanship to deliver a uniquely tactile and expressive experience. Each piece is crafted from hand-polished solid metal bars, paired with knurled grips and hand-cast knuckles that celebrate the beauty of imperfection.
Buster + Punch, CAST busterandpunch.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: I’m always looking for unique hardware for projects and I think this design does a good job of providing a unique style that I haven't seen before. It looks durable and very usable.
ADVANCING ACCESSIBILITY
Bradley’s Universal Changing Table (UCT) is designed to advance accessibility, safety, and dignity in public restrooms by serving individuals with physical disabilities or mobility challenges— particularly older children and adults who cannot use standard baby changing stations. This ADAcompliant unit is built with reinforced stainlesssteel construction for durability and strength, supporting up to 500 pounds. A key feature is its adjustable height range, from 16 to 39 in., which allows users or caregivers to safely raise or lower the platform to a comfortable working height.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: I applaud the focus on universal design and inclusion in this product's design for users with mobility challenges. From a design perspective, this product offers elegant lines and a minimal appearance while leveraging button control to fold/unfold the table. The use of recyclable materials is also appreciated.
DRAIN WITH AN ORGANIC SHAPE
The newest tile insert linear drain, Disco-rectangle, is defined by its unique geometric shape. Inspired by mid-century design, this drain emphasizes a fluid, organic aesthetic with smooth contours that seamlessly blends form and function. This design moves away from traditional linear drain solutions with sharp angles but still maintains its structural integrity and performance. Available in 10 designer finishes, 5 standard finishes, and 5 specialty finishes.
Infinity Drain, Disco-rectangle infinitydrain.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: I would definitely specify this product for a project and love how unique and innovative it is. Well done.
HAND-CARVED WORKS OF ART
This striking new series of hand-carved pedestal and vessel sinks was designed to function as both high-performance bathroom fixtures and sculptural focal points. Each sink is meticulously crafted from solid andesite, a dense volcanic stone similar to basalt, chosen for its durability, refined texture, and ability to hold intricate detail. These sinks go beyond utility by transforming a basic necessity into a functional work of art.
Stone Forest, Lithic Pedestal Sink stoneforest.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This is an exceptionally refined series that succeeds in elevating a utilitarian fixture into a sculptural centerpiece. The collection strikes a compelling balance between functional durability and artistic expression.
PATENTED HINGES FOR HEAVIER GLASS DOORS
The Zero Shower Collection features the patented Zero Hinges and patent-pending clamps that conceal the mounting mechanisms of both the hinges and clamps, dramatically improving the look of luxury bathroom shower enclosures. The Zero Hinge is more attractive and stronger than other shower enclosure hinges, capable of handling glass doors more than 50% heavier and 15% wider.
CRL, Zero Shower Collection crlaurence.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Sleek, modern design offers heavier capacity and easy maintenance.
DARKSKY-COMPLIANT URBAN LIGHTING
The Aya is designed to meet the growing needs for urban lighting, environmental conservation, and human well-being. It addresses concerns over light pollution by being DarkSky-compliant, using targeted optics, and offering bio red light options that minimize disruption to ecosystems. For human-centric needs, Aya provides color and intensity modulation to mimic natural sunlight and glare-free optics for visual comfort.
Selux Corporation, Aya selux.us
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Exterior luminaires that are DarkSky-compliant and offer full cut off capability are valuable to have.
FILL LARGE AREAS WITH FEWER FIXTURES
This series of bollards illuminates pedestrian areas in an efficient and innovative way by reducing the number and height of light points needed. The innovation lies in the unique approach to optics design, which allows maximum light diffusion while maintaining the compact design of the product. This results in superior light output, or the ability to illuminate large spaces with excellent light quality without the need to install an excessive number of luminaires.
Performance iN Lighting S.p.A., Index+ performanceinlighting.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: An interesting solution for designing well-lit pedestrian areas with fewer luminaires.
FEEL MORE SECURE
This luminaire was designed with lower pole heights to contribute to a feeling of security and the light engine features new technology to produce a gentler, more comfortable gradient for a softer look and glarefree environment.
Cyclone Lighting, Lupa cyclonelighting.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT : It’s an innovative product wrapped in a familiar form factor.
REFINED FORM WITH NO VISIBLE FASTENERS
Bring the continuous contours of this luminaire’s form into interior and exterior applications. A variety of mounting options include pole, wall, surface/ceiling, pendant cable, pendant stem, and pendant catenary.
A Tenon Clamp Mount anchors luminaires securely to the 4-inch poles, supporting single, twin, and multiple configurations at varying heights. An industrial-chic Shepherd Arm Mount adds a unique aesthetic for pole and wall mounted options.
Luminis, Ellington luminis.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Suited for contemporary, industrial, and historical projects alike.
LOOK INTO THE VOID
Valenza’s straight geometric lines are offset and softened by organically inspired rounded edges. Seen from the side, its slender, subtle silhouette virtually disappears, belying the quality and strength of its illumination. Viewed head-on, the assertive V shape makes a strong impression.
Cyclone Lighting, Valenza cyclonelighting.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: An aesthetically pleasing design.
A MODERN FORM FOR OUTDOOR LIGHTING
This modern outdoor bollard is an ideal lighting solution for architects and designers seeking to create safe, well-lit environments. VAZ celebrates light and its interplay with materials, the architectural landscape, and human experience. Choose from a sleek aluminum base or elevate a design with the distinctive Signature Series, featuring textured, ribbed finishes in Stone or Porcelain.
Selux Corporation, VAZ selux.us
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This has a very unique and visually pleasing design. Its bulbous shape appeals to me without feeling cartoonish.
RELIABLY WATERPROOF AND COMPACT
This high-output, IP65-rated LED downlight was designed specifically for large-scale outdoor ceiling applications such as airport terminals, transit stations, and public canopies. It’s the most compact high-output recessed downlight in its class. Unlike conventional IP-rated downlights that rely on basic seals or splash-proof components, REV Hydro features a fully enclosed system with a dual-layer waterproofing strategy, ensuring reliable operation in high-risk environments.
Meteor Lighting, REV Hydro meteor-lighting.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: I think this is a great product, and always nice to have outdoor light fixture options. Very usable and well designed.
FEATURING PATENTED & PATENT-PENDING INNOVATIONS
Ideal for multifamily and elderly care developments, the MGE9 features patented and patent-pending innovations, including FreezeShield technology engineered for reliability in extreme conditions. This system features a sealed burner box, a patented heated condensate trap, and a patent-pending telescoping vent pipe that prevent damaging ice formations that can lead to unit failure and costly emergency service calls. A high-efficiency 95% AFUE system, with a constant torque ECM blower motor and two-stage heating, keeps residents cozy without energy waste.
Allied Air Enterprises, MagicPak M-Series MGE9 All-In-One Gas Heating/Electric Cooling Unit magicpak.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: By having everything in one package it cuts down cost and provides turnover of new residential multifamily construction in less time than running traditional HVAC units and accompanying parts and pieces.
HVAC IMPROVED WITH AI
This residential climate control solution leverages artificial intelligence to deliver superior comfort and energy efficiency. Unlike traditional HVAC systems with static performance, the AIIR system continuously adapts to occupant behavior, environmental conditions, and usage patterns through machine learning algorithms and smart sensors. Its compact, ductless design fits between standard 16-inch stud walls, making installation more efficient and less invasive.
JUDGE’S COMMENT : Machine learning/AI optimization seems like a game changer for this product type.
BOLD & BRONZE
Drawing inspiration from tessellations and geometric patterns, this sconce offers a bold, new approach to outdoor architectural lighting. Its triangular downlights cast striking highlights and shadows.
Kalco Lighting, Delta Outdoor LED Wall Sconce kalco.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Fun design. I love to see more tessellated designs. I would love to find a project for this.
A LITTLE CURVE GOES A LONG WAY
Enhance pedestrian comfort with minimized glare and uniform illumination with this uniquely curved shape and patent-pending edge-lit technology. Pelican provides light evenly across its expansive 24-in. × 18-in. surface, eliminating harsh hotspots and reducing glare, while offering several distributions including pathway symmetric or asymmetric, asymmetric wide or long, and symmetric round. Lighting designers may choose outputs from 5,000 to 18,000 delivered lumens.
Luminis, Pelican luminis.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT : Simple, elegant form.
MORE SPACE BETWEEN
This family of luminaires is uniquely designed to provide a wide lateral distribution that meets the 1 foot-candle egress minimum at fixture spacings of up to 25 ft. (optic height 34 in. above surface) or up to 18 ft. (optic height 18 in. above surface) on-center. Its design, combined with its proprietary precision high-clarity acrylic optic, prevents scattered light from disrupting the night skies and stops light from spilling unnecessarily.
Hydrel, Wander Pathway and Step Luminiare hydrel.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: I am intrigued by the rounded corners that feel very of-the-moment. The soft corners are a unique offering that I could see adding a nice touch to the landscape. I can see this being a great option for evenly lit pathways.
LIGHT WITH A TOUCH OF LIME
This high-performance outdoor RGBL projector, purpose-built for precise architectural illumination, offers powerful floodlighting capabilities for largescale façades, landscapes, and public spaces. At its core is Archi-Color—an acclaimed proprietary quadchip technology from Meteor—which adds Lime to the RGB spectrum, delivering enhanced brightness and a broader color range compared to conventional RGBW systems.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Cool lighting product line for its combination of small form factor and powerful, precise exterior lighting capability. The compact nature of the HueCraft Projector is applauded for greater flexibility in architectural integration. Also noteworthy is the narrow-beam ability.
A GOOD IDEA
This dual-bend flexible linear LED fixture is designed for low-profile linear wall washing and grazing. Select from five different color temperatures, a myriad of control options, and built-to-order lengths.
Acclaim Lighting, Flex Graze HO acclaimlighting.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: I’ve specified this. It’s a good idea. Unique form factor and addresses IP65 wet location applications that need projecting performance.
A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED PEDESTAL SYSTEM
Replace concrete footers and posts with a telescoping pedestal design that allows for fast, precise height adjustments. Each pedestal supports up to 750 pounds with a Factor of Safety (FoS) of 3 and its slope-compensating design can handle up to 8% grade using Slope Levelers. They are available in 12-pedestal kits to build an 8 × 10 ft. deck on 2 × 6 support joists. They are weather-, freeze- and mold-resistant.
Bison Innovative Products—DAP, Bison Level.Up Adjustable Deck Pedestal System bisonip.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Great design, easy to learn. Saves time and money. I recommend these myself.
STRONGER & MORE DURABLE THAN WOOD
The boards in this patented ultra-high performance structural composite decking system are made up of two components: a pultruded FRP plank and a snap-on hybrid composite top cap. The plank offers the board’s structural strength, rigidity, and integrated hidden fastener grooves. The top cap offers aesthetic beauty, a nonslip surface, UV resistance, and an overall finished look for the system. Each board is lightweight (1.6 lbs/LF) yet outperforms 5/4 Southern Yellow Pine and high-end composite deck boards in nearly every performance category.
Strongwell Corporation, STRONGDEK strongwell.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT : STRONGDEK is a genuinely new structural composite decking product that blends structural FRP performance with an easy, snap-on decking cap—something not commonly available in the decking market. g
PATTERNS NOW ON BOTH SIDES OF THE PANEL
This innovative expansion of 3form’s award-winning 100% Recycled Textures line was made from 100% recycled translucent resin through a proprietary molecular recycling technology. The panels offer a sustainable, durable alternative to traditional materials like glass or acrylic. Designed for highvisibility interior applications such as partitions and space dividers, these panels feature complementary molded patterns on both faces—creating a visually dynamic material that plays with light, shadow, and translucency from every angle.
3form, Dual-Sided Textures, An Extension of 100% Recycled Textures 3-form.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: I think this was something that was missing from the 3form portfolio, so I am very glad to see a dual-sided finish now available. I think it’s very usable.
A NATURAL LOOK WITHOUT THE MAINTENANCE
Calacatta Costa was developed in response to design trends favoring natural, organic aesthetics and warm, inviting interiors inspired by nature. With a growing market preference for surfaces that emulate natural materials without the maintenance challenges of stone, Calacatta Costa offers designers and homeowners a hygienic, durable, and visually elegant alternative. These surfaces are GREENGUARD and NSF certified, contributing to healthier indoor environments.
LX Hausys America, HIMACS Calacatta Costa lxhausys.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This design incorporates beautiful hues and thin veining raising the elegance of this solution to a level with natural stone products such as granite and marble.
DESIGN A NORDIC PEAK
This premium architectural stone veneer combines natural elegance with contemporary design. As an extension of Eldorado Stone’s Cliffstone profile— recognized for its refined, flat-paned faces and distinctive textural details, Nordic Peak features a blend of chalky whites and subtle light grays. These Nordic-inspired colorways bring serenity and light into both residential and commercial spaces.
Westlake Royal Building Products, Eldorado Stone— Nordic Peak Cliffstone eldoradostone.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Nordic Peak Cliffstone introduces a clean, contemporary palette that aligns with Scandinavian design trends.
CREATE CAPTIVATING VISUAL INTEREST
This architectural element uses linear segments to enhance depth and bring visual interest to facades and interior settings. The aluminum battens are lightweight and easy to install using the CS Quick Lock system. The extrusions come in three standard depths of 2-in., 4-in., or 6-in. and up to 10-ft. long with prefabricated interlocking components. The metal slats are powder coated, scratch resistant and allow for a seamless transition between interior and exterior spaces.
Construction Specialties, STYX c-sgroup.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This product offers some interesting options for linear blade application. Most notable are the ability to create curved shapes and add lighting highlights. The custom bent option to create more expressive shapes and textures in these types of applications is exciting.
VISUALLY LIGHT DESPITE LARGE SCALE
A modern, minimalist decorative chandelier that offers powerful illumination, Junction is an aluminum luminaire shaped by up to five linear luminaires (arms) that pivot around a central mast. In lengths of 4-ft., 6-ft., or 8-ft., each arm can rotate 180 degrees and be positioned either 6-in. or 12-in. apart. A U-shaped diffuser adds subtle depth and comes in either a smooth or a prismatic finish. Available in 16 colors.
Eureka Lighting, Junction eurekalighting.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Junction’s aesthetic strength lies in its balance of simplicity and precision. The clean extrusions, open-ended arms, and U- shaped diffuser establish a minimalist profile that feels both contemporary and timeless. Negative space plays an essential role, allowing the fixture to appear visually light despite its large scale. The diffuser options—smooth or prismatic—offer designers subtle ways to shape light quality and surface expression.
CUTTABLE ANYWHERE LED TAPE LIGHT
This fully encased tape light provides smooth, evenly diffused light that eliminates the need for additional extrusion housings and lenses. This product can be used in small spaces or be placed in direct view to meet the needs of dynamic lighting installations. It’s got a UV, flame, and saltwater resistant (IP65) silicone coating and a durable housing with 2.36-in. bending radius. Cuttable anywhere in a maximum run of 16.4 ft.
American Lighting Inc., Minuet americanlighting.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: A robust solution for bringing light to low-profile spaces.
The most flexible and energy efficient integrated recessed linear trough system available. These fixtures can be fitted with any of Modular International’s multi-award-winning high efficiency & high output 579e static white, Dim-to-Warm, or Tunable White LED modules offering 38 selectable beam angles, 1,360+ possible wattage and delivered lumen combinations all at 90-95+ CRI (R9=61-95), and extendable and moveable yokes.
Modular International Inc., Integrated Linears modularinternational.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This is a carefully integrated system to reduce ceiling clutter and manage system installation. The modular components offer unlimited configurations in multiple ceiling assemblies.
A COMPREHENSIVE CHANNEL LUMINIARE
These Tunable White LED modules allow independent color tuning from 2700K-6500K and intensity tuning from 100%-0.1% while also exceeding industry averages for lm/W efficiencies across a wide range of wattages and delivered lumen packages. Compatible with all of Modular International’s standard product offerings, including over 400,000 possible product combinations. Standard dimming protocols and control options include 0-10V (0.1%), DALI-2 Type 8 (0.1%) and (1%) with Lutron LD2 drivers, and DMX (0.1%).
Modular International Inc., Tunable White LED Modules modularinternational.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Probably the most comprehensive solution I’ve seen for these types of channel designs.
A RESPONSE TO RIGID, INFLEXIBLE LIGHTS
This is an advanced architectural cove lighting solution designed for seamless integration into complex spaces. One of the first field-curvable and cuttable cove systems on the market, it was developed as a solution to a common industry challenge—rigid lighting systems prefabricated to inaccurate field measurements. Lalina Cove allows for precise on-site adjustments, conforming to curved coves and intricate geometries with internal radii as small as 9 inches.
Coronet LED, Lalina Cove coronetled.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT : Innovative for sure. Not sexy because it’s integral and the architecture does the speaking, but for the knowledgeable and experienced, this is really sexy. It’s hard to show in photos and data, but I like it and it’s very cool.
ACCENTUATE THE PERIMETER
The Perifina Perimeter Series is a collection of luminaires designed to accentuate the perimeter of any space. With a range of models, including knife-edge, corners, in-wall, and illuminated crown molding, Perifina offers seamless integration into various architectural styles. A unique feature that meets growing demand includes select models compatible with ½-inch drywall. All models support ⅝-inch drywall for added versatility and can easily go around corners without light gaps or the need for complicated soldering.
Optique Lighting, Perifina Perimeter Series optique-lighting.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: I really like the Perifina Series lighting options that integrate with sheetrock articulations such as corners, bases, and reveals. This innovation simplifies in a single product what designers often try to accomplish with a heavyhanded combination of lighting, framing, and metal trim components. There is also a wide variety of shapes and sizes to choose from. Having the backer plate accommodate painting offers further integration into a designer's color palette.
GREAT LIGHT, ULTRA-COMPACT HOUSING
Push the boundaries of architectural downlighting with an ultra-compact form engineered to fit in ceiling plenums as shallow as 2 in. As the shallowest recessed downlight in the market, this product solves a critical challenge for designers and contractors working within limited space constraints while delivering high-performance lighting where traditional downlights cannot. Available in both 4-in. and 6-in. apertures with a range of lumen packages up to 5,000 lumens.
Gotham Lighting, IVO Shallow Recessed Downlight gothamlighting.acuitybrands.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Great solution for projects with limited plenum space.
PROVIDE AMBIENT & ACCENT LIGHTING FROM ONE LUMINAIRE
The Juno Trac Linear Ambient Series was designed to solve a growing challenge in modern commercial and retail lighting environments: the need for a clean, cohesive, and flexible lighting system that delivers both ambient and accent illumination without compromising design intent or installation efficiency. This solution also offers specifiers the ability to incorporate a layer of accent illumination (track heads) and ambient illumination on one single power plane.
Juno Lighting, Trac Linear Ambient Family juno.acuitybrands.com
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JUDGE’S COMMENT: A remarkable design from Juno Lighting combining track and linear lighting into one fixture. This fixture creates cost saving measures while providing architects and designers creative ways to combine different elements of light in a space. The options for lenses and baffles add to the versatility of this product.
PERFORMANCE DECORATIVE LIGHTING
LIGHT A HIGH CEILING, WITHOUT HARSH GLARE
Available in Narrow, Medium and Wide shade distributions, these performance decorative pendants provide the same high-output execution as all of the company’s cylinders—up to 3000 lumens. Concealed hardware allows the high-quality die-cast aluminum shades to seamlessly integrate into the pendant, resulting in a sleek and symmetrical aesthetic. The shadowless uplight option allows for direct and indirect lighting from a single cylinder.
DMF Lighting, Decorative Pendants with Shades dmflighting.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: These products stand out for their clean aesthetic, technical sophistication, and usercentric flexibility.
Environments like natatoriums, sports arenas, and large public spaces pose unique challenges, requiring powerful, evenly distributed light without harsh glare or direct view of the source. This modular linear rail with dual-sided upward illumination span over 180°, casting a broad, uniform glow across the ceiling. Each 2-ft or 4-ft segment features concealed wiring, a slim profile, and interlocking ends to form seamless continuous runs.
Meteor Lighting, NovaLink meteor-lighting.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: A highly innovative and thoughtfully engineered solution for complex, high-ceiling environments that traditionally face significant lighting challenges.
THE EMBODIMENT OF INNOVATION
This compact, high-performance trackhead offers tool-free field selection of both beam spread and lumen output. Choose from three beam angles (18° Spot, 24° Narrow Flood, and 34° Flood) and three output settings (800lm/9.5W Low, 1000lm/12W Mid, or 1300lm/16W High)— eliminating lens swaps, accessory ordering, and the delays of last-minute changes. Pixora uses patent-pending Digital Zoom technology with a static lens to deliver a step function with consistent beam spreads. No rotating or guessing— just precise, efficient, repeatable performance.
Solais Lighting, Pixora Trackhead with patent-pending Digital Zoom Technology solais.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: The embodiment of innovation.
At the heart of the IVO Cylinder Family is a commitment to unmatched light quality. Featuring Bounding Ray Optical Design with a 45-degree cutoff, these cylinders expertly control glare while enhancing visual comfort for occupants. Perfect Color Technology ensures unmatched color consistency with a 1/2-step MacAdam ellipse, setting a new standard for quality across the entire product family. Patent-pending optics deliver crisp, clean beams ranging from 10 to 60 degrees in precise 5-degree increments.
Gotham Lighting, IVO Cylinder Family gothamlighting.acuitybrands.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Next-level color consistency is a welcome advancement in LEDs, especially across a larger family offering.
THREE NEW DIFFUSERS
With new accessories, Eureka rejuvenated a classic luminaire shape. Scout has a simple, clean aesthetic with no visible seams or hardware. It’s available in two diameters (2.75" and 4.5") and three lengths (6", 10", and 18"). Mounting options include ceiling, surface, stem, and cable mount. There are three new diffusers. Bell is minimalist, translucent and cloche-shaped. Pebble introduces a soft touch and an ambient glow in an oval-shaped diffuser. Orb is sleek and domeshaped.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: The three diffusers create three distinct, yet coordinated, characters.
LINES OF LIGHT FOR HARSH ENVIRONMENTS
This fully sealed luminaire achieved ratings of IP65, IK10, and 3G, which makes it highly durable and resilient for tough installations including bathrooms, entrances, canopies, and courtyards. It can be mounted in various ways, including recessed, wall, surface, or catenary options, and is perfect for locations exposed to moisture and humidity. Peeta also features customizable optics for a uniform look and delivers up to 1,534 lm/ft.
Selux Corporation, Peeta selux.us
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Protected linear lighting that can handle exposure to harsh environments is a good to have available.
A NEW APPROACH TO LUMINAIRES
This flexible, free-standing luminaire is designed for evolving spaces. Available in Dual-Arm “T” and SingleArm “L” configurations that deliver direct illumination with either a lensed or louvered optic and optional batwing indirect lighting for ambient comfort. Tazo provides up to 7500 lumens with an efficacy of up to 121 LPW. Integrated dimming controls, occupancy and photo sensors, and optional USB-A, USB-C, and 120V AC outlets make it as convenient as it is powerful. Just unplug and move, no electrician required.
Focal Point, Tazo focalpointlights.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: I think this product is very usable and fills a place in the market that maybe we haven't had something exactly like this before. It is an interesting approach to allow for flexibility in those spaces that might be reconfigured in the future.
LIGHT QUALITY AT THE HEART OF THIS FAMILY
BMO CENTRE EXPANSION, CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA
The groundbreaking BMO Centre expansion in Calgary, Alberta, Canada showcases architectural innovation at its best. This project was a landmark transformation, redefining Calgary's premier event venue. The monumental challenge was to deliver a world-class convention center that simultaneously honored the region's deep western heritage and projected a bold vision for the future. A 565,000-sq.-ft. expansion, the project demanded an exterior capable of embodying Calgary's unique identity—its flowing rivers, rolling foothills and the vibrant energy of the iconic, 10-day annual Stampede event—while providing uncompromising durability against diverse and harsh climate conditions.
The collaborative design teams from Stantec, Populous, and S2 Architecture selected ALUCOBOND PLUS as their material of choice, recognizing its ability to achieve their architectural vision. The product’s exceptional formability enabled precise crafting of intricate shapes. The material was flawlessly paired with extensive glazing while producing a challenging curved design, its versatility proved essential in translating the themes into a fluid, unified aesthetic that transitioned seamlessly from wall to canopy. Crucially, ALUCOBOND PLUS' 100% recyclability also aligned with a commitment to sustainable design practices.
Beyond its shaping capabilities, the unwavering consistency of ALUCOBOND PLUS was vital for achieving the client's desired repetitive design pattern across such an expansive surface, demonstrating unparalleled performance at scale. The carefully selected combination of standard finishes—Almandine Garnet Metallic, Brushed Antique Copper and Atacama Bronze Metallic—transcended basic cladding; together they formed a vibrant narrative. These finishes etched a visual story, mirroring the gleam of aged pennies and the intricate metalwork of cowboy belt buckles, enriching the building with sophisticated detail. This innovative use of ALUCOBOND PLUS elevated the BMO Centre into a stunning architectural icon, ensuring its indelible mark on Calgary’s skyline and a memorable experience for global visitors for generations.
3A Composites, ALUCOBOND PLUS alucobondusa.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT:
The BMO Centre expansion is a striking achievement in contemporary civic architecture—an ambitious, culturally rooted project elevated by an inspired material strategy. The design team’s use of ALUCOBOND PLUS plays a central role in fulfilling the dual mandate of the expansion: honoring Calgary’s deep western heritage while presenting an iconic, future-facing architectural identity. The result is a 565,000-sq.-ft. landmark that feels both grounded in place and boldly modern, transforming the city’s premier event venue into a world-class destination.
UMC HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
UMC Health System recently expanded its inpatient/outpatient services to the Northwestern Texas community with a brand new facility.
This 221,500-square-foot building in Lubbock, TX, emphasizes wellness and community integration, featuring a distinctive two-tower layout joined by a central lobby that opens to a tranquil garden courtyard. One tower is dedicated to clinical care, while the other houses a publicly accessible fitness and rehabilitation center.
YKK AP’s YCW 750 XT curtain wall, YCW 750 SSG curtain wall, and YCW 750 OG curtain wall were specified to help achieve the project’s goals of energy efficiency and occupant comfort. Daylight floods nearly every space within the building—from the infusion center to exercise rooms to waiting areas and patient rooms. While the Texas heat can get a little intense, the design team utilized dynamic glazing on these curtainwall products that adjusts to sunlight for occupant comfort and energy efficiency.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: An impressive example of dynamic glazing in the Texas climate.
YKK AP America, Inc., YCW 750 XT curtain wall; YCW 750 SSG curtain wall; YCW 750 OG curtain wall ykkap.com
Craft a Unique Guest Room Moment with Art at the Four Seasons New Orleans
Custom resin artwork installations infuse 330 guest rooms with a stunning nod to the native flora of New Orleans.
Art has the potential to not only beautify a space, but to spark a conversation that’s specific to a time and place. Often hotel clients come to Saatchi Art with a desire to tell the unique story of their property’s history and location through artwork in order to create a more memorable guest experience. Such was the case when Bill Rooney Studio contacted us to integrate artwork into each of the 330 guest rooms at the Four Seasons New Orleans, which opened to the public in August 2021.
Sitting at the end of Canal Street, the hotel’s iconic 34-story tower was built in 1967 by legendary modernist architect Edward Durell Stone. Now recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, this landmark tower overlooking the Mississippi River has been breathtakingly restored and enhanced to become a five-star Four Seasons property aimed at “celebrating the city’s spirit of survival and rebirth.”
Saatchi Art senior art advisor Tara LaManna was tasked with finding a unique means of integrating art into the guest rooms in a way that went beyond traditional wall art. In addition to being unexpected,
“Consistently
high standards are an expected hallmark of any Four Seasons property, and their New Orleans outpost is certainly no exception. Above each bed there’s a delightful plaster wall relief of magnolia flowers.”
—Hotel Review, Condé Nast Traveler
the proposed art element also had to compliment the mid-century architectural finishes and decor of the guest rooms.
Working in collaboration with the client, Tara devised a novel approach: the artwork would come in the form of custom sculptural panels that would be showcased over each bed. To reference the local surroundings, the intricate bas-relief sculpture was inspired by photographs of flora native to the area and carved out of wood. A mold was then created by hand and the headboards were produced using a resin material to resemble plaster. This process ensured that a hand-crafted quality was maintained for each artwork, while enabling the 300+ pieces to be made efficiently and within budget. The resulting multi-panel headboard is now the show-stopping focal point of every guest room in the property.
saatchiart.com/trade
Four Seasons New Orleans Design Team: Bill Rooney Studio
PRODUCTS:
Saatchi Art
Custom Sculptural Panels
Use Daylight & Color to Create an Inviting + Playful Community Center
Polycarbonate wall systems diffuse natural light and add the pop of purple hues to this eye-catching exterior.
Background
Advancing its mission to cultivate a better community through a commitment to youth, healthy living, and fostering social responsibility, the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids partnered with Caledonia Community Schools (CCS) to build and jointly operate a new, state-of-the-art recreation facility serving both students and community members in Caledonia, Michigan. With a location adjacent to the school district’s existing education complex, this 47,000-sq.-ft facility would house a wide range of amenities to promote fitness and community engagement for all ages, including a fitness and wellness area, kids' zone, basketball court, indoor track, as well as a splash pad and pool.
The school district and YMCA intended this facility to represent a vibrant community hub for recreation, wellness and community connection, with special
programs for students, families and seniors to engage in healthy activities together and make lasting memories.
Design Challenges
Create an inviting, comfortable and visually safe environment
Deliver abundant access to beneficial natural light.
Achieving these design goals required evenly diffusing daylight throughout the facility—without introducing glare, excess heat or visual discomfort for guests. To conserve funds for this facility as a highuse community resource, the project further called for an energy efficient lighting solution.
Additionally, the facility design required an inventive, eye-catching aesthetic, intended to promote a
playful environment and infuse visitors with community spirit. The exterior needed to incorporate materials with the versatility to apply unique color options, in order to match with customized interior design choices. The project prioritized incorporating the school district’s signature purple color, which was integrated throughout indoor areas such as the indoor track and bathroom tile.
Solution
To deliver an innovative, playful aesthetic, Stantec and C2AE Architecture created a cantilevered translucent form over the facility’s main entryway.
This nature-inspired prism element, mimicking the refraction created when sunlight strikes water, provides an uplifting daylit environment for guests as the mix of glass and translucent glazing
by Neall Digert, Ph.D., MIES, Vice President of Innovation and Market Development, Kingspan Light + Air
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showcases the recreational activities occurring inside.
To maximize occupant comfort and energy conservation, the design team integrated 2,500 sq. ft. of Kingspan Light + Air’s polycarbonate wall systems into the building envelope. These translucent wall assemblies distribute uniform, diffuse natural daylight into the facility while delivering exceptional thermal performance and limiting solar heat gain. The result is a bright, comfortable environment that supports rigorous exercise and community programs without visual discomfort or major temperature fluctuations. The design team mixed in glass glazing in select areas to provide views to the outdoors for a connection to the environment. This abundance of highquality daylight further reduces the facility’s dependence on electric lighting, lowering energy consumption to help meet the project’s sustainability goals.
The wall system also offers the unique flexibility to apply a wide range of standard and custom glazing colors. For this project, the design team selected a custom purple matte glazing and
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aluminum finish to align with the school district’s color palette, creating a cohesive visual identity both inside and out.
Now completed, the Cal Community Center provides students and community members of all ages with an inviting space filled with natural daylight.
The facility’s diverse amenities, in close proximity to existing educational facilities, serve as a convenient and valuable community resource, with a visually appealing exterior that enhances the local area. The center’s abundance of natural daylight supports safety and comfort for rigorous activities, while creating a welcoming environment for social interaction.
In a Cal Schools Press release from February 28, 2025, Monique Brennan, CCS community education and outreach coordinator, stated that the Cal Community Center was “more than just a building—it’s a place for all ages to connect, learn and create lasting memories. For over 30 years, the Caledonia Resource Center has enriched our community, and this new space allows us to expand that mission, providing a true home away from home for seniors, families and students. Seeing this vision come to life is truly incredible.”
Cal Community Center
Caledonia, Michigan
Completion Date: February 2025
Architects: Stantec and C2AE
General Contractor: Rockford Construction
Distributor/Installer: Olson
Architectural Products / Reliable Sheet Metal, Inc.
PRODUCTS:
Kingspan Light + Air kingspan.com
Human-Centric Healing Design
the Sandy Health Center in Sandy, Ore., wood
Portland architect Mariah Kiersey leads her mid-sized firm’s healthcare practice with a focus on empathy, understanding, and support.
Recently named senior principal of Ankrom Moisan's healthcare studio. Oregon-native Mariah Kiersey's interest in human-centric design began during her four-year professional stint in Dublin, Ireland, where she experienced first-hand the challenges of being an outsider. Since her return to the West Coast, she's risen through the ranks of Ankrom Moisan Architects, establishing best practices for using design to offer people in sensitive situations a little more support.
“[My time in Dublin] gave me a profound sense of empathy for people who face barriers or marginalization, and it helped me understand that human-centric design starts with meeting people where they are, in all their varied circumstances and abilities.”
—Mariah Kiersey, Ankrom Moisan Architects
There is a strong concentration of social service providers and support centers in Old Town Portland, the location of Ankrom Moisan’s offices. The opportunity to help those individuals, and to be part of the solution for issues like addiction, mental illness, and homelessness, further drew Kiersey to behavioral health design.
She now leads a team of designers with a humancentric, trauma-informed, empathetic approach where spaces are designed to support the healing process by helping people feel hopeful, supported, and seen.
Design Tips for Crafting Healing Spaces
In creating spaces that feel safe, dignified and restorative, the designers use lots of natural light, nature-inspired materials and tones, dimmable warm lighting, and good acoustics. Aesthetically, wood is a popular choice for these spaces. Circadian-based lighting supports emotional regulation, while soundabsorbing materials help minimize disruptive noise.
“In shared or lobby areas, it’s about achieving the right balance between visibility and privacy. Staff need clear sightlines to ensure safety and to respond quickly when needed, but residents also need spaces where they can feel trusted and at ease. Ultimately, safety—both physical and psychological— for patients and staff is at the core of every design decision we make,” she says.
For example, at the CCC 16 × Burnside Recovery Center in Portland, a hostel that was converted into a behavior health facility, Ankrom Moisan designed the layout with clear sightlines and a sense of transparency throughout. There are also two means of egress in intake rooms, providing staff with a secondary exit if a situation escalates. Other design
features include outdoor space, warm colors, wood flooring and large windows.
The project also provides a glimpse into the importance of carefully listening to a client to more deeply understand their facility needs. Through thoughtful interviews, the architects learned that when the bathroom lights are on for an extended period of time, this might mean that a resident is in danger of overdosing. This insight helped inform the lighting and visibility design for staff to monitor residents and each other.
“This created a shift from an employee-only responsibility to something that all members of these communities are concerned about. Now, residents are looking out for each other, forming a community, all because of a minor design decision in the restrooms,” she says. Sharing her hope for the future of human-centric design, Kiersey believes the design process starts with understanding the values and lived experiences of those we serve.
“When we do that, we can avoid environments or processes that re-traumatize individuals and instead create spaces where staff and patients alike feel equally safe, supported, and empowered. Because ultimately, one cannot heal without the other,” says Kiersey.
—By Barbara Horwitz-Bennett, contributing writer
Mariah Kiersey has been rising through the ranks of the West Coastbased Ankrom Moisan Architects, recently taking over the firm’s healthcare studio as a senior principal.
At
flooring, warm finishes, and large windows help create a safe, healing environment.
Photos courtesy of Ankrom Moisan Architects
Recognizing Innovative Design
8 Judging Criteria
The ELEV 8 Awards will celebrate the best in commercial building design, construction, and renovation across all building types. ELEV 8 Awards will be presented in 8
A panel of judges will focus on these 8 criteria: aesthetics, design innovation, functionality & accessibility, social impact, technology integration, sustainability, operational efficiency, and wellness.
Entry Form Due Date: Dec. 12, 2025
Materials Due Date: Jan. 30, 2026
Winner Profiles in Print
Winning entries will be published in the March/April issue of BD+C magazine, read by 64,500+ owners/property developers, architects/designers, engineers, and construction professionals, and the Second Quarter issue of BUILDINGS magazine, read by 70,000+ building owners and facility managers in North America. ELEV 8 AWARDS.COM
